Level 1 Little Zombie Doomsday Growth Diary - Chapter 64

Chapter 64

A group of plants rushed into the forest, full of anticipation, only to emerge disheartened.

Cabbage still hung its head in disappointment, clutching a wooden chip it had found inside.

Chili Pepper looked lost and confused, wondering if its approach had been flawed.

Nut, seeing them return, eagerly peered out, but no new plants had been brought back.

Carrot opened the car door and hopped in, offering comfort with a soft “Woo woo.”

Perhaps there simply aren’t any plants here, it thought. Next time, we’ll scatter the wooden chips farther away, or refine the message on them.

Regardless, Carrot remained convinced that many plants would be eager to join the base.

Sweet Pepper and Big Pea seemed the least concerned. Big Pea jumped into the passenger seat, nudging Nut aside and urging them to hurry up.

They were traveling in a modified car this time, its spacious interior capable of accommodating many plants. Though slower than a Flyer, it handled the rubble-strewn terrain with remarkable stability.

Besides recruiting new plants, they had another mission: clearing out zombies along the way to earn credits and Prestige Points for Qian Hui.

Once all the plants were aboard, the modified car pulled away, heading elsewhere to continue their search.

Chili Pepper hesitated before sending Qian Hui a brief message: “Safe.”

Let’s wait a little longer… Maybe we’ll find plants elsewhere.

Sweet Pepper sat beside Chili Pepper, pulled down its mask, and retrieved two pieces of jerky from its small backpack.

It was wearing a new mask made by Little Cabbage, crafted from softer fabric with more precise eye holes.

Sweet Pepper chewed on one piece of jerky and offered the other to Chili Pepper.

The modified car wound through the ruins, encountering over a dozen lone zombies along the way.

Carrot hesitated to use the modified car’s weapons, so Big Pea rolled down the window and spat three green peas at the zombies, mixed with chili pepper seeds, darts, durian thorns, and other ranged attacks.

These attacks were quiet but devastatingly effective. The zombies, completely defenseless, collapsed to the ground before they could even reach the car.

Sweet Pepper’s speed made it ideal for harvesting crystal cores. The red blur darted back and forth before flashing through the car window, delivering the cores to Chili Pepper for safekeeping.

Above the modified car, a Flyer hovered, slowly advancing alongside them.

Potato and Corn sat inside, constantly scanning the horizon for threats.

By noon, the Plant Squad had circled to a small grove on the far side of the ruins, where they finally discovered three plants: Little Green Jujube, Aloe, and Dwarf Tea Tree.

Startled by the sound of the approaching vehicle, the plants tried to hide, but they soon detected the overwhelming aura of a special-grade mutated plant.

They immediately hid until Cabbage rushed in, calling out, “Woo?”

The three plants cautiously emerged, asking Cabbage if it knew the location of the Plant Base.

Cabbage was overjoyed, “Woo woo!” It dashed forward and embraced Dwarf Tea Tree and Aloe.

Little Green Jujube, being small, had escaped unscathed. Dwarf Tea Tree and Aloe, unsure of the situation, stood frozen, barely daring to breathe.

Sweet Pepper darted forward, ripping off its mask. “Woo!”

That’s right, we’re from the Plant Base!

Having finally found new plants, the squad members seemed even more excited than their new acquaintances, circling around the trio like rare treasures.

Dwarf Tea Tree, timid by nature, was overwhelmed by the commotion, its leaves trembling violently.

Chili Pepper quickly reassured them, offering food and asking if they wanted to go to the base.

The three plants had been waiting at the edge of the forest precisely for this opportunity. After accepting Chili Pepper’s offerings and calming down, they nodded in agreement.

Cabbage grew even more delighted, eagerly leading them back to the modified car.

As they emerged from the forest, Aloe’s eyes widened at the sight of a car driven by plants, with a Flyer perched on top. “Woo-ah…”

Once inside the car, Carrot casually asked about the three plants’ abilities.

