The Extraordinary Power That Represents Life

"Dig more traps," the Overmind ordered at once. The combination of pit traps and Creep was even more effective than expected.

"I'll arrange it," Agatha replied. The Creep itself could dig holes too. Though it could not compare to any Zerg ground unit, it was still far more efficient than infected rats.

The cavities created merely by corroding away the roots of trees were already sufficient to serve as traps.

"Dig emergency tunnels to facilitate evacuation if necessary."

"Your will."

"Our combat strength..." The Overmind was about to say more when he suddenly noticed something wrong with the bound Root Vine Monster.

Its self-healing ability had plummeted off a cliff, and its Psionic Energy level was steadily declining as well.

Had its strength finally run out?

No...

The Overmind looked up at the sky.

The moon had already left its highest point.

"Weaken the Creep's corrosiveness," the Overmind ordered. "Keep it alive until dawn."

He needed to confirm the relationship between the monster and the moon...

Just as the Overmind had guessed, the monster's regenerative power gradually weakened as the moonlight faded.

"Tomorrow, leave some tree roots in a suitable place and test the relationship between the monster and the phases of the moon."

Thinking that the Root Vine Monster's birth seemed related to dead trees, the Overmind gave another order. "When the Creep devours trees, consume their roots as well. When night falls, stop consuming trees as much as possible..."

The Overmind's order trailed off.

No, that would be difficult.

The Creep was not a unit with independent consciousness and could not process overly complex commands.

It might be able to distinguish animals from plants, but making it specifically distinguish between herbaceous plants and trees, then stop devouring them at designated times... that was far too complicated and would require Agatha's manual intervention.

But as the Creep's coverage expanded, it would eventually cover too many trees at once for her to manage.

"If there were enough Creep Tumors, it wouldn't be impossible," Agatha suggested.

That was to say, the Creep could differentiate neural tissue and secretory tissue into tumors that would serve as nodes for controlling the Creep.

"No." After considering it, the Overmind shook his head. "This is not a long-term solution. Ultimately, our forces are still insufficient."

If this were a world inhabited only by wild beasts, infected units and Agatha's protection would be enough to run rampant. But if this was a world where monsters "spawned" at night, that would not be enough.

"Is there any way to increase our combat units?"

Agatha raised both hands, her sharp claws lightly touching. After thinking for a moment, she replied, "Mutated Combat Forms."

A stage reached after a host had been deeply infected by the Zerg Virus.

At that point, a series of Zerg organs would grow on the infected unit's body. For example, extra limbs for attacking, hormone glands for maintaining an aggressive state, compressed sacs for self-destruction...

The Hyper-Evolutionary Virus and Creep alone could hardly bring infected units to this stage. They required adjustment by an Infestor, Scorpion Bug, Venom Devourer, or other infected units.

"We need to produce a Venom Devourer first," the Overmind muttered.

Venom Devourers were not part of the Hatchery system.

As a building unit that assisted viral infection, it would naturally emerge once the Creep reached a certain level of coverage. However, a Venom Devourer differentiated from Creep was far inferior in structural strength and functionality to one created by mutating a Drone.

"In roughly a week, you will meet the minimum requirements to establish a Venom Devourer," Agatha added. "However, Overmind, you also possess the ability to create Mutated Combat Forms."

"Me?" The Overmind froze, then suddenly understood.

The Creep could provide nutrients to infected units and forcibly sustain their lives, while he could modify the genes of Zerg units. In theory, his abilities were more advanced than those of Infestors and Venom Devourers.

With that thought, the Overmind extended his hand. A squirrel crawled out from a nearby burrow and climbed onto his palm.

But before he could establish a link with it—

A dazzling green light suddenly erupted in the distance.

The Overmind and Agatha went on alert at the same time—the Root Vine Monster's Psionic Energy level had risen again!

The corroded, pockmarked Root Vine Monster actually burst through all its restraints and stood back up.

Yet it did not launch an attack immediately.

Instead, it stared blankly at the eastern horizon. A rising sun had emerged above the horizon, and the first ray of sunlight split the night sky.

Upon touching the sunlight, the yellow-green radiance around the Root Vine Monster swiftly transformed into a tender, verdant green.

Vast life force burst forth from the monster's body.

The monster's feet touched the ground and immediately spread apart, turning into thick roots that pierced through the dense Creep and plunged deep into the soil. Countless shoots sprouted from its head and shoulders, continuously expanding until they became lush branches and leaves.

The surging green seemed to possess a strange magical power. Agatha, the Overmind, and even the squirrel in his hand had their attention drawn to that scene of vigorous growth.

When they came back to their senses, a massive tree more than two meters thick, formed from countless sturdy root vines, stood before the Overmind.

Near the base of the trunk was a human-shaped hollow more than a meter wide. A fist-sized mass of roots, pulsing like a heart, hung in the center of the hollow.

Green radiance continuously flowed forth with the root mass's rhythm.

Wherever the light reached, the Creep's biological activity increased considerably.

"Level-four Psionic Energy detected." Agatha's warning sounded beside him.

"I feel it too." The Overmind nodded. Aside from brimming with life, the tree continuously radiated a peaceful, natural emotion that made one unconsciously want to give up everything—to water it, fertilize it, pollinate it, loosen the soil, then embrace nature and run freely through a sea of green...

So, in this forest, as long as you chopped down trees, little creatures would jump out at night and scratch you. If they could not beat you, they would nag in your ear the next day and mentally control you...

That whole series of mechanics sent chills down his spine.

"Is it a Psionic Energy entity too?" The Overmind pointed at the tree and looked at Agatha.

"No."

The Root Vine Monster's true body had been the yellow-green swirling light, while the vines and roots were merely a vessel. Now it was the reverse: the tree was the true body, while its ability resembling a psychic broadcast was merely an additional power.

"Infect it," the Overmind said directly. A tree hollow would be useful. At least they would have somewhere to shelter if it rained.

Though it could be detected by Agatha's Psionic Energy receptors, the Overmind knew that the extraordinary power possessed by the Root Vine Monster and this tree was not Psionic Energy.

Although the Overmind had only encountered Psionic Energy recently, he knew it was a power that leaned toward the mind and space. It did not offer such great increases to regeneration speed or biological activity. Even among the Zerg, only a tiny number of elite Roaches possessed regenerative abilities comparable to the Root Vine Monster's.

But it was still an extraordinary power, so the Psionic Energy rating was probably roughly compatible.

With the Creep directly connected to it, even level-four Psionic Energy could not stop the Zerg Virus from invading at the cellular level. This green extraordinary power was the same. Infecting the tree was not difficult. The true pressure was on the Overmind—those who possessed Psionic Energy would resist the Hive Mind's control.

Therefore, when the Overmind faintly sensed that the other party's body had fallen under his control, he immediately entered the "Path" and tried to pull it into the Hive Mind.

Then, a scene that utterly shocked the Overmind occurred.

The strange tree joined the Hive Mind with unbelievable smoothness. It was like a pair of habitual adulterers: he had merely left the door open, and the other party had eagerly climbed straight into bed.

Then, the very next moment—

Through Agatha's Psionic Energy senses, the bizarre tree's level skyrocketed, breaking past level five and coming within a hair of reaching the standard for level six. The green light released by the root-vine mass in the tree hollow enveloped an area hundreds of meters wide.

The Overmind seemed to hear a ding: Creep efficiency increased by 20%, Zerg unit recovery speed increased by 40%.

What... was going on?