After using his Mind Eye to analyze the buffs, Xu Hai used both Mystic Arts and runes as the foundation to construct a Dispel Array layered across the Wisdom Faction’s territories. Any Slaughter Faction follower that stepped onto Wisdom Faction grounds would have all of their buffs dispelled.

The pressure of the front-line fighters dropped considerably as the array took effect. Unfortunately, despite killing several of the Slaughter Faction's key commanders, the Wisdom Faction was still losing ground.

Their roster was well-suited to holding positions but far too thin to actually take territory. Xu Hai was forced to call a meeting to discuss how to make a meaningful counterattack and recover the lost ground.

One of the God Kings volunteered. His core race was harpies, born aerial fighters. If the Wisdom Faction could prepare explosive payloads like bombs, the harpies could exploit their aerial superiority to launch a powerful airstrike.

The proposal was immediately shot down. First, bombs were expensive, and even setting the cost aside, it was impossible to predict the return on investment. More importantly, the Slaughter Faction almost certainly had anti-air structures in place.

Han Wu had personally seen that the Butcher alone had stockpiles of anti-World life form equipment, including plenty designed for aerial targets. Sending the harpies on an airstrike could easily turn into a delivery of free bombs, which would then be used against them.

This plan was too unreliable, but the idea inspired Han Wu. His locusts were also flying units, and they had a much more workable Self-Detonation tactic that came with far lower risks. There was also that skill he had yet to actually use.

Idea still forming in his mind, Han Wu returned to his divine realm to look for the Origin of Mutation.

The Origin of Mutation was in the middle of an experiment, and asked Han Wu to wait a moment.

Han Wu sat outside the operating room. A heavily mutated creature covered in tentacles served him tea. Han Wu did not pay much attention to it at first, but a second glance brought a strange pang of familiarity.

"Have we met somewhere?” he asked.

Flustered, the mutant answered, "We have, my lord. We met in the Giant Shadow Civilization. My name is Yakushi Nan.”

Han Wu stared. The tentacle-covered mutant before him was the unhinged medical ninja he had met in the Giant Shadow Civilization?! "Weren't you human before?”

"Not anymore.” Yakushi Nan was visibly excited. "I'm the master's chief assistant now. I requested my master modify me into this form so I can perform multiple surgeries simultaneously. I've learned many advanced concepts and techniques while under my master's guidance. This place is paradise to me.”

Han Wu was at a loss for words. Nan’s way of thinking could not be measured based on normal standards. For him to be turned into something like this, and by his own request at that—was this the joy of no longer being human?

Shaking his head, Han Wu pivoted to asking about Origin of Mutation's recent research. As chief assistant, Yakushi Nan was able to give him a quick rundown.

Current projects included consciousness modification on Kokkai Hanwu to strip the nine Giant Sages' consciousness sealed inside his body and replace them with compliant ones with the aim of reshaping him into a humanoid weapon on par with a World life form.

There was also a gene modification project on the mother rat that upgraded it to a World life form so it would remain in a constant peak reproductive state.

Then there was also the intelligence enhancement on the dog, Wang Cai. As soon as Wang Cai's intelligence was raised, the Epistian genius Ji Zhongyi had taken it away, claiming he wanted to build a mech suit for it.

The sheer variety of projects left Han Wu genuinely surprised. It was only because Han Wu's divine realm had no strict ethical code that the Origin of Mutation could conduct its experiments freely. If not, the various experiments were enough to sentence it to enough executions to last for ten whole years! [1]

At that moment, the Origin of Mutation finished its experiment and walked out the door, also covered in tentacles, like Nan. Han Wu's stomach churned. Fortunately, the Origin of Mutation quickly shifted back to its humanoid form.

The moment it saw Han Wu, its face lit up, and it launched into a spiel about its research, gesturing enthusiastically.“I have to say, the test subject you provided was absolutely outstanding. That mother rat is the perfect breeding machine. I modified her genes through surgery and overclocked her strength up to the World rank. She can now produce twenty million rats per day—”

“I just came to ask if you have a method for aerial bombardment. Ideally, one that’s cheap,” Han Wu said, quickly cutting it off.

Any other God with regard for life would come running to Han Wu's divine realm, demanding the execution of the Origin of Mutation if they had heard its words.

The Origin of Mutation thought for a moment. “I do. But I'm a little worried.”

“Worried about what?”

“I'm worried you'll think it's too brutal,” Origin of Mutation said plainly.

Han Wu waved it off. If the Origin of Mutation had no other plans, he had planned to fall back on his typical Self-Detonation tactic regardless. Brutality mattered little in a divine war. Winning was all that mattered.

The Origin of Mutation brightened up. “Then let me bring out my finest work. You won't be disappointed.”

It went into his lab and returned with a bottle filled with red liquid[2].

“This is the concentrated spinal fluid extracted from Kokkai Hanwu, with some of my custom additions. Even just 0.01 milligrams of it is enough to transform a Hero life form into a mindless giant. For anything below Hero rank, the required amount is smaller and has a greater effect. Take this bottle to test it first. I have plenty more in storage.”

Han Wu's hand trembled slightly as he took the bottle. It felt less like a bottle and more like a nuclear warhead that could detonate at any moment.

“No need to be tense. Even if someone drinks the concentrated spinal fluid, nothing will happen without the catalyst,” the Origin of Mutation explained.

Han Wu was relieved. “So how do I trigger the catalyst?”

“You don't need to worry about that. I'll handle it when you're ready to use it.” The Origin of Mutation pulled off its white lab coat and threw it to Yakushi Nan beside him, eyes gleaming with anticipation. “I'll come to the divine war with you. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of interesting research subjects there.”

1. Meaning the OOM would be executed every day for ten years for the crimes ☜

2. If that’s what I think it is, don’t drink the wine! ☜