Battle Mode

"Lu Yao, Lu Yao?"

Sister Peng reminded him, "Send me this month's report. They're chasing us for it."

"Ah, right away."

Lu Yao sent the report over, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and felt somewhat exhausted.

"You've looked really tired lately." Sister Peng teased as she printed the documents. "What's going on? Working on a side hustle after work? Or going out to party at night?"

Lu Yao could only vaguely say that he hadn't been sleeping well.

Recently had been a critical period for the Garlic Tribe's development. Lu Yao had kept his eyes on the screen, not daring to relax.

They had deliberately destroyed the mountain passage and cut off trade with the Salt Pool Tribe. The Garlic Tribe needed another route to connect with the outside world.

In theory, there were three routes.

They could head north through the forest and enter the northern world.

They could cross the East River to the east and continue all the way into the East Sea.

Or they could march south into the desert and reopen the Oasis.

Of the three routes, the forest route was the most dangerous. Those had been Isabelle's exact words.

"My lord, there are Forest Elemental Creatures deep within the forest. Their numbers are unknown, and some of them are highly aggressive. Even if we carve out a road, elemental creatures may harass us at any time. It would be a hidden danger."

Starting waterborne trade and navigation to the east would require better Shipbuilding. Dugout Canoes could be used for fishing and travel on water, but they could not support long-distance voyages. Building larger, sturdier ships would take time.

By comparison, the desert was the best option.

The Bedou Tribe had lived in the desert for many years and knew the environment well. The dangers of the desert were Dust Storms and harsh weather, as well as desert monsters and bandits.

Of all those dangers, desert monsters were the greatest threat.

The so-called desert monsters were giant bugs known as Sand Worms.

They lived beneath the desert and were as huge as giant Earthworms. Their rough, tough yellowish-brown hides could not be harmed by stone or wood. Sand Worms hunted Camels and Devoured all kinds of hard stones. They were the behemoths of the desert, an irresistible natural disaster to the Bedou Tribe.

Most importantly, Isabelle had said something to Lu Yao.

"When I was searching for the Bedou Tribe, I killed one of those bugs."

Lu Yao immediately became alert.

Can you deal with those bugs?

"My lord, do you want me to kill them all?"

The moment Lu Yao heard that, he realized there was hope.

Hunting Sand Worms is secondary. The primary goal is to reclaim the Oasis and reopen the desert route to the outside world. Of course, it would be best if we could reduce their numbers as much as possible.

"Yes, my lord."

Do you need support?

"My lord, the treasure you bestowed upon me is already enough. These bugs are not difficult to deal with."

Good. Set out immediately.

After work, Lu Yao hurried home and sat before his computer, locking his view onto the desert region.

The desert had expanded into vast new areas, and Isabelle had found the occupied Oasis. A pile of yellowish-brown long bug corpses lay around her. Only the upper halves of the bugs were exposed above the sand, making them look like fingers a giant had thrust out from underground.

[In Combat] appeared above Isabelle's head.

Lu Yao repeatedly clicked the Apostle, and a detailed battle screen immediately popped up. The previously relaxed electronic music shifted into an impassioned, fast-paced tune.

Black-clad Isabelle faced a group of brown Bug Monsters, though only two enemies remained alive now. Health bars appeared above both sides.

[Isabelle Lv15] VS [Sand Worm Lv10] [Sand Worm Lv11].

The battle played out like a real-time auto battler.

Isabelle wielded a green lightsword, continuously stabbing and slashing at the two Sand Worms. Dark-green balls of light flew from the blade, tracking the Sand Worms and bombarding them.

Lu Yao recalled the description of the Sword of the Forest's ability.

Sword of the Forest Level 1: [Isabelle's Exclusive Ability] Isabelle summons a Holy Sword, comprehensively increasing her combat attributes. The duration and increase depend on the ability level and Mana Points.

That green lightsword had to be the Holy Sword.

This was Lu Yao's first time seeing Isabelle enter serious battle mode. When dealing with the Barbarian Hero before, Isabelle had crushed him using nothing but a steel pipe. She had never needed to use her abilities.

That showed how much stronger the Sand Worms were than the Barbarian Hero.

