Chapter 8 — Apocalyptic Grass Sprouts

The last person was swallowed. Fifty S-level ability users all disappeared. To Van sat on a tree catching flies, looking at the empty wasteland. The wind was very strong, blowing her hair wildly.

"You're crying."

She touched her face. Wet.

"No. It's just a strong wind."

“You are sad.”

“No.”

“You are sad.”

To Van was silent for a moment.

“I just feel like they probably didn't need to die.”

“But they want to kill you.”

“I know.”

“So you are not wrong.”

“I know.”

To Van stood up and brushed the ground.

“Let's go.”

That night, the flycatcher began to grow stems. Ten meters. Twenty meters. Fifty meters. One hundred meters. It penetrates the clouds, penetrates the sky. The leaves open above the clouds, blocking the sun. The whole base is in its shadow. World Tree. It has evolved. To Van stood on the highest branch of the World Tree, looking down at the whole base. Ten thousand fly-catching plants turned into a giant tree trunk, its branches covering the sky and covering the ground. It is looking at her.

“Isn't it beautiful?”

“Beautiful.”

“Do you like it?”

“Like.”

“So everything will grow like that in the future.”

Day 1050. The World Tree begins to glow. It's not the leaves that glow, but the stems that glow. The golden light spread from the base of the tree upward, extending to the canopy. It's summoning. To Van can feel it. It's sending a signal out into space. Summoning the fleet.

“You lied to me.”

“No. I'm showing you my house.”

The light on the tree trunk merges into one image. A city floating in the middle of a nebula. Golden architecture, silver river, a giant tree covering the whole city.

“That was my home. Four hundred years ago, it was destroyed. I am the only seed.”

“Who destroyed it?”

“I don't know. I just know I have to survive. I have to grow up. I have to find a new home.”

“Is Earth your new home?”

“Yes. But I don't need a fleet. I don't need a harvest. I just need you.”

To Van was silent.

“You are my home.”

To Van laughed.

“Okay. I am your home.”

The light turns off. Summoning stopped. The World Tree no longer glows. It just stood there quietly, covering the sky and earth, protecting the entire base. That night, To Van discovered it was sucking her blood. A little every day, but always suck. She became increasingly thinner and weaker. But every time it eats a zombie, it gives her a little bit of energy. Not much, but enough to keep her alive. They are symbiotic. It eats her, she eats it. She is fighting back. Every time it sucks her blood, she also sucks its energy. Very slow, very little, but it doesn't detect. She was feeling its instincts, looking for what was engraved deep in its bones. The man in black is right. It is a weapon. The weapon's instinct is to grow, summon, and harvest. But it is possible to choose against it. She was looking for a knot that could be cut. Day 1100. To Van saw an image. It's not a dream, it's real. It's the memory of the fly-catching plant. That floating city. Its home. It does not want to destroy the Earth. It just wants to survive. But it has no choice. It is a weapon. The instinct of the weapon is engraved deep in the bones. Grow up. Recall. Harvest. Unless someone helps him cut off that mark. To Van opened her eyes.

“I will help you. Cut off this mark. So you don't need to summon, don't need to harvest. Let you Just grow up, just live.”

“Why?”

“Because you are what I raise. It's my stuff, I own it."

“What if you cut it and don't break it?”

“Then you eat me. Then summon the fleet. Then destroy the Earth.”

“Are you afraid?”

“Afraid of what? Even if you die, it's in your body."

The leaves gently rubbed her face.

“Thank you.”

Day 1200. The World Tree no longer glows. It just stood there quietly, covering the sky and earth, protecting the entire base. The base chief knelt under the World Tree and raised his head to look at To Van. Loi Ho knelt next to him, his whole body trembling. Everyone knelt.

“Are you… are you a god?”

To Van bowed her head and looked at him.

“No.”

“So what are you?”

She thought for a moment.

“A grass grower.”

She stood up, brushed off the dirt, and walked out of the World Tree.

“Where are you going?”

“Go see this world.”

“Are you still coming back?”

She turned her head to look.

“Will. The grass is still there, I'm still there."

She's gone. Behind him, the leaves of the World Tree gently shook. It's like saying: I'm here. To Van went very far. So far away that the base could no longer be seen. In the wasteland there is a sprout. Lush green, two leaves, so weak that the wind could break them. Shy tree. She squatted down and touched its leaves. It wrapped around her fingers, gently and warmly.

“If you follow me, don't you regret it?”

The leaves moved slightly. It's like saying: No regrets. She laughed.

“Let's go then. Go see this world.”

She stood up and walked forward. Behind her, a shy tree followed, slowly growing. In the distance, in the depths of the sky, there are twinkling stars. She is no longer afraid. Because you're here. Because it's also here. END.