The Dwarf Tea Tree was a mid-grade support type, while the unassuming Aloe turned out to be a high-grade offensive type.

As for the Little Green Jujube… it was a low-grade, practically useless type.

Carrot glanced at it a few times, then thought, Never mind, I’ll take it back for Little Mushroom to play with.

The modified car and the Flyer above resumed their journey, weaving through the ruins.

Big Pea kept the car window open, scanning for nearby zombies.

It doesn’t feel like there were this many zombies last time we came out to scatter wooden chips… This area bordered Sector 5 and was classified as a medium-risk zone on human maps.

But since they set out, they had already killed six mid-grade zombies and twelve low-grade zombies. This quantity is almost on par with a high-risk zone!

Big Pea sniffed the air outside the window, constantly looking around warily.

In the end, the squad visited four locations. In addition to the Dwarf Tea Tree, Aloe, and Little Green Jujube, they also brought back a Strawberry.

The Strawberry was a mid-grade offensive type plant with remarkable courage. It faced numerous special-grade mutated plants alone without flinching, making its acceptance into the base a foregone conclusion.

On the way back, it was already six in the afternoon. Cabbage counted the four plants in the back seat, silently reassuring itself.

Four new members is plenty. We already have Big Peanut at the base. Any more would be too much to manage. This is just right…

Cabbage leaned back against the rear seat, sighing contentedly.

After the modified car and Flyer departed, over a dozen mutated plants gathered on a more remote, ruined street in the distance.

At the end of the street, several zombies, drawn by the scent of food, lunged forward with crimson eyes.

With a thud, Lettuce leaped onto a collapsed streetlamp, flinging out two lettuce leaves.

The leaves expanded rapidly in mid-air, forming a massive net that ensnared the zombies.

Simultaneously, Lettuce exhaled a cloud of green mist, which quickly dispersed and was inhaled by the zombies.

The zombies’ movements immediately slowed, and before long, they began attacking each other within the leafy net.

Lettuce hurled two more lettuce leaves, this time smaller but precisely aimed to envelop the zombies’ heads. The leaves’ razor-sharp edges sliced through the air, decapitating two mid-grade zombies with a swift twist.

Lettuce hopped down from the streetlamp and rejoined the group of plants. The lettuce leaves, still clutching the zombie heads, rolled toward them with a clatter.

“Woo!” Lettuce waved reassuringly, signaling that everything was fine, and urged the group onward. They needed to find shelter before nightfall.

It casually handed the zombie heads to two plants, instructing them to extract the crystal cores themselves.

The other plants watched in awe as Lettuce effortlessly dispatched the zombies.

Rose swayed its leaves, praising, “The Leader is truly amazing!”

Lettuce scratched its face awkwardly and trudged ahead, head down.

Its personal zombie mount waited behind. Lettuce hopped onto the small recliner, and the zombie resumed its march toward their destination, the group of plants hurrying to keep up.

Lettuce glanced at the plants and counted them again.

Twelve… a full dozen plants, all heading to that Plant Base.

Lettuce tilted its head, propping its cheek against its hand, feeling both speechless and a little regretful.

Originally, it hadn’t thought much of it. It was simply too lazy to explain the misunderstanding, and since they already believed it was their “Leader,” taking the plants along seemed more convenient.

But in the past two days, they’d encountered so many more…

These plants were eager to reach the base, driven by both curiosity and longing. After all, for so long, the base had been a sanctuary reserved for humans.

Now that things had gone this far, Lettuce couldn’t explain the truth or refuse their requests, so it had brought them all along.

Among the plants were some with high-level abilities and others with very low ones. For safety and security, Lettuce had deliberately chosen a more secluded route, protecting them every step of the way.

Sigh…

Lettuce withdrew its gaze and lay back, staring up at the sky.

They should be arriving soon, but it still didn’t know what the base was like—whether it was truly as good as the wooden chip claimed.

