Prologue
"Aaaahhh~ how boring. What kind of hell or heaven is this?"
I looked at the black void surrounding my body, feeling rather uninterested as my body seemed to swim in this bizarre place. A world of black where the only thing that seems to glow is my own body, which is apparently unharmed and uninjured.
Ah, you want to hear my story? And how I got here? Who knows, all what I know is that I am currently here after my death. That isn't really informative, isn't it? Okay then, I guess I need to start from the start?
In the beginning, there was darkness, and then out of literally nowhere, an explosion occured and created the universe and/or whatever dimensional heierarchy you care about, multiverse, and all. Oh, I am already talking to myself. Well, I have nothing else to do, really, so I just has to continue.
Anyways, skip to a billions of years later, I, Kasumi Ai, a closet otaku and a plant-loving japanese woman who is/was nothing but a cog in the machine all things considered, despite being a skilled light novel writer, died. I say "skilled," but it isn't that hard to write an isekai story since most of them are the freaking same, just with different names and faces, and of course, I didn't bother deviating from the mainstream, at least not as much. Now, why did I do that? Because it's easy money of course. One of my series got an anime and manga adaptation, so that was a nice amount of cash. Otakus really love that kind of junk food. I personally liked the fact that I can put a bunch of plant monsters as well! There was at least a couple of named ones every arc! Even if they died just as easily as fodders if they were guys and thrown into the harem if they were girls.
Oh, my death? Well, it was after I wrote a hentai light novel (under a different pen name, of course. Don't wanna get otakus trying to literally murder me just for the crime of writing a story where ladies and the protagonist actually aren't virgins and actually have sex, thus ruining their fantasies of self-inserting as the faceless protag), and while successful, down the road an asshole with a lot of money found out about that and tried to blackmail me into marrying him after he called himself to my house, and he also was intruding, uninvited, while I was enjoying my free time to take care of my small garden of plants, and he also threatened to ruin them just because.
So I had bound him to a chair and forced him to watch a bunch of horror movies (Kuchisake-onna is best waifu in the history of horror movies along with Teke-Teke!) on a loop along with reading terrible fanfictions like My Immortal, all while I put a bunch of awesome songs from my favourite bands to be on full blast. In hindsight, I wasn't in my best mental faculties when I did that, and now I blame the burnout from writing along with the few times I had to drink, and the fact that he ruined one of the few rare moments where I can enjoy my plants, combined with the sudden bout of depression over having my pen name's identity discovered.
And well, I got killed by the police on his payroll after he escaped, shot by guns. And thus ends my ultimately pointless life as a cog in the machine of the otaku-addicted industry of anime, manga, and light novels, in japan. I would probably be forgotten in a couple of years, definitely. Man, that's depressing, even with the strange lack of interest that this black place seems to induce.
Wait, you're still here? Geez, and I thought I had no life, literally. So, I died, and then I found myself in this... whatever this place is. I don't know how long I was stranded here, but honestly it's gotten boring. Was I here for days or eons? I had lost track completely.
Well, time to imagine something for the Nth time here. I would have tried reciting flower names, but I'd rather do that late-
And then, there was another being... A goddess...
Or, at least I think she is one...? She was eating a hamburger and seemed rather happy. She didn't even bother looking at me. Also, wearing a school uniform is... okay, just ignore that. Let's focus on what's important!
Mentally slapping myself to get on the track, I raised my arm in a 'hello' gesture.
"... Hi..." Damn it. I wanted to put more enthusiasm than that of a dying kitten into it!
No matter, since she had finally looked at me. Why is her face reddening?
"O-oh!" rapidly cleanin the mess that was her hair and remains of her meal, she had finally looked regal as her smile literally glowed. At least, I think she wanted to look regal, since she looked more like a guy who only was obsessed with selling his book then suddenly finding himself talking with another human being over anything other than his book.
She coughed, taking a long breath. "W-welcome!"
Well, now that smile is way better and more confident. I find myself smiling back just a bit. Still, I'm not sure what she is yet. Is she really a goddess? Maybe, but she could as well be a figment of my imagination... But just in case, read my mind and tell me something ridiculous not even my hallucination will not accept or even dare to think of!
"Hey! I have to tell you that I am real!" the supposedly-real goddess pouts, and I find myself nodding. This might be one strong hallucination, but might as well treat it as real just in case. This might throw me into an isekai encounter if it was real, and if not, I just hallucinate something else later.
"Also, Edogawa Conan can put Hajun behind the bars." she said casually, and immediately, I felt myself snorting from the sheer absurdity of that statement, before I just laughed my butt off.
"Wh- what?? C-Conan? H-Hajun? Bwahahaha! Okay, that was the funniest thing I heard so far!" Man, it was so hard to breathe! This, this woman is actually real! Even I couldn't think of something even more ridiculous!
Slowly, my laughter became subdued as I finally straightened my body, looking at her as the actually-real goddess looked with amusement.
"Well, good to see that you decided to treat it as real." she smiled as two chairs, one behind each of us, spawned out of nothing, and she sat on hers. "Also, you know that you can just speak here, you know? No need to have me read your mind."
"Yeah. I can manage." I said as I sat on my chair, "So, what am I here for? Reincarnation? Oblivion? Having my soul purified to be reborn into Earth once more?"
"Well, reincarnation is more like it." the goddess stated, her body composed as her clothes transformed into what people call a divine dress. "As you know, this scenario you're in just reeks of an isekai plot, correct, miss Isekai-story-writer?"
I can feel your smugness, you know that, right? "Yes. I frankly expected that probability. So, how does that work exactly? Do I choose my destination, or do I get it with the luck of draw? Or do you choose the world? Would I be reborn as a human? Can I get a cheat?" the questions flew out of my mouth rapidly, wondering just how this would unfold. I was admittedly rather interested at the very least, my boredom no longer existing.
Hm, was it due to the goddess and her at least looking nice, or just due to the subject? Seeing her murmuring with a blush reminded me that she had literally appeared wearing a school uniform and eating a burger.
"O-one question at a time please." she took a breath, "sorry. I'm rather new in this whole isekai shenanigans. Most of the other gods are the ones who usually take care of that. At least, it was, until an idiot threw a girl into a High School DxD reality as a demi-goddess as the daughter of Aphrodite... let's just say he was so tempted with her he immediately threw away his godly power after she literally brainwashed him with her breasts after she became almost the strongest being in that reality... and united herself with the power of breasts..." she looked at me so awkwardly, while I was sure my jaw had dropped to my leg.
What. The. Hell.
"I- I have so many questions! How? Why? Just- how!?" I yell. Turns out that yes, she was serious, despite her looking so hesitant to believe it herself.
"Just, let us finish this conversation, please?" she wants to do anything but to talk about that... bout of stupidity. Okay, I agree with her. J-just give me a moment to calm down.
