Every muscle in Ye Chen's body screamed with tension as he crept towards the pulsating glow. The ferns, taller than him, rustled ominously in the stagnant air, and his imagination conjured all manner of terrifying creatures hiding amongst them.
Just as he was about to turn back, cursing his reckless curiosity, the source of the glow revealed itself. It wasn't a monster, nor a portal - it was a plant. But unlike any plant Ye Chen had ever seen.
The plant resembled an oversized dandelion, but instead of fluffy white seeds, it had glowing blue orbs nestled within its fuzzy head. Each orb pulsed rhythmically, casting an eerie light on the surrounding ferns.
Relief washed over Ye Chen, so intense it almost made him laugh. He cautiously approached the strange plant, studying it with a mixture of wonder and suspicion. Reaching out tentatively, he brushed one of the glowing orbs with his finger.
A jolt of energy shot up his arm, vibrating through his body. It wasn't painful, but it was unsettling. He recoiled, staring at the pulsating orbs with a newfound respect. Maybe this wasn't just a harmless plant after all.
Suddenly, a guttural growl ripped through the silence. Ye Chen whipped his head around, heart pounding a frantic tattoo against his ribs. There, emerging from behind a massive fern, was a creature straight out of his nightmares.
It resembled a giant lizard, easily twice his height, with thick, leathery skin that shimmered an unnatural green in the dim light. Its eyes glowed a malevolent red, and razor-sharp claws clicked ominously on the damp ground as it lumbered towards him.
Panic surged through Ye Chen. He had never even seen a lizard this big, let alone one with glowing eyes and a taste for human flesh (or at least, that's what he assumed). His rusty pocketknife felt about as useful as a toothpick against this monstrosity.
There was no time for heroics. Adrenaline kicked in, and Ye Chen bolted. He weaved through the thick ferns, the creature's heavy footfalls thundering behind him. He could hear its raspy breathing hot on his neck, the stench of rotting flesh filling his nostrils.
He didn't know where he was running, just that he needed to put some distance between him and the lizard monster. His lungs burned, his legs screamed in protest, but he didn't dare stop. Not until he heard a frustrated roar followed by a series of loud thumps.
Panting heavily, Ye Chen risked a glance back. The giant lizard was nowhere to be seen. He had managed to lose it… for now. Leaning against a tree trunk, he took a moment to catch his breath, his mind racing.
This wasn't how he imagined his first encounter in the Hidden World. He was supposed to be the cunning underdog, outsmarting beasts with his wit. Not a scared rabbit fleeing a giant, glowing lizard.
A bitter laugh escaped his lips. Well, at least he could check "barely escaping a monstrous lizard" off his bucket list.
Wait a minute. The lizard stopped after he passed the strange plant. Could the pulsating orbs somehow repel the creature?
A spark of hope ignited within him. Maybe, just maybe, that weird plant was his only advantage in this nightmare world. There was only one way to find out.
Carefully, he retraced his steps, cautiously approaching the glowing plant. As he neared it, he could feel the same energy coursing through his body, a low hum that resonated with the pulsing light. Maybe he hadn't been shocked earlier – maybe he had been attuned to the plant's energy in some way.
Hesitantly, he extended his finger once more, this time focusing on the energy, willing it to flow from him towards the plant. The glowing orbs pulsed brighter in response, bathing him in a soft, blue light.
Then, a tingling sensation spread through him, starting from his fingertips and radiating outwards. It was a strange feeling, not uncomfortable, but undeniably… different. It felt like some dormant part of him was being awakened.
When the tingling subsided, he looked down at his hands, searching for any physical changes. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Had it all been in his head? Maybe the plant was just a weird light show.
However, as he turned to leave, his foot caught on something protruding from the undergrowth. It was a long, slender vine he hadn't noticed before. It shimmered with a faint blue light, eerily similar to the one emanating from the plant. Curiosity piqued, Ye Chen bent down and examined the vine. As he brushed his fingers against it, the familiar tingling sensation returned, stronger this time. He felt a surge
of energy coursing through his veins, invigorating him like a shot of adrenaline. Instinctively, he closed his eyes and focused, channeling the energy like he had with the plant. Images flooded his mind – fleeting glimpses of the forest around him, like a map being revealed in his thoughts.
He saw the giant lizard lumbering back towards him, its path blocked by a thicket of thorny vines. He saw a hidden stream, a source of fresh water, and a towering rock formation that could offer a vantage point.
The information came in a rapid burst, overwhelming at first, then settling into a clear picture of his surroundings. This wasn't just a physical sensation; the plant had granted him a form of limited perception, a glimpse into the immediate area.
His eyes snapped open, a sense of wonder mixed with caution replacing the fear. He had stumbled upon something extraordinary, a potential advantage in this hostile world.
But before he could fully celebrate his newfound ability, the guttural roar from before echoed through the trees. The lizard had found another way around the thorns.
This wasn't the time to experiment. He needed to use his newfound awareness and whatever else the strange plant had bestowed upon him to survive. With newfound determination, Ye Chen gripped the vine, a silent thanks to the peculiar plant echoing in his mind. He was no longer just a scared rabbit – he was a novice Soul Hunter, armed with a strange power and a desperate will to survive.