The Dead Park lay silent at the edge of the Outer Ring. Years ago, this place was green and beautiful, but now, the trees were black skeletons and the grass was yellow and dry. There were no birds in the sky.
People said the ground here was "sick" because the energy from the Black Tower corrupted the soil. Normal plants died here, but Ben was not looking for normal plants.
He walked into the tall, dead grass, holding the canvas bag tight. Inside, the Man-Eater Plant moved restlessly. It smelled prey.
"Stay ready," Ben whispered.
He needed to get stronger and level up. If Gary came back, Ben had to be ready, and a small plant was not enough to fight a whole gang.
Grrrr.
A low growl came from the bushes.
Ben stopped and crouched behind a large gray rock. Looking through the cracks, he saw three dogs in the clearing.
These were not normal dogs; they were Mutated Hounds. Their fur was falling off, revealing skin that was gray and hard like stone. Their eyes glowed with a sick red light as they ate a pile of old garbage.
A blue window appeared above the largest dog.
[Target: Mutated Hound]
[Level: 2]
[Danger: Medium]
Ben's heart beat fast. He was only Level 1, and his plant was just a baby. This was dangerous.
"Three of them," Ben thought. "That is too many."
If he attacked, they would all jump on him, so he needed to separate them. He picked up a small rock and threw it far to the left.
Thump.
The loud noise broke the silence of the quiet park.
The dogs stopped eating and raised their ears. The two smaller dogs ran toward the noise, barking loudly. However, the big one—the Alpha—stayed behind. It looked around, suspicious.
"Now," Ben said.
Stepping out from behind the rock, he shouted, "Hey!"
The Alpha turned and saw Ben. It roared a deep, wet sound and charged. It was fast, its claws tearing up the dry ground.
Ben did not run. Instead, he opened the bag.
"Eat!"
The Man-Eater Plant shot out. This time, it did not stay in the bag. Using its roots like small legs, it jumped and launched itself at the dog.
Snap!
The plant bit the dog's nose.
The dog howled and shook its head violently, trying to throw the plant off. But the plant held on tight, digging its thorns into the dog's face.
However, the dog was strong. It raised a heavy paw and smashed the plant.
Smash!
The plant fell to the ground. Green liquid leaked from a crack in its stem, hissing in pain. The dog growled, preparing to bite the plant in half.
"No!" Ben shouted.
He ran forward. He was not a warrior and had no sword, but he was a Farmer with a skill. Reaching out his hand toward his injured plant, he yelled, "Fast Growth!"
Energy poured out of Ben.
The effect was instant. The crack in the stem closed, and the green liquid stopped leaking. The plant did not just heal; it grew and got angry.
The plant whipped its vines around the dog's legs and pulled. The dog tripped and fell. Before it could stand up, the plant opened its mouth wide and clamped down on the dog's throat.
Crunch.
The dog kicked once, twice... and then stopped moving.
[Enemy Defeated: Mutated Hound (Level 2)]
[Experience Gained: 100]
[Level Up!]
Ben fell to his knees, breathing hard. His mana was low, and he felt dizzy. But then, a warm light covered his body, washing away the fatigue. He felt stronger, and his skin felt tougher.
[Name: Ben]
[Level: 2]
[Mana: 20/20]
[New Skill Unlocked: Soil Analysis]
Ben smiled. He did it. He had killed a monster.
He looked at his plant standing on top of the dead dog. It was bigger now, the size of a large bucket, and its teeth were longer.
"Good job," Ben said.
The plant wiggled its leaves, seeming proud.
Suddenly, Ben saw something strange. Where the dog's blood touched the ground, the dead, yellow grass turned green. A small patch of life appeared in the dead park.
Frowning, Ben touched the ground.
"Soil Analysis."
Information flowed into his brain.
[Soil Type: Corrupted Earth]
[Condition: Dead]
[Hidden Feature: Blood makes it fertile.]
[Potential: Suitable for Monster Plants.]
Ben's eyes went wide. Everyone said the Outer Ring was dead and that nothing could grow here. They were wrong. Normal corn or wheat could not grow here, but Monster Plants loved this soil. They just needed blood.