"So, about your destination, well, sorry but the higher ups want to have more transmigrators and reincarnators to a cultivation world. Particularly, women. A lot of people who get thrown to these dimensions are guys, and well... yin-yang and all that..." the goddess looked rather apologetic.
"Damn it!" Needless to say, I wasn't exactly happy about being thown into a world where most the population can't comprenend anything but face-slapping and defying the heaven or becoming it, Zamasu-style, or whatever.
There goes my idea of reincarnating in DxD as Ophis if possible, so that I can just sleep inside a black hole for all of eternity. How tragic.
Next, I was tasked to spin a wheel to determine the world I will be reincarnated into, or at least, a version of it, and I got... Long Live Summons!
Wasn't that novel about a guy being thrown into a cultivation world due to some old man, and most cultivators had a magical book that they can use to make contracts with monsters along with getting a Guardian Beast or something? I forgot the plot long ago, honestly, not to mention that I stopped reading after 600 or so chapters. Something about Innates and what not? Ugh, hopefully I won't have to deal with idiots wanting to make a contract with me or something. I dutifully ignored the fact that I might have raised a red flag even before my reincarnation.
"And as for being reborn as a human, spin this wheel." she tells me as a large wheel appears, and I see the options I have... uh, this isn't right?
"Why are there many plant-like monsters written on the wheel?" I asked, and she just sheepishly looked at me.
"Well, you loved plants a lot, so it was decided that you may get a higher chance to reincarnate as a plant monster, or more accurately, a Plant-type Beast." she quoted, reminding me of what world I am supposed to be reborn into.
Now, that's just unfair. Well, not the chance to be reborn as a plant beast that will eat humans alive, I get that part since I know my mentality will change, since that's what that kind of deal entails. It is some kind of a physiological mechanism that all beasts, at least the meat-eating ones have since otherwise it would be impossible to survive.
What I'm annoyed about is this bizarre "you like plants so you have higher chance of becoming a plant monster" thing. Isn't that like turning me into a single trait? If I liked food the most, would I reincarnate as a hamburger or a pickle by that reasoning? What kind of logic is that?
Anyways, my mental rant which got me a shrug from the goddess aside, I spun the wheel.
I mentally prayed to the goddess that I wouldn't be reborn as something as lame as a monkey, or something as stupid... and I got my wish granted! Sort-of.
"Oh, a Thorny Alraune!" the goddess smiled, apparently excited. I can't blame her, since I was as well.
An Alraune, a monster with the lower body of a giant flower/plant and the upper body of a human. That was what I know about it, and how it generally was like in most stories that had them appear in.
It might be different than usual since in most xianxia stories, names are important, so a Thorny Alraune must be either a variant of a normal Alraune, assuming it exists in that reality in the first place. Or maybe it is related to that Thorny Flower beast?
"So, what does it mean?" I asked, just in case, waiting in anticipation.
The goddess, apparently enjoying the chance to show off her knowledge from her momentary blush, spoke.
"Well, it's as you thought, it's related to the Thorny Flower, in the sense it's an 'upgraded' version of it. Though arguably not by much, all things considered." she stated, "A Thorny Alraune has the usual abilities of a Thorny Flower, but it also has many of the typical alraune skillset. Such as generating poisons, aphrodisiacs, and nectars like honey, which can heal and restore stamina if desired."
Okay, that is awesome! I can feel that this would help a lot as long as I have some time to practice on how to use and create them.
"But most importantly, Thorny Alraunes have the ability to generate or create any fruits or flowers that they have eaten. Wether it was a normal plant or a plant-type beast, along with their characteristics. So, if you ate a plant with fire-resistance proprieties, you gain that resistance, though it might not be as powerful as the original plant's resistance if you consume only one of the stronger plants. Also, this ability is only for plants. You can't eat a tiger then gain claws or start creating an army of them."
"Hah, makes sense." if an Alraune can become a rip-off Rimuru, then that would be way too ridiculous. The goddess continued her exposition.
"They also can use thorny vines in their attacks as well, but you must have expected that, correct?" I just nod. Yes, that was as I thought.
"Well, I'd like to tell you everything, but I believe that this is enough initial knowledge about your new race. Just so you know, Thorny Alraunes are born as Normal-rank Level 1 Beast."
I sighed at that. Of course, I would still be reincarnated as a weak plant beast. Well, most plant beasts are weak at the start, so I guess that's alright.
"So, I will be reincarnated now?" I asked, only for her to shake her head.
"You forgot something."
I blinked at that. There's something else?
"Your 'cheat,' won't you want one? I am sure I need to at least try and give you a couple of cheats before sending you. Though it really depends on how 'strong' each cheat you desire. Just remember that some things cannot be granted to you though."
I was shocked. I honestly forgot about that particular subject.
So, I started thinking. What cheats can I wish for? I can't wish for immortality, omnipotence or the likes, she very much told me just with her look. I also can't wish to be born as a Holy/Mythical Beast, since that would make me skip the whole "evolving" deal, as much as I'd like that.
Hm, oh right! There was that Barbarian Cow whose look can destroy souls. Better protect myself against that.
"I want protection against soul attacks if that was possible, and maybe throw a healing ability while at it?"
"Okay, I can give it, but not a full protection though. Instead, you will gain the ability to survive an instant soul-destroying attack with your soul not completely erased even with your level or rank being a bit lower than the attacker. Though if you got hit again with that kind of attack you will most likely die." she answered me, and I simply nodded. That was how I thought it would be.
"And about your healing wish, Thorny Alraunes already have healing abilities from their nectars, but in your case, it would just be more potent for your level. Truthfully, you would probably get that potent healing skill when you increase your power, so I won't really count it as a 'cheat' if I was honest."
"Thanks for that gift then." I was honestly happy with this generosity, and I bowed to show my gratitude. And now, all what remains is my next cheat-like ability, which I thought about, and I decided what I'd like the most, even if I had to... ugh... unlock the memories of my chunibyou days.
"I'd like to be able to cultivate if it was possible." I stated my request. Frankly, I wasn't sure why, but most monsters in xianxia and wuxia stories (or at least, the stories I read) can't really cultivate, at least in the sense of learning a cultivation technique like the 'Heavenly Breaker Fist' or 'Demonic Inferno Blaze' and such. They mostly just eat the cores of other monsters, or eat other entities, mindless monsters, or humanoid beings alike.
Supposedly, because such beasts don't have enough sapience or sophonce in their brains, which makes no sense to me since for whatever reason, cultivators people whose basic ability to reason can only manifest in making death threats, lusting over 'jade beauties' and spouting idioms to deify themselves can cultivate even if their intelligence reaches the negative values. To be fair, it is probably due to the chinese mythology being rather humanocentric, but it still is rather annoying from an in-universe viewpoint.
I can probably make a whole rant about it, but I'll spare myself and the nice goddess from my ramblings.
