Capture the Blood Knight

Lu Yao clicked the confirm button, and the screen went pitch black.

After a swirling transition animation, the game interface transformed into an open wilderness.

At the top center, the words [Golden Plains] slowly emerged.

The plains were covered in golden leaves and flowers, every plant swaying gently in the wind, carrying a subtle sense of sanctity amidst vibrant life.

At the center of the screen stood a colossal tree that pierced the heavens, its branches spreading across the sky, shimmering with light. Lu Yao figured this must be the Tree of Sylvanus.

He tried clicking on the giant tree.

Three cards flew out from the tree, each bearing different patterns and descriptions.

The [Apostle's Mark] was a white stone shard.

The [Rune Robe] was a cloak woven from leaves.

The [Treant Seed] was a brown pit.

Lu Yao moved his mouse over the three items, and their respective traits and descriptions appeared.

[Apostle's Mark]: Select a willing target and convert them into an apostle.

[Rune Robe LV5]: Randomly obtain a living ancient spell from the robe. Either command it, or be commanded by it.

[Treant Seed]: Plant it in a forest to harvest a loyal treant.

Among the three treasures, Lu Yao first ruled out the Treant Seed. Isabelle had already created treants; getting another one held little value.

That left a choice between the [Apostle's Mark] and the [Rune Robe LV5].

Deep down, Lu Yao leaned toward the Rune Robe.

This item was the highest-level treasure he had seen so far. The Rune Robe also came with a "living spell," which sounded like it could continuously strengthen and had growth potential.

But the latter part of the description gave him pause.

Either command it, or be commanded by it.

This meant the spell possessed independent consciousness and will. It might help the Novice God player, but it could also backstab them at a critical moment.

The uncertainty of the draw left Lu Yao conflicted.

The only option that seemed to offer stable gains was the [Apostle's Mark].

With this special item, Lu Yao could gain another apostle, giving Isabelle a deputy so she wouldn't have to handle everything alone.

Wait...

A second apostle?

Lu Yao right-clicked on [Golden Plains] to temporarily exit that map interface.

He typed a line in the dialogue box above Isabelle's head, asking about the feasibility of his idea.

"..."

Isabelle pondered seriously for a moment before giving a cautious reply: "Lord God, the [Apostle's Mark] is a mark generated upon completing a wonder, and it is itself very precious."

"Using it on the Blood Knight is feasible."

"However, because it involves converting his divine alignment and repairing his current state of lost reason and crumbling self, it will consume a significant amount of additional Power of Faith."

Lu Yao only focused on the key point.

Feasible!

He clicked back into [Golden Plains] and double-clicked the [Apostle's Mark].

[Do you wish to select the Apostle's Mark?]

Lu Yao clicked yes.

Then the white stone shard transformed into a beam of white light, hovering in the upper left corner of the screen.

Apostle's Mark: 1

At the same time, the other two item cards flew back into the tree canopy. Lu Yao tried to intercept them but failed.

The giant tree on the Golden Plains scattered into countless pixel particles and vanished without a trace, leaving only the endless golden fields on the ground.

A line of text appeared on the screen.

[The Tree of Sylvanus has fallen into slumber.]

[The forest yearns to grow. Please nurture a Forest Soul, and the Tree of Sylvanus will once again bestow treasures in gratitude.]

Lu Yao remembered that Forrest could summon a Forest Soul. What exactly was this Forest Soul?

He asked Isabelle.

"Sir, the Forest Soul is born from among the treants."

Isabelle explained: "It is a will condensed from Forest Elemental Creatures, a special form of life."

"Only in areas with a large number of Forest Elemental Creatures can the Forest Soul be nurtured, and it will be born by merging into the form of a treant."

Lu Yao understood.

It was essentially an elite monster of Forest Elemental Creatures.

He needed to plant more trees, and also have treants and a large number of Forest Elemental Creatures as prerequisites to satisfy its birth conditions.

This would have to be left to fate.

Lu Yao rubbed his hands together.

Next came the real highlight of the day.

He clicked on the [Apostle's Mark] in the upper left corner and dragged it all the way over to the Blood Knight standing behind Isabelle's head.

A reminder popped up on the game screen.

--Converting this into an apostle of your Temple will consume a large amount of Power of Faith. Do you wish to spend 3000 Faith Points to convert this apostle?

[Yes] [No]

Lu Yao clicked Yes without hesitation.

Brother has everything, but he's not short on this faith!

Anyway, he wasn't building any wonders in the short term.

The Faith Points value in the upper right corner plummeted again, leaving only a little over 1000.

Two lines of text appeared on the screen.

--The lost apostle has heard your call. Your Power of Faith has repaired his broken shell and parched soul. He is rapidly reviving from the Sea of Lingering Souls.

--[Apostle] Blood Knight Nevid, obeys your will, executes your divine oracles, and fights for your Flame of Faith.

The Blood Knight, who had been a walking corpse moments before, suddenly transformed. All the filth and despondency on him were swept away.

He knelt on one knee before the screen where Lu Yao was sitting, and a dialogue box appeared above his head.

"God above, Nevid offers you all his loyalty and faith."

[Your second apostle has been born. The faith of the Garlic Tribe has become more steadfast.]

Lu Yao couldn't wait to open Nevid's panel.

[Apostle LV60] Blood Knight Nevid

Health Points: 3850/3850

Mana Points: 937/937

Damage: 124

Defense: 68

Speed: 16

[Thick Hide]

Innate high Health Points.

[Indestructible]

Special resistance to ranged damage.

[Mobile Casting]

Casting spells during mobile combat comes at the cost of slow speed.

[Corruption Creation] (10 Mana)

Creates a Corruptor using corpses and salt. The Corruptor's strength is related to the corpse.

[Enchantment LV25] (25 Mana/sec)

Attacks deal additional Mana damage.

[Flesh is Weak LV2] (150 Mana)

[Nevid's Exclusive Ability] The Whistleblower grants Nevid the ability to form an army. Nevid can increase the rank of Corruptors through training and inspiration, evolving them into more elite Rotten Guards.

Lu Yao watched, threw his head back, and laughed. Excitedly, he punched the air with a set of Wing Chun.

A level 60 apostle obtained without any nerfs!

This was the value and reward of deep-diving into the newbie village!

In this Fragmented World, which was still a Safe Zone, having the LV60 Blood Knight Nevid under his command—what did that mean? Calling it a minor invincibility wasn't too much, was it?

Lu Yao downed a glass of Ice Cola in one gulp, clicked on New Pants' Don't Ask Me What Disco Is, and danced alone in his rented room, waving his arms and legs.

The simple joy of playing computer games as a kid seemed to come rushing back.

Of course.

Because invincibility meant happiness.

And now, that invincibility was something he had built step by step with his own hands.

I, Lu Yao, grew all the way here relying on my own hard work and late nights!

Just as Lu Yao was savoring Nivd's stat panel, a new prompt appeared on the screen.

[The Whistleblower has shown hostility toward you.]

[The Whistleblower faction now regards you as an enemy.]

Lu Yao let out a cold laugh, twirling the [Energy Staff] in his hand.

Anyway, Nivd was already in hand, and this was his turf. As long as he didn't step out, what could they do? Come at him if they dared.

If you step into Garlic Tribe territory, don't let me see you. If I see your statue, I'll smash it to pieces. I'll slap your face.

After his moment of smugness, Lu Yao felt a twinge of uncertainty.

The Safe Zone... it should be safe, right?

Thanks to book friend 20210301106578157890 for the 5000 starting point coin support.