The Banyan Tree Dies (End of Main Story)

With the top-tier high-level mutated monsters gone, the remaining mid-to-low-level mutated monsters lost their leader and could no longer unite. The cost of fighting humans alone was too high, so they naturally scattered.

Many high-level mutated monsters have gained sentience, but they are not intelligent enough, live short lives, and have limited experience. Therefore, even until they die of illness, they never understand why they suddenly began to loathe humans, the very creatures they once loved to eat.

Tao Qiu understood its implied meaning and raised an eyebrow, asking, "You know?"

"I know," the Banyan Tree said with a sorrowful air, like a rabbit mourning the death of a fox. "I have lived for nearly a thousand years, heard countless voices reciting lessons, and witnessed the rise and fall of several dynasties. The power shifts between humans and mutated monsters are so similar to the changing of dynasties. Everything has its limits; prosperity inevitably leads to decline, and adversity inevitably leads to prosperity. No person or species can stand at the top forever—not humans, not mutated monsters."

The Banyan Tree's tone grew increasingly mournful, "I didn't participate in the mutated monsters' attack on the human base back then, but I witnessed the mutated monsters retreating to the mountains and forests, dying one by one from disease. I concluded that the stronger they were, the more humans they consumed, the earlier and more severe the disease appeared, and the faster and more tragically they died..."

Upon hearing this, Tao Qiu's pupils trembled, and her breath caught in her throat for a moment.

He knew that among the mutated monsters that participated in the siege of the human base were the Green Python's mother and the Fox Clan's elder chief. Their strength was roughly equal, but it was said that in terms of the number of people they had eaten, the Green Python's mother was superior to the Fox Clan's elder chief.

After the monster tide receded, the old clan chief chose to retreat to the mountains for the Fox Clan, and there were almost no further conflicts with humans. However, the Green Python mother never stopped eating people.

The Green Python's mother died even earlier and in a far more tragic way than the old clan chief.

Furthermore, both the Green Python and the Black Rabbit had eaten humans, but the Black Rabbit Green Python was stronger and had eaten more people, which is why the Green Python became ill.

Roughly speaking, stronger mutated monsters are more likely to contract this disease, which results in a death sentence. However, the execution time varies among different mutated monsters. Cannibalism acts as a catalyst, shortening this time and worsening the condition.

Tao Qiu had never eaten a human, but he was still too powerful and crossed that line, which caused him to fall ill and have only two months left to live.

But perhaps it was destined to survive. The glowing fruit appeared, and because he was sick, he didn't sense the deathly aura within it like other mutated monsters. So he decisively snatched the fruit and ate it, which led to his current state.

All these prerequisites are interconnected and indispensable.

Banyan Tree and Tao Qiu are very similar; both have been highly influenced by human civilization. Therefore, unlike other "atheistic" mutated monsters, they can deeply contemplate themselves and the reasons for the rise and fall of their races.

The Banyan Tree attributes all good and bad to the tricks of the Creator, while Tao Qiu prefers to call it fate.

While Tao Qiu was deep in thought, the Banyan Tree continued to murmur.

'We mutated monsters are merely pawns in the hands of the Creator. Humanity's excessive growth disrupted the balance, leading to disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis. Plants and animals mutated, and just as humans crave to eat plants and animals, these mutated monsters also enjoy devouring human flesh.'

'When humanity was on the verge of extinction, the Creator felt that the high-level mutated monsters had become the same threat that humanity had once posed. Therefore, it was time for the mutated monsters to die, thus balancing the overly unbalanced situation.'

'Among humans, there are kind people who love animals and plants; among high-level mutated monsters, there are also kind monsters like I was back then who don't harm any mutated monsters or humans. But the Creator won't discriminate based on this. Good people must die, and good monsters must die too.'

"So you're saying this? How can I accept this? I don't want to wither away, I don't want to lose my life! I hate it, I resent it! My pain has nowhere to go! I can't find the Creator, but can't I find humanity? We're all just pawns. The mutated monsters have to die, how can humanity survive alone!"

'Aren't humans troubled by why they can't mutate? Well, I'll give them that opportunity.'

As it spoke the last sentence, the Banyan Tree chuckled softly, its laughter filled with the satisfaction of a successful scheme.

Tao Qiu's heart pounded, her ears rang, and the long-standing fog in her mind suddenly dissipated.

His eyes widened in disbelief. "You helped humanity develop the Awakening Reagent, not to exchange it for their help in curing your illness, but to drag them down with you... The awakening experiments alone will kill a huge number of people. Even if they successfully awaken and become superhumans, when their abilities reach a certain point, they will also get that disease, because the source of their superpowers is the mutated monsters!"

The Banyan Tree laughed even louder, 'You're only realizing this now? A bit slow, aren't you?'

Tao Qiu clenched his fists, shocked by the Banyan Tree's scheme.

Because of its connection with humans, the Banyan Tree, after mutating, did not hunt humans like other mutated monsters. However, even so, it could not escape the judgment of fate on the entire mutated monster race. Therefore, it became mentally twisted, determined to take others down with it, and infiltrated human society, carefully setting up this scheme, watching as humans willingly walked into it.

