Chapter 41
The plants confined in the room were all of mid-level or high-level grade, including the unconscious cherry.
Special-Grade Mutant Plants were rare and difficult to capture, while low-level plants were too weak unless they possessed unique abilities.
The captured plants typically served three purposes.
The first approach involved investigating why mutant plants didn’t succumb to the same state of mental disorientation as humans. Researchers would relentlessly provoke the plants into attacking, then use instruments to observe and study their physiological responses.
The second strategy focused on selecting plants with exceptional abilities for domestication and utilization by the Base. However, most mutant plants resisted human commands, necessitating forceful methods and constant monitoring.
As for the third approach…
This third application had only recently been approved by the Main Base. They recruited a small group of volunteers to undergo transplants of plant-based supernatural abilities.
Wen Jue had theorized that the reason humans fell into mental disorientation while plants didn’t might lie in the nature of their supernatural abilities.
Ordinary humans, upon reaching a certain age, had a chance to awaken a supernatural ability. This process was entirely random, irreversible, and impossible to remove.
If plant-based supernatural abilities could be successfully transplanted into humans, the results might be different.
Even in the face of the apocalypse, the other two major bases would never approve of this research. Therefore, the first batch of volunteers was selected entirely from within Sky Base.
The project was kept strictly confidential, with no outsiders allowed to know.
However, progress had been painfully slow. One volunteer and two mutant plants had already died in accidents.
Wen Jue’s condition continued to deteriorate. If he were to fall into a coma from which he never awoke, Sky Base likely wouldn’t last long before being absorbed by another base.
The subordinate standing in the center of the room surveyed the area, confirming the number of mutant plants was correct. He ordered the cages to be moved to a more secure underground basement and placed under strict guard.
Tools, records, and miscellaneous items were also collected and stored away until the crisis subsided.
Before leaving the corridor, the subordinate glanced down at his communicator.
There was one final instruction from Main Base.
If they failed to hold their position… they must activate the base’s self-destruct sequence, reducing it to rubble.
By afternoon, Qian Hui had already purchased a large quantity of supplies: food, water, and various medicinal pills.
The plants were resting and replenishing their energy, preparing for tonight’s operation.
The timing was tight, but to avoid complications, they needed to act quickly.
With Nan Tingjin joining the team, the carrot Luobo’s confidence soared.
The plants no longer needed to rely on diversionary tactics or stealthy infiltration; they could simply charge in headfirst.
Having been through so much together, the squad had developed strong synergy and could handle any situation.
As for Nan Tingjin, he would operate independently, coordinating with the plants only to avoid friendly fire.
Luobo’s only concern was Qian Hui.
During the base assault, the plants would need to focus entirely on the mission, and Nan Tingjin wouldn’t be there to protect him. Luobo, alone with Xiaokui and the others, would be hiding inside a cabbage shell, unsure if they would encounter any danger.
Qian Hui reassured Luobo, “Duorou’s here. We’ll be fine.”
The little succulent Duorou’s ability could conceal the scent of itself and nearby creatures for 50 seconds at a time, with a maximum of ten consecutive uses.
If they heard any movement nearby, Duorou could mask their presence, preventing detection by zombies or other humans.
Still uneasy, Luobo asked Tudou the potato to make a few bombs for Qian Hui to carry for self-defense.
The bombs’ loud explosions would alert Luobo, allowing it to rush back if necessary.
Tudou quickly molded five of the largest bombs, ready to be thrown and detonated, and buried two Great Landmines near the entrance of the Low Building.
Qian Hui, equally concerned about the plants, packed small backpacks with energy pills for Xiaokui the sunflower and Facaishu the money tree, who wouldn’t be joining them, ensuring they could replenish their stamina and energy.
With supplies secured, Qian Hui browsed the Game Shop for additional items.
Medicine seemed sufficient, food wasn’t needed yet, and building materials…
Hesitantly, Qian Hui opened the weapons tab.
The selection was diverse, with some items usable by both humans and plants, like knives and iron hammers, and defensive gear like helmets and shields.
