The Forest Grows Tense
The forest was growing tenser. Yu Zi Yu—no longer just a tree—was beginning to assert his presence within a hostile ecosystem. Every battle he fought granted him something new: a skill, energy, or even a deeper awareness of his new nature.
While the system processed information and calculated future evolutions, Yu Zi Yu sensed something unfamiliar.
Footsteps. Heavy. Not animal.
The echoes reverberated through the ground. These were not the steps of a forest beast… they were human.
From behind the trees, a man emerged, armed with a spear and clad in worn leather armor. His face was grim, his eyes scanning the ground with intent. Behind him followed a younger man, carrying a pack and looking exhausted.
> "Sir, is this the place? The beast disappeared here…"
The older man didn't answer. He felt something unnatural about this part of the forest. The tree trunks, the damp soil, even the air… it was as if life itself was watching him.
Yu Zi Yu hadn't seen humans since his transformation. A mix of emotions stirred within him: curiosity, concern, and… deadly caution.
> [Warning: Human entities detected within range. Threat level: Medium to High.]
[Activating Plant Stealth Mode – Full environmental blending initiated.]
Thanks to his new skills, Yu Zi Yu dampened his bio-energy and secreted a natural, soil-colored coating over his leaves, making him appear as nothing more than an ordinary tree. The humans approached, noticing nothing unusual.
"There's blood here… and torn-up beasts? This isn't normal at all."
The hunter neared one of the beasts Yu Zi Yu had slain earlier and began examining it.
But when he touched the earth near the tree's roots… he felt something pulsing beneath.
He stared at the trunk, tense. Something was off.
The younger man whispered in fear:
> "Sir… I think this tree… is watching us?"
In a sharp moment of tension, Yu Zi Yu nearly lost control, ready to strike—but he held back. His newly evolved mind clung to calm. He didn't want to draw attention. Not yet.
> [New skill unlocked: Enemy Analysis – Basic Weak Point Detection.]
The charged moment passed. The two men withdrew quietly, though unease was clear on their faces. This forest… was not as they remembered it.
Only Yu Zi Yu remained, thinking.
> "Humans… they've returned.
And they're more dangerous than beasts.
But this time… I won't be the prey."
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