The elevator doors open, and as the group steps out, they hear the doors closing behind them. They collectively sigh, realizing they have to get to work immediately. Several vines can be seen sprouting from the walls.
"So, Sunny, he said they were splicing several different types of monster DNA with some of these plants?" Luna asks nervously.
One of the vines attempts to wrap around Luna's leg, but she quickly leaps into the air, avoiding it. Rhea quickly hides behind JJ as he draws a knife and stabs at one of the vines. Sunny unsheathes her short sword, slashing at the vines with a bored expression.
Jamal snaps his fingers a few times, setting some of the plants ablaze. The group continues pressing forward, baffled by how easy this seems. However, the vines keep growing back, flooding the hallways, though the group continues cutting them down at a rapid pace.
Meanwhile, Priscilla examines the vines closely, piecing things together. "Ah! These might've been spliced with a strand of starfish DNA and something additional to accelerate regeneration and growth."
Sunny taps her foot while nodding, wanting to find the source of this infestation. She suddenly punches a hole through the wall and peers inside, revealing a massive network of various vines and plants growing through the facility's walls.
"Yep," Sunny nods. "And judging by the looks of things, if I had to guess, they might be coordinating. After all, he mentioned one of them was merged with something abyssal, which means all these plants are being controlled by it."
The group presses forward and is met with several rooms, each overflowing with staggering amounts of flora. When Luna opens one of the doors, she is immediately greeted by several Venus flytraps lunging at her. With a few quick blasts of lightforce energy, she swiftly eliminates them.
Luna raises an eyebrow. "Interesting. They're laying traps... kind of intelligent, actually—for plants, at least."
She suddenly catches a sweet, intoxicating scent in the air. Alarmed, she quickly backs away, slamming the door shut behind her.
Catching her breath, Luna bends over, gasping. "Those plants were trying to eat me. Good lord."
As she looks around, she notices vines creeping toward her, attempting to ensnare her. Reacting quickly, she spins and kicks them back before leaping toward Jamal. Without hesitation, he ignites the plants with a burst of fire.
Before another vine can grab Rhea, Priscilla simply places a finger on it, and it falls to the ground lifelessly.
Rhea stares at Priscilla, wide-eyed. "What was that?"
Priscilla chuckles. "Oh, sweetheart, I simply put it to sleep—plain and simple."
Meanwhile, JJ steps into a room, shining his flashlight. The beam reveals several corpses hanging from the ceiling. Sunny enters behind him and immediately notices.
"Looks like more than just one researcher died here," she mutters.
JJ nods. "Yep. Given how little info you received, there's a possibility they've been luring hunters here to feed the plants."
Sunny sighs. "First the talking tree, and now we're plant food? Welp, I know what I'm doing once we're done with these things."
She draws her sword and swiftly cuts apart a flower that sprouts from the ceiling before stepping back into the hallway. With relentless precision, she slashes and cuts down everything in her way until she reaches a massive vault door, similar to the one that housed the talking tree.
This vault door, however, is covered in prickly black vines radiating a strange, smoky aura.
Sunny sighs. "Yep, abyssal miasma. Now, how to handle this…"
She turns and calls out, "Luna, get over here!"
As quick as the wind, Luna rushes down the hallway. "Yes, Sunny?"
Sunny points at the vault door. "I'm heading in there, but I need you to unravel your arm and wrap it around me. If something happens, you'll be able to pull me out."
Luna nods and quickly extends her arm, securing it around Sunny like a lifeline. As Sunny begins melting the vault door with fire, it gradually crumbles away, revealing the room beyond.
Inside, the space is warped—distorted by abyssal magic. The air itself feels unnatural. Sunny steps forward cautiously, her eyes scanning the grotesque scene before her.
The researcher that was mentioned earlier is here—along with several hunters, their bodies grotesquely fused into enormous, blooming flowers.
Sunny walks deeper into the room, her eyes scanning the eerie sight before her. Black vines are embedded into the walls, twisting through the facility like veins, while others have infiltrated the computers, their tendrils wrapped around the screens. As she steps closer, she notices strange eldritch runes flickering across the monitors.
"What the hell…?" she mutters, squinting at the symbols.
Activating her Eye of Talent, she sweeps her gaze across the room, searching for any hidden details. Her eyes land on the corpses, and she pauses, narrowing her gaze.
"Wait… Talent that can still be reached?"
She sighs, realization dawning on her. "These people are still alive."
Turning her attention toward the room, she calls out, her voice sharp and commanding. "Alright, monster, get your ass out here. I know you're hiding."
A chilling sound fills the air—a wet, crawling noise, like something slithering toward her. Then, laughter echoes through the chamber. From the shadows emerges a grotesque sight: a massive, nightmarish flower, its form fused with thousands of plants and the corpses of various monsters, animals, and humans.
The creature doesn't hesitate. It unleashes a psychic wave of energy, attempting to paralyze Sunny on the spot. However, she simply glares at the abomination, her willpower slicing through its attack like a blade.
The monster laughs again, its voice echoing with amusement.
"Interesting… you resisted my paralysis. How intriguing. Well, I assume you're here to kill me, yes?"
Sunny nods her head. "Yes, I am."
The monster waits a few moments before speaking again. "I expected you to attack me immediately… Ah, have you encountered my kind before?"
Sunny nods once more. "Yes, once—three to four years ago."
The creature appears confused. "Yet you lived? Interesting… Most who encounter beings from the Abyss do not survive to speak of it. And yet, I do not sense deceit from you, human."
Sunny unsheathes her blade, its glow illuminating the twisted chamber. The creature inspects the weapon closely.
"Ah, I see… A soul-forged weapon. How did someone like you come into possession of such a thing?"
Sunny glares at the creature. "Like I'd tell you anything. But I know that killing something like you won't be easy—nor can you truly die."
The creature begins to laugh, a deep, eerie sound. "Ah, you are a smart one, yes. Though something tells me you have a trick up your sleeve, woman."
Sunny smirks, unsheathing her other sword. "Yep, I do."
She steadies her stance, gripping both weapons tightly. The air grows heavy with tension as she prepares for battle against a creature of the Abyss.