The drooping aerial roots intertwined and wove together to form a human head with indistinct features, which snaked its way to Tao Qiu's eyes.

"Although I'm a mutated monster, I'm quite talented at impersonating humans. I acted so convincingly that they genuinely believed I was there to help humanity. Heh, tell me, are they stupid, or just too short-sighted? Knowing there's a trap, they're still willing to jump in without hesitation for immediate gain?"

Tao Qiu didn't want to comment on this. He suppressed his shock, looked up at the pair of eyes that were empty of pupils, and calmly asked, "Why are you telling me all this?"

The head's mouth opened silently, and in a voice only Tao Qiu could hear, it chuckled, "We are, after all, of the same kind, and our circumstances are so similar. I'll make sure you die knowing why."

The aerial roots beneath the human head formed two hands, gently cradling Tao Qiu's face as if caressing a lover. "My life is nearing its end. I thought I'd never see humanity fall into the abyss under my schemes, but unexpectedly, you appeared. Perhaps it's the Creator's mercy. I can feel it. If I eat you, my illness will be cured, and I can live for who knows how many more centuries."

The hands, formed from air roots, gradually exerted force and moved downwards, 'Please, grant my wish! I will savor the taste of your flesh and blood!'

As he spoke the last word, his hands were already at Tao Qiu's neck.

Just as it was about to pinch her hard, Tao Qiu's eyes narrowed. She raised her hand, grabbed the air root, and pulled it apart forcefully. She took a few steps back, and at the same time, the wings on her back tore through her clothes, carrying her into the air.

The aerial roots of the Banyan Tree followed closely, but Tao Qiu spun around and kicked them all away.

However, its root was too strong, and Tao Qiu's strength couldn't harm it at all. It flew off to the side and then pounced back.

The enclosed space, the Banyan Tree's numerous and long aerial roots, and Tao Qiu's lack of weapons all put him at a significant disadvantage.

Tao Qiu didn't choose to fight head-on. His ability to fly was an advantage, and he naturally wanted to take advantage of it.

After dodging the attacking air ray once again, Tao Qiu turned and flew back in the direction she had come from.

Once outside, he has much more options, whether he wants to escape or fight.

But the Banyan Tree has been rooted here for many years. Although it is not visible on the surface, its root system has long since spread throughout the entire greenhouse. During Tao Qiu's flight, aerial roots kept breaking through the soil and piercing him like sharp swords.

Fortunately Tao Qiu was agile; although she sustained several scrapes, she managed to narrowly avoid them each time.

As they flew halfway up the mountain, with the gate just a short distance away, Tao Qiu's heart suddenly skipped a beat. The scene before her eyes blurred, and her body abruptly stopped in mid-air for half a second.

In that half-second, the Root that broke through the soil caught up with him, pierced his calf, and nearly shattered the bones.

Tao Qiu instinctively cried out in pain, regaining her senses. She quickly endured the pain and pulled out the Root had pierced her flesh, avoiding the possibility of it getting entangled and dragged back.

As the Root was pulled out, blood splattered. The Root that had pierced Tao Qiu writhed excitedly, and many Root, like leeches drawn to blood, swarmed towards the blood that had fallen to the ground, but most continued to attack Tao Qiu.

The sound of the Banyan Tree could be heard not far away.

"You really thought I'd talked to you for so long so you could die knowing why? Don't forget this is my botanical garden. Did you smell a faint floral fragrance as soon as you came in? Let me tell you, that's something even more potent than a sleeping potion! Oh."

Chapter 120 The Banyan Tree Dies (End of Main Text)

Tao Qiu cursed under his breath, his head spinning, but he managed to stay upright thanks to his leg injury and sheer willpower.

But this negative state did affect his actions. The wounds on his body, large and small, continued to increase, and the Banyan Tree that tasted his flesh and blood became increasingly frenzied.

Seeing the gate just three meters away, Tao Qiu and Banyan Tree were prepared to fight back. But just as they were about to move, the glass gate shattered with a bang, sending shards flying. Tao Qiu instinctively used his wings to shield himself, preventing further injury.

The Banyan Tree also stopped its attack due to this unexpected turn of events, and both sides temporarily ceased hostilities, looking outside at the same time.

The glass door frame had mostly collapsed, but the outside was brightly lit. An elderly man with graying hair stood on the other side, surrounded by soldiers and superhumans, with a whole row of people carrying rocket launchers.

Tao Qiu recognized the old man. While memorizing the map of the Central Base, he had also seen photos of several important figures from major families. The man in front of him was the head of the Shen Family.

Tao Qiu thought to himself, "Oh no, could they be here to help the Banyan Tree catch him?"

However, Tao Qiu quickly abandoned this idea, because the Shen Family Head smiled sinisterly at them and said, "Banyan Tree, since you came back, you've only been busy watching over that little brat and have forgotten to thoroughly check the entire botanical garden. You didn't expect that I would go inside and install listening devices after you left, did you?"