MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 116
A pair of bat-like wings unfurled from Gris Klass's back, and with a powerful beat, it ascended into the sky.
In moments, Gris Klass soared high above Linhai County, gaining a panoramic view of the Blood Flesh Mother Tree in its entirety.
The grotesque plant had grown even larger since the last encounter. Lush branches were adorned with fist-sized miniature human heads, a macabre display of its victims.
A thick layer of crimson fungus carpeted the ground near its roots. Gris Klass couldn't discern whether it was actual fungus or some other peculiar substance.
Its red eyes scanned the ground below, detecting subtle undulating movements within the crimson carpet, resembling the rise and fall of pythons. Upon closer inspection, Gris Klass realized these were the roots of the Blood Flesh Mother Tree.
"It's so massive," Gris Klass muttered in awe.
The Blood Flesh Mother Tree was colossal, reaching a height of nearly 500 meters with a staggering girth.
"Moreover," Gris Klass observed, "it doesn't seem like a mutated zombie."
Now at a closer vantage point, Gris Klass's perception was clearer.
Contrary to its initial assumption, the creature did not appear to be a mutated zombie after all.
"Then what is it?" Gris Klass growled, frustration evident in its voice.
Unable to decipher the true nature of the Blood Flesh Mother Tree, Gris Klass abandoned further contemplation.
Who cares what it is? it thought. If it can be subdued, it will be enslaved. If not, it will be destroyed.
Simple and brutal.
With this resolve, Gris Klass folded its wings and plunged from the sky, landing gracefully on the crimson fungus layer.
Standing at the base of the Blood Flesh Mother Tree, Gris Klass cleared its throat and spoke in a low voice.
"Can you speak?"
This question triggered a chilling response from the Blood Flesh Mother Tree.
A wave of motion rippled through the grotesque plant's lush branches, as if they were conduits transporting some unknown substance.
The undulating movement converged at a single point—the fist-sized miniature human heads.
Then, in a horrifying spectacle, thousands of these fruit-like heads snapped open their eyes, fixating their gaze on Gris Klass.
The sheer horror of the scene was indescribable. Even in broad daylight, and despite being a Tier 5 Vampire itself, Gris Klass was momentarily taken aback.
A faint rustling of leaves filled the air as the human heads spoke.
In unison, they uttered a single word in fluent English.
"Yes."
The voice of each individual Human-Head Fruit was soft, but the combined chorus of thousands created a resounding echo. The powerful sound wave even generated a gust of wind, causing Gris Klass's clothes to flutter and its golden hair to dance wildly.
The revelation of the Blood Flesh Mother Tree's sentience and the chilling display of its numerous human-head fruits filled Gris Klass with a newfound caution. The initial dismissiveness in its voice evaporated, replaced by a more respectful tone.
"Do you have a name?" Gris Klass inquired.
"No," the collective voices of the Human-Head Fruits responded.
"I see..." Gris Klass paused, pondering. "How did you become like this?"
"I don't know," the voices echoed.
"Then, when did you gain consciousness?"
"Consciousness? What's that?"
"The ability to communicate with others," Gris Klass explained.
"Just now," the voices replied.
"Just now?"
"Yes," the voices confirmed. "When you asked if I could speak."
A series of gurgling sounds erupted from the Blood Flesh Mother Tree as unknown substances flowed through its branches, filling the fruit-like heads.
Gris Klass narrowed its eyes, suspicion rising within it. "You're lying, aren't you?"
"Lying? What's lying?" the voices asked innocently.
"Lying is... Never mind, it's difficult to explain," Gris Klass sighed, frustrated. "But you are lying. Look, you're a tree in Nanxiang, yet you can communicate with me in fluent English."
"You claim to have just learned to speak, yet you speak English fluently," Gris Klass retorted, its voice dripping with skepticism. "There's a high chance you understand Chinese as well. What kind of nonsense is this?"
"English..." The heads of the Blood Flesh Mother Tree displayed a thoughtful expression in unison. After a moment, a collective realization dawned upon them. "I speak not only English, but also Chinese. I speak both," they declared.
With the excitement of a child showcasing a new ability, the voices continued, their tone noticeably more animated. "English comes from this..."
A branch extended towards Gris Klass, stopping before it.
Gris Klass looked up to find the head of a blond foreigner dangling from the branch, its eyes twinkling mischievously. "He knew English," the head explained, "so I know English. He became a part of me a long time ago, so what was his is mine. I'm not lying. I naturally know how to speak English."
