Chapter 604 - Chapter 604: Chapter 604: Life Vines

Chapter 604: Chapter 604: Life Vines

Lab Zero is the largest of all the laboratories situated in the Floating Base. Despite being unoccupied for several decades, the internal support system continues to function seamlessly;

In the center of Lab Zero, within a tens-of-square-meters glass chamber, is a two-meter-high vine. The vine’s trunk, roughly the width of a bucket, bears patterns reminiscent of snake scales. Innumerable branches sprawl from its main body, enveloping the entire glass chamber;

Atop the vine, three flowers bloom, each the color of purple-red. Glowing subtly, their surfaces resemble the sheen on a ceramic glaze, appearing as fine pieces of art.

The glass chamber’s intelligent system continues to regulate the temperature, humidity, and nutrient supply. Thus, even after the passage of decades, the plant thrives.

Today, Lab Zero’s peace is abruptly shattered. Out of nowhere, a sword tip emerges from a wall. Soon, an irritating scratching noise fills the air, quickly followed by a gaping hole breaking through the iron-forged wall;

On sensing the damage to the structure, the emergency system in Lab Zero activates, bathing the lab in intermittent dark-red light while a high-pitched alarm blares out.

Lab Zero, being the most important section of the Floating Base, is designed to be sealed off and surrounded by guards within ten seconds of the alarm going off.

But presently, the alarm does nothing more than create noise.

Song Jian breaks through the wall and steps into Lab Zero. The steel wall, over half a foot thick, crumbled like tofu before him. As soon as he steps into Lab Zero, a gender-neutral voice rings in his ear.

“Adventurer, you should not be here. Leave immediately, or you will suffer devastating consequences!”

“Devastating consequences? Based on what?” Song Jian sneers at the hostility, staring at the plant within the glass chamber, he retorts, “Are you, a mere research subject caged within a glass chamber without any freedom, supposed to threaten me?”

“Moreover…” Song Jian eyes the dwindling layer of nutrient feed at the bottom of the glass chamber, a smile spread wide across his face, “Looks like your nutrient supply is running low. I wonder how long you can survive once it’s gone? A day? A week? Or a month?”

With the Floating Base on lockdown since the catastrophic disaster, the amount of nutrient feed left in Lab Zero, which lasted this long, has already exceeded Song Jian’s expectations. In fact, he had worried all along that the vine would wither and die from lack of attention.

To his surprise, this vine has actually evolved consciousness, and can communicate with people through something similar to brainwaves;

“Human, state your purpose here. This lab is no cage for me. If I want to leave, no one can hold me back,” announced the gender-neutral voice, calmly.

“I need one of your flowers!” Song Jian cuts to the chase;

“Impossible. It takes me ten years to produce a single flower. The fact that I’ve survived this long is entirely due to the energy I absorb from the flowers. Do you really believe this lab contains such an abundance?” Anger resonates in the vine’s voice.

“You can grow flowers from yourself and then swallow them?” Song Jian’s face mirrors his surprise.

“Is that so strange? Haven’t many of you humans committed acts of child exchange and subsequently consumed them? More importantly, this flower is merely an organ of my body,” responded the indifferent vine.

“Well, if you’re not willing to offer it, then I’ll have no choice but to take it myself.” Song Jian shrugs nonchalantly.

“How dare you!” The vine instantly loses its cool. Within the glass chamber, the branches of the previously idle vine shudder, thrashing about like a horrifying tentacled monster;

“A mere level 30 elite Boss, I wonder who gave you the courage to talk to me in this way.” Song Jian chuckles, shattering the glass chamber in the center of the lab with a single strike, and storms toward the vine;

Smack, smack, smack~

Several dozens of vine tendrils lash out at Song Jian like a torrential downpour. Each vine is coated with hair-like fibers that deliver excruciating physical hits and toxic attacks to any organism they come in contact with.

The vine secretes a bio-toxin, resulting in sustained vitality loss and, when stacked, the side effect of reducing attack and defense power, slowing attack speed, and increasing failure rate of ability usage;

Unprepared parties of five face certain defeat against this vine Boss.

However, the immunity to poison damage granted by Song Jian’s maximized “Thick Skin” talent renders the vine toxin ineffective;

System: The vine uses the “Whip” skill to attack you, dealing 167 physical damage. In addition, you have been inflicted with “Toxin Attack (Layer 1)”. Your talent and gear defense mitigated 123 physical damage, you ultimately sustained 44 physical damage. “Thick Skin (MAX)” negates the toxin damage;

The vine has several dozen tendrils that can perform area of effect attacks. When dealing with a single target, toxin attacks can stack over ten folds instantly, preventing the inflicted party from escaping if struck even once;

While Song Jian’s immunity negates the serious toxin damage, he still suffers over 400 vitality points in one attack. Even he won’t be able to withstand multiple attacks from the vine;

“Immortal Sword Body, activate!” With a call, Song Jian’s body emanates a dazzling golden light. Eight phantom long-swords orbit his body at a leisurely pace.

At a thought, a pair of wings sparkle with a metallic sheen unfurled behind Song Jian. Resembling a conscious being, they flit back and forth to parry the raining vine attacks;

The steel wings can automatically block damage below fifty points. After deploying the steel wings, Song Jian’s overall defense and resistance increase by 30%. Coupled with the Immortal Sword Body’s additional effects, each of the Vine’s attacks only manages to deal about thirty points of damage. Surprisingly, the Steel Wings negate every bit of it.

It’s fair to say that, at this point, the vine is unable to deal Song Jian any damage.

Song Jian chuckles, leaps toward the main body of the vine. He’s at the pinnacle of his might. Even the Shadow Giant Dragon possessing a super first-tier combat power only provides a close match, let alone the vine that hasn’t even reached a first-tier combat power!

Swish, swish, swish~

Golden Sword Qi dances around him, causing the vine to unleash heartrending screams. Countless vines are sliced apart, filling Lab Zero with a strong scent of sweetness.

…