Ben looked at the vast, dead park and the miles of empty, abandoned land. To others, this was a wasteland. To Ben, it was a farm.
"I can use this," Ben whispered. "I can plant a garden here. A garden of monsters."
Hearing barking in the distance, he knew the other two dogs were coming back.
Ben stood up, no longer afraid.
"Come on," he said to his plant. "We need more fertilizer."
...
The wind changed direction, carrying the heavy, metallic smell of fresh blood across the clearing. The Dead Park was usually a place of silence and dust, but now, it felt different. The air was heavy, and the ground beneath Ben's feet felt soft, as if it were waking up.
The two remaining Mutated Hounds appeared from the dead bushes. Seeing the body of their leader and the red blood sinking into the black earth, they stopped. They did not roar this time. Instead, they growled low in their throats, a sound like grinding stones. They looked at the small human, then at the strange, green monster standing next to him.
Ben stood still, feeling the vibration of the Man-Eater Plant through his shoes. It was shaking not from fear, but from excitement. The plant sensed the change in the soil and the rich food waiting for it. Its leaves turned a darker shade of red as it tapped its roots on the ground like a hungry child waiting for dinner.
"Come on," Ben whispered. His voice was calm, but his heart beat hard against his ribs.
The hounds separated. Being smart hunters, one moved to the left while the other moved to the right to attack him from both sides. They crouched low with tight muscles, ready to spring.
Ben checked his Mana bar. It was half empty, so he could not use Fast Growth many times. He had to be careful. He stepped back into the small patch of green grass created by the first dog's death. In this circle of life, he and the plant both felt stronger.
Crack.
A dry twig broke. The dog on the left attacked first, becoming a blur of gray fur and yellow teeth.
"Defend!" Ben shouted.
The Man-Eater Plant whipped its vines faster than before. The vine hit the dog in mid-air with a loud impact, throwing the dog sideways into a dead tree. It hit with a heavy thud and did not stand up again.
However, Ben made a mistake by watching the first dog for too long. The second dog was already there.
Ben turned, but it was too late. The beast jumped, its heavy weight hitting Ben's chest and knocking him to the ground. The air left his lungs. As the jaws opened wide, he smelled the rotten breath of the monster.
Ben raised his arm to protect his throat.
Chomp.
Sharp teeth sank into his forearm.
"Ah!" Ben screamed as hot, white pain shot through him.
Warm blood ran down his arm, dripping onto the dry, dead soil beneath his back.
Suddenly, the ground trembled.
Ben's blood did not just disappear into the dirt; the soil drank it greedily. Instantly, the area around them exploded with life. Black thorns shot up from the ground, wild and uncontrolled. They did not belong to the Man-Eater Plant; they belonged to the earth itself.
The thorns wrapped around the dog and pierced its skin. The dog yelped and let go of Ben's arm, trying to run. But the garden would not let it leave. The thorns pulled it down, burying it into the dirt.
Ben scrambled backward, holding his bleeding arm, and watched with wide eyes. The dog disappeared under a wave of green and black roots, and the struggle stopped.
Silence returned to the park.
[Blood Detected.]
[The Dead Soil is active.]
[Warning: The Garden is hungry.]
Ben sat on the grass, breathing hard. He looked at the new patch of plants. Where his blood had fallen, small red flowers were blooming. They were beautiful, but they had sharp edges.
He realized the truth. The Skill Soil Analysis was right. This land did not care whose blood it was. Monster blood or human blood—it was all the same. It was all fuel.
Ben stood up slowly. His arm hurt, but the wound was already closing because the energy from the leveled-up soil was healing him.
Walking over to the spot where the dogs died, he saw something shining amidst the green leaves. A small, white crystal lay on the ground where the Alpha dog had died.
[Loot Dropped: Beast Core (Low Grade)]
[Value: 500 Credits]
Ben picked it up. It was cold and hard. 500 credits was enough to buy food for a month or simple medicine.
He looked at his Man-Eater Plant. It was bigger now, having eaten well, and it stood guard watching the shadows.
Ben squeezed the crystal in his hand and looked at the vast, dead wasteland around him. He saw the future: a forest of traps and a fortress of thorns.
"I need more seeds," Ben said to the silence. "I am going to plant them all."