Gris Klass was momentarily taken aback, then a thrill of excitement coursed through it. "You mean you can absorb and assimilate the knowledge and memories of others?"
The heads blinked in unison. "I don't fully understand those words," they replied, "but I grasp the general meaning. It's something like that."
This ability was astonishing... no, it was invaluable!
Gris Klass realized that the Blood Flesh Mother Tree presented a tremendous opportunity. Its deceptive appearance and seemingly childlike demeanor made it an easy target for manipulation.
If Gris Klass could deceive this creature and persuade it to join forces, it would be an immense asset.
Driven by this newfound ambition, Gris Klass couldn't contain its eagerness any longer.
"Can you move?" it inquired.
"I can move," the voices responded, "but very, very slowly."
"Then are you willing to come with me and work for me?" Gris Klass proposed, its voice filled with a persuasive lilt.
The countless heads blinked in unison, their voices echoing in a chorus of confusion. "Go with you? Work for you? Why should I go with you, and why should I work for you?"
Gris Klass's excitement grew at their response.
"Because I can make you a being above all others!" it declared, its voice booming with confidence. "I will become the ruler of the Black Mist Zone, and you..."
"Wait," the thousands of heads interrupted, their expressions puzzled. "Why should I become a being above all others? I'm quite content with my current state..."
Gris Klass faltered, momentarily speechless.
It was always a challenge to explain certain concepts to children.
But that didn't matter. In order to win over this Blood Flesh Mother Tree, Gris Klass was willing to exercise patience.
In a gentler tone, it continued, "Because when you're a figure above tens of thousands, no one can bully you. You'll gain greater strength, a higher status, and grow bigger and faster. You'll be able to eat whatever you want and do whatever you please."
Seeing the heads still filled with confusion, Gris Klass tried a different approach. "Let me put it this way. Do you have any goals in life? Things you want to do?"
The heads shook in unison. "No."
"You need to have a goal in life," Gris Klass insisted, its voice filled with earnest conviction. "A life without a goal is like a salted fish, dull and meaningless!"
The heads tilted in unison, contemplating this new concept.
After a pause, Gris Klass continued, "For example, I have a grand ambition! To establish myself in the Black Mist Zone, to become its ruler! That's why I strive every day, working tirelessly towards my dreams, making my life vibrant and fulfilling!"
With a flourish, Gris Klass extended an arm towards the Blood Flesh Mother Tree, its gesture inviting. "Now, I invite you to join my team! Once you're part of it, my dream will become yours, and my goal will become yours! We will be a team, working and striving together for our common ambition!"
"What do you say?"
The Blood Flesh Mother Tree trembled violently, a wave of excitement coursing through its grotesque form.
Thousands of voices cried out in unison, "Yes!"
"I don't want to be a salted fish!"
"I want goals in my life!"
A triumphant smile spread across Gris Klass's face.
However, Gris Klass's victory celebration was cut short.
A sudden tremor beneath its feet sent a jolt of alarm through its undead body. Countless roots erupted from the crimson fungus layer, swiftly ensnaring Gris Klass like a trapped insect.
"What are you doing?!" Gris Klass shrieked as the roots tightened their grip.
The miniature heads all wore expressions of innocent confusion as their collective voice responded, "Didn't you say your goal would be my goal, and your dream would be my dream?"
"Now, I will consume you," they declared, "and we will merge into one. This way, there will be no distinction between us, and we will become a better team. We can achieve our common goals more effectively. Don't you agree?"
Gris Klass desperately wanted to correct their flawed interpretation, but the overwhelming force of the roots rendered it speechless. It could only feel the sharp thorns piercing its flesh, injecting strange fluids into its body.
Its internal organs, bones, and muscle tissue rapidly softened, dissolving into a viscous sludge that was absorbed by the thorns.
In a matter of moments, all that remained of Gris Klass was an empty husk.
Meanwhile, at the top of the Blood Flesh Mother Tree, new buds sprouted and quickly matured into a fist-sized head bearing a striking resemblance to Gris Klass.
When this head first emerged, it appeared dazed, but its senses quickly returned.
"The king of the Black Mist Zone!" it declared with newfound ambition. "I want to become the king of the Black Mist Zone!"
Countless heads echoed its proclamation.
"Yes, we will."