Chapter 211 Deceptive Ghost Tree
That night at Cloud Peak Manor was anything but chill.
Gilbert was up on the rooftop, scanning the scene with a serious look. Gunshots were popping off from both Brian's and Zane's spots!
He was utterly baffled. 'What on earth is happening? What went down over there?'
"Captain Clark, Jennings' crew is on the move!" a subordinate yelled.
Gilbert couldn't believe it. Even Jennings? Something was definitely not right. How did a peaceful evening spiral into this chaotic mess?
"Anything weird on our end?" Gilbert asked.
"Nope, all clear," the subordinate replied.
"Where did Jennings' crew head?" Gilbert asked again.
"They went to Brian's side!" the subordinate shot back.
Gilbert started pacing, muttering to himself.
"Call everyone, gather up! No matter what's happening, we gotta check it out!" Gilbert ordered, waving his fist. "We're heading to Brian's side too!"
William was in front of the iron cabinet in the basement, watching as Clarissa twisted something, and the iron door swung open.
Behind him was a basement full of women, and a few guys who had survived the hands of these women who had just turned into demons.
"Deceptive Ghost Tree?" William asked, surprised.
His face showed emotion as he saw the mutated plant inside, waving its thick branch-like tentacles.
In his past life, this thing was infamous.
No one knew what plant the Deceptive Ghost Tree mutated from, and no one cared. Survivors were always freaked out by how terrifying it was.
The giant tree William had seen, which took over an entire city, was suspected to be the ultimate form of the Deceptive Ghost Tree.
In straightforward terms, the Deceptive Ghost Tree was one clever adversary.Its appearance didn't reveal its true power level as it cleverly concealed its Magic Crystal. Plus, its tentacles would bear fragrant fruits. Survivors who ate these fruits would evolve. As long as the survivor's evolution level wasn't higher than the Deceptive Ghost Tree, eating its fruit would have an effect.
When this thing was first discovered, survivors flocked to it because it meant humans had found a way to evolve without Evolution Elixir, potentially freeing themselves from the control of the roulette and starting a new path of enhancement. But later, they realized how wrong this was.
Those fruits seemed to make humans evolve, but the evolution only lasted about a month. After that, the evolutionary power would vanish, and the survivors would revert to their original state. Plus, because they had consumed the Deceptive Ghost Tree's fruit, their bodies would become its breeding ground. The seeds would sprout and take root inside them. By the time they realized the evolutionary power was gone, it was too late. Their entire bloodstream would be taken over by the budding Deceptive Ghost Tree, turning them into its fertilizer, gradually transforming them into treefolk. Eventually, when their flesh was completely drained, a new Deceptive Ghost Tree would burst out from their bodies.
From hiding its level to trick survivors into picking its fruits, to putting up a fake fight, killing a few for nutrition, and finally letting people pick the fruits to complete its breeding process, the Deceptive Ghost Tree had it all figured out.
When survivors finally caught on to these traps, they were floored and realized just how dangerous the world had become.
A single mutated plant could evolve and reproduce in such a twisted way. How were humans supposed to survive?
Out of fear and hatred, folks speculated that the giant tree was its ultimate form.
William grinned, causing the people behind him to give him weird looks.
He glanced at Clarissa, Leah, and Abigail, the three Evolving folks, and shook his head slightly. He didn't know how long they'd been munching on those fruits. If it hadn't been long, William might have some solutions. If it had been a while, they could only cherish their remaining days.
Suddenly, a woman at the basement entrance screamed, and people started backing up. William turned to see a golden-furred dog at the door, likely sent by the team after hearing the gunshots to find him.
"Come here!" William waved his hand, and the previously fierce-looking dog immediately turned into a fawning creature, rushing to William's feet.
The people behind exchanged glances, unable to hide their shock.
A level-two mutated creature as a mere pet. This golden dog seemed capable of single-handedly causing chaos within Cloud Peak Manor.The women who had been hesitant to share this secret with William now realized they had made the right call.
The dog sniffed the hole behind the iron door, its fur standing on end, eyes locked on the Deceptive Ghost Tree, clearly sensing danger.
"So, it's a level three." William put away his gun, and the Edge of the Moon appeared in his hand.
William affectionately patted Pill's head. "Let's go say hello to our new friend," he declared. With Pill by his side, William charged forward without hesitation.
As William appeared at the entrance, the Deceptive Ghost Tree's tentacles started moving faster. When they rushed in, the bizarre mutated plant began shaking violently, making a threatening noise. A piece of bark at the junction of the trunk and branches flipped open, revealing a black Magic Crystal.
It revealed its identity as a level-three evolved creature. However, this revelation didn't shake William in the slightest. In a swift motion, he brandished his knife, unleashing the fiery power of the Flame Blade.
The level-three Deceptive Ghost Tree suddenly uprooted itself, its roots breaking through the soil, all its branch-like tentacles shielding its trunk.
Typically, tree-type mutated plants only gained mobility at level four, while vines could move freely in the soil early in their evolution.
But this wasn't absolute. In life-and-death moments, tree-type mutated plants below level four could also move, though at a great cost, like falling into weakness afterward.
The Deceptive Ghost Tree was no exception. After William's strongest attack, it felt threatened and quickly decided to move.
Unfortunately, it was still too slow in the face of the SealFlame Blade. Moreover, William used a little trick, activating the Sprint skill of the Bloodstride Boots while attacking.
