Wraithwood Botanist

Chapter 4: Legacy Quest

We survived, somehow.

There were about six dozen waiting for us on our path, hidden under groundcover like a police spike strip, and I only dodged them because I was hopping between rocks and dirt like a game of avoid the lava. I saw hundreds. That meant that there were thousands of these freakish plants in my area.

It was a setup.

And I was pissed.

"That... asshole..." I said, taking deep breaths once I was certain we were at least a mile away. "Acts all concerned, then puts me onto a death trap!"

There was no way in hell that was random. This was part of that "Quest," the "Trial of Worth," to prove that I had what it took. But what did botany have to do with surviving soul-eating plants? It was absurd!

I took deep breaths and then bent my back, stretching. Then I turned to a massive tree blanked in brown moss. "Hey! Lithco!" I yelled into dead space. "Can you tell me... if that tree... is safe... to lean against?" I swallowed and took deep breaths. "Just a yes... or no?"

A pop-up flashed in front of my eyes.

"No."

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so I did both. "Beautiful. Just beautiful." I wanted to scream, and I probably would’ve if Kline hadn’t started yowling, limping around on three legs, and trying to rub off the tendril.

"Oh, you poor thing," I whispered, kneeling down. "Let me see it."

He hobbled towards me with shame in his eyes.

"How do I get this off?" I whispered.

A screen stacked on top of his paw.

-

Name: Dying Wandering Reaper Tendril

Summary: This sentient tendril was once a mighty warrior, stalking the forest for prey. Now, its only purpose in life is to make your cat miserable. But don’t despair—if it isn’t dead, it still has weaknesses.

Type: Plant, Soul Reaper

Species: Carnivoriflorum mobilis

...

Weaknesses:

Heat

Fire

Cold

Salt

Parasitic fungi

Burrowing creatures

Treskirita miranita

Senaki

...

-

I smiled wryly when I read a long list of species names and words I didn’t understand regarding weaknesses. "What’s Treskirita miranita?" I tried.

The screen shifted:

—---

Skill "Identify (Plant: Advanced)" cannot fulfill your request. Please upgrade the skill or buy books from the Library.

Note: You are in a dangerous environment. The Guide has been restricted to Survival Mode, and the Library is currently unavailable.

—---

I frowned and looked back at Kline and sighed. "It’s sensitive to heat, obviously..." I smiled wryly, fishing out my green BIC lighter from my pocket. The tool was a doomsday prepper’s wet dream. It prevented hypothermia, destroyed bacteria, provided light in the darkness, and could become a serious weapon.

It could also be used to burn cat fur. That’s why Kline took one look at his clumsy owner with a lighter in hand and started backing away slowly.

I huffed. "Don’t be dramatic."

He was dramatic. Kline turned and ran, but my cat lady reflexes outdid him, grabbing his hindquarters as he howled and wiggled.

"Hold... still!" I snapped as I grabbed under his chest. "If you squirm, I will burn you!"

I was always convinced that Kline could actually understand English because he usually complied. Now, it seemed even more prevalent. The moment I said that Kline fell limp, doing his best to remain still as he watched me lift the lighter. His movements were choppy, like a hummingbird feeding, calculating whether to screech and escape if my movements became too risky.

"It’ll be okay," I sighed. I took a deep breath and risked sitting on a rock. Then I flicked the flint wheel, creating the satisfying chich-chich sound lighters are known for.

A golden bulb of light lit up my hand, and I lifted it to him. Kline gulped.

Things went smoothly. The tendril was very sensitive to heat and popped off when I got an inch away. Kline was stoked, but his leg was sticky, so I got closer. The adhesive melted off, dripping like wax onto the ground.

"Good boy." I released the lighter’s plunger and dropped Kline, who pranced around, feeling like a free man.

"Thank God...." I sighed. I was relieved—but it didn’t last long. Over the next ten minutes, I really thought about how dangerous the forest was, the fact that I was thrown into a death trap, and thought about the rations and tent and plastic blanket and water bottle and life straw and magnesium flint and cooking tools and poison making equipment in that backpack. Then I took a deep breath and grunted.

