The eerie midnight silence hangs over Unit 00's temporary campsite. It is only broken occasionally by the berserk rustling of clashing Florae.
Phin, unable to sleep, listens intently to this noise. For a second, he tenses up as a screeching slash echoes through the night. Calm down, Phin, he instructs himself, rolling over in his blanket. Willow went over this. In high-level areas, like the Abyss and Nightmare zones, Florae often engage in territorial disputes with one another. The stronger Flora subjugates the weaker, expanding its root network by a process known as synapsing.
Not long after, the muffled noises of Flora combat die down. Huh. That means one of them won. Phin buries his head in the pillow, squeezing his eyes shut. Dammit, why am I so on edge? It's not like they'll come after us - thanks to our concealment utility.
His mind wanders to the following day's objective. Azure Peak... an unexplored mountain situated in the Nightmare zone. Phin clenches his fists subconsciously. It was listed as a barred off location until Unit 00 was entrusted to complete the mission.
Reaching to the side, he rummages through his satchel and scoops up a handful of Seeds. They fall onto the pillow, flashing dully as they collide. Immediately, dozens of Appraisal interfaces pop up.
It feels so natural... even without trying, I can perform Genetic Appraisal now. Phin briefly reminisces of his arduous yet enjoyable training in the Arboretum. But - I'm still not satisfied. What the hell does this 'Greed' stuffmean?
On every Flora's display panel, no matter the Grade or quality, the same words that have tormented him for weeks burn bright.
| → Greed Skill: [???]
| → Greed Mastery: [N/A]
And it's not like I've kept this to myself. No matter who or what resource I consulted, nothing was known about this damn 'gimmick' - whatever itis, Phin thinks, frustrated. He sighs. I should try to sleep.
————————————————————————————————————
'Ngh!'
The loud clatter of weapons as they hit the ground.
'Master Dynamus, what's gotten into you recently? You seem much more, well... dynamic,' a Botanist soldier huffs, knelt on the sweat-slicked floor. Around him, his comrades lay exhausted, panting heavily.
Dexx calmly sheathes his blunt blade, without a trace of fatigue. Through dangling strands of bone-white hair, he looks down the defeated unit of Botanists with masked disdain. The Fortress's strongest - swept in seconds.
'It's nothing. I simply became conscious of my sedentary habits,' he states emotionlessly. However, deep within him, the lie stings.
'Tsk!' Dexx clutches his head in an attempt to sooth the piercing pain. Shit - not now!
'Are you alright, Master Dynamus?' the Botanist cautiously asks, inching forward.
'Yes. I'm fine,' Dexx spits out through gritted teeth. 'Leave me be. I must tend to my Appraiser duties.'
As he hobbles out of the mock arena, the blasted voice persists.
And Dexx doesn't fight back, because he knows the voice is true. No matter how many Botanists he defeats in sparring, his heart's yearning will not be quenched. Because what I truly need... he gazes through the Arboretum's glass dome. Is out there.
————————————————————————————————————
Phin nearly chokes trying to comprehend Azure Peak's scale. Due to the dense foliage, the colossal spire had been hidden prior. However, as Unit 00 nears its base, the mountain begins to reveal its staggering might.
Desperate for validation, he looks to the side to catch the Botanists' expressions. Eri stares into the sky with a tremendous grin on her face, and many others reciprocate her excitement. Willow, on the contrary, shows almost no expression at all.
In fact, she looks a bit distressed, Phin deduces. As he watches Willow discreetly chew on her lip, he is filled with a simultaneous sense of relief and worry. At least the Captain has some sense, but if it's enough to make her nervous...
The change in atmosphere is palpable as the unit ascends the rocky base of the mountain. Immediately, a vinelike Flora ambushes one of them, snaking down the jagged vertical cliff. Despite being able to slay it immediately, the Botanists feel the first whispers of anxiety setting in.
'Holy shit - they're way more aggressive than usual, even in the Nightmare zone!' a Botanist exclaims as he cuts down another feral Flora.
'Florae are often drawn to distinct geological structures, like the Tarnished Chasm or this. So it's expected that they'll be even stronger and more territorial,' Willow explains.
Meanwhile, Phin stiffens, both hands gripping the hilt of his seax knife. As the group ascends the winding route, the pungent odor of Flora fumes thickens. At times, visible fumes cloud the air, obscuring parts of the path in darkness. Florae would burst up from beneath their feet, threatening a treacherous fall down.
'Shall I scout ahead?' Drasil asks, stepping over a slain Flora.
Willow purses her lips. 'Sorry, Dietrich. It's too dangerous - this is unexplored territory.'
'We could use Phin's non-Seed Appraisal as a premonitory scan,' suggest a Botanist.
Before anyone could commend her, a bone-chilling roar thunders across the sky. Nearby Florae hurriedly retract into dormant states. Phin freezes - as does every other Botanist.
In the sky, what appears to be a massive, serpentine Flora - a monstrous tapestry of thick vines and bulging roots - coils ominously. Reminiscent of Chinese dragons of old, its maw bears fearsome teeth that glisten in the harsh sunlight.
Phin's heart nearly stops as he observes the beast in horror. Jagged spikes line its back, each the size of a human child. What the hell is that thing...? He inhales sharply, tensing up.
'It must a new species,' Baukia notes, breathless. 'In my decades as a Botanist, I haven't seen anything like it.'
Swallowing his fear, Phin concentrates on the Flora's features, channeling his mind.
[Fleurdrakon: Dracondora tortuosa]
| → Potential: (-) 0.2%
| → Encoding: ⊎◬⊙⊏⊞⌁⊘⊓⊐⌂⊙⊎⊞⌬⊓⊏
| → Greed Skill: [???]
| → Greed Mastery: [N/A]