Returning back to my talk with the goddess, she only looked amused. No doubt reading my mind and thinking of what technique I had created in my 'Dies Irae fanfiction' phase of my life.
"Natura Aeterna Nirvana. Translated as 'Eternal Nature of Nirvana' in latin. Your OC's Taikyoku ability in your fanfic, made uniquely to suit your love for plants and flora in general, the creation of a world where only plants can exist, and you even made it contain many stages like a cultivation technique!" she spoke, thoroughly enjoying herself as I felt myself blush slightly.
Sue me! I was at the height of my otaku-ism at that period! I mean, how can I not fall in love with Fate and Dies Irae, and who cares what else back then! I thought they were the coolest!
"I'm not judging you. Just commenting on your actions." she just waved her hand, "I accept this 'cheat ability' of your choosing. Honestly, it's better than I expected. Most guys who choose a cultivation world to reincarnate into, usually just ask for the ability to use all the existing techniques."
Which is why they only got one wish along with many downsides they only noticed after being reborn, I presume? I assume it isn't a good idea to just shove a technique that can only be used by demons and try to practice it with a human body, or a sex-specific cultivation technique being practiced when one's body is from a different sex.
Yeah, I can see why some of them genderswap. Sacrifice everything for the sake of power, indeed.
With that, being told that I would spawn in a forest of the Soaring Dragon Continent, I was engulfed by light, transmigrated to my new life.
Chapter 01: And thus I awoke in my new life
When I opened my eyes, all I could see was black. A different kind of black than the one where I talked with the goddess before I was reincarnated.
While that black void felt ever-expanding with no real ending, the black I was in right now seemed more confined, yet protective, more like a shield to hide me from all the cruelties of the world.
Naturally, my instincts, my new ones in particular, immediately noticed what that meant, and what I am right now.
'I am covered by my large petals, aren't I?' I thought, and my instincts immediately affirmed my question. Then, let's open it now.
As if hearing my demand, the protective blackness started to unveil as the "ceiling" opened and light flooded my senses, causing me to cover my eyes to adjust to the intensity.
An immediate look at my surroundings showed me that I was indeed, in a forest. I couldn't see any animals close to me, nor are there any beasts as far as I can see. Neither plant beasts, or other types. I only saw trees and flowers, and maybe some weed and vines. So, I was reborn in an area that isn't filled with monsters, that much is clear. Thank goodness!
This external inspection had only taken a few seconds, and now that the instinctual urge to see where I am to immediately assess the external situation, I directed my eyes and senses to my own body.
The first thing I noticed was that I was, bluntly speaking, naked from the waist and up, yet there was no feeling of repulsion that would have been felt if I had this happen to me in my previous life.
'So that means my mentality had already changed since the moment I was reincarnated.' I inwardly thought before continuing my inspection.
My skin was a white, not unexpected and rather smooth and soft as I touched it, and I realized that I had breasts, but they were only B-cup at most. I assume it will increase if I increased my level or rank.
My hands and fingers were also soft, and they looked like I never did any hard activty at all, which was rather appropriate seeing that this body had been born just right now. Though I feel that they would stay the same even if I started working as a castle builder and I did all the work on my own. Must be my monster physiology, or is that due to Qi? Maybe both, honestly.
I couldn't see my eyes' color, nor see my face, but I can see that my hair is emerald-green, from the few strands I took since it was rather short. Since I couldn't know how y face looked like, I only decided to trust my Alraune genes to give me a cute face at least.
Finishing my inspection on my upper half, I determined that my human-looking side seemed to look like a girl in her 15's or a bit older, at least according to how tall I felt my upper body feel like.
Next, I moved to my lower half that began from my waist.
I had already noticed it before; just as Iooked at myself, but only now am I really focusing on it.
My upper body was surrounded by large red flower petals, with me at the center, and they felt rather similar to my skin when I touched them, and they were definitely attached to my body since pinching them gave a small sensation of pain.
And it wasn't a single layer of flower petals, but three layers, and below them there were many oversized tree leaves, also with layers as well. The leaves though didn't send any signal of pain or being touched when I pinched them, and they felt unusually sturdy despite being soft to the touch.
'A weapon of mine, probably?' I thought as I then looked, and sensed what was below the leaves. A large green bulb with a giant mouth, large and sharp teeth inside of it with a few visible to the outside, and an extra set of eyes as well were there. Currently, they were closed, and all what I need is to wish to, and I can open them.
And all around the bulb, multiple vines were growing and forming a colony centered around me, and further down the bulb, my 'legs,' or what qualifies as them, were growing as well. I felt that they were more like plant roots that can somehow support my weight to move me. I doubt it would be something fast, at least right now, but this was how it was.
And this was all what I can understand from my physical body so far.
I doubt that I took more than a couple of minutes since I started the inspection. And with that, I put my focus on what I was now feeling was running in my body.
Different than blood, different than cells, but something that felt just as familiar even though I only felt it just now.
Qi.
Flowing indise my veins, slow yet fast, new yet I felt like I knew it for so long. Power coursing through my body in a way that I never imagined could be possible. I knew that even this measly amount of power would have me defeat two professional boxers from my previous world with ease.
"Ah, so this is it." I felt my face grinning. "Power."
Chapter 02: In which I get a taste of "power"
I marveled in the sensation of sheer power running in my body. Qi, coursing through my veins as I felt my heart pulsing faintly, as if to show my excitement.
"This is what Qi, feels like." what power feels like. Truly, most attractive, yet most terrifying as well.
It was effectively like a mix of being drunk and feeling high on drugs, if I can describe it, yet unlike these, it also gives you actual power.
My blood, my cells, wanted it. They demanded it, really. Demanded more of this energy.
A part of me pondered if this is why cultivators, or Rankers and/or Summoners in this world, were so easy to rile up. These people, they were practically being drunk on literal power since they started to cultivate!
I definitely saw the appeal of it, and I would be lying if I said I hate this feeling. And I knew that being drunk on it would feel the greatest thing imaginable to me right now, until my life ends.
Yet.
I subdued it. I, or more accurately, the ever-present human side of me, that of Kasumi Ai, forced it into submission.
Inhaling and exhaling deeply, I demanded that my Qi stops acting like... whatever it was acting like.
"That was insane..." I sighed, feeling honestly tired as my Qi's induced high had diminished. Qi was still moving around my body, that much was clear, but now it wasn't as apparent to my senses. I no longer can feel how it was moving, invigorating my cells. It was just there, moving, even if the sensation was faint.
And I honestly thought that the experience was too close for comfort. I had been reincarnated just a few minutes, yet just a single moment of having a real, very honest taste of power, and I nearly lost my mind.
"I need to control this power." I truly believed so. Isn't that why I was born with my human memories and ego, after all? Isn't me having a human ego, a sapient ego, supposed to help me curb this instinctual love for uncontrolled power?