If there was danger… would it have to escort all these plants back?

Lettuce closed its eyes and slapped its forehead.

After a long pause, it rolled over onto its side, quietly retrieved its pendant, and traced the name engraved on it.

Before nightfall, the modified car and Flyer successfully returned to the base.

Chili Pepper had received Qian Hui’s message in advance and was waiting at the entrance to greet them.

The wooden gate slowly creaked open as the modified car rolled in, Cabbage waving excitedly from the window.

After the four new plants emerged, they were immediately taken to meet Qian Hui.

Carrot introduced them: “This is the Leader of our base.”

The plants were stunned. The Leader of the Plant Base was a zomb…

No, no, a human… that didn’t seem right either.

Qian Hui crouched down, gently touching each plant’s leaves or crown as a greeting. “It’s getting late. Let’s go eat first.”

The new plants would stay at the base for two days—a period for mutual understanding and assessment. After that, a decision would be made about whether they would remain permanently.

Little Green Jujube actively rubbed against Qian Hui’s fingertip, and the four plants followed Little Cabbage and Apple away.

The Carnivorous Flower stood guard nearby, leaning in to sniff each plant in turn, memorizing their scents.

Potato parked the Flyer and descended the mountain with Corn.

Big Cherry, his eyes gleaming with hunger, trailed closely behind Potato, devouring several landmines in quick succession.

Nearby, Big Peanut observed from the shadows.

More new plants? These ones seem to be here willingly, in good spirits, and uninjured.

As for what Mango said that day… that all the humans at the neighboring base were their underlings.

So powerful…

Big Peanut’s resolve wavered, and it decided to stay for two more days.

As a high-grade offensive plant, Big Peanut excelled at long-range attacks but was also formidable in close combat. Qian Hui had even personally asked it to stay the previous day.

Watching the four plants’ retreating figures, Big Peanut thought, Just two more days. I’ll see if these new plants want to stay.

At that moment, Starfruit called out from under the tree, summoning Big Peanut for dinner.

The base was vast and secure. With Qian Hui often taken away by Nan Tingjin lately, the plants had begun collecting their meals from the kitchen themselves, gathering in groups of two or three, or even crowding around the kitchen.

Big Peanut straightened up instantly and scurried over obediently.

Meanwhile, Qian Hui returned to the small wooden cabin accompanied by the Carnivorous Flower.

Yuan Ji had left just moments ago, leaving the delivered meal untouched on the table. Nan Tingjin hadn’t touched it.

The Carnivorous Flower remained outside to guard the cabin. Qian Hui approached and sat down. “Don’t you like the food?”

Nan Tingjin propped his elbow on the table, his gaze half-lowered. “I’m not hungry.”

Qian Hui sighed, at a loss for words.

He wasn’t hungry, couldn’t sleep at night, and showed no interest in anything. He seemed to be in a state of mental hyperarousal, yet utterly apathetic.

Except when it came to kissing Qian Hui every day…

Fortunately, Nan Tingjin showed no destructive tendencies, and his ability remained stable.

Qian Hui pursed his lips and said, “I don’t want to eat either.”

He lowered his head, feeling Nan Tingjin’s gaze upon him.

Then Qian Hui’s chair was moved to the side, and he was pulled into Nan Tingjin’s arms.

Nan Tingjin took his hand and kissed his fingertips. “What’s wrong?”

Qian Hui glanced at him, then thought for a moment. “I want you to feed me.”

This kind of patient task was actually ill-suited to Nan Tingjin’s current state.

But Qian Hui couldn’t think of any other way. Nan Tingjin had barely eaten anything all day.

Even though he was an Ability User with a constitution far stronger than ordinary humans, he still needed sustenance.

Nan Tingjin kissed Qian Hui’s cheek and replied, “Alright.”

Plants sometimes ate the human food brought to them, so the tableware included extra small bowls and spoons.

