"Watered five apple trees. Gained +10 experience. Your dynamic vision has slightly improved."
"Watered five apple trees. Gained +10 experience. Your dynamic vision has slightly improved."
"You wiped the apples clean. The little apples are very happy and have decided to give you a small gift. Do you accept?"
In the cultivation chamber, Chu Hang stood inside the massive glass dome, holding a towel, completely bewildered.
What just happened? He had only thought of tidying up the apple trees out of boredom, but the system notification had actually chimed in.
This was a delightful surprise. *If interacting with plants gave benefits, why didn't you tell me sooner?*
"Accept," he said.
A screen resembling a game interface appeared with a few lines of information.
"The little apples are friendly and have prepared three gifts for you. You may choose one."
1. **Miniature Potato Landmine**
2. **Nature Affinity**
3. **Pineapple Seed**
Each gift had a description explaining its effects.
…
The **Miniature Potato Landmine** looked like a character from a game from early 21st-century Earth called *Plants vs. Zombies.* It had a pale yellow shell, a silver antenna sprouting from its head, and big, adorable eyes. It was designed to lure underground creatures toward it and then unleash a devastating blast.
As for the exact destructive power, the system didn't specify, only marking the term "devastating" with special symbols.
**Nature Affinity** wasn't a physical item but rather a title, bestowing the bearer with a primary affinity for nature. This ability would shorten the growth cycle of any plant they personally cultivated by 30%. In practical terms, a tree that would usually take 100 days to mature would now only take 70 days. It seemed an excellent aid for agriculture.
…
**Pineapple Seed** was, as the name suggested, simply a seed.
Though this base had a cultivation chamber, most of its strategic resources had been relocated. Only the apple seeds initially provided by the system had allowed him to grow the trees he had. So having a new seed was a valuable opportunity to diversify his plant species.
In the end, Chu Hang decided on the **Miniature Potato Landmine** after much consideration. Although he was tempted by the pineapple seed, the presence of the giant cockroach forced him to prioritize the base's safety. If that creature could burrow underground, it might bypass the wall defenses and target the base directly.
*Better safe than sorry,* Chu Hang thought. The landmines at least served as "seatbelts" for base security.
Just then, he noticed a small human-like icon on the interface and tapped it, bringing up a new screen he hadn't seen before.
---
**Name:** Chu Hang
**Gender:** Male
**Physical Characteristics:** Height 183 cm, Weight 75 kg
**Strength Level:** 150 (D-class)
**Intelligence Level:** 187 (D-class)
**Civilization Level:** Tier 4
**Current Title:** Ordinary Gardener
**Possessions:** Miniature Potato Landmine (5)
**Upgrade XP:** 60/200
---
"Vivian, can you analyze the material composition of this potato mine?" Chu Hang asked in the observation room, turning to the AI beside him.
"Insufficient data for complete analysis," replied Vivian calmly.
Chu Hang had already buried four of the potato mines around the base. This fifth one, however, was reserved for Vivian's examination.
With no specific data, the mine's power remained an unknown variable. Chu Hang considered testing one but then dismissed the idea. Between the Night Owls, the "Little Strong 001" (as he had nicknamed the giant cockroach), and who knows what other threats might show up, any usable resources couldn't afford to be wasted.
After gathering his thoughts, Chu Hang asked, "Vivian, how many more plants can the cultivation chamber sustain?"
"If you're referring to trees the size of the apple trees, unfortunately, we're at full capacity," Vivian replied, projecting an image of the cultivation room.
The glass dome, though large, was now nearly filled to capacity by the five apple trees. Expanding the cultivation chamber would require modifications beyond what he and Vivian could achieve.
"Planting outside the base would be ideal…" Chu Hang sighed, looking over the barren Martian landscape. All this open land, and nothing but rocks—what a waste.
---
**Earth Time 11:30 PM**
No sign of Night Owls had been detected outside the wall that night, as if they had vanished. But Chu Hang was focused elsewhere.
Inside the base's dining room, there was an arm.
Yes, a literal human arm, just lying there.
"Vivian, no one's going to believe this, but I'm actually fighting a disembodied arm!"
Chu Hang gritted his teeth, pressing down on a clear glass container. The container made a thudding sound against the floor, jostling him with each bump like he was on a boat.
"Shall I try a few shots?" Vivian suggested softly from beside him.
"No! What if it dies? Besides, it's too interesting to kill just yet."
"Are you sure it's even alive?"
Chu Hang smiled awkwardly; truthfully, he wasn't sure. How does one even determine if an arm running around on its own is "alive"?
"Behave, got it? Try to escape, and I really will shoot you."
Amazingly, the arm seemed to understand, stopping its attempts to flee. It raised a finger, then began gesturing on the floor.
"Is it…trying to write?" Chu Hang looked to Vivian, who was silently observing.
"Shall I give it a pen?" Vivian asked.
"Go ahead."
After passing the pen into the glass container, Chu Hang watched as the arm scratched two lines onto the floor.
**They are coming.**
**Go to Power Chamber II.**