Chapter 64: Chapter 59: A Firm, Two-Pronged Approach
The population was growing, Faith was gathering, and civilization was progressing.
Everything in the Pixel World was heading in the right direction.
However, Isabel, acting uncharacteristically, took the initiative to voice her own opinion.
"Lord, I request to enter the [Black Abyss] and fight for Your Faith."
Luh Yao realized acutely.
’She’s getting emotional.’
This, too, was a side effect of Wisdom.
The less intelligent Blood Knight felt no such pressure.
He was simple-minded and carefree; his life was straightforward. He only followed orders. Whoever Luh Yao told him to cut down, he cut down, and he’d always go for more, never less.
Isabel was different; most of the time, she maintained a calm and reserved demeanor. But her fundamental thought processes were no different from a normal person’s.
She had her own dignity and sense of honor, as well as her own judgment and thoughts.
Most of the time, however, she kept these personal feelings hidden and faithfully executed the orders Luh Yao gave her.
This time, however, Isabel’s pride seemed to have been wounded for some reason.
Luh Yao thought, ’I need to find a tactful excuse.’
So he typed.
——It’s just a different division of labor. This kind of rough work is fine for the Blood Knight.
Isabel knelt on one knee and continued, "Lord, I am aware that my combat abilities are inferior to Necied’s. However, I am not requesting to enter the Abyss because I’m overestimating my strength and want to challenge powerful opponents. I believe there are other ways for me to be of use."
"Lord, You preside over the Ghost Soul City, Saniluo, where numerous Ghost Souls have already gathered, providing a stable source of collective Faith."
"But on the outskirts of the First Floor of the Black Abyss, there are still Ghost Souls wandering about. Most of them are of a high Tier. However, there are also weaker Ghost Souls hiding from their more powerful kin."
"I wish to try using [Mourning Prayer] to persuade them, to bring them to Saniluo. In doing so, I can provide You, Lord, with more Power of Faith."
Luh Yao felt a little ashamed.
’My bad.’
’Isabel isn’t concerned with personal glory or failure at all. All she thinks about is how to contribute to my divine cause.’
’She’s a truly loyal servant, completely devoted to the cause!’
——Alright. Be careful.
"Yes, Lord."
Luh Yao used a key to open the entrance, allowing Isabel to pass through the golden gate into the [Black Abyss].
He fixed his viewpoint on Isabel.
Just as Isabel had said, she was very careful in the Abyss.
Outside, the LV 26 Isabel could summon her Holy Sword and travel almost anywhere she pleased.
But on the First Floor of the Black Abyss, her level was far from enough. Even dealing with ordinary Ghouls was a struggle; a moment of carelessness could lead to her being surrounded and in grave danger.
Isabel continuously used [Mourning Prayer], searching for any of the Dead willing to speak with her.
Meanwhile, the Blood Knight Necied continued his grueling battle against the Ghouls.
After resting and recovering his health, the Blood Knight had re-entered the area. His health bar was now halfway full, enough to deal with the small fry on the periphery.
Even after the Corpse Hunter Guer’s death, the number of Ghouls hadn’t decreased.
This made Luh Yao realize that Guer was merely an Elite Monster boss on the outskirts, controlling only a fraction of the Ghouls.
’Clearly, the real boss is deeper inside.’
So Luh Yao had the Blood Knight clear out the Ghouls in the outer area, leveling him up in the process.
Keeping an eye on his two Apostles was easy. He just had to open the Divine Hall to see Isabel’s and Necied’s portraits, complete with real-time health bars below them.
This was something Luh Yao had only discovered later through trial and error.
Whenever Isabel or Necied entered combat, their portraits would gain a faint red overlay, making their status easy to recognize. Clicking on a portrait would instantly jump the view to their location.
The simulator had no tutorial, and Luh Yao was a solo player at heart, so he could only learn through trial and error. It came with many inconveniences and complications, but he had a good attitude, viewing it all as part of the fun of exploring the unknown.
Half an hour later, Isabel made a breakthrough.
"Lord, I have found a group of the Dead who are willing to follow You and offer their Faith."
Luh Yao glanced over.
Several Ghost Souls floated beside Isabel. The lowest was LV 8, while the highest, a LV 16, was named Dinar. This small group, led by Dinar, were the only Abyssal Ghost Souls in the area willing to pledge allegiance to Luh Yao.
They weren’t ordinary humans; they had the Race title [Undersea Walker].
The Undersea Walkers bore some resemblance to Corrupters, both appearing in a near-cadaverous state. While Corrupters had light blue skin, the bodies of these creatures were dark blue.
Luh Yao clicked on Dinar’s detailed panel.
...
[Undersea Walker LV 16] Dinar
Attack 6, Defense 9, Knowledge 14, Mana 14, Luck 1, Morale 1
[Abilities]
Water Element: Continuously recovers Life Value while in water. Attacks are imbued with Water Element damage.
Evasion LV 5: Able to evade some damage from attacks. The probability is higher when facing weaker life forms.
...
’The stats panel is pretty unremarkable.’
However, Dinar’s character portrait made Luh Yao take a second look.
Dinar’s dark blue chest had two rows of long gills, his limbs were long, and his hands and feet were webbed.
He had beast-like eyes, with large sclera and small black pupils. In the portrait, Dinar was kneeling on the ground, worshiping a vaguely shaped building in the distance.
Below the portrait was a personal motto.
——Our former glory has sunk into the Abyss. We must do everything we can to survive; even if it means losing everything, as long as we are alive, there is hope.
Luh Yao entrusted the settlement of these Undersea Walker Ghost Souls to Isabel.
Now, he had to focus his attention on another, more urgent matter.
A golden leaf reappeared on the screen, this time floating in the upper right corner below the population and Faith counters.
Luh Yao clicked the leaf.
The screen displayed.
[The Forest Soul has awakened the Silvanus Tree. Please go and claim the treasure upon the Silvanus Tree.]
Luh Yao immediately dragged his mouse to return to the [Golden Field] inside the castle.
There was a saying among the leaders that fit perfectly.
’Tackle both fronts, and be strong on both!’
’[Golden Field] and [Black Abyss]... I can’t neglect either one. I want them all!’
A colossal tree, so tall it seemed to touch the sky, reappeared on the golden plains.
Amidst the dense green branches and leaves, starlight twinkled.
Luh Yao clicked on the tree trunk.
Two cards printed with artifacts flew out from the tree.
One was a tall tower-like structure called [Giant Stone Totem].
The other was a sculpture of a white horse called [Ghost White Horse].
...
[Giant Stone Totem LV 2]:
Life Value: 1000/1000
Damage: 24
Defense: 12
Speed: 10
[Totem]
Select an area for permanent placement. Automatically attacks any non-Believers within range.
...
It would be a lie to say Luh Yao wasn’t tempted by the Giant Stone Totem’s description. This totem turret was perfect as a defensive linchpin, the foundation for an entire defensive line.
But on second thought...
’In this Broken World, there doesn’t seem to be a need for defensive lines. I’m almost always the one initiating attacks, and there aren’t any other powers that can get to me.’
’At most, the two Apprentice Deities can only bombard each other with Faith, and I’m not afraid of that.’
Luh Yao agreed with the principle that the best defense is a good offense.
So he turned his gaze to the next one.
After a single glance at the description, he immediately made up his mind. ’It’s you!’
...
[Ghost White Horse LV 5]: Faith +1/hour, Defense +10, Speed +20, Life Value +200, ignores terrain restrictions. Summoning the Spirit of the White Horse can activate [High-Level Disguise LV 5].
...
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