Chapter 12: Wait a minute

The sarcophagus shattered, and as the dust settled, a young girl clad in a billowing black robe emerged. Yin Shabel’s piercing gaze was concealed behind a swath of black cloth, her long emerald tresses cascading like seaweed tied tightly at the back of her head. Her supple form regained its composure, and the once visible cracks on her cheeks vanished without a trace.

With one knee gracefully planted on the temple floor, Yin Shabel’s sweeping black robe trailed behind her, an emblem of her presence and power.

However, before Yin Shabel stood not a mere statue, but Lu Yao himself, positioned before the luminous screen.

“By the gods, Yin Shabel, I pledge you my unwavering loyalty and unyielding faith.”

[Your first apostle has been born, strengthening the belief of the Garlic tribe.]

[The arrival of the apostles will herald the expansion of your faith to the wider world.]

[The gift has been fully bestowed, fusing the bow and arrow into the fabric of this realm.]

Lu Yao’s undivided attention was fixated on Yin Shabel’s personal panel.

…

[Apostle Lv15] Sword of the Forest Yinsabel

Attack 20 Defense 20 Knowledge 30 Mana 30 Luck 0 Morale 0

Abilities

Wisdom Lv15: Wisdom serves as the key for apostles to attune to the divine will. With increasing levels of wisdom, the comprehension and improvement of various abilities become more accessible.

Death knights Lv5: Invoke the dying sea in prayer, briefly awakening the slumbering deceased and gaining assistance from the realm of the dead. The type of assistance received is contingent upon the ability level and mana.

Sword of the Forest Lv1: [Exclusive Ability of Yin Shabel] Yin Shabel summons the sacred sword, augmenting her combat attributes significantly. The duration and augmentation depend on the ability level and mana. After each battle, Yin Shabel has the ability to conjure forest elemental creatures, their number and type determined by her ability level and the strength of the defeated opponent.

…

These statistics and abilities filled Lu Yao with a sense of exhilaration.

Yin Shabel was no ordinary character with an ordinary name. She possessed an extraordinary dissonance when compared to the other members of the Garlic tribe.

This was akin to a seasoned player from a vast realm descending upon a novice village. Should she engage in battle with ordinary heroes, it would be an act of sheer cruelty.

Yin Shabel stood out not only in terms of her balanced attributes across six dimensions but also due to her possession of three exceptional abilities.

Wisdom, a highly valuable fundamental skill, served as a catalyst for enhancing various abilities, effectively acting as an accelerator for her capabilities.

Death Knights indicated that Yin Shabel was a summoning necromancer, capable of calling upon the aid of the undead.

The Sword of the Forest, Yin Shabel’s unique skill, was truly divine in nature. The ability to summon elemental creatures following a battle without any additional cost was a remarkable feat. All that was required was her participation in combat, and she could summon an elite army.

Lu Yao couldn’t contain his excitement and burst into laughter.

He noticed another dialogue box floating above Yin Shabel’s head. Its distinctiveness lay in the absence of any written sentence, leaving only a lengthy blank space.

Recalling the description of the temple, Lu Yao made a connection.

Wisdom is the key for apostles to attune to the divine will…

Apostles serve as conduits for executing the gods’ will and commands, capable of directly hearing the voice of the gods and serving as their emissaries in this world…

Could it be…

He began typing.

Yin Shabel, can you see this message?

Yin Shabel remained kneeling, and another dialogue box materialized above her head.

“My Lord, Yin Shabel has heard your divine will.”

Why do you wear the blindfold?

“My eyes lack vitality and occasionally dislodge from their sockets, thus they are covered to prevent alarming others.”

Lu Yao acknowledged the truth in her words.

This was the very distinction that set the apostle apart from other beings.

They could communicate with godlike players such as himself through the screen directly.

In that case…

Lu Yao’s fingers clacked on the keyboard.

How did the forest god you followed meet his demise?

“The flames of faith dwindled, and the memories of the gods were erased.”

If you wish to level up, what is the fastest method?

“The power of faith is the swiftest path for an apostle’s advancement, though it demands an immense amount of devotion. Typically, apostles gather faith from the world by executing the gods’ commands, progressing through exploration, battles, rituals, and enlightenment.”

Lu Yao experimented and discovered that clicking on the level above Yin Shabel’s head presented an option. She could swiftly ascend in level by beseeching her lord.

However, the cost was exorbitant.

Merely raising Yin Shabel to level 16 required a staggering 1500 faith points.

In comparison, the 500 faith points spent to attain level 15 seemed like a worthy investment for Yin Shabel’s abilities.