If I simply allowed my new instincts to take over me, then what is the point of being reborn with my memories and previous perspective? I might as well be a beast with no memories of being Kasumi Ai, no perspective, and no real awareness or care of anything beyond my instincts and whims.
I am now a Thorny Alraune, but these instincts are mine to command and restrain, and I refuse to be theirs to be commanded by.
Another long breath. Calm down, calm down. This is just a problem I need to deal with, and I will deal with.
I realized that since I have time until the sun dies, I will start with this.
Taking another deep breath, I allowed my Qi to pulse inside my body, which I noticed was glowing faintly on the outside, including my monsterous lower half whose eyes and mouth were closed.
The feeling of power rose once more, most likely unintentionally trying to overwhelm me.
'Feed, consume, eat, devour, swallow.' It urged me. My nature as a beast, and a newborn one trying to overwhelm the intelligence and ego of what once was a human.
My leaves, glowing as well, appeared like they were trying to rise, as if they were planning to shoot themselves on something, as I imediately felt that they became just a bit more sturdier and sharper.
Yet, I had no plan to do any of that.
'Calm down, you. I didn't order you to control my body.'
This body and all what exists in it is mine. You are mine, my Qi. I am not yours. If I wanted to eat, it's because I want to or I have to, not because you demand me to.
You are me, but I am not you. If you want to be unleashed, it will be on my terms.
Power rushed through my body, from even my hair to my roots and vines making contact with the earth. But I didn't allow it to consume my mind, for I am my power, yet it isn't me.
It felt like I was putting a very short leash, as I told the Qi to course through me but not overwhelm me.
One circle, two, three, and it seemed that I finally got a better understanding of it. I had no doubt that my instincts were helping me as well, but that was fine. I prefer it this way.
More circles around my body, and I felt that the leaves had relaxed, no longer looking like an arrow locked on an enemy; yet it wasn't complete. I need to continue.
Qi kept flowing, and I started to feel exhausted, so I demanded that my roots latch on the ground and absorb enough nutrients and water using [Take Root].
With this, I can replenish my energy, and so I continued what I defined as my beginner exercice in Qi control.
Time kept moving, seemingly slowly, but I could see as the sun started setting, no doubt that night will fall in a few hours.
Luckily though, I had managed to control the effect my Qi had on me to a satisfactory level, in my opinion. The feeling of power was still present, but it no longer gives the urge to acquire more.
"Phew!" I breathed at last, feeling rather mentally taxed. I had managed to control my Qi's temptations for now at least.
I would definitely train this more as I grow stronger, and I would also need to learn to control my fight or flight responses in the face of a predator or a stronger beast, but that would be dealt with later.
For now though, I decided to eat actual food instead of draining the moisture and nutrients inside the earth.
With that, I opened my second set of eyes and mouth, taking a moment to get adjusted to the extra visionary input. On the News: having a new set of eyes is disorienting as hell!
It honestly felt like watching two TVs at the same time, while one was in front of you and the other behind. Is this how Pein from Naruto saw the world through his Six Paths technique? If so, I tip him my non-existent hat.
Still, my instincts as a Thorny Alraune made adapting for such thing a rather quick affair, and I slowly managed to walk (using my roots), while trusting my senses to help and warn me in the case of an enemy.
Luckily, I was able to move dozens of meters away with nothing more than the usual grass and plants on my way, which I decided to eat some of them.
It was... an interesting sight, not gonna lie. My lower mouth opened and a large tongue and many of the vines that I control extended, plucked some of the grass, flowers, and some of the tree branches, and they were put inside the giant mouth, digested and swallowed by the acids and saliva inside.
And as that happened, I felt as my Qi, while not expanding, felt fuller than before, and in my mind, knowledge just popped into existence.
So this is what my [Floral Creation] ability, huh? Truly a fun and exciting ability!
I felt as if I was born with the ability to create and use the characteristics of the botanical entity I had just ate!
"Let's see..." I murmured. "An apple, some vegetables, and a couple of plants that can resist the typical cold, and a skunk cabbage, a plant that can metabolically generate heat. So far, these plants I already know from my previous life."
I hummed as I extended one of my vines, and pushed some Qi towards it.
A small bulge appeared on its end before swelling up, color and shape changing, and I got an apple. A regular one, except with a fraction of my Qi.
That's interesting. It also tastes a bit sweeter than I recall.
Seeing that the night had already fallen by now, and sensing no predators even after trying my best to make sure, I decided to return to my rebirth place.
It was time to sleep!
Taking my place, my petals had started to rise and engulf me like a cocoon, hiding the moon light from me as I was met with the comforting darkness, and my body was ready to sleep.
Though I knew that my lower set of eyes and mouth would be on an alert even when closed in case of any harmful intent against me.
With that, I surrendered my mind to the dream land, knowing that tomorrow, I would attempt to cultivate. I can't probably focus properly while I am mentally exhausted after all.
Chapter 03: Trying to cultivate
The second day of my new life as a Thorny Alraune started with the smell of the vibrant air entering my nose before my eyes opened.
The layers of petals covering my upper half had already 'bloomed' to allow my body to rise.
After stretching my arms a bit, I relaxed for a moment enjoying the sight. Even now, a part of me wondered if this was just a dream before I ignored it.
I knew for a fact that this is my life now, and I just need to continue living! A simple goal, but it's good enough for me.
"Now, let's give myself some new fruits and plants to eat!" I spoke, and my lower half opened its eyes and mouth as well, as I marched to catch whatever that can satisfy my appetite for the moment.
Also, now that I think of it, I can 'speak.' I say it with that emphasis because now that I can think and focus properly, I noticed the strange absurdity of me being able to talk at all.
Now that the excitement of the first day, along with the euphoria I felt yesterday, and focus that I had to muster to deal with my Qi problem, along with the hunger I felt afterwards, I can now think about it for real.
'So I can talk, huh.' I thought, wondering about this development.
Most beasts in the Long Live Summons couldn't speak, at least in any intelligent manner. They could growl and bark and screech all they want, but they couldn't just talk in a human language at all.
And even if they could, most of these beasts were Gold-ranked at the very least, if not Platinum-ranked and higher.
So I was quite surprised that I can speak in any comprehensible words at all, since I wasn't even a Bronze-ranked beast. I was only a Normal-ranked one.
Another thing I noticed was that I was speaking in Japanese, which I know for sure isn't this world's primary language. Well, unless the goddess just wrote something like: "if (reincarnator==true) then setting.language=reincarnator.language" on her divine computer.
Yeah, I will just ignore that until I actually meet someone who actually talks this world's language to be sure.
Still, now that I think about it, me being reborn in this form is rather ridiculous from what I know about the lore, and the power systems of this world.
Eating a bunch of plants and swallowing them, I continued to think.
Let's check the facts that I know so far.
"I am human-looking, at least my upper half is."
True.
"I also can speak, and I have an intelligence that far outstrips most beasts in this forest, or at least, I have more sapience than them."
