Chereads / Apocalypse Farm System (BL) / Chapter 13 - The Thirteenth Seed

Chapter 13 - The Thirteenth Seed

Jianyu leaned against the smooth bark of the glowing magical tree, staring up at its branches that sparkled faintly like stars. 

The others were off at the water source led by Zhenfeng, hauling buckets and washing up after all the chaos they have gone through. It's been forever since all of them have touched water. 

He had opted to stay behind, more out of energy than anything else. Plus, there was something soothing about being alone under the tree.

He sighed, stretching his legs out. "Oi, System."

The air around him shimmered slightly, and then the System's familiar, monotone-yet-slightly-snarky voice spoke directly into his mind.

"Always at your service, Player Jianyu. How may I assist you?"

Jianyu rubbed the back of his neck. "Do you have anything… practical? Like, cooking tools or something? We can't keep boiling monster meat in glass cups. It's depressing."

The System's tone brightened, as if it had been waiting for this exact question. "Certainly. I have a variety of cooking-related items available in the Shop. Would you like to see the options?"

"Yeah, sure."

A faint shimmer appeared in his mind, as if forming a translucent blue screen. Three items floated prominently in view.

"Option one: Basic Cooking Pot. Durable, functional, and versatile for all your boiling and stewing needs. Price: 500 points."

An image of a simple metal pot rotated on the screen. Jianyu squinted at it. "It's… just a pot. That's it?"

"That is correct. Option two: Cooking Pot Combo Set. Includes one cooking pot and one high-quality spatula. Price: 550 points."

"Wow, a spatula. Fancy." Jianyu rolled his eyes. "And the third option?"

The System's voice took on a faintly smug tone. "Option three: The Ultimate Kitchen Set. Includes a full range of cookware, utensils, plates, and bowls, all self-cleaning and unbreakable, with unlimited fire access. Price: 100,000 points."

Jianyu choked. "One hundred thousand points?! Are you kidding me? That's— That's robbery!"

"Quality comes at a price," the System replied, sounding unapologetic. "For budget-conscious users such as yourself, may I suggest the Basic Cooking Pot?"

"Budget-conscious—" Jianyu pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply. "Okay, fine. What about plates and stuff? You know, for eating like normal people?"

Another set of items popped up.

"Survivor Dining Kit. Includes plates, bowls, and cutlery for the current number of survivors. Price: 500 points."

Jianyu stared at the screen, his lips twitching in frustration. "Five hundred points? For dishes? Are they made of gold?"

"They are highly durable and reusable," the System replied, its tone just shy of sarcastic. "Unlike the glass cups you've been using, these will not shatter under pressure."

"Still overpriced," Jianyu muttered. "Who even sets these prices? You guys must be swimming in points by now."

"If you find the prices unreasonable, I suggest you work harder to accumulate points," the System said, its tone cool. "Survival is not meant to be easy, Player Jianyu."

Jianyu groaned, ruffling his hair. "You sound like Zhenfeng."

"I will take that as a compliment."

"Don't," Jianyu shot back. He glanced toward the direction of the water source, a flicker of worry crossing his face. "By the way… is there a way to, I don't know, make a water source closer to camp? It's exhausting going back and forth."

The System hesitated for a moment, then a new screen appeared.

"Creating a water source is possible. However, it requires specific materials and labor. Step one: acquire a Water Core from any water-based creature. Step two: plant it in fertile ground. Step three: use 1000 points to activate it. Congratulations—you now have a water source."

Jianyu raised an eyebrow. "A Water Core? You mean like the monster we fought this morning?"

"Precisely. Most water-based creatures possess one. They are rare but invaluable."

Jianyu squinted up at the glowing branches, a frown tugging at his lips. "Wait a second. This morning, Zhenfeng fought that giant water lizard thing. If water-based creatures have Water Cores, why didn't we get one from it? Did we just get unlucky or something?"

The System paused for a moment, then spoke in its usual composed tone. "Incorrect. Your group did acquire a Water Core."

Jianyu blinked, sitting up straighter. "We did? Where is it?"

"You ate it."

Jianyu's jaw dropped. "What?"

"You consumed it just before, along with the rest of your group. I assume it was quite tender."

Jianyu's jaw dropped. "That was a Water Core?! Are you serious right now? It looked like… like a piece of fatty meat! How was I supposed to know that was a Water Core?!"

The System's tone remained frustratingly calm. "What exactly did you expect a Water Core to look like?"

"I don't know! A glowing crystal, maybe? Something magical-looking! Not... whatever that was!"

"Water Cores are located within the flesh of water-based monsters. Their appearance varies, but their essence is always the same. If there is any leftover, you may retrieve it. However…"

Jianyu groaned, cutting the System off. "However what?"

"If it has been fully consumed, you will need to hunt another water-based creature to acquire one."

He buried his face in his hands, groaning louder. "Great. Just great. So not only did we waste a Water Core, but now we have to fight another water monster just to fix this problem. Fantastic."

"Your frustration is noted," the System replied dryly.

Jianyu groaned again, rubbing his temples. "So, to recap: I need to find another water monster, not accidentally eat its core this time, dig a hole, and then spend 1000 points just to make a pond? Why is everything in this world so ridiculously complicated?"

"Survival often is," the System replied smoothly. "And may I remind you that 1000 points is a small price to pay for convenience?"

"A small price?" Jianyu repeated, glaring at the screen. "I'm starting to think you're just here to scam us."

"Would you prefer to haul water for the rest of your natural life?"

Jianyu opened his mouth to argue, but the System's question silenced him. He couldn't deny that lugging water back and forth every day sounded awful. "Fine," he muttered, "but I still think it's a rip-off."

"Noted."

He crossed his arms, staring at the screen in silence. The image of the Water Core mocked him with its simplicity. He hated how logical the System sounded, even when it was being infuriating.

Before he could dwell on it further, the System's voice interrupted his thoughts, its tone shifting slightly.

"User Jianyu, your group appears to be returning from the water source. Shall I alert you when they are within range?"

Jianyu frowned. "What? Already? They shouldn't be back yet—"