Nan Tingjin truly fed Qian Hui bite by bite, with meticulous care and patience.

Qian Hui would occasionally say he didn’t want this or that, naturally leading Nan Tingjin to finish it off himself.

In the end, Nan Tingjin even drank the remaining half-bowl of soup.

The meal took quite a while. By the time they finished, the subordinates from Black Ridge Mountain Base had already arrived and promptly began clearing the table.

The Carnivorous Flower hurried in as well, pretending to help wipe the table while secretly observing to ensure Qian Hui’s safety.

Leaning against Nan Tingjin’s chest, Qian Hui kissed him contentedly. “Want to go for a walk outside?”

Nan Tingjin wrapped his arms around Qian Hui’s waist and murmured, “No.”

“But I want to go…” Qian Hui insisted.

Nan Tingjin remained silent for a moment before relenting. “Alright.”

Even when they left the cabin, they mostly strolled through secluded areas, avoiding the other plants.

Qian Hui was already content. Grabbing a jacket, he happily tugged Nan Tingjin toward the foot of the mountain.

Over the past few days, new wooden chips continued to be crafted, and the base’s lake was completed.

Carrot, who had been longing to raise fish in the lake, asked Chili Pepper to inquire with Yuan Ji about whether they had any.

As night fell, Yuan Ji was inspecting the conditions of several Ability Users in the detention cells when he received a message.

<i>Mutated Chili Pepper: Fish.</i>

Yuan Ji swiftly replied, <i>We have some. I’ll send them over tomorrow. How many do you need?</i>

<i>Mutated Chili Pepper: Three.</i>

A moment later, another message arrived.

<i>Mutated Chili Pepper: Five.</i>

Five fish… The logistics area should have enough. Yuan Ji agreed. <i>Alright.</i>

Night had fallen. A modified car stood parked by the roadside, its windows shattered and its rear heavily scratched.

A human ability user stood beside the car, gazing at the towering walls of Black Ridge Mountain Base in the distance.

Dark circles ringed his eyes, his mental state clearly deteriorating. He muttered to himself, “Complete the mission, get the medicine…”

The ability user lowered his head, clutching a red device in his hand.

This device had been given to him by Sky Base. They promised that if he brought it to the outskirts of Black Ridge Mountain Base and pressed the activation switch, they would provide enough medicine to treat the Lost State.

Originally, it was supposed to be used against the Black Ridge Mountain Base during the unified assault that very night. But the mutated plants had arrived too quickly, and a suitable opportunity never presented itself.

By now, many ability users had compromised with Sky Base, willing to follow any orders.

Even without knowing the device’s true purpose, they couldn’t afford to care, desperate for even a small dose of the medicine.

Three people were already inside the modified car. Half an hour later, two more vehicles approached.

The occupants of the car rolled down the windows and exchanged knowing glances, each aware of the others’ purpose for being there.

They were all equipped with devices and would act in unison, both to ensure success and amplify the effects.

A vehicle followed at a distance, carrying a squad dispatched by Sky Base to oversee and monitor the operation.

These Ability Users suffered from severe symptoms. The combined agony of their physical ailments and their abilities had rendered them incapable of rational thought. Even if ordered to their deaths, they would not hesitate.

How long had passed? The sky remained dark.

Yuan Ji received the alert first and immediately threw himself out of bed.

Outside the base’s main gate, a deafening crash echoed as a modified car, ignoring warnings and danger, rammed straight into the defense barrier.

Cracks spiderwebbed across the translucent barrier as another vehicle sped in from the side, crashing into the nearby perimeter wall.

Everything happened too quickly. Even though Qi Yue had warned them in advance, and the entire base was on high alert, watching for anyone attempting to approach, the attackers moved with relentless speed.

But these two cars seemed utterly fearless of death… And since guards had to be stationed along the perimeter wall, there was no time to retreat in such a situation.

Bang!

