The Tree That Was Once a Human
His plant-like body still hadn't grown accustomed to the stillness. The system pulsed within him like a second heart—watchful, evolving.
The two corpses near him had partially decomposed under the effect of his absorption trait, and his leaves had turned a deeper green—sharper, livelier. His roots had delved deeper, expanding his underground domain.
Suddenly, a tremor ran through his consciousness.
> [Minimum threshold of bio-energy surpassed.]
[Plant Consciousness Mode Unlocked – Level One.]
Time froze for a heartbeat.
Then, Yu Zi Yu began to feel something new... His sense of the earth had changed. He was no longer just a trunk buried in the soil—he could feel insects crawling, tiny vibrations, subtle shifts in humidity and wind. The world had become sharper… and far more complex.
> "I... can think more clearly now?"
A new notification followed:
> [Skill Unlocked: Limited Plant Telepathy – You can perceive signals from nearby plants within a small radius.]
The trees around him began to emit faint pulses of life. Each plant carried a story—a warning, a fear, a memory. The forest was watching. Silent, but not dead.
And then he heard it.
"Someone is coming..."
A warning, transmitted from a small tuft of grass near the hill. His awareness surged forward from his roots to the edge of his territory, where a creature was slowly creeping, observing from afar.
A new beast.
This one was different from the others. Covered in dark fur, it moved with caution and cunning. It didn't attack right away—it studied, as if it possessed a primitive intelligence.
The system revealed its threat:
> [Warning: Target possesses enhanced sense of smell and tracking abilities.]
There was no time to hesitate.
Yu Zi Yu silently extended his vines, spreading roots stealthily beneath the earth. He constructed a natural trap of camouflaged spears. And when the creature came close enough... the trap was sprung.
The vines lashed at its legs first, then spears shot up from the soil, piercing its underbelly. Though the beast struggled, Yu Zi Yu this time was smarter, more aware… and more ruthless.
> [Target eliminated.]
[Progressing: Consciousness Development – Phase Two unlocks at 50 bio-energy points.]
A rush surged through him, as though something shattered and broke free inside.
> "In my past life, I was weak... bound by the limits of flesh and mind.
But now... I'm building myself anew—root to crown."
In the distance, eyes gleamed from behind the bushes.
The forest had begun to sense... and observe.
And the tree—was no longer a silent victim.
It was becoming a force.
Adapting.
Dominating.
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