Yeah, I grunted in a dangerous forest, but look, that was a restrained compromise. I wanted to scream and yell and throw things everywhere.

And why shouldn’t I? Sure, I didn’t consider that maybe, just maybe, this alien planet captured animal souls in plants, so humans stayed away from forests. Whatever. My bad. I get it. But Lithco clearly dropped me off in a location where I would lose all my survival equipment!

Putting me in a dangerous forest was one thing. Shame on me. But to take away all my survival equipment and put me onto a massive carnivorous plant? That wasn’t cool!

—---

"Oh, huge surprise," I said sarcastically. "Who would’ve thought that a predator that’s forced to eat meat would pursue a class ideal for hunting things? I should’ve done the same. Just uproot my peaceful life working with plants to start MURDERING THINGS!" I picked up a rock and threw it against a tree, creating a hollow drum that echoed in the forest. "Now give my stuff back before I follow The Path and fucking kill you!"

A chime met my words, and what followed made me laugh murderously.

—---

Neophyte Mira Hill has been offered a new Legacy Quest.

Legacy Quest: Get Your Stuff Back

Quest Summary: Your knee-jerk decisions have landed you in the pits of hell, and the Trial of Worth certainly isn’t helping. Now, you are in a dangerous location without any survival equipment and a class that’s—just as I’ve warned you—practically useless for The Path in the short run. But rejoice—a god of nature has recognized your desire for revenge and has offered you a path to salvation. Fight back against the reaper with weaponized plants and fungi to be offered their legacy.

Value: Obtain the means for survival.

Requirement(s):

Obtain your survival equipment.

Survive.

Complete the quest within 24 hours.

Rewards:

An Epic-grade Soul Weapon

Temporary Shelter

A Six-Month Barrier That Prevents Beasts Third Evolution or Higher From Entering Your Location

Quest Reward

—---

I nodded a few times as I laughed. "Go fight that thing? Yeah. I’ll get right on it."

My entire body flinched when I heard the final chime.

—---

You have 16 information requests. It is recommended that you use one to determine a solution for completing the quest "Get Your Stuff Back." Would you like to use one?

Note: Recommendations for Requests, Rewards, and other Guide features are active in Survival Mode.

—---

"Finally, something useful. Yes. I would like to know how I can defeat that thing." The screen shifted.

—---

Information Request Used

The locations of the following items have been added to your Map:

Treskirita - Treskirita miranita - Fungi

Water Sack Plant - Floga Syllogi - Plant

Diktyo River

"Your Stuff"

More information about these plants and fungi will pop up once you reach the locations.

Information Requests Remaining: 15

Note: To use your Map, just think "Map" while visualizing a map.

—---

I furrowed my brows and thought: Map.

A pop-up appeared on the side of the current one. It said, "Map (Basic)," and was mostly blank and had no topography. The only place that was revealed was the area I had run from, which was obvious since "Your Stuff" was at the end of it. The only other feature was a massive bright blue outline around the space, like a border, with the center saying, "Areswood Forest (Fourth Ring)."

Four other icons were on it aside from the tent labeled "Your Stuff." The first was a plant, another a mushroom, a third a river, and lastly, a dot for my location.

"How do I zoom in?" I asked.

Just by thinking about zooming in, it magnified the areas that I wanted. Convenient.

Despite not having topography or landmarks, the map was still useful. I knew at least one mile I shouldn’t get anywhere near, and it allowed me to estimate the radius to avoid. Additionally, it would show the safe paths I took if I needed them.

I looked at Kline, who was staring into dead space.

"Can you see the map?" I asked.

He turned to me, and I swear to God—he nodded.

"Can you understand me?" I asked. "Like, my words?"

Kline meowed.

Never have I been so frustrated. If he could understand me, I couldn’t understand him confirming it. I hated this world!

After brooding, I sighed and asked, "Can you protect us?"

Kline puffed out his chest and meowed confidently.

I smiled. "Thank God you’re here. Let’s go."