True.
"And in the world of the novel, these traits are the foundation to become a Holy Beast, along with high power and rank of course."
Also true.
...
Damn, I was reincarnated lucky, aren't I? I knew that Alraunes are humanoid since that's what legends said about them. And I am able to speak most likely due to having the memories of the human Kasumi Ai, which I still am.
Not that I actually know how lucky I was in that department. For all I know, this would make Rankers and warriors even more annoying to deal with.
I can already hear it. The lines of "If this beautiful alraune had made a contract with me, I would cherish her forever!", "A mere beast dares defy me! If I can't have you then no one can!", "You're courting death!" and "mommy, gimme your nectar please..."
Of course, the last one is me imagining what being addicted to my nectar will be like. Also, why does that feel like it's the best option?
Oh, right. Alraunes can feed on Qi, so I might end up capturing an idiot who tries to attack me just to feed on their energy. I am honestly surprised that this idea felt so natural at all. Had I been a human, or more precisely like I was before I reincarnated, I would be questioning myself on how cruel I was. Meanwhile, as a Thorny Alraune, this just felt completely natural, just like how eating and breathing were normal things in life.
'... I think I might just leave that idea out of my mind for now.' shaking my head, I realized that I had finished digesting the plants I had eaten.
Feeling myself energized, I shook off these thoughts as I decided to finally focus on what I believed was the most important thing for me to try now while I was in my safe area: train and cultivate!
Now, the cultivation technique I had chosen to try was the Natura Aeterna Nirvana, with a latin name that meant 'Eternal Nature of Nirvana.'
Assuming that the goddess wasn't mean-spirited, I expect that it will be rather effective now that I am literally a plant beast. Who better to use a cultivation technique made with the concept of "I want the whole reality as my flowers and gardens" after all? I mean, that's what I had in mind when writing about it in my previous life.
Well, no time better than the present to find out.
Taking a long breath, I assumed my meditation position, attaching my roots to the ground to get a constant supply of energy, my hands on each side as the tips of my thumb and index finger joined, the remaining fingers straight. Eyes closed, as the world seemed to vanish, my focus going inward as if I was looking at my own body under a microscope.
This was what I felt the most comfortable and helpful meditation pose for me right now. There was no reason for me to ask why. I just knew so, and I followed my instincts, combined with my minimal control of Qi, as it started to flow, its movement feeling like a small river inside of my veins.
I followed its path, from my head to my abdomen, from the upper pair of eyes to the lower pair, from a blood drop to the next, vitalizing the blood cells as oxygen was burned and resupplied, as even my hair and fingernails felt the sensation of power as it pulsed in a rythmic manner.
It was rather odd, if I was honest. I didn't know how to describe it any other way. It was quite a strong sensation, yet it didn't overpower me, and instead it seemed to guide me.
And as my qi kept flowing, my mouth opened of its own to speak.
"Natura."
My heart throbbed, and I felt as my qi seemed to pulse in my veins, and I sensed as if they wanted me to move them in a certain path. Wanting me to direct them towards some specific points in my body.
"Aeterna."
The sensation that followed seemed to feel as if something had exploded inside of me, yet I knew, both instinctually and intellectually that my qi only started to slowly emerge outside of my body, as if unleashed to the air to disperse. Yet, I felt no real tiredness as my roots kept me filled with energy to continue.
Meanwhile, the remaining Qi that was in my body felt like something was leaving it, slowly but surely.
I had a feeling on what that was.
"Nirvana."
A point that seemed to be clotted and trying to stop my Qi from properly passing through, found itself swarmed with it. Yet I didn't just bulldoze the path with qi, preferring to instead let the technique do its job of gently and slowly breaking the barrier trying to stop my energy from fully going through, as if the impurities of my Qi are being gently gouged out of my system.
Meanwhile, even as I continued, my external and internal senses started to overlap, as I felt as if the grass below me was swaying right inside my veins, gently and harmlessly, as if wanting me to give it some of my energy, while I could hear the flow of my own blood and heartbeats and taste the air around me as it gets dissolved inside of my body.
'So, let me pass.' and thus the knot, after what felt like hours of it trying to resist as my Qi was being purified and slightly diminishing in quantity yet equally increasing in density and purity, had been shattered, not with a (internal) roar that shook the heavens (my body and mind), but in a manner that felt more like a farewell to a loved one, as I gave them their last embrace before their time had run out as they died with a smile on their face.
I guess that fit so well. After all, these impurities were with me since I was reborn (since yesterday). Not to mention that the Natura Aeterna Nirvana technique was designed to be greatly benificial to those with huge affinity with plant-type beasts or abilities. Me being a plant now, it makes sense that this technique will help me grow without harming me. At least I think so.
Finally, I let out a shuddering breath, deciding to stop for the moment. My Qi slowly dropped as I asked, the sound of my beating heart becoming more and more quiet, and I could no longer hear my own blood moving, and I opened my eyes.
The sun had already moved from its position, telling me that I really had been cultivating for hours.
As I breathed, the air felt rather... strange. It felt like it was, purer? Yes, that's the only way I can describe it. And it wasn't just it. When I looked around, I noticed that the grass around me had grown just a few centimeters, most likely, and it seemed more vibrant. I could already see that some of them had small flowers that had yet to bloom.
"Huh. It seems that they enjoyed the qi I had unleashed around me." I commented, feeling rather refreshed.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, that feeling transformed into confusion when I had noticed something that felt like a liquid moving across my skin. Specifically, from where my breasts are.
What is that? And how did I not notice it? The answer turned out to be simpler than expected.
Looking down as the yellow-golden liquid pouring from the nipples, I just realized what happened.
Okay, so that's my nectar! I have to admit, the smell alone was really sweet and enticing, and it seemed to spread for a long distance! And I knew just by instinct that this one is the one responsible for healing and restoring stamina.
'But, wait a moment...'
Something in my mind screamed that something bad is happening, crushing that feeling of happiness as I felt like sweating.
Alraunes lure their prey with many things; their appearances, their aphrodisiacs, and their sweet, healing nectars...
... Damn it Murphy!
I cursed, because even if I had not bothered to enhance my senses with Qi, just my natural senses were still sharp enough to hear the sound of a low growling, and I can feel this presence! And they were approaching rapidly!
Just great. First time I cultivate, and I have a beast chasing either after me or my nectar!
It seems that just a day after being reborn, I might have my first fight. I can probably hope for this to be an anticlimactic encounter and that it's just a peaceful beast that can mimic the sounds of other beasts, but my guts told me to prepare anyways.
With that, my Qi faintly surged, as my leaves seemed to rise as if to shoot on my hypothetical enemy.
I really hope this is something I can actually manage.
Chapter 04: Me against the big bad wolf
I felt my body tensing up as I started sweating from worry and anticipation that began to deepen in my mind, and my heart started throbbing strongly, reflecting my emotions.
