The dagger, though basic, sliced through the zombie's arm with（surprising）... precision. Qian Hui's palms trembled as he clutched the injured green chili, fleeing toward the arrow's direction. His body, pushed to its limits by hours of pursuit, burned with exhaustion. Without a health bar, he guessed his condition was dire.
The zombie limped after him, its injured arm trailing blood. Qian Hui's legs buckle, but he staggered forward, relying on sheer willpower. The chili, now subdued, peeked up at him occasionally, still nursing its wounds. You're either human or zombie it thought. But you smell... different. Not the rot of undead, nor the stench of humans—just faint earthy sweetness.
Twenty minutes later, he stumbled into a forest clearing. A crystal-clear stream beckoned. He drank greedily, relief flooding his parched throat. The game's warning flashed: Avoid lingering in safe zones—mutation plants lurk here. Ignoring it, he scooped water into leaves for the chili. The plant rejected it, its beady eyes darting nervously.
"Hungry?" Qian Hui offered half a fruit. The chili hesitated, then devoured it greedily. Its loyalty meter ticked upward—5%. Interesting, he mused, checking its stats: Green Chili Lv. Mid Loyalty: 5%. Its Seed Launcher skill now carried an 85% crit rate.
As twilight draped the sky, thunder rumbled. Rain lashed down, soaking Qian Hui's clothes. He sought refuge in a crumbling wardrobe, barricading the entrance with a plank. Inside, a tiny cabbage—Mini Cabbage Lv. Low Loyalty: 40%—hugged his sleeve. The game's joy buzzer sounded: Two Plants Bonded! Shop Unlocked! 100 Coins Awarded!
Suddenly, voices echoed outside. "Black Ridge Base..." The chili's leaves bristled. Qian Hui froze. That voice...