Darkness cloaked the surroundings like a dense shroud, allowing no light to pierce through.
Strange sensations overwhelmed Yu Zi Yu—the feeling of his body was no longer familiar, and he couldn't move the way he once could.
He tried to open his eyes, but there were none.
He tried to scream, but his voice was gone.
Yet, he was aware.
He was... alive.
[Alert: System Activated.]
A translucent window suddenly appeared before his consciousness—alien in form, alien in sensation.
> Identity: Small Tree
Stage: Primitive Seedling
Attributes: Light Absorption, Water Absorption, Photosynthesis
Available Skills: None
"A tree?! I'm... a tree?!"
Not even in his worst nightmares had he imagined turning into a plant.
But the warmth of the sunlight seeping through his leaves made it clear—this was no dream.
Slowly, he began absorbing the sunlight, and with every ray, a stream of energy surged within him.
His roots burrowed into the soil, absorbing water and minerals, while his tiny branches trembled in the gentle breeze.
Then came the next moment...
[Warning: Hostile creature approaching.]
He sensed something within the bounds of his awareness... a low crawl, heavy breathing, and a hidden malice.
A shadowy creature on all fours was creeping toward him.
He couldn't run.
All he had were his roots—and a desperate will to survive.
[Skill Unlocked: Thorned Vine – Level 1]
The newly unlocked skill was a lifeline.
Without thinking, he activated it.
Thick vines burst from his trunk, ending in sharp thorns that pierced the charging creature before it could strike.
The beast howled in a raspy tone, muscles torn apart, and collapsed motionless.
> [Creature Eliminated.]
[Vital Energy +5.]
[Skill Unlocked: Environmental Awareness – Level 1]
Yu Zi Yu felt a sudden surge in his awareness.
He could sense every movement within a ten-meter radius—falling leaves, worms wriggling through the soil, the whispers of small animals.
It was only the beginning.
A tiny sapling pulsing with life, carrying the remnants of a human soul—and the power of a system determined to turn it into something far greater than just a tree.
---