I attempted to put the best determined expression on my face, yet I felt that said expression was strained. Just because I am a beast now, doesn't mean I had abandoned all reason. Yet here, even then, my reason and knowledge as a former human and my new instincts as a Thorny Alraune both agreed that I have either fight or flight.
The feeling of qi approaching increases, and I can sense that it was nearly five times the amount of mine, and it felt predatory.
No wonder my hair was standing up. My first opponent was something that was far stronger than me, and I had only a day to acclimate to being reborn.
It didn't help that being a plant-beast, I am usually weaker against those on the same level when I am only a Normal-ranked beast.
I need to grow stronger if I survive this, for sure.
The beast moving towards me had finally appeared. With a growling, drooling mouth and slitted eyes, it appeared, and my heart seemed to increase its speed as I immediately noticed this creature if only by my instincts and its appearance alone.
A Normal-ranked Level 4 Black Wolf. It was rather intimidating, if I was honest, though how much of that was due to my instincts is up to debate. I looked at its black fur and large fangs, and the tail that I am sure can pack enough power to break tree branches.
'Hey, hey. This is so unfair! Why do I have to fight something that is more than twice my level right away!?' I cursed inwardly, trying to calm myself as my body shivered, my qi surging to defend me as well as possible.
The wolf seemed to look at me with hunger, and a part of me wondered if I can try to stop it by using my nectar as bait.
Yet I didn't have enough time to see if that was possible as it crouched, and I felt its bloodlust in the air. I have no more time to think.
'Here it comes!'
The Black Wolf pounced in the air with a speed I barely could track, throwing itself towards my chest, no doubt planning to bite my chest off my body along with the nectar on it.
Thankfully it had attacked my upper body, since I could -barely- dodge by moving myself to the left. Even then, its claws had given me a scrach on my abdomen.
"Aahhh! It burns!" The injury really did! It felt so horrible! My blood, green and vibrant, spilled with the smallest of amounts, though thankfully the nectar still on my body was already healing the wound.
And yet, even then, my body still counterattacked.
The Black Wolf had by now reached the ground, its claws holding the small quantity of blood I had, mixed with my sweet nectar. I had no time to wonder if it would lick its arm to show superiority, or if it would just keep attacking me first.
Instead, five of my oversized leaves, already pointing towards it and coated in qi, separated from my body, guided by my will and instinct, rapidly flying through the air towards it.
Growling with fury, qi seemed to enemate from its body as it leapt to the air and backflipping, avoiding one of the leaves, its claws sharp enough to just rip to shred another leaf. Its mouth bit the third one and the tail managed to rebuff the fourth.
The fifth leaf though managed to barely graze its neck, though it isn't enough to count as truly helpful.
"How troublesome!" Annoyance mixed with adrenaline, or my new body's equivalent thereof, and I found myself retreating as best as I could, though it was only enough to allow me to increase the distance with a couple of meters at most before it had reached the ground once more, and turned around, jumping at me again, this time seemingly moving faster than it did at the start.
'Let me see if you can dodge in the air then!' Another five leaves rose targeting it, and I made sure to put more qi in each of them than before, and they moved faster than I unleashed them a moment ago as they went directly towards its head.
Yet, while this did injure the Black Wolf directly in the mouth, blood spurting as its skin was cut from ear to ear, and a wound on its forehead, that did little to stop its momentum from moving to bite my freaking head!
I couldn't evade it by moving to the left or the right like before. Its arms and claws are too wide for that. I also can't crouch my upper body since even then it could hit me with these claws. Retreating back is also a no, since even if I had enough time to do so, it would just hit my abdomen or even my lower body instead.
Either way, retreating spells my death.
Thus I did none of that. Instead, I used the vines I had to rapidly bind the beast, imbuing them with qi to empower them.
Arms, claws, body, neck and legs. The Black Wolf ended up being bound, just mere few centimeters from having its teeth sunk into my head.
'That was so freaking close!' I thought as the blood leaking from its body hit my face, heart pounding as it howled right into my ears, though it felt strained due to the injuries.
Its eyes looked hatefully at me, and I could almost hear its thoughts, the sheer hate for me for not dying like the prey I was, and how dare I not obey the pecking order.
Its Qi started to rise, not as significally as before due to the injuries it had gotten, yet it was still more than enough to break free from the vines with just brute force.
Good thing that I didn't plan to watch then.
Bam!
I may not know how to fight properly right now, and I am mostly only fighting with instincts and my new supernatural senses along with qi and whatever defense lessons I had watched from my previous life, but I know how to punch something. So, I punched this thing right at the neck with as much power I can muster!
Even if this beast still has easily twice the amount of qi I had at the start of the fight, the power difference isn't so large that a hit in a sensitive and fragile area could be ineffective.
The Black Wolf made a strangled sound as its arms freed themselves, cutting the vines binding them, and blindly slashing at my head and body alike.
Even with leaning my upper body back, I still got marks on my chest.
"Damn you!"
Bam!
I headbutted it with as much force I can give, and I felt rather satisfied to hear something crack inside its head.
Something between a wail and a furious howl echoed, but it felt far weaker since I had just hit its damn neck.
In its desperation, it had managed to free itself from the remaining vines, but not before I attacked it again, giving it a cruel poke in one of its eyes, and pushing it away as he fell to the earth in an indignified manner.
Yet, it still glared at me even as it was shaking, suffering head trauma, and more. No doubt being too used at being a predator, so much that it loathed the mere idea that I might force it to retreat. The level difference between us should have made it imposible for me to even injure it. That's what I understood from its expression.
'Still, this is really bad, isn't it?' I thought grimly. I had managed to severely injure it, but frankly, my energy reserves are quite low. I doubt I will be able to fight for more than another minute at most.
I also am still a lot slower, and its limbs are quite intact. All it would need is a direct and good hit and I am done for.
Time to risk it all then.
A vine of mine had moved, and the beast immediately got alert, at least from what its body language was telling me. But I had no intent to use the vine to attack. Instead, as qi passed through the vine, a honey-like, sweet liquid started to materialize and swell like an oversized water drop, and its smell no doubt enticing and powerful, the vine moving softly right in front of my second and giant mouth.
Yes, I had created my nectar through my vines. One might wonder why I would use a nectar that could heal this enemy, and call me an idiot, and I would agree.
Except...
The wolf decided to just gamble it as well, rushing towards the nectar. It no doubt had decided that even if it didn't get to taste the nectar, it would at least eat my lower half, and thus kill me as well.
Unfortunately for it, a Thorny Alraune like me can also use poisons, and I can also decide to make a nectar that tastes as sweet as my healing one, yet full to the brim with poison.
Of course, since I had done this so quickly and while low on qi, it isn't a great amount of poison, but that's what the second mouth is for.
