Thorny Encounters

After studying the attributes of the Ancient Tree of Knowledge, Alex began using the Mana he had earned on his journey to recruit new units.

Today marked the fifth day since their arrival in this world. With less than three days left before the seven-day safety period ended, Alex knew he had to act quickly. He needed to fill all forty unit slots and fortify the defenses around his territory. The stone pillar fences surrounding his land wouldn't hold for long, and while the thought of monsters breaking through was concerning, the real danger lay in the potential destruction of the Tree of Life. If that happened, his life would be forfeit. He had no intention of dying here—not this soon.

With his mind made up, Alex led his plant army outside the territory to dig traps and reinforce the fences. The Flower Sprites, unable to perform heavy labor, flitted about, healing the fatigue of the other plants. Even the six Kings of the Man-Eating Flowers, tasked with guarding the perimeter, stretched their vines over the fences, using their massive jaws to help secure the barriers. The area outside the territory buzzed with activity, plants moving to and fro, creating a lively scene.

By nightfall, the defenses were finally complete, and the fences had been significantly heightened and strengthened.

"Good work, everyone. Let's head back and rest," Alex said, waving his hand as the sky darkened. He led his plant army back into the territory and closed the entrance. Before retiring, he fed the Kings of the Man-Eating Flowers with the monster corpses he had brought back earlier, allowing them to replenish their energy. The other units, like ordinary plants, only needed the nourishment of the earth and sunlight, making them relatively low-maintenance.

After a quick meal, Alex retreated to his small wooden cabin to rest.

The night passed uneventfully, but the next morning brought an unexpected development. Two uninvited guests arrived at the edge of his territory, each accompanied by a sizable force of units.

"Brother, there's a territory here!" shouted the younger of the two, a lean and wiry man who had just spotted Alex's domain. They had emerged from the nearby forest, looking somewhat disheveled, as if they had just been in a battle.

"I didn't expect to find a territory in such a remote place. Let's check it out," said the older man, a grizzled veteran with a group of orc units at his side. The younger man commanded a pack of beasts. Together, they cautiously approached Alex's territory, curious to investigate.

But the moment they drew near, countless vines suddenly surged from the ground, slithering like snakes and swiftly encircling them.

"Plant-based units?!" the older man exclaimed, startled. The sheer number and ferocity of the vines suggested at least a third-tier unit, but he had never heard of any plant-based lord successfully reaching the third tier. Without hesitation, he called out toward the territory, "Friend, we're just passing through. We mean no harm."

His voice echoed through the area, and soon enough, the vines stopped advancing, halting just ten meters away from them.

"If you're just passing through, then leave quickly," Alex said as he stepped out of his cabin. It was only then that the two visitors noticed the state of Alex's territory, and their eyes widened in shock. Dozens of terrifying plants roamed the expansive land, each exuding an overwhelmingly powerful aura. Even the Kings of the Man-Eating Flowers guarding the perimeter were unnervingly large, their gaping maws seemingly capable of swallowing them whole.

But what truly stunned them was the Tree of Life at the center of the territory. It towered over any other plant-based territory they had ever seen, its colossal form resembling an ancient behemoth.

"Is this… a third-tier territory?" the younger man muttered, his voice trembling. "Since when are plant-based territories this overpowered?"

The two men exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes eventually settling on Alex as he emerged from his cabin. After a long pause, the older man finally spoke up, raising his voice to address Alex. "Friend, we've just come from the wasteland. Could you tell us where the wall that's holding back the beast tide is located?"

"The wall? It's just through that forest," Alex replied, pointing casually toward the trees. He hadn't expected anyone to come all the way from the wasteland to investigate the beast tide. Judging by the units accompanying the two men, they were at least third-tier lords, which explained how they had managed to travel such a distance.

"Thank you. We won't disturb you any further," the older man said, exchanging a glance with his companion before turning to leave. They quickly disappeared into the forest, leaving Alex's territory behind.

Once they were out of earshot, the younger man couldn't help but whisper, "Brother, why didn't we test that guy's strength? He's just a plant-based lord."

"Just a plant-based lord? Have you ever seen a plant-based territory on that scale? And those units—I've never seen anything like them!" the older man snapped, glaring at his companion.

The younger man hesitated, then asked, "Are you saying… those were all third-tier units?"

The older man took a deep breath. "Most likely. And that young man… he's not to be underestimated. He didn't show the slightest fear of us."

"He's probably just relying on the safety period to protect him," the younger man said with a dismissive laugh.

"I hope that's all it is," the older man replied, his expression grave. He glanced back in the direction of Alex's territory. "But we should be careful. Any plant-based lord who can reach the third tier in such a short time is no ordinary person. Besides, his territory is so close to the beast tide, yet he shows no signs of panic. He's even fortified his defenses. That's… unusual."

"Unusual? I think you're overthinking it, brother. I guarantee that once the seven days are up, his territory will be the first to fall. By the time we come back, it might already be gone."

"Perhaps," the older man said noncommittally. He didn't elaborate further, instead focusing on navigating their path through the forest. They remained vigilant, knowing that the woods were home to many dangerous third-tier monsters.

Before long, the two men vanished into the depths of the forest.

Meanwhile, after seeing off his uninvited guests, Alex returned to his territory to continue his work. His first priority was to use the Mana accumulated overnight by the Blazing Lotus to recruit more units and bolster his forces. Through repeated Mutations, a series of new fourth-tier units began to emerge.

To Alex's delight, out of the ten plants he had mutated, two had evolved into advanced forms of the Explosive Mushroom!