Chapter 1480: Chapter 616 Bewildering Illusion

Illusions are rarely encountered. Psychic enemies are already scarce, let alone those capable of creating illusions.

Although Han Rui and the others had encountered illusions in the past, that was a long time ago and they lacked much experience in dealing with them, so when Wang Tao said they had been ensnared, everyone but Yang Changhong panicked.

Fortunately, Wang Tao had experience dealing with illusions. Although he could not see through this one, it was enough to recognize it as an illusion.

Typically, the user of an illusion would isolate each victim to break them down one by one, which is the most energy-efficient method.

The method of separation likely involved using illusions to disorient them, leading them to stray from each other until they realized that their teammates had disappeared, leaving them alone.

Of course, besides separating them, the illusion might also deceive their vision, make them see teammates as enemies, causing them to attack each other.

Thus, as soon as Wang Tao confirmed it was an illusion, he immediately activated the Splitting Cloak without a second thought. The cloak instantly expanded, enveloping everyone within it.

As long as they stuck together and knew that the people around them were teammates not to be attacked haphazardly, the illusion’s threat to them would be cut in half, at least.

In fact, it worked better than Wang Tao had expected. When he covered everyone with the Splitting Cloak, the illusion before their eyes vanished, revealing the true scene–a disgusting laboratory, covered with bulging tumors.

“Damn it!”

Upon seeing this scene, everyone felt a wave of nausea.

Wang Tao, however, raised an eyebrow.

In his vision, it was still that bright and tidy laboratory.

This illusion was masterfully crafted; even he could not discern the real from the fake. Like the others, he could only see what was inside the cloak.

Thus, Wang Tao naturally also saw the tumors and could vaguely make out a human silhouette inside them.

This instantly reminded Wang Tao of the Incubation Flesh he had seen in the Night Demon’s Nest–could these also be incubating zombies?

Hence, Wang Tao cautiously used [Mental Shock] on one of the tumors–opting for a psychic attack because these tumors were under his enlarged cloak, behind him, and other attack methods might not reach, making psychic attacks the most convenient.

Splat–

The moment the Mental Shock hit, the tumor burst, spewing yellow-green liquid, prompting everyone to hastily retreat. Then they found a half-formed zombie corpse among the fluids.

In Wang Tao’s view, an additional Crystal Core burst forth. He walked backwards to collect it.

[Acquired: Sixth-Rank Crystal Core – Exraction x1]

A sixth-rank Exraction Crystal Core was very rare, Wang Tao had only found them on Disaster-Level zombies, Giant Zombies before. And now, by killing a defenseless tumor, he had obtained a Sixth-Rank Exraction Crystal Core of Epic Quality… Looking at the other tumors, Wang Tao couldn’t help but grin.

“These tumors are likely used for zombie cultivation, similar to the Incubation Flesh in the Night Demon’s Nest–fragile and non-aggressive. But don’t attack them just yet, leave them to me!”

Wang Tao issued his instructions immediately.

“Alright!”

And so, Wang Tao was in no hurry to proceed. He simply advanced slowly, keeping everyone covered with the Splitting Cloak. Any time a tumor appeared under the cloak, he used a Mental Shock. Then another Sixth-Rank Exraction Crystal Core easily found its way into his possession.

As for the entity behind the illusions, Wang Tao had yet to detect it, so he decided not to bother with it for now, prioritizing collecting Crystal Cores instead. It would show itself eventually.

Thus, Wang Tao methodically went about destroying the tumors.

He couldn’t tell how much time had passed when suddenly Wang Tao felt that the scene before him became even more realistic, with every detail perfectly in place–the scratches on the office desk, the steaming coffee, the little games on the computer designed for slacking off, and so on.

But since he already knew it was an illusion, Wang Tao was clear in his mind: the more realistic it seemed, the more false it was.

However, Wang Tao became more vigilant. He wasn’t sure whether the creature was intensifying its efforts or was approaching his location. In any case, caution was necessary.

A moment later, Wang Tao, who had just picked up another Crystal Core, suddenly turned his head to look at something not far away.

“Hiss… tougher than I expected. No wonder I couldn’t see through this illusion…”

[HP: 1000000/1000000]

[Mana: 0/0]

[Level: Sixth-Rank Catastrophe]

[Cataclysmic Awakening: Bewildering Illusion]

[Bewildering Illusion: Surrounding life forms entrapped in illusions]

Wang Tao had initially thought the master of the illusions was a Sixth-Rank Lord Zombie, but he hadn’t expected it to be a Sixth Rank Disaster Zombie!

It made sense that he couldn’t penetrate the illusion, considering that a Sixth Rank Awakened was only equivalent to Sixth Rank Lords, and a Disaster Zombie ranked higher than him.

Besides, it’s no surprise that several Sixth Rank Lord Zombies emerged from here all at once. A Disaster Zombie of the same rank has a higher level than a Lord Zombie and, theoretically, can control Lords–that is, if the Lords are willing to stay near the Disaster Zombie, considering the risk of death…

But on the other hand, Wang Tao had also encountered a number of Disaster-Level creatures before, but it was the first time he encountered a Cataclysmic Awakening that didn’t directly inflict harm.

The Cataclysmic Awakenings he had seen before, like Radiation, Life Erosion, Biochemical Virus, and the like, made it impossible for any life form to survive near such disaster creatures, even Giant Zombies stayed clear of Disaster Zombies.