As the Black Wolf had reached the honey, my second mouth opened, expelling toxic pollen at large quantities. Paralyzing poisons, sedative ones, whatever I had managed to create from the few plants I had eaten yesterday and when I had woken up hours ago, I had thrown at this creature.
It faced the pollen cloud head-on, just a few inches away from biting on my lower body. The remaining vines I had had managed to catch it, just as I had allowed the poisonous nectar to enter its mouth.
I was honestly surprised by what the wolf did next.
I had expected that this beast, having a concussion, multiple wounds, a large depletion in qi reserves, and a brutal damage to its neck and eye, would just bite the vine and go back to attacking me, assuming it hadn't been affected by my pollen right away.
Instead, it had... started to greedily lick on the vine. It didn't even seem to care about the pollen being inhaled at all.
I was genuinely shocked by this action. Was my honey truly that sweet and delicious?
Still, I was only baffled for a few seconds before I decided to use this chance, spewing more pollen through my lower mouth, and poisonous, yet sweet nectar through my vines while I slowly started to increase the presure on the captured limbs.
The Black Wolf did not even bother even as its eyes seemed to have difficulty in staying open, and it was choking every now and then, yet it continued to consume the nectar I so generouslygave.
And then it went limp.
Turns out that even as a predator, it still was only a being following only instinct. It may have been smart in the sense of fighting, yet it was unable to restrain itself from consuming what it deemed to be delicious food.
Should I have just given my nectar from the start then? No, I didn't think that would have worked, and I also didn't know for certain if it wanted to eat me along with my nectar before this fight began. I felt that I did the correct choice in fighting.
'Yes, I chose correctly.' I told myself. I would have ended up fighting some beast or a warrior down the line. This fight isn't as safe as I wanted, yet beggars can't be choosers, I suppose.
Though, now that the Black Wolf was unmoving, I didn't take any chances, and I immediately unleashed two of the remaining five leaves directly at its neck.
Blood spurted as its head separated from the body. Definitely dead. And no qi can be sensed as far as I can feel, no heartbeat from its chest. Now, the Black Wolf is truly dead.
I might have overdone it, but I must always double-tap when it comes to these things. Last thing I need is for it to suddenly be alive while inside of my second stomach (lower body) then slicing me from the inside.
With that, I finally decided to eat this thing.
My large tongue along with the vines dragged the severed head and corpse into my second mouth as I started to chomp on the hard meat. It would take a while for it to be digested fully, seeing that it was much higher level than me and the amount of energy it had, but this was rather expected.
My body had finally relaxed just slightly, and the feeling of pain from the still healing wounds made itself known to me now that I wasn't being pumped adrenaline in my system.
"Oww..." I whimpered, the feeling of being injured being clearly not a liked one.
I used my roots to take some nutrients from the ground to revitalize myself and qi, and I used that to generate healing nectar from my mouth before gently rubbing it on the areas of damage.
With that, I gave a long sigh.
I had fought my first ever battle, and won! A Normal-ranked Level 1 Thorny Alraune defeating a Normal-ranked Level 4 Black Wolf. That must be one hell of an achievement for me.
There were moments where I could have died, that much is obvious. I am really thankful that my body could react as well as it could, even if it barely managed to do so when the wolf was still healthy. My instincts also helped greatly, since they allowed me to use my body effectively. If any of these two was lacking, I would have been the one being eaten right now.
I took the moment to enjoy my victory, even if I still used my qi to sense what other being might be around, but thankfully, there seemed to be none. I knew that I would have to go back to practicing my Natura Aeterna Nirvana technique as well.
I need to open the remaining 'barriers' in my qi pathways as it would give me more access to qi and boost my amount as well. Plus, it would also probably expel the impurities I might get from digesting the Black Wolf's body! I might even transform into a Bronze-ranked beast if I am lucky!
It's a win for me either way!
Chapter 05: In which nectars are the word of the day.
It had been a day since I had fought the Black Wolf, and I can say that it was a bit uneventful, all things considered.
That period of time didn't have any epic fights or difficult decisions so far, though I did 'fight' a bunch of beasts, all weaker than the Black Wolf thankfully. Just a bunch of beasts that were more like normal animals than these qi-filled 'powerhouses'.
A couple of rabbits really. Nothing special about them. Still, they were admittedly delicious.
I was by that time fully regenerated from my fight with the Black Wolf, though I was still digesting its stupid body. Damn powerful beast bodies, always so hard, and I know for sure that eating a normal human would have resulted in them being digested in just a couple of hours since their consumption, since the rabbits got digested by my lower mouth in that time frame as well.
Currently, I was enjoying myself by seeing what I can do as a Thorny Alraune, and using qi to speed up the consumption of the Black Wolf's body, since it would be inconveniencing if it stayed for too long. I have a limited space capacities down there, you know? Just melt quickly please so that I can properly swallow any large beast that I might eat later.
Thus, I started testing some of my racial abilities as best as I could, since I was still a novice even now. A couple of days isn't enough to discover everything, but I believe I had a good progress.
At this point, I had managed to create tree branches, more vines, recreate my oversized leaves (it was far easier and less costly than I expected, really), and I found that I could pump more qi towards any fruit or vegetable I create, resulting in consumables that can regenerate my qi by a similar amount to the one I expended, though of course there is some minimal amount lost along the way.
Fascinating, I say. This might come in handy if I am low on energy, if I can stockpile them somewhere safe and immediately accessible to me.
Now though, I was in the middle of testing my control over my nectars, all kinds of them. My body, using my qi or the nutrients that I have, is capable of creating many types of nectars.
One is of course the healing type, the one that I used to heal myself against the wolf. This one is obviously potent since it could heal injuries like the ones I got in mere hours. Arguably, it's rather "slow," but hey. I won't complain about having this ability, but I will try to make stronger healing nectars if possible.
Another nectar I can generate is basically the poisonous nectar. I had also used this against the wolf, and it worked spectacularly. Generally speaking, I can create more potent versions depending on the types of poisons I can consume first, that's what my instincts tell me. Any poison I create, I am automatically immune to. Wether they are paralytic, sedatives, or just plain lethal poison, as long as I can create them, my body will be immune to them. Though in my current case, I can only create poisons from the plants and trees I eat, and maybe from some of the weaker poisonous beasts.
Thirdly, the 'joy' of every cultivator, or at least the male ones; aphrodisiacs. Oh, yes. These bad boys that usually get slipped into the drinks of jade beauty by the edgy male protagonist, so that he can bang her. "But it's because she has a unique yet self-damaging Yin physique and will die if she didn't get his Yang rod!" or so authors will claim to justify why they can't just write a scene where the two just are drunk or just have a fling and be done with it.
They are, from what I can feel, rather potent, though I will never drink or test them on myself even if I am also immune to them. Better not open that can of worms any time soon, to be honest. In fact, I will only use this if I ever end up fighting with hostile humans, and I had enough power to subdue them without problem, if I didn't kill them, that is. Hey, I would have to test the whole 'collect energy' thing at some point.
