CHAPTER 120: CHAPTER 120: GROWING PLANTS

Although Zerra was very happy that she had finally awakened her power after a lot of struggles to figure it out, there was something she found very puzzling.

The wood ability was essentially the power of life.

On the other hand, she could be considered half-zombie and half-human. The zombie part held the power of death.

How could such power coexist in her body? Moreover, they seemed to belong to each of her forms. The life part belonged to the human form, and the death part belonged to her fox form, where she held some zombie characteristics.

Would those powers conflict with each other someday?

A lapse in focus caused her to make a slip in her power. She blinked as the vines gently spread to her arms. But they also spread to the floor, and... Laziel.

"Zee, are you kidding me?" Laziel deadpanned. The vines hung from his head; he looked like some kind of swamp monster.

She didn’t hold back and snickered, holding her stomach.

"Is it that funny?" Laziel indignantly turned to his left, toward his parents. Their shoulders were shaking though, trying to hold back laughter.

A little annoyed, he turned to his right toward Cassias, and the man actually let out a light chuckle.

Laziel was instantly heartbroken. Everyone was laughing at him!

And the culprit on the bed, her laughter was the loudest. Laziel rolled his eyes before he brushed away the hair-like vines from his head. They resembled green hair...

It really fit him, Zerra thought. Wearing a green hat. Her laughter gradually died down, replaced by pity.

For the sake of the green grassland that was soon going to be on his head, she would not make fun of him anymore.

Laziel didn’t understand the look of pity on her face, but he didn’t think about it deeply. His hand was busy brushing the vines from his pot. He was holding something there.

The shape was gradually revealed. A massive green fruit was hanging from the nearest vine thread to the pot — watermelon.

"Zee, you grew a watermelon. It’s so massive!" He exclaimed. "Hurry up! Take it and open it."

Zerra was still too weak, so Alaric took the watermelon from Laziel’s hand. Laziel put the pot down and turned around. They actually found several more watermelons as big as a normal coconut from the spreading threads.

Inexplicably, Zerra also finished her porridge thanks to her mom’s persistence and effort.

"Drink," Cassias said softly, handing her a glass of spring water. Zerra thanked him and took the water from his hand. It replenished her energy a little.

They cleaned the watermelon vines and then surrounded the massive watermelon they had put on the table beside Zerra’s bed.

Laziel was trying to open it with a knife. Unexpectedly, he struggled a little before he finally split it in two, and then cut it into smaller parts.

The enchanting, delicious-looking redness was presented in front of them. Before they could take a bite, Zerra hurriedly stopped them. "Wait, what if it’s poisonous?"

Laziel widened his eyes. He had already taken a bite! Meanwhile, her parents stopped.

The interruption had caused Laziel to shift his focus away from the watermelon in his mouth. Until a sweet taste exploded in his mouth. Not too sweet, just the right taste and very refreshing.

He could even feel his exhaustion fading away, replaced by a light feeling, as if a burden was lifted from his body. Ignoring Zerra’s warning, he took another bite.

"Older brother?" Zerra turned to him worriedly.

"It’s not poisonous at all. Very delicious." He took a seat on the floor and began to eat his piece of watermelon. Not far away, Cassias also tried his piece.

The parents didn’t hesitate anymore. They tried the watermelon Zerra had grown with her power.

"You still need to control your power." Cassias finally opened his mouth to give her some advice.

She nodded obediently. Well, it was true. Earlier, she merely lost temporary focus, and her power exploded before the vines enveloped Laziel’s entire figure. It was a bit too much.

When Laziel was about to cut himself another piece, unexpectedly the knife stabbed his hand. He let out a groan of pain.

"How can you be so careless?" Alaric sighed helplessly at his son and took the knife from his hand.

Laziel winced, a little embarrassed. "I will go get a bandage."

"No, no," Zerra shook her head. "Give your hand to me, elder brother."

He widened his eyes in surprise. Well, he almost forgot that they had Zerra here, who had awakened her wood ability. She should be able to heal him, right?

Zerra had little experience in healing using her newfound power. Luckily, Laziel’s wound wasn’t very deep.

She thought about it and decided to let the vitality flow into his hand. Blood had coated Laziel’s torn skin, dripping to the floor. She concentrated on fixing the wound.

It wasn’t very noticeable since the blood had blocked most of the sight. However, the apparent redness gradually faded away. His blood dried very fast, leaving a crust on his skin.

"It’s not healed yet." She scrunched her nose.

The wound was closed but not completely healed. If Laziel scratched the scabbing wound, he might tear it open and blood would flow out once again.

"It’s fine." Laziel assured her. Her little face was downcast and troubled. He couldn’t bear her looking like that. "It’s not painful anymore. I don’t even need a bandage now."

There was still faint soreness, but he could easily ignore such a minor sensation. He believed that in a day or two, the wound would completely heal.

"You just awakened your power." Alaric said from the side. "You will need a while to get used to it. Take it slowly."

She thought about it carefully. Her dad should be right. She shouldn’t rush for instant results, or it might have the opposite of the desired effect.

Zerra sighed. How come she has been so impatient lately? Her master always told her to practice with her heart. Impatience was never a good thing. She silently reflected on herself.

She had been a little irritable ever since she had returned from visiting Isryn some days before.

"You should bring some back." She turned to Cassias and tilted her head.

"Alright," He muttered softly and nodded, smiling. Zerra was a little happy in her heart. Well, at least his smile wasn’t so terrifying anymore, even a little pleasant.

When Nyra returned home, she was startled, wondering whether she had stayed too long outside. Had years passed by and the people moved away? She frowned and discarded her absurd thoughts.

Inside the house, the living room was filled with vines and small plants, spreading to the walls and ceilings. It resembled a forest. Some had fruit, and some didn’t.

And the culprits of all this were laughing maniacally in the corner. Nyra’s eye twitched when she finally spotted their two figures, Zerra and Laziel.

They were like two kids playing in the mud, picking up fruits of various shapes.

"We will definitely get rich with this!" Laziel had a dreamy look on his face. Zerra also considered this. If she sold those fruits, how many crystal cores could she get?

She could eat as much as she wanted and become powerful. No need to fear the main protagonists!

However, their dreams were short-lived. Nyra’s snort came from the door. She crossed her arms across her chest. "Forget about getting rich. Those lunatic scientists might capture you for experiments!"

It was like cold water was poured on their heads, shattering the beautiful dreams. In an instant, their shoulders drooped like wilted flowers.

***

"What is this?" Evan’s eyes were as wide as saucers. He had sent all his subordinates away because Cassias had told him he would show him something.

"You can’t even recognize a fruit now?" Cassias lifted his eyebrows.

Evan’s mouth twitched. He once again told himself not to get angry at the man in front of him. It wasn’t worth it. Soon, his attention was back on the fruit on the table.

"A watermelon?" It was a rhetorical question.

"Do you want to try it?" Cassias took a knife from his space.

Then, the pair of cousins enjoyed the fruit that was rarely seen since the apocalypse had begun.

***

Zerra hurriedly returned to her room after dinner, afraid that her dad would catch and lecture her again.

After they filled the entire room with various plants, he scolded her and Laziel.

Oh, now she has turned into a fox again too. When she passed by a mirror, Zerra finally saw her fox form’s unusual reflection.

She widened her eyes in shock.