Poison Ivy

"Tell me, who are you now?"

Ivy looked completely baffled. "What do you mean?"

"Look at the woman beside you. She's Bridget Pike. She was locked in the depths of Arkham for over a year, and after being experimented on, she developed Pyrokinesis and can breathe fire. What about you? What special ability do you have?"

Ivy glanced at her green skin and said cautiously, "Disguising myself as a tree?"

"Uh... that's not a bad idea, but why disguise yourself? What I mean is, don't you want to control trees?"

Ivy had never received much of an education and was used to life on the streets. Confused, she said, "I don't understand, Herbert. Give me a hint."

"I mean, didn't the experiments give you any superpowers? Other than turning your skin green."

Ivy said uncertainly, "I don't think so. Am I supposed to have one?"

"Of course. Green skin means your body is becoming more plant-like. You should be able to manipulate plants."

"Becoming plant-like... that doesn't sound like good news."

"Wait here a moment."

After saying that, Jude knocked on his elderly neighbor's door. "Banderra, can I borrow a potted flower? I'll return it in a little while."

"No problem. But remember to invite me next time you throw a barbecue party. I like hanging out with young men too."

After placing the lily before Ivy, Jude continued coaxing her. "Look at it. Do you feel anything? Have any special thoughts? Like your DNA moving around or something."

Ivy gently stroked the petals. "It feels somewhat familiar. Strange, why do I feel that way?"

"Try connecting with it through your mind. Control it. For example, make it grow."

"I don't understand. How do I do that?"

"Think. Use your brain. Give it a try."

Ivy closed her eyes and lightly touched the petals. A moment later, the bud began to bloom, and within the blink of an eye, it had fully blossomed.

Seeing this, Jude became even more certain that Ivy Pepper was Poison Ivy—just a Poison Ivy whose potential had yet to be developed.

When Ivy saw that she had made the flower bloom, she cried out in delight. The little lily swayed from side to side as though responding to her mood.

Firefly shrugged. "So your power is fertilizing flowers and grass or something? What can that be used for? Ripening fruit trees?"

Jude glared at her. "This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Ivy's abilities. Plants can be terrifying in combat. Don't underestimate them."

"Now imagine making this little flower bigger, thicker, and fiercer. Like a man-eating plant—that would be nice."

Ivy scratched her head. "I may not have read many books, but lilies and man-eating plants should be different species, right? Are you sure that's possible?"

"How will we know if we don't try? It's not like it'll get you pregnant."

"Okay."

Under Ivy's control, the frail lily rapidly grew larger, then kept growing larger. In the time it took to drink a cup of water, the little flower that had been thirty centimeters tall had grown to over a meter high, while its opening, originally less than ten centimeters wide, had turned into a half-meter-wide abyssal maw.

"What the hell!" Firefly stared at it in shock.

"Keep going, Ivy! It's not vicious enough yet!"

Ivy continued controlling the giant lily. Suddenly, her entire body began trembling. Then the lily underwent a drastic transformation: ten-centimeter-long barbs protruded from it one after another, and branching roots began spreading out.

The flowerpot could not withstand such force and burst apart with a bang. The branching roots continued to swell and soon covered half the floor. Meanwhile, the petals changed from white to blood-red, sprouting inward-pointing barbs like rows upon rows of sharp teeth.

"OMG! It really turned into a man-eating plant! Awesome!"

Jude watched excitedly. With a lily man-eating plant this large, judging by those teeth, swallowing a person whole would be effortless.

"That's enough, Ivy. Any bigger and it'll burst the house apart. Make it shrink back."

But Ivy was still trembling uncontrollably. "I... I think I can't control it anymore. It seems to be developing thoughts of its own. It's disobeying my commands."

Jude's expression changed instantly. "Ma'am, don't joke with me."

Suddenly, Ivy staggered backward as though struck. With a sharp whistling sound, the lily man-eating plant whipped its thick, long roots sideways, instantly knocking the refrigerator to the ground.

"What are you all doing? Throwing another party?"

At some point, the old woman Banderra had come to the door. She spoke as she pulled it open, then saw a sight she would never forget for the rest of her life.

"Ah..."

Banderra let out a scream, then was wrapped up by the lily man-eating plant's vines and stuffed into its mouth.

"FUCK! Bridget!"

Firefly hurriedly tore off her gloves. Flames instantly burst forth and began burning the lily man-eating plant's roots, causing it to struggle violently.

Jude pulled out the Laser Gun and fired repeatedly. Butter Bot also emerged from the corner, its twin streams of fire spitting out as dozens of bullets poured forth.

A minute later, the door suddenly flew off and slammed into the wall. A charred, soft mass flopped onto the floor, followed by the lily man-eating plant crashing down with a boom, black smoke rising from it. At that point, its weight was enough to shake the entire house.

After waiting a few seconds and confirming there was truly no danger, Jude rushed forward and sliced open the man-eating plant's stem, pulling old Banderra out from inside. The old woman was covered from head to toe in sticky white fluid.

Perhaps the old woman was blessed with good fortune, because her vitality was truly tenacious. After such an ordeal, she had merely passed out from lack of oxygen. Though she had some wounds, they did not seem serious.

They carried Banderra back to her apartment, cleaned her up, and laid her on the bed. As for the rest, there was nothing they could do.

Looks like I should develop a memory-erasing device, Jude thought.

When they returned to their apartment, it was already in ruins. Ivy said apologetically, "I had no idea it would turn out like this. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. You just can't control your abilities yet. As long as you practice a few more times, you'll definitely manage it."

Ivy's expression changed. "You mean we're going to continue?"

"Of course, but not here. Too much commotion could hurt other people. We need somewhere safe."

Jude thought for a moment, then made a call.

"Mr. Oswald, it's me."

"Of course. I recognize your voice, Mr. Herbert."

"I need somewhere safe. Can you provide it?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Penguin said, "Yes. Come to the Iceberg Lounge. I'll wait for you there. I happen to have a few matters I'd like to ask about as well."

After hanging up, he found a backpack and packed Butter Bot and the other valuable items inside. Then he reinstalled the door, and the three of them quietly left.

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