And finally, the simple, pure sweet nectar. This one isn't for healing, poisoning, or committing sex offenses. Just the old delicious nectar to consume. It might be full of nutrients, but it can only fill one's stomach. It could restore some stamina, but it couldn't heal or do anything special, like most foods in my previous life. I love it.
And thus, I had checked all four different nectars I can create. And now I was seeing how far I can use them, and where I can also secrete them.
Needless to say, the answer was; from many places.
My breasts, small as they are, can create nectars, of course, along with my vines and I found out that I can also generate the healing and poisonous nectars through both my mouths, and if I focused, I can also generate them from my eyes as well.
Warriors and Rankers would be very happy, I am sure. "A female beast whose misery can be literally sold and used as potions to surpass the heaven? Oh, this baby can take so much torture!" or so they'll say.
At least, if they aren't the occasional "good guys."
Still, despite my self-training, I did my best to generate really small doses of my nectars. Hopefully, nothing would go wrong if I am careful. The last thing I needed right now is facing a beast who might be even stronger than the Black Wolf.
... I jinxed myself, didn't I?
I felt like slapping myself as I quickly attached my roots to the earth, absorbing nutrients and water to revitalize myself as I felt a huge amount of qi moving my way. This oppenent easily surpassed me in qi alone by a dozen of times!
Actually, that isn't completely correct. My opponents easily surpassed me in qi. For it is a horde who is moving towards me!
'Damn. Did I get too careless again? Or was it just bad timing?' I thought as I bit my lips.
This... is not good. I can sense many qi signatures. easily dozens at least.
Individually, I felt that they were quite weaker than me, but combined, I was in a huge disadvantage even if I could defeat some of them. Quantity was a quality in its own way.
I don't think I could deal with dozens of enemies all around me at my current level, and this is without taking into account what kind of beasts they are.
Still, I forced myself to calm down, and breathed.
'No matter. I will still fight if I have to.' I thought.
The qi signatures kept moving closer, and I now could hear the buzzing sound as they approached.
I blinked.
'Wait, a buzzing?'
I focused a bit more, and yes, it was the sound of a loud buzz!
Now, that helped me find out the identity of my possible enemy. Most probably an insect-type beast, I think.
My mind started spinning with possibilities seeing this development. If they were insect-type beasts, ones that live in the forest and are relatively close to my area, where it is full of plants and flowers, then I believe I know what they can be.
I may be wrong, of course, but if I was correct, then I have an idea on how to deal with them. Hopefully in a way that doesn't end with me being killed.
Anticipation grows as the sound does, and I feel my body tensing as I hope that my guess is correct, and every second feels like a minute.
Finally, they appeared in all their glory, and I knew that I now have to deal with the next round of ferocious beasts who would probably love nothing more than to eat me, or suck me dry of all my sweet nectar; in all their hive-minded behaviour.
If I wanted to be pretentious or a bard, I would describe them as a horde of monsters that swallowed the light of sky with their numbers. Cruel monsters that would stop at nothing to satisfy their hunger for my nectar, wanting nothing but to rip me apart and feast on my organs, as their yellow and black bodies and wings buzzing as I hear my painful end.
In reality, they were thirty-six Worker Bees, they are, from what my instincts tell me, only Normal-ranked Level 1 beasts. They were oversized bees, each as large as my head, I felt quite glad about that. That means that if things worked well, I can survive this!
The Worker Bees saw me, their wings moving rapidly as they approached my body, and I could practically feel their hunger for me. Either that, or my nectar. I can't really be certain since they are beasts instead of the usual small bees I saw in my previous life.
I took a long breath before raising multiple vines, and used my qi that had increased a bit since I started cultivating a bit during the previous day.
My energy passed through the vines, as large golden drops were made. Pure essence of my nectar defying gravity as it stayed attached to the vines, and I looked expectantly at the horde of bees as they buzzed, yet stood unmoving in the air, probably speaking to each other on what to do.
'Yes, yes. Just take them and leave me alone.' I thought with hope in my heart. If they acted even remotely similar like the typical bees, then this should satisfy them!
A moment of silence had commenced, only interrupted with their buzzing and the sound of the wind moving the trees and the swaying of the leaves, before finally, a Worker Bee moved and consumed a bit of the nectar from the vine in front of it, before seemingly nodding to its coworkers before... uh what?
I looked uncertain of what they are doing. They seem to generate some thin and transparent membrane from their stingers to hold the nectar? Oh, it must be so they bring it to their colony then. At least I assume so.
One by one, they took some of my nectar before allowing the others to get a turn. Soon, I found myself having to generate more nectar because the vines had been emptied after two dozen Worker Bees had taken their fill.
Not that I minded, since generating this amount would barely take away a fifth of my total energy.
The buzzing increases as they look at me, and I don't really know what to decipher from their expressions. I tilted my head, practically asking them: "what now?"
The closest Worker Bee seems to look at me intently, before apparently nodding, if I understood that strange shaking of its body up and down.
And like that, they simply left me. On my own.
Huh. That actually happened.
My body relaxed as I give a sigh of relief.
Great! I survived this crisis! Now I can continue with my day!
With that, I decided to move around just a bit. That qi expenditure still tired me out, and I think I can do with some animals to feast on.
Soon, the next day had come, and surprisingly, I had awoken at the large sound of buzz all around me.
'Wait, don't tell me that the bees want to backstab me now?' my still sleepy mind thought as my upper body arose from the protective petals, my vines ready to defend myself as best as possible, as I opened my eyes...
The Worker Bees were indeed there, but they seemed to have lost some numbers as I noticed there are only twenty-five unlike the thirty-six like yesterday.
I noticed that they seemed rather... expectant. That's the only way I can put it. I strangely couldn't feel any hostility from them.
I then felt like they wanted me to see something behind me, and I decided to trust them, and turned around.
"Oh." My mouth opened as I saw what was behind me.
A bunch of rabbits and a small wolf, and... a bunch of dead Worker Bees?
I turned around, facing the horde, and pointed towards myself. "Mine?"
They buzzed louder, and I understood it as confirmation, before they moved towards my vines.
Oh, you cunning beasts.
They basically hunted a bunch of preys for me, in return they wanted me to give them some nectar! They even allowed me to feed on their dead companions!
Maybe they believed that I should get the corpses of their fallen instead of whatever that killed them, or they simply felt like it would be a better incentive for me to see their generosity!
Well, who am I to refuse that for now?
With that, I gladly gave the Worker Bees my sweet and normal nectar, mixed just a bit with the healing one.
Now while they gather their fill, I moved my free vines to consume the dead bodies.
"Thanks for the meal!" I waved with a smile as they left, while I stayed there to digest the many corpses I now have.
Oh, this would give me quite the power boost for sure, after I fully digest all of them!
Thanks a lot, Worker Bees!