Seeing Qian Hui's furtive movements, the chili plant panicked. Why follow those humans? It tugged his sleeve urgently. If they recognize you're a mutant, they'll execute you on sight. Better to vanish—
Qian Hui soothed it under his voice. "I'll stay hidden. Just observe." Relief flickered across the chili's spiky leaves as it nestled into his pocket, only（show）a sliver of emerald foliage. The cabbage on his shoulder also ducked down, its round leaves camouflaging against the ruins. Qian Hui patted the soft vine coiled around his wrist—a silent guardian—before trailing behind the squad.
The wasteland sprawled ahead, a labyrinth of collapsed concrete and twisted metal. The humans moved methodically, their instruments beeping with faint energy readings. Low-level flora signatures… The squat leader frowned. This area's been sterilized. Why the persistent signals? His（teammate）shrugged. Who cares about weeds? The mission comes first.
Occasional gunshots echoed as they bypassed skeletal trees. Qian Hui lagged, his mangled leg slowing him. Abandon hope, he thought, find shelter before nightfall. But then—CRACK. The distant clash of steel on bone startled him. Peering through debris, he saw the humans obliterate zombies with effortless precision. They're formidable, he realized, but they're not like me.
The zombies here had milky eyes and withered hair—his own reflection. If they find me… He clutched his dagger, heart pounding. Yet hope gnawed at him. Perhaps I can prove I'm different.
When the squad vanished into a crumbling skyscraper, Qian Hui hesitated. The building's interior was a deathtrap of shattered glass and unstable beams. Too risky, he decided, turning back—only to catch sight of the team reemerging.
The Unseen Bond
As twilight stained the sky in ochre hues, Qian Hui's vine saved him again. A misstep sent him stumbling, but the plant's tendrils lashed out, anchoring him to a rusted pipe. Thank you, he whispered, brushing its leaves.
At the site of the earlier skirmish, he found a lone zombie—its skull pierced by a steel beam, still twitching faintly. Qian Hui's dagger gleamed. One more kill. The game's chime rewarded him Level 1 Zombie Eliminated! +1,000 Coins! His balance surged to 3,600.
The Twist of Fate
Following the squad deeper into the city, Qian Hui encountered two more zombies. Each kill incremented his coins, totaling 4,600. When the team bypassed a Danger Zone (Zone 2) sign and vanished into the skyscraper, Qian Hui retreated.
But fate—or the game's algorithms—had other plans.
Shadowed Encounters
As nightfall silenced the ruins, Qian Hui spotted the squad's leader discussing something with a comrade. "That escaped chili…" The words froze him. They're searching for Xiao Zi?
Panicked, he followed the leader's offscreenshot figure into the darkness. The game's alert blared:
CONGRATULATIONS! Evaded hostile forces thrice undetected! Earned "（Primary detection expert）" Title!
TRIGGERED STORYLINE: RAW ENDING FOR MAN-EATER FLOWER UNLOCKED.
Confused, he clicked the notification. A single line flashed:
Man-Eater Flower: Tier-Superior Mutated Plant. Origin unknown. Rampages indiscriminately. Captured alive, died mysteriously en route to Sky Base.
His chest tightened. Dead? And those humans—they'd been hunting it?
Desperation's Calculus
The squad's leader snapped, "Why's this area still showing plant energy?" His teammate shrugged. "Maybe leftover mutations." Qian Hui listened, barely breathing. They mentioned Xiao Zi…
When the team finally scattered, Qian Hui slumped onto the ground. The chili stared at him, its leaves trembling with unspoken guilt. You abandoned us, it seemed to say. But I'm still here.
He stood, wiping blood from his dagger. The cabbage peeked out, its loyalty meter now at 70%. Close, he thought, pressing a med pill into its mouth. The soft vine's loyalty hit 50%, unlocking its Branch Budding skill.
The Final Pursuit
As darkness swallowed the ruins, Qian Hui followed a flicker of movement—a human silhouette departing from the squad. His pulse raced. South Tingjian?
The figure vanished around a corner. Qian Hui hesitated, then sprinted after it, his plants hidden in his pockets. The game's voice mocked him: LOW SURVIVAL RISK: 10%
But survival wasn't his priority now. Not when hope glinted on the horizon.