The Sand Worms resembled moles somewhat. They could burrow into the sand and emerge from unexpected directions. Their method of attack was to spit black venom that could be sprayed over long distances.

But Isabelle's movement and attack speed were too fast. Before her, the Sand Worms' attacks produced a long string of Misses. Meanwhile, the Sand Worms had no way to evade Isabelle's Holy Sword strikes or the bombardment of green light.

The Sand Worms' health bars rapidly fell. The lower-level one had already been emptied, and the [Dead] marker appeared above its head.

Lu Yao moved the cursor over the surviving Sand Worm.

...
[Sand Worm Lv11]

Health Points: 101/220

Mana Points: 16/44

Damage: 8

Defense: 8

Speed: 5

[Evasion Lv5]

Can evade damage from some attacks. The weaker the opponent compared to itself, the higher the chance.

[poison Lv5]

Attacks cause enemies to be Poisoned, continuously dealing damage.
...

So there were detailed battle statistics too.

Lu Yao moved the cursor back over Isabelle's head.

...
[Apostle Lv15] Sword of the Forest · Isabelle

Health Points: 220/224

Mana Points: 271/385

Damage: 27

Defense: 25

Speed: 15

[Wisdom Lv15]

Wisdom is key to an Apostle hearing Deity's will. The higher the Wisdom level, the easier it is to improve and comprehend various abilities.

[Lingering Prayer Lv5] (15 Mana Points)

Pray to the Sea of Lingering Souls, temporarily awakening the slumbering dead and gaining their aid. The type of dead depends on the ability level and Mana Points.

[Sword of the Forest Level 1] (100 Mana Points)

[Isabelle's Exclusive Ability] Isabelle summons a Holy Sword, comprehensively increasing her combat attributes. The duration and increase depend on the ability level and Mana Points. After battle, Isabelle creates some Forest Elemental Creatures. Their quantity and types depend on the ability level and the strength of the enemies.
...

Lu Yao watched for a while and more or less understood the Simulator's battle mechanics.

The Simulator had simplified combat, turning it into a visualization of values and abilities.

Isabelle's speed was three times that of the Sand Worms, which was why their attacks kept failing to hit her. But under Isabelle's attacks, -19 kept appearing above the Sand Worms.

Lu Yao did the math. Isabelle's damage was 27, while the Sand Worms' defense was 8. The difference was exactly 19 points. Without special abilities or equipment, as long as an attack landed, its direct damage was the difference between attack and defense.

When the basic attributes of the two sides differed too greatly in actual combat, and neither possessed a countering ability, the battle would become completely one-sided.

Just like the Sand Worms facing Isabelle.

Even if the Sand Worms managed to hit her, they could not break through her defense. The outcome had been decided from the start.

As the final Sand Worm's health bar emptied, [Battle Over] appeared on the screen.

Then Isabelle thrust the Holy Sword into the ground.

Strands of green light rose from the many Sand Worm corpses and entered the Holy Sword. They gradually twisted together, forming two furry reddish-brown creatures that were identical in both level and type.

...
[Striped Lynx Lv10] [Created by Isabelle]

Health Points: 182/182

Mana Points: 55/55

Damage: 9

Defense: 4

Speed: 9

[Rapid Strike]

Can attack more frequently.

[Stealth]

If it remains undetected while in Stealth, its first attack against a creature will definitely inflict [Bleed]. [Bleed] continuously lowers the target's Health Points.

[Forest Elemental Level 1]

Forest Elemental Creatures benefit the rapid growth of the forest. Their attributes are increased while in the forest. The effect depends on the ability level and Health Points.
...

Lu Yao felt a surge of excitement.

The Sword of the Forest had finally activated successfully once!

Judging from its abilities and attributes, the Striped Lynx was clearly an assassin, skilled at ambushes and sneak attacks, with high damage and speed. Its level was not bad either.

"My lord, I have a request."

Isabelle said, "They are too weak. Following me would serve little purpose, but they can protect the humans of the Garlic Tribe in the forest."

"Could we first send all the weak elemental creatures I create back to the forest and let them continue growing? Once their numbers have accumulated and they have matured, they will be useful."

Lu Yao thought it was feasible.

Saving up troops for a single overwhelming push was also a classic tactic.