Chapter 181: Copybug

Before taking action, Lu Yao repeatedly inquired Sarina about the Curse Insect’s combat capabilities, assessing its strength over and over.

Sarina said, “That Curse Insect is known as the Copybug. It’s not adept at direct combat, but its abilities are tricky to deal with.”

“It can create another me with equivalent abilities, but the only weakness is that it doesn’t last long.”

“The Curse Insect has tough skin and excels in drawn-out battles. I can’t take it down quickly, and if it drags me into a stalemate, I’ll be at a disadvantage.”

“Another of its abilities allows it to merge with its surroundings, just like the first layer of the Abyss, effectively covering everything with its body. It can perceive every move within.”

“Lastly, the Curse Insect’s innate trait gives it strong resistance to the effects of the Flame of Faith, usually only suffering half the effect.”

Lu Yao took note silently.

The Curse Insect’s three abilities: halved damage from the Flame of Faith, replication, and fusion.

Faced with such an opponent, Sarina’s advantages of high burst damage and speed are countered, leading to a war of attrition that puts her at a disadvantage.

With a clear understanding of the enemy’s capabilities, Lu Yao mobilized the instance squad and officially set out.

The units participating in the assault on the first layer’s Curse Insect included: the Blood Knight, Sarina, Isabella, and the Yeti.

The White God had gone to the Crown City, Phileas was stationed in Sanilo, and the Lord of the Deep Sea continued patrolling the seas. Someone needed to keep watch and maintain order outside.

Lu Yao opened the portal, and the instance squad entered the Abyss.

New ghouls had spawned on the first layer of the Abyss. Although not numerous, the squad eradicated them along the way.

They soon reached the sealed area.

Isabella applied the buff of the Sword of the Forest to each person in turn.

Lu Yao moved the mouse, beginning to unlock the seal.

Flames of Faith fell from the chains, turning into faith points in the upper right corner.

When all the light vanished, Lu Yao had gained an additional 31,000 points of faith.

At that moment, the golden chains shattered piece by piece.

The black vortex behind them suddenly swelled, and a white creature bulged out from within.

The creature was covered in dense white fur, resembling a large worm or some kind of reptile, with the fur concealing its entire body, making its feet invisible.

It had no ears or horns, and on its head was a red mask. The mask’s forehead bore black stripes, beneath which were two angry, large eyes, and below the eyes was a wide mouth baring its teeth.

Above its head displayed [Curse Insect LV92].

Lu Yao immediately summoned [True Sight Curse] to inspect it.

[Curse Insect LV92] Copybug

Health: 58375/58375

Mana: 14102/14102

Damage: 197

Defense: 181

Speed: 18

[Moving Cast]

Casting spells while moving, at the cost of reduced speed.

[Multiple Casting]

Able to use magical abilities faster and more effectively.

[Life Mystery LV50]

Innate high health. Unraveling the mysteries of life, constructing additional forms of life through spells. Can recover slowly naturally or through spells and items.

[Curse Insect]

Only 50% affected by the Flame of Faith, capable of manipulating and storing it.

[Overlay Mystery LV10]

Gradually merges with a certain individual or environment to take control, with the overlay effect related to the level of this ability.

[Replication Mystery LV10]

Creates an identical individual, granting it orders, with the duration and degree of replication related to the level of this ability.

…

[Godhood]: None.

[Divinity]: Teetering (0).

[Divine Body]: Of the gods.

As soon as the Curse Insect appeared, the Tyrant Sarina charged forward, sword in hand.

She transformed into a blade of moonlight, constantly weaving through and slashing at the Curse Insect’s body, all the while reminding the others.

“Don’t give it room to cast spells, we must suppress it at all times, or it’ll be troublesome!”

Facing the Curse Insect, Sarina showed unprecedented focus and caution.

The Blood Knight, silent, swung his sword and followed, their first cooperation showing incredible tacit understanding. They always complemented each other’s attacks, not giving the Curse Insect a chance to pull away.

The Curse Insect’s normal mode of attack was ramming, looking like an angry white bull charging back and forth between the Blood Knight and Sarina.

Red damage numbers continuously popped up above their heads.

