Chapter 60: Man-Eating Flower
2015-02-14
Author: Floating Tower (诸生浮屠)
裂口花 (Rift Flower).
One of the variants of the man-eating flower, a dangerous creature that looks like a giant trumpet flower.
There are many strange plants in the jungle, among which the man-eating plants include the man-eating flowers and man-eating trees. The ordinary man-eating plants are easier to deal with, but the most difficult ones are the mutated species. Due to a major disaster in the past on the overseas islands, there is an invisible energy field underground, making it easy for the creatures here to mutate. Humans, although not heavily mutated, also possess some strange innate abilities, mastering similar spell-like skills akin to 【灵能】 (spiritual energy).
However, it is not true 【灵能】, but rather a singular embodiment of spiritual energy-like spells.
This energy field not only affects the indigenous people but also impacts these mutated plants, leading some abnormal beings to possess spell-like abilities as well.
For example, the Rift Flower in front of us!
It could possess some special spell-like abilities, but what those are is hard to say, as many mutated creatures have their unique characteristics.
“Your Excellency?”
Adele Isabella frowned as she looked ahead and whispered, “How do we deal with it?”
Perhaps it’s a woman’s intuition, but she felt that the strange plant in front of her wouldn’t be easy to handle. The eerie plant exuded a dangerous aura, prompting her to suggest, “Your Excellency! Should we use oil to deal with it? I remember we have several barrels of oil on the ship; it should burn this creature!”
Soren turned to glance at her and shook his head, “It won’t work. Fire attacks are too ineffective against this creature; we would need a lot of oil to k*ll it, since more than half of its body and roots are underground.”
“Cover me!”
Soren slightly bent and whispered, then immediately shot toward the location of the Rift Flower. The reaction of this mutated creature was relatively slow. In contrast, its life force was stronger than many fleshy beings. Soren had to familiarize himself with its combat power because there might be more of such creatures; the challenge difficulty on the overseas islands is not lower than that of the Underdark, a third of which is due to these dangerous beings. They are not weaker than the various monsters and creatures of the Underdark, and some are even more dangerous.
Fire attacks are unrealistic.
Unless we acquire something like asphalt gasoline to burn the Rift Flower in front of us, using other firewood would merely send subordinates to their doom.
Biological level 16, this is no joke!
Although the challenge level of the Rift Flower is not high, only half of its biological level, its final challenge difficulty is merely C-class. Yet, its biological level is on par with that of a sub-dragon species. The reason for such a low challenge difficulty is entirely because it is a plant-type enemy, which possesses relatively obvious weaknesses. However, plant-type enemies share a common trait, which is that the underground portion is the key vital point; merely hitting the above portion may not suffice to k*ll them.
Bang!
Soren’s toes pressed against a nearby tree for leverage, then he swung his curved blade toward the Rift Flower in front of him.
The surface portion of this man-eating flower serves as its feeding organ. One can see that the dead pirate lackey inside is swollen. However, Soren did not expect that the Rift Flower would show no reaction to his attack. It was only when his blade struck the surface that it seemed startled. Instantly, five or six vines shot up from the ground. Soren’s blade felt as though it had struck an incredibly tough leather hide, clearly appearing plant-like. Yet, when he cut through the surface, crimson liquid flowed out, resembling bl**d.
Clang!
Soren sliced through the vine, and surprisingly, more bl**d flowed out.
The strange vines, when severed and dropping to the ground, seemed to move like the tentacles of some strange creature, giving a somewhat creepy sensation.
At this moment!
The petal-like feeding organ, as tough as cowhide, opened up, revealing three rows of densely packed teeth on the inside. The teeth resembled those of a great white shark, all small and sharp, distributed in three layers within and outside. Bloodstains and bits of flesh clung to these teeth, and the insides of the petals revealed what appeared to be root-like structures extending, resembling nutrient-providing conduits within the plant. Inside the petals, there were also things resembling bl**d vessels.
The three rows of fine teeth began to move autonomously, and within that enormous flower bud was a pile of mangled flesh!
Soren caught a whiff of a scent reminiscent of strong acid.
However, it was not a strong acid but rather an acidic liquid secreted by the Rift Flower. This liquid aids in breaking down and digesting most of its prey, and then transfers a portion of the required nutrients back to its underground trunk. Though the Rift Flower can grow by relying on the soil, its main diet consists of various living creatures’ bl**d and flesh.
Soren struck out three times!
However, the results were not significant; the part above the core of the Rift Flower possesses strong defensive capabilities, and striking it felt like hitting dragon skin, causing little damage.
A portion of the trunk was attacked.
Even without eyes or facial features, the Rift Flower sensed Soren’s position, and suddenly its huge flower bud opened wide, resembling a massive gaping mouth aimed at Soren. Fortunately, he had been prepared; it was impossible for him to be easily bitten, and instead, he seized the opportunity to strike at the root with a counter slash. The incredibly tough root was not severed in one blow; seizing the chance, Soren struck several more times until he finally severed the feeding organ above.
Then!
A very strange occurrence happened.
From underground, there seemed to be strange sounds of movement, and the flying vines pulled back a bit.
Then the ground beneath Soren appeared to exhibit a small depression.
The severed feeding organ, which looked like a giant trumpet flower but with three layers of sharp teeth, began to wither rapidly after being disconnected, as if it had suddenly lost adequate nutrients. The underground portion seemed to be drilling deeper into the earth, and when Soren plunged his kn*fe into the soil below, he felt nothing else.
“Let’s go back for now!”
Soren frowned as if contemplating something. He glanced at his data prompt and received no notification of killing experience. It seemed that the Rift Flower was not yet dead. After stepping back a distance, he said solemnly, “Tell the others not to approach here! The plants here are very strange!”
“There may be something terrifying below.”
…………… (To be continued ~^~)