The second car crashed into the wall. Immediately afterward, the Ability User in the watchtower above the wall felt a splitting headache, and the defense barrier vanished.

Behind them, a third car, a fourth car…

The sonic waves emitted by the device traveled far. At the same moment, two approaching Patrol Teams were also affected.

Meanwhile, the plants also heard the strange sound.

The Carnivorous Flower raised its head alertly, while the Little Mushroom in its leaf flipped over and rubbed its eyes.

The base’s detector, which also covered Black Ridge Mountain, triggered an alarm, jolting Qian Hui awake.

He opened his eyes to find Nan Tingjin standing by the bed, his Communicator open.

Yuan Ji’s urgent voice crackled through the device: “Leader!”

The Black Ridge Mountain Base was under attack again, but this time the situation was different. They had no choice but to seek help from the plants.

Yuan Ji had ordered everyone to stay away from the wall, but this left the defense barrier’s coverage insufficient, unable to prevent the modified cars from approaching.

In the critical moment, the Carnivorous Flower let out a mighty roar, awakening all the plants.

Learning that the disturbance was likely caused by the Sky Base again, Carrot flew into a rage. It immediately led the Plant Squad to provide support and eliminate the villains.

The Carnivorous Flower insisted on joining. It entrusted Little Mushroom to Qian Hui, then twisted its body, transforming into a massive form. Carrying Nan Tingjin on its back, it raced after the modified car speeding away from the gate.

Several Flyers parked in the mountain forest gradually lifted off, rapidly converging on the target.

Little Mushroom clung tightly to Qian Hui’s fingertip, its gaze darting around in confusion.

It rubbed its nose, sensing another foul odor emanating from a distant source.

Qian Hui, thinking it was frightened, gently reassured it and tucked it into his pocket. He hurried to the perimeter wall and peered through binoculars at the situation outside.

Nan Tingjin followed, but his unstable condition worried Qian Hui. What if he was affected again?

Qian Hui was consumed by anxiety, yet powerless to act. He could only pray that the Plant Squad would resolve the crisis swiftly.

Little Mushroom peeked out from Qian Hui’s pocket, glancing around before reaching up to feel the inside of its umbrella hat.

From this angle, it could glimpse a corner of the Black Ridge Mountain Base’s main gate. Flickering flames and signs of chaos were visible.

As the plants arrived, two Flyers hovered above the perimeter walls, launching long-range attacks.

The final vehicle, however, showed no signs of stopping, instead crashing straight into the side of the wall.

Though the external attackers were few, once they were dealt with, trouble erupted within the base.

An unknown number of devices had been activated. Within minutes, the base’s Ability Users regained their powers, and over a dozen began losing control.

The chaotic energy emanating from the distance grew stronger, reaching Little Mushroom’s senses.

It buried its head and shook its umbrella hat vigorously, as if uncomfortable. “Ugh…”

Among the most severely affected Ability Users was a physical enhancement type. His muscles bulged grotesquely, his headache intensified, and his vision blurred. He tried to tear off his own arm.

Suddenly, he found himself unable to move, and an invisible force hurled him into the air.

The surrounding fences and stone walls trembled violently. Nan Tingjin stood nearby, his expression impassive as he raised his hand and slammed the man to the ground until he lost consciousness.

Yuan Ji watched from behind, his heart pounding with anxiety. Nan Tingjin hadn’t fully recovered himself, and Yuan Ji feared he might accidentally kill the man.

Several others suffered the same fate, but moments later, the previously unconscious Ability User stirred awake.

Lying dazed on the ground, he suddenly glimpsed a small, pink light glowing like a star in the distant sky.

At the same moment, Qian Hui looked up.

His eyes widened slightly as he exclaimed in surprise, “Xiao Fen…”

[ A mutated plant nearby has entered a Berserk state. Please take cover! (From Encyclopedia entry: “Little Pink Mushroom”) ]