"Why is there a giant flower on top of the store?" Rose wondered once they came close enough to see what it was.
The exterior of the convenience store they had been looking for was filled with vines and brambles on the exterior. But the most shocking thing was the enormous flower still blooming at the naked eyes on the roof of the building.
'Did plants change as well?' Enzo thought as he was perplexed. 'I feel like there is more to it.'
As he said, it was a strange occurrence. After all, he could understand how the monsters came to be, but not this giant flower.
Indeed those who couldn't control the Eden inside of them once it came to Earth transformed into mindless beasts. But how about flowers? Could they turn into monsters as well?
Nonetheless, Enzo approached the convenience store, his eyes fixed on the peculiar giant flower on the roof. He couldn't help but feel a sense of unease the more he approached the building.
"Wait Enzo," Rose caught Enzo's sleeve. "Are you sure it's wise to continue? We can still look elsewhere to find food and medicines. Albeit further away, it's better than to go into the unknown, right?"
Her reasoning was right, to say the least. After all, this giant flower emitted ominous energy. Yet could they afford to wait for more and search for another store? The sun would soon enough set, and things would get more complicated if they were to wander around. They didn't have any type of night vision, after all, did they?
"The moment we decided to fight for our lives meant we were ready to go into the unknown," Enzo said, and Rose released her grip on his sleeve.
The automatic door of the store didn't work as there was no electricity left on the campus, so they had to break it with force to enter.
It wasn't hard for Enzo as his body had improved a lot. However, something unexpected happened.
Right before they could set foot inside the store, the vines and brambles entangled between themselves and blocked the entrance. It was as if they couldn't allow the duo to enter.
Rose, stay on guard," Enzo cautioned, his voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. "This giant flower... it could be something we've never encountered before. We can't afford to underestimate it." To Enzo, it could only be the giant flower that controlled those things.
Rose nodded, summoning her avatars on the same occasion.
Enzo and Rose observed the vines and brambles that had intertwined to form a barrier, preventing them from entering the convenience store. The giant flower loomed above them, its petals exuding an eerie glow as if it were aware of their presence.
"It's definitely protecting something," Rose murmured, her avatars emanating an aura of readiness. "We have to find a way to get past this barrier if we want to uncover the secrets within."
Enzo examined the entangled vegetation, analyzing the patterns and thickness of the vines. He realized that brute force alone wouldn't be enough to break through.
And because of this, he coated his dagger with the poison of his poisonous butterflies and slashed down on the vegetation.
Without a doubt, a few cuts were enough to poison the vines and brambled before they completely withered, leaving the entrance free for them to enter.
Enzo immediately looks up at the flower, but thankfully, it didn't react. He was scared that if would do something because he killed some of the vegetation. 'Maybe it's not as ominous as I thought?'
Enzo cautiously stepped through the now-open entrance, closely followed by Rose and her avatars. The interior of the convenience store revealed a scene of disarray and decay. Shelves were overturned, products were strewn across the floor, and a thick layer of dust covered everything.
The roof was open as well as if the giant flower destroyed it. It was now casting a dim, ethereal light, illuminating the area with an otherworldly glow. Its presence was undeniable, yet it remained motionless as if observing their every move.
Enzo and Rose couldn't help but feel chill down their spines as the scene in front of them looked right from an apocalypse movie.
Carefully, Enzo and Rose began to navigate the aisles of the convenience store, their eyes scanning for any signs of supplies that could aid them in their survival. As they moved deeper into the store, they noticed an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional creaking of the floorboards beneath their feet.
"I can't shake the feeling that this flower is watching us," Rose whispered, her voice barely audible. Her avatars maintained a vigilant stance, ready to defend at a moment's notice. "And why is there nobody? Surely there should be other survivors than us, right? So why isn't there anyone else? It should be the prime location to aim for, isn't it?
Enzo nodded, his senses heightened as he surveyed their surroundings. "It definitely feels... eerie in some ways. We need to be cautious and stay on guard. There's something strange about this place."
As they continued their search, Enzo's eyes fell upon a section of the store where the vegetation seemed to be more concentrated. Vines snaked their way along the walls and shelves, intertwining with each other in an intricate dance.
"Rose, look at this," Enzo called softly, gesturing for her to join him. "The vines here... they seem to be converging towards a central point."
Rose approached, her avatars forming a protective circle around them. Together, they traced the path of the vines until their gaze settled upon a small, enclosed space in the corner of the store.
"Hey Enzo, I think we should go now?" Rose suddenly said.
"Why is that?"
"You know, usually the more the protagonist is curious about a place, the more strange things occur. And I can shake the feeling that it might be the case here as well. So shouldn't we go back now? We got everything that we wanted to get. Foods, medicines, and others things as well, so isn't it enough?"
Enzo looked at her before looking at the corner of the store again. He pondered for a while before finally making up his decision.