The sensation of conversing with an apostle through text was strange, reminiscent of Lu Yao’s earliest encounters with strangers online during his childhood. There was a sense of anticipation woven within the novelty.

Yin Shabel, what is your age?

“My lord, I cannot recall my exact age,” Yin Shabel responded humbly.

“In my previous life, I was but an ordinary mortal,” she continued.

“As for the Garlic Tribe, they are a primitive and underdeveloped society, sparsely populated and lacking in civilization,” Yin Shabel remarked bluntly.

“You ask if I can join your world? While others may not have the privilege, as an apostle, I can traverse the dimensions,” she explained.

“However, I implore you not to take such a course of action. Every gift and sacrifice holds tremendous significance in the battle of faith among gods. Each opportunity to bolster your faith is precious, granting you greater power and control over the world,” Yin Shabel warned passionately.

But Lu Yao paid no heed to her plea. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he swiftly dragged Yin Shabel’s avatar and dropped her into the sacrificial slot.

“May I offer you the [Sword of the Forest Yinsabel]?” Lu Yao asked, and Yin Shabel’s fate was sealed with his acceptance.

In an instant, a transformation occurred. A slender figure, donned in a black robe, now knelt before Lu Yao in the real world. Yin Shabel’s eyes, concealed by a black cloth, revealed a mixture of fear and confusion. Her pale face was tense, and her body trembled slightly, as if she were a hostage in a foreign land.

“God, what do you require of me?” Yin Shabel’s voice quivered softly. Her accent carried a hint of peculiarity, yet her words flowed in pure Chinese, a remarkable ability possessed by the apostles.

Lu Yao couldn’t help but be amused by the stark contrast between Yin Shabel’s solemn demeanor in the temple and her vulnerable appearance in the real world, akin to a girl who had been abducted and sold into servitude.

“Listen closely, Yin Shabel,” Lu Yao spoke with gravitas. “I have summoned you for a purpose.”

“In this world, my realm that you perceive as the God Realm, demons lurk in the shadows. One of them has conducted three demonic rituals in close proximity. I have brought you here to track down their presence and ensure my safety,” he explained firmly.

As Yin Shabel comprehended the nature of her task, a sense of clarity washed over her. She knelt before Lu Yao, her posture dignified, and declared, “As you command, my lord. Yin Shabel shall find the demon and safeguard your well-being.”

Curiosity piqued, Lu Yao inquired further, “By the way, can you still employ your abilities in this realm?”

“Yes, the power derived from faith transcends dimensional boundaries,” Yin Shabel affirmed confidently.

“Excellent. Descend from the table for now,” Lu Yao ordered.

Yin Shabel gracefully leapt off the table, her petite frame standing at approximately 1.6 meters tall. Her porcelain-like skin exuded a delicate radiance. With a slightly raised nose bridge and crimson lips, she possessed the appearance of a young girl in her late teens.

However, her striking image was obscured by the black robe enveloping her body, with only her vibrant green hair escaping its confines.

“It is time to change your attire. Unveiling your true identity prematurely would only alert the demons to your presence,” Lu Yao cautioned.

“Yes, my lord,” Yin Shabel acknowledged.

Turning her back, Yin Shabel removed the cloth covering her eyes, revealing a pair of sunglasses. Lu Yao rummaged through his closet, searching for suitable attire. He retrieved a white shirt, a

 pair of jeans, and a pair of sneakers to replace Yin Shabel’s outdated black robe.

Lu Yao waited patiently outside until she finished dressing, then reentered the room. Upon seeing Yin Shabel’s transformed appearance, he nodded approvingly.

“This attire is much more inconspicuous. However, there are still certain shortcomings,” he mused. From the depths of the closet, he retrieved a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap.

“Here, these should replace the eye cloth,” Lu Yao suggested.

“Understood,” Yin Shabel responded, donning the sunglasses and adjusting the baseball cap.

Satisfied with the outcome, Lu Yao nodded. Yin Shabel’s green hair, combined with the sunglasses and casual outfit, now exuded a streetwise aura.

“While clan development within the game is important, ensuring your personal safety in the real world takes precedence. Your primary objective, Yin Shabel, is to protect yourself,” Lu Yao emphasized.

Having gained a deeper understanding of the game’s mechanics, Lu Yao recognized the ruthlessness of the war among gods. The fallen deities, the ancient godsthese were events transpiring within the realm of pixels.

Once a demon player discovered his presence, captivity and exploitation would be inevitable. Lu Yao understood that some players no longer adhered to the principles of modern law, resorting to any means necessary.

The fragile cactus provided little protection against such adversaries.

With Yin Shabel now by his side, however, Lu Yao’s safety would be ensured.

— END OF THE CHAPTER —

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