《A New Leaf》Chapter 2: Tree-People are a Thing now
Advertisement
Apparently, the announcement boxes fade after a bit. Good to know I don’t have to manually click them away.
So I’m left just standing in the bathroom, flashlight in hand-branch (or branch-hand, I think I need to figure the naming yet), looking at myself in the mirror.
Well, I can already guess some parts of what the status screen is going to show.
Let’s get it over with: Status.
My mind whizzes for the briefest of moments, and a small mental picture of a blue screen realises itself in front of