The remaining weapons were plant-exclusive, their names unfamiliar to Qian Hui: “Missile Head,” “Jet Gun,” and others. Their usage methods remained hidden until purchased, and their prices were exorbitant.
Without any guides or instructions, Qian Hui didn’t understand how to use these weapons. The plants were more accustomed to their usual attack methods, and he wasn’t sure if they’d be comfortable using the new equipment.
Moreover, he’d been saving up to buy Revival Beans, so he never splurged on anything beyond daily necessities.
But this upcoming raid on the human base was far more challenging than previous missions, and with more preparation time, Qian Hui decided to try out some new gear.
He started by purchasing helmets and shields, selecting the appropriate plants from his Handbook during the transaction to ensure a perfect fit.
The man-eating flower Xiaozhi and the round nut Xiao Guo didn’t really need them, so Qian Hui bought equipment for the rest of the plants participating in the battle.
Yumi the corn was the first to rush over when it saw the new items, picking up its helmet and examining it closely.
The helmets were remarkably compact, designed to fit each plant’s unique physique. Some covered the entire chest and back like miniature suits of armor.
Only Yumi and the durian Lulian’s helmets were different. Their skills altered their body shapes, so their helmets were smaller, just a thin plate covering their vulnerable crowns—and the cheapest option.
Qian Hui secured the metal plates with the provided cloth strips, then picked up Tudou the potato, whose entire body was almost completely covered by his armor. “Is it heavy?”
Tudou shook its head, jumped down, picked up a shield, and swung it vigorously. “Woo!”
Lulian, still in Qian Hui’s arms, shook its head, feeling fine. It retracted its spikes and tilted its head to nuzzle Qian Hui’s palm.
It was closest to Luobo, with Qian Hui as his second-best friend. Its loyalty had reached 70%, though it wasn’t as clingy as Tudou or Lajiao the green pepper.
Qian Hui patted Lulian’s head and bought it a bottle of Evolution Water.
Lulian curiously leaned in to sniff it before gulping it down in one go.
A few seconds later, it began shaking and rolling onto the ground, growing larger with each roll. Its spikes sharpened until it stopped growing at the height of a doorframe.
Lulian excitedly tested its new abilities. Luobo, while putting on its helmet, urged it to master them quickly, as they would need them that night.
The remaining plants gradually donned their helmets, some grabbing shields while others didn’t.
Qian Hui browsed the shop and purchased two more plant-exclusive weapons: the “Three-Shot Machine Gun” and the “Electromagnetic Induction Gun.”
After careful consideration, he chose these two, figuring their names implied they wouldn’t be too difficult to use. The total cost was 8,000 balance.
After the balance deduction was successful, a soft “click” sounded as the items were temporarily stored in Qian Hui’s game inventory.
He immediately opened it to check. The Three-Shot Machine Gun showed “No plant compatibility,” while the Electromagnetic Induction Gun had several compatible plants: carrot, pepper, corn, durian… all could use it.
Looking at the Three-Shot Machine Gun in his inventory, Qian Hui felt a pang of regret for his 4,000 balance.
He decided not to recklessly buy any more weapons, resolving to wait until he could purchase Revival Beans later.
Besides, even with such expensive weapons, he couldn’t be sure if they were actually effective.
Qian Hui took out the Electromagnetic Induction Gun. After a moment’s thought, he decided to give it to Luobo. Luobo was clever, agile, and had the widest attack range.
“Luobo!” he called, waving the carrot over. “Check this out.”
The Electromagnetic Induction Gun was tiny. Despite its name, it resembled a circular miniature charm. Using it was simple: just wear it.
Luobo took the charm and examined it closely. Removing its helmet, it fastened the mini-gun around its neck.
After putting its helmet back on, Luobo tapped its forehead. A carrot spike materialized in its hand.
At first glance, the carrot spike looked no different from usual, though its color seemed slightly darker. A faint crackling sound, like electricity, emanated from between the two green leaves at its tip.
Luobo’s eyes lit up as he took the carrot spike to a corner to study it alone.
All the plants were preparing nervously. Zhusun the bamboo shoot, having grown accustomed to his helmet, practiced slashing at the air with his sword to ensure his movements remained agile.
Xiaojuan the big cabbage sat nearby, applying a thick, sticky mixture of crushed pepper seeds and corn balls to ots gauntlets. Xiao Baocai the little cabbage helped by using a small brush made from a corner of a towel to carefully spread a thick layer.
Qian Hui turned off his game and approached Nan Tingjin.
“You need to be careful too,” he said anxiously. “What happened at Back Mountain last time…”
Qian Hui had sensed something unusual back then, but it was so faint it hadn’t affected him. He didn’t know exactly what had made Nan Tingjin uncomfortable, but he instinctively felt something was wrong. He worried that if Sky Base discovered Nan Tingjin’s presence this time, they might use the same methods again.
“I know,” Nan Tingjin replied. “I’ll be careful. Don’t worry.”
As he spoke, he reached out and pulled Qian Hui into his arms.
Qian Hui was unusually docile, leaning into the embrace. He couldn’t help but ask, “What kind of commission do you want? I’d like to prepare in advance.”
Commissions could take many forms: currency, food, medicine, or other supplies. Qian Hui figured Nan Tingjin probably didn’t have any currency, but he could offer plenty of food and medicine.
He wasn’t sure what Nan Tingjin meant by “not much,” so he tentatively prepared about ten thousand units’ worth.
Nan Tingjin held Qian Hui close and whispered, “Just a kiss for now.”
Qian Hui froze, sensing something was slightly off.
But Nan Tingjin and the plants were leaving after dark. Qian Hui had recently hugged each plant individually, comforting and encouraging them. Now, only Nan Tingjin remained.
Qian Hui stared at Nan Tingjin for a moment before slowly approaching and kissing him on the cheek.
He tightened his arms around Nan Tingjin’s waist and whispered, “Come back soon.”
As dusk approached, Qian Hui led the plants around him into the cabbage shell.
The cabbage shell sealed completely, activated its invisibility mode, and vanished from sight.
Nan Tingjin waited outside the Low Building as the Plant Squad prepared to depart.
Before leaving, Tudou reminded them not to step on its Potato Bombs, carefully smoothing the soil around each mine.
Mimosa clung to Xiaozhi’s eyelid, ready to locate the imprisoned plants.
Inside the cabbage shell, Qian Hui listened to the sounds of the squad growing fainter.
Xiaokui, nestled in his arms, glowed softly. He took several deep breaths, his heart pounding with anticipation.
Xiao Baocai stood guard for a while before quietly scurrying over to the backpack.
It burrowed inside and rummaged through a corner until it found two thin strips of leaves given by Facaishu.
Xiao Baocai selected two strips, rolled them into tight coils, and secured them to its hands, creating makeshift boxing gloves that resembled miniature cabbage fists.
It swung its fist forcefully, hammering at the backpack zipper a few times before activating its invisibility again.
Though its body vanished, the two “gloves” on its hands remained visible.
Xiao Baocai stood frozen for a moment, scratching its head with the gloved hand. This might work, it thought.
It swung its fist at the zipper again, then slipped out of the backpack as the invisibility wore off. Still wearing the “gloves,” it resumed its position guarding Qian Hui.
Meanwhile, inside the base.
As dusk approached, the guards along the perimeter wall rotated shifts, their vigilance unwavering.
After dispatching urgent requests for reinforcements during the day, two or three nearby teams had responded, but their arrival times remained uncertain.
Tension hung heavy in the air, everyone bracing for the inevitable arrival of the mutant plants.
When darkness fully descended, a hot wind swept in from the distance.
Simultaneously, several guards heard a strange noise—a growing cacophony like an approaching beast tide, its volume swelling as it drew closer.
One guard raised his night-vision binoculars, scanning the horizon for the source of the commotion.
Moments later, his lips trembled. “They’re coming…”
In the distance, a giant round nut rolled rapidly through the ruins.
The base immediately activated its wall’s mechanical defenses. Several Ability Users stationed themselves inside, enveloping the entire perimeter in thick Defense Shields.
The ground trembled faintly as the giant nut drew closer. With a deafening BANG, it slammed into the base’s wall.
Three layers of the Defense Shield shattered, only to be swiftly replaced. For now, the wall remained intact.
An eerie silence fell outside. Everyone stared at the wall—had it actually held?
Then, they heard the giant nut retreating.
It backed off slightly, then charged again with renewed force, repeating this pattern with increasing speed.
BANG!
BANG!
By the sixth impact, cracks began to spiderweb across the wall. The base manager watched in disbelief.
The giant nut had slumbered for years at the Black Spine Mountain Base, and no one had truly understood its true strength… or underestimated it.
BANG!
On the ninth strike, a section of the wall crumbled, leaving a gaping hole.
The giant nut rolled straight through, found a stable position, and came to a stop.
Immediately afterward, a rain of carrots began to fall from the sky.
Each carrot spike, sharpened like a steel cone and faintly gleaming, slammed into the ground or the Human Ability Users, exploding with considerable force.
The crowd hastily retreated again, raising their Defense Shields once more.
A barrage of attacks rained down on the giant nut, but its sturdy shell seemed impervious.
Under the moonlight, someone spotted a string of objects gliding down from the sky and landing atop the giant nut.
They were… a group of mutant plants wearing miniature helmets.
Luobo adjusted itd helmet, summoned a second wave of spikes, and waved its hand with a shout, “Waaah!!”
The battle erupted instantly. Yumi, standing beside it, chimed in loudly, hurling a massive cluster of corn balls. Potato bombs of various sizes and pepper seeds followed in rapid succession.
Another figure landed swiftly, its size swelling in an instant to the height of a seven- or eight-story building.
The giant man-eating flower lowered its head and roared furiously, unleashing a powerful gust of air from its mouth that sent several Human Ability Users flying.
On the other side, Xiaojuan led Lulian and Zhusun as they charged into the crowd.
Xiaojuan took down enemies with two or three punches, while Lulian eagerly tested its newly evolved abilities, its massive body rolling back and forth across the open ground.
Zhusun, small but agile, darted through the chaos, slashing at the humans’ calves with its blade.
The mutant plants charged fiercely, and some of the humans, realizing the situation was dire, tried to escape through the gap in the collapsed perimeter wall.
While fending off ranged attacks, they quietly circled around to the rear.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the breach in the wall.
The humans initially rejoiced, thinking reinforcements had arrived. But when they recognized the newcomer, the leader of the Human Ability Users paled.
“Leader Nan?” he stammered, clutching his injured arm and subtly retreating. “What’s going on here…?”
Nan Tingjin glanced up, his right hand rising slightly.
Before the humans could react, an invisible force hurled them into the air.
He strode forward, slaughtering anyone in his path without hesitation.
Seeing Nan Tingjin’s presence and his clear alliance with the mutant plants, the Base Manager’s expression darkened.
His hands trembling, the base manager fumbled to activate his communicator, desperate to know when reinforcements would arrive. Otherwise, they were doomed to die here tonight.
Just as he sent the message, he suddenly found himself unable to move.
The next moment, a bloodcurdling scream tore from his throat as his limbs were systematically snapped.
Nan Tingjin approached and picked up the fallen communicator.
A reply crackled through, “En route.”
Nan Tingjin crushed the device in his hand and surveyed the scene.
The Plant Squad had eliminated a Human Squad during the day, and the base’s perimeter wall had been breached with surprising ease.
Confirming the Plant Squad’s overwhelming advantage, Nan Tingjin returned to the breach in the wall.
He glanced at Luobo, perched atop Xiao Guo. “I’m going to scout ahead.”
Luobo nodded. “Ooh!” Go!
Trusting Nan Tingjin implicitly, it didn’t press for details, instead focusing on summoning a fresh barrage of carrot spikes.
Not bad at all, Luobo thought, this new weapon Qian Hui gave me is actually quite effective…
Meanwhile, not far from the base, several modified vehicles sped toward them.
The approaching vehicles belonged to two different bases, but they had happened to converge in the same area and decided to travel together.
Urged on by the manager of Sky Base, the captain slammed on the accelerator, speeding toward the scene.
As the modified vehicles drew closer, their occupants’ faces turned grim at the sight of the gaping hole in the base’s perimeter wall.
“Have those plants gone mad? What are they trying to do?”
“Everyone, be careful… there are several Special-Grade Mutant Plants.”
“But doesn’t anyone find it strange that…”
Before the sentence could be finished, the lead modified vehicle screeched to a halt, its front end crumpling as if it had slammed into an invisible wall.
The surrounding area was a wasteland of rubble, and the trailing vehicles were forced to brake abruptly, nearly colliding with each other.
“What’s going on…?”
“Who’s there?”
The captain looked up through the windshield. Standing in the middle of the road was a man.
His brow furrowed. “It’s Nan Tingjin…”
Rumor had it that the leader of Black Spine Mountain had gone missing again, possibly involved with the mutant plants, but his name wasn’t on the mission roster.
What was happening now?
The group hesitated, observing the scene.
Suddenly, the debris around them began to shake violently, then levitated into the air and hurtled toward the modified vehicles.
The windows shattered instantly, and a torrent of dust and sand poured inside. The captain shouted over the real-time comms, “Move! Get out of here!”
They were in an uncleared low-risk zone, where the ruins contained an overwhelming number of movable objects.
The rear vehicles, having sustained less damage, were the first to reverse.
They reacted swiftly, immediately distancing themselves from Nan Tingjin.
The lead vehicle bore the brunt of the assault, its entire side panel torn away.
The passenger in the front vehicle leaped out, grabbed the mangled window frame, and used his supernatural ability to forcefully wrench it backward, breaking free from Nan Tingjin’s control.
He then scrambled onto the roof, and all the modified vehicles retreated rapidly to a safer distance before turning back.
Only when Nan Tingjin’s figure had completely disappeared did the captain glance in the rearview mirror and exhale in relief.
Yet his emotions were conflicted.
Nan Tingjin had clearly been trying to stop them, and with murderous intent.
The Captain knew Nan Tingjin’s terrifying strength. With two squads trapped here and unknown mutant plants lurking nearby, their chances of victory were slim.
Even if they forced their way through, reaching the Base would mean facing new uncertainties.
Neither squad belonged to Sky Base; they had been dispatched on a mission. Retreating in the face of such overwhelming opposition was understandable.
But… Nan Tingjin’s actions were tantamount to declaring to the world that a Human Ability User was actively assisting mutant plants.
Why would he do this…?
The Captain pondered deeply before slamming on the brakes.
He glanced back into the pitch-black night and said, “Let’s go back and observe from a distance. We won’t assist for now.”
The other squad members and the other team agreed. They changed course, quietly circling around to the flank.
Meanwhile, chaos within the Base grew increasingly dire.
Nan Tingjin’s whereabouts remained unknown, and reinforcements had yet to arrive. The remaining personnel could no longer withstand the mutant plants’ relentless assault, steadily losing ground.
Several tried to flee into the Base’s interior, seeking hidden places to hide, but Xiaojuan’s keen eyes spotted them instantly, and it punched them down.
Outside, Xiaozhi the man-eating flower surveyed the surroundings.
That was enough. This area could be left to the other plants. Xiaozhi and Mimosa had to find the imprisoned plants.
Mimosa on Xiaozhi’s eyelid raised its leaves, guiding Xiaozhi. Xiaozhi shrank its size and swiftly moved to a corner of the base, where a low building stood.
The building’s door was locked, but Xiaozhi simply smashed it open. With Mimosa’s help, it located a hidden basement.
Sniffing the doorknob, Xiaozhi used brute force to kick open the basement door.
The commotion startled all the plants inside. They instinctively cowered in their cages, trembling.
But the aura emanating from the doorway… it wasn’t the familiar presence of a human Ability User.
In the dim light, a few plants dared to peek. They saw a creature with an enormous head, a mouth full of sharp teeth, and a height nearly equal to the doorframe…
—A man-eating flower.