With the Sword of the Forest’s buff, the Blood Knight’s damage increased to 195, dealing 14 points of damage to the Curse Insect with each attack.

Sarina’s damage was even higher at 347 points, depleting 166 points of the Curse Insect’s health with a single strike.

Compared to these two fast-paced melee Apostles, the Curse Insect was at a disadvantage in speed, not only moving slower but also attacking sluggishly.

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However, relying on its strong stats, it was still able to cause continuous health reduction to Sarina and the Blood Knight.

Lu Yao was more concerned about the Curse Insect’s abilities.

After a fierce battle, two figures emerged around the Curse Insect.

These two were exact replicas of the Blood Knight and the Tyrant. In combat, their movements were not slow, hardly weaker than the two genuine Apostles.

Lu Yao clicked on one of the white replicas.

[Replica LV83] Blood Knight · Neville

Their stats could reach about 80% of the original, but they couldn’t replicate the special abilities, like the Blood Knight’s [Enchantment]. However, with their solid builds, the replicas were enough to hold off the two Apostles.

Lu Yao noticed that with two uses of [Replication Mystery], the Curse Insect had expended about 2000 mana points. It could use this ability several more times, indeed specialized in prolonged battles.

While Sarina tried to shake off the replicas, she warned the Blood Knight, “We can’t get entangled with these things; they’ll disappear after a while. Fighting them is pointless; we need to attack the Curse Insect itself.”

With the Tyrant’s reminder, the Blood Knight changed tactics.

He alone held off two replicas, allowing the Tyrant to unleash her burst damage and continue harming the Curse Insect.

Soon enough, the replicas disappeared.

Lu Yao timed it, estimating that [Replication] lasted about a minute and a half.

At that moment, Isabella, wielding [Nature’s Whisper] in the air, said, “My lord, [Spell Conjecture] can’t deduce the Curse Insect’s abilities, and extrapolation is not possible.”

Lu Yao felt a slight regret.

He had hoped to let Isabella learn a trick or two with her spellbook.

Both [Replication] and [Overlay] were very practical skills.

Since it wasn’t feasible, he let it go.

Just kill the Curse Insect.

Lu Yao wasn’t in a hurry.

Initially, he was a bit apprehensive, as in the Tyrant Sarina’s words, the Curse Insect was a top-tier monster that fed on gods and wasn’t afraid of miracle bombardments.

But looking at the stats, it was just 50% damage reduction, not immunity.

A bolt of lightning could just take away 20 points of the Curse Insect’s health.

If he wished, he could kill the Curse Insect at any time.

Less than 60,000 points of faith, he could afford it now.

Including the 30,000 faith gained from unlocking the seal, the net expenditure was around 30,000.

He was set to take down the Curse Insect, so he decided not to use Isabella’s [Unstable Hat Trick], lest it inadvertently empower the enemy.

Lu Yao simply didn’t want to waste too much power of faith. He hoped the Apostles would push harder, reducing the Curse Insect’s health as much as possible. No one knew if killing the Curse Insect would break even.

It was a long-term investment, preparing to unlock the second layer of the Abyss.

While Lu Yao pondered, the Blood Knight had already killed the second batch of replicas.

And Sarina’s blade of moonlight continued to circle the Curse Insect, an old enemy with a particular grudge, never ceasing to slash, with red damage numbers popping above the Curse Insect’s head.

The Copybug’s health had dropped to around 37,000 points.

Lu Yao yawned.

Alright, play on, and if it gets tough, I’ll step in.

Consider it leveling up.

You can’t find LV92 monsters outside for these powerful Apostles to practice on.

Seconds later, Lu Yao realized something was amiss.

Above the Blood Knight Neville’s head appeared the status [Confusion].

He was still in a melee with the third batch of replicas.

Lu Yao clearly saw an additional line in Neville’s data panel.

[Overlaying]

Copybug (6417/12544)

Damn!

You dare to poach my Apostle right before my eyes!

Since you’re not playing fair, let’s end this game.

Lu Yao instructed the Tyrant to disengage, then clicked the mouse to select the target.

[Lightning] ×1900!

Die!

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