I STACK ATTRIBUTES IN THE APOCALYPSE -MyOwnEdit-

The Blood Flesh Mother Tree was supremely confident. It truly believed everything was under its control.

After all, Lu Ming had ventured into its territory. Did he really expect to leave unscathed? It was laughable! The Mother Tree was no pushover.

In fact, the moment Lu Ming stepped foot in Linhai County, his genetic sample was as good as collected.

Could he fight? Of course. But would he get injured? Would he bleed?

Perhaps not.

But would he sweat? Would he shed a hair?

Hair loss might be avoidable, but sweating was inevitable! The Blood Flesh Mother Tree was not a weakling. Could Lu Ming defeat it without breaking a sweat? Absolutely not!

As long as Lu Ming perspired, his genetic sample would inevitably fall into the Mother Tree's grasp. It didn't even need to drip onto the ground. Even evaporated sweat was still sweat, and therefore, a viable source of genetic material.

The moment Lu Ming became entangled with the roots, the Blood Flesh Mother Tree had already secured its prize.

Within its vast body, a surge of energy flowed towards the trunk, fueling a transformation.

This energy wasn't merely for healing the damage Lu Ming had inflicted, but for analyzing his genetic material as well.

Generally, the more powerful the biological sample, the longer it took the Mother Tree to analyze it. In Gris Klass's case, the process had taken three full minutes.

Based on Lu Ming's strength, the Mother Tree estimated it would require about 30 minutes to an hour to analyze his genetic makeup.

But it didn't matter.

The Mother Tree was confident in its capabilities. To prevent Lu Ming from escaping, it resorted to taunting him once more.

"Now that I have your genetic sample," it announced, its voice dripping with malice, "soon I'll be able to mass-produce clones of you, Lu Ming."

"I apologize for the disturbances yesterday," it continued mockingly, "but they won't happen again. I swear it."

"Because next time," the Mother Tree's voice grew sinister, "there will be three, or even thirty of you coming to find yourself."

"Lu Ming," it taunted, "I'm eager to see how you'll fare against multiple opponents of equal strength."

Lu Ming ignored the Mother Tree's taunts and sheathed his sword, a thoughtful expression on his face. He studied the colossal tree before him for a few moments before asking, "Have you completed the analysis yet?"

The Blood Flesh Mother Tree was taken aback. "How could it be so fast... wait a moment..."

Within its vast body, the analysis of Lu Ming's genes had concluded.

Total time: 15 seconds.

Before the Mother Tree could fully grasp the implications of this, Lu Ming spoke again, his voice filled with an odd eagerness. "Create a clone. Let me see it."

The rapid analysis and Lu Ming's unusual attitude perplexed the Blood Flesh Mother Tree.

However, after careful consideration, it couldn't discern the root of the problem.

Unlike the complete assimilation of knowledge and memories through devouring, the Mother Tree had only obtained Lu Ming's genetic sample, not his experiences or thoughts. It could only replicate his physical form.

After a brief internal debate, the Mother Tree decided to take immediate action.

"If you wish to see it, I shall show you!" it declared, a hint of arrogance in its voice.

A surge of energy flowed into the matrix below. Within its depths, a replica of Lu Ming's body rapidly materialized. Simultaneously, a male head detached from a branch, falling onto the matrix like a ripe fruit, fusing seamlessly with the body.

However, the Blood Flesh Mother Tree sensed something was amiss...

Replicating a body required a significant expenditure of the Mother Tree's energy reserves. Generally, the stronger the body, the more energy was needed, and the longer the production time.

To instantly replicate Lu Ming's clone, the Mother Tree had been meticulously conserving its energy. It hadn't even created any humanoid monsters that day, demonstrating the vast amount of energy it had stored.

But...

In a mere five seconds, Lu Ming's clone was complete.

Moreover, the energy consumed was negligible, equivalent to that of a Tier 1 creature...

This isn't right! it thought, alarm bells ringing in its consciousness. This definitely shouldn't be happening.

The Blood Flesh Mother Tree was utterly baffled.

Yet, its actions continued unabated.

Therefore, both Lu Ming and the Blood Flesh Mother Tree were fixated on a figure emerging from the undergrowth about ten meters away.

It was another Lu Ming, but with a different head.

A single glance was enough for both Lu Ming and the Blood Flesh Mother Tree to sense something amiss.

"This clone you created seems a bit... malnourished, wouldn't you say?" Lu Ming remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Lu Ming's current stature was nearly 2.4 meters, and he weighed almost half a ton. He was a towering figure, radiating strength and power.

In contrast, the clone was a pathetic sight. It stood a mere 1.8 meters tall, with a physique that could only be described as average. The difference between the clone and the original was glaringly obvious.

"This isn't right!" the Mother Tree exclaimed, its voice laced with frustration and confusion.

It quickly issued a command, and the Lu Ming clone lunged towards its original, throwing a punch aimed at Lu Ming's waist.

"Get lost, you imbecile," Lu Ming retorted, swatting the clone away with a backhand strike, flattening it into a pancake.

The atmosphere in Linhai County instantly grew tense.

The Blood Flesh Mother Tree stared at Lu Ming, then at the lifeless replica. It was utterly bewildered.

Lu Ming, on the other hand, couldn't help but grin.

"Do you know why your clone is so weak?" Lu Ming asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

The bewildered Blood Flesh Mother Tree responded instinctively, "Why?"

"I'm not telling you," Lu Ming replied, his tone smug.

The Mother Tree fell utterly silent, its myriad minds struggling to comprehend this unexpected turn of events.

Soon, another Lu Ming clone emerged from the matrix. This time, the Blood Flesh Mother Tree conducted a thorough analysis of the replicated body.

The results were baffling.

Clone of Lu Ming
Level: 1
No Awakened abilities.
Physical condition equivalent to a regular Level 1 Awakened...

What was happening?!

The Blood Flesh Mother Tree cycled through this question repeatedly, unable to find an answer.

Lu Ming, however, breathed a sigh of relief. He knew the reason behind this discrepancy all too well.

He reflected on his journey since the apocalypse began. His incredible strength was undoubtedly the result of his tireless efforts, but the system's assistance, while minor, couldn't be ignored. It played a crucial role in his development.

In essence, Lu Ming was an ordinary person, as average as they came. His true power lay not in his inherent abilities but in the mysterious system that guided his training and amplified his efforts.

It was the system that drove Lu Ming to constantly push his limits, to strive for greater strength.

Lu Ming was simply a vessel, a conduit for the system's power.

The Blood Flesh Mother Tree's attempt to replicate him had failed because it couldn't replicate the system itself.

It was the system that made Lu Ming extraordinary, not his genes. The system's origin remained unknown, but its power was undeniable. Lu Ming couldn't fathom how the Blood Flesh Mother Tree could possibly replicate it, no matter how advanced its abilities were.

Such a possibility simply didn't exist.

So what's the point of replicating my genes? Lu Ming mused. Without the system, I'm just an ordinary Level 1 Awakened. Everything else is meaningless.

However, there was no need to explain this to the Blood Flesh Mother Tree. The realization brought a sense of calm over Lu Ming.

Meanwhile, the Mother Tree remained trapped in a cycle of confusion and frustration.

Lu Ming, sensing an opportunity, raised his saber once more, preparing to use the Mother Tree's main body for target practice.

He had to admit, this Blood Flesh Mother Tree was a formidable opponent. To defeat it, he would either need to advance to the next level (which might not even be enough), or resort to a slow and arduous process of draining its energy.

Seeing that the Mother Tree couldn't replicate his true power, Lu Ming dismissed the idea of leveling up. Instead, he resolved to eliminate this menace using the most basic and time-consuming method.

Rip.

Rip.

The sound of his battle saber slicing through the tree trunk echoed through the air. Lu Ming, like a tireless lumberjack or a determined old man moving mountains, continued his relentless assault.

Suddenly, the Mother Tree's voice, filled with pain and desperation, pierced through the din.

"Brother, Brother Lu, wait a moment... Can we discuss this further?"