Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

[Side Quest – Shooting, completed.]

[Reward: Light Firearms Specialization level +1 (up to level 3), General Experience +300, awarded.]

[Detection: character's current specialization level too high, reward: (Light Firearms Specialization level +1, up to level 3) has been converted to (General Experience 500 points).]

As expected.

Bai E raised an eyebrow, not feeling too surprised.

Those rewards that added +1 directly to specialization levels always came with the caveat of not exceeding a certain level; obviously, they weren't just for show.

It made sense that low-level quests couldn't enhance higher-level abilities.

To go from level 3 to level 4 required 1000 points of experience, so getting half directly was generous; one couldn't ask for too much.

And now... with 800 points of general experience, as long as he invested it in Light Firearms Specialization, he could immediately break through to the level 4 specialization.

A level 4 specialization came with additional attribute improvements, which should be a qualitative change.

Go wide or go deep?

The answer was clear.

[You have learned "Level 4 Light Firearms Specialization" and obtained 1 potential point.]

[Light Firearms Specialization (Level 4): Shooting accuracy +12%, critical hit +2%, arc shot (special) +5%.]

[Current Light Firearms Mastery Experience 0/2000, at 2000 points you can master "Level 5 Light Firearms Specialization".]

[Detection: character currently has Light Firearms Specialization (Level 4), skill tree unlocked for further training: Fire Suppression, Precision Shooting, Gun Fighting Skill.]

[Current unlock requirements: General/Combat Experience *1000 (cost doubles with each skill of the same level unlocked), 2 potential points (fixed).]

"Level 4 really unleashes the power..."

Turns out the potential points he had been accumulating could be used in this way, but the 1000 points of general or combat experience was temporarily a bottleneck to further progress.

Special experience could still be obtained through training, but general experience was harder to come by.

He could have obtained some more special experience through training at the firing range before adding points, but now that he had used the general experience, he was further from unlocking the skill tree.

But if he didn't unlock it, who knew whether the skill tree would still be accessible after the level 4 specialization?

"That was hasty..."

"You've graduated."

The voice behind him made Bai E, who was lost in thought, startle, "Ah?"

"You won't need to come back for the shooting training anymore."

Carlos looked at the calm and determined warrior before him with satisfaction in his eyes, "The moving variable frequency targets at 200 meters are the most challenging part of the basic training. Since you've already reached this level, regular shooting practice is of no use to you."

Out of the total of 10 shooting targets, the first 7 obviously involved some luck, but Carlos had watched Bai complete the last 3 sets in succession.

This performance was already the upper limit of shooting ability that a soldier could achieve through normal training in the barracks.

Further progress could not be made without real combat experience.

Of course, since the hit rate hadn't reached 100%, perhaps Bai still had some room to improve and refine his skills in training.

But there was another issue – it's hard for a tree to stand alone in the forest.

Exceptional performance could easily attract unusual attention.

A step beyond is talent; two steps beyond… is anomaly.

If those factions that have always been hostile to artificially-created humans discovered such a seed... a new soldier without any background could easily encounter misfortune.

Now, Carlos needed to think about how to conceal the infinite potential of artificial human Bai E.

"Don't need to come back?"

Bai's face showed the right amount of confusion.

"Yes, no need to come back. You can use your free time to learn more life-saving skills that are practical on the battlefield. I will tell the others that I've given you specialized individual training."

Carlos's face bore a gentle smile.

Facing these artificial humans, whose thought processes were still naive, there was no need for him to go into such detail. Some earnest intention would naturally be revealed in time.

An artificial human's identity was not only the starting point but also a stance that persisted throughout.

Speaking of which, Carlos took out a bar-shaped object wrapped in silver tinfoil from his breast pocket and handed it to Bai E.

"In addition, as a reward for being the first to graduate, this is your prize. Starting tonight, you can go to window number 11 and collect an extra... snack with every dinner."

The moment he took the bar into his hands, a pale blue panel appeared in front of Bai E.

[Bar No. 3 (Level 6 Food): ...Unknown... Consuming can restore 30 points of "Energy Reserves" and 3% Satiety Level.]

A... snack?

The puzzlement on Bai E's face grew more genuine.

Witnessing the confused warrior before him, Carlos smiled playfully, "Physical training is up next—give it a try after you eat. Alright... you're free to do as you please now, no more training for today."

Having said that, he turned crisply on his heel, seemingly diligent in supervising the training of the other artificial human warriors, as if he had no inclination to show any special favor towards Bai E.

"But this must be a special case, the so-called regular graduation surely wouldn't come with such treatment. What... happened in between?"

Holding the bar in his hand and gazing at the instructor's departing back, Bai E stood still, like a marionette that had lost its master's control.

[In this world, there is no love without reason, nor hatred without cause. From the instructor's attitude, you sense some potentially hidden secrets, you decide to...]

Bai E turned and left.

Sensing the footsteps receding behind him, Carlos's eyes were filled with satisfaction.

If one could not harbor hope for those who come after, the world would be shrouded in darkness.

Strive to grow... child.

Flipping open the hand-held tablet, Carlos logged Bai E's training scores—100 meters variable frequency moving targets in 10 sets, time taken... 1 hour 53 minutes 37 seconds.

Newborn artificial human warriors were coming in a constant stream, and with many instructors for each batch of warriors, no one had the time to watch over the training of all warriors.

A super soldier surpassing all recruits, for now... keep him hidden.

...

There were a few minutes left until the gathering time for the physical training, and Bai E had already returned to the 358th troop's assembly area beforehand.

Three days into the life of a recruit, training was consistent from the start to the end.

The others hadn't returned yet, so Bai E played with the bar in his hand.

The Satiety Level was low, but the Energy Reserves were even higher than a whole serving of military rations; this clearly had some significance.

Through several training sessions, Bai E had come to understand the unique settings of "Satiety Level" and "Energy Reserves" in the world of Galaxy World.

Similar to his original world, Satiety Level supported the energy needed for normal activities, which could be understood as how much energy is obtained from food, normally diminishing over time.

Simply put, one must eat when hungry.

As for Energy Reserves, it referred to a deeper layer of energy stored in the body, which was rapidly consumed during rest after vigorous exercise to be converted into physical strength. It was a backup source of energy, somewhat akin to the function of fat, and quite easy to comprehend.

Give it a try after eating?

It seemed the instructor wasn't planning on harming anyone, and the system-identified panel showed no harmful elements in this snack.

Peeling back the foil, Bai E eyed the gum-like bar, raised an eyebrow, and swallowed it in one bite.

...It was tasteless.

There was no reaction in his body.

Except that the Energy Reserves seemed to have exploded...

120 points?

"Gather!"

As more people joined, Wood's robust voice interrupted Bai E's thoughts of further exploring his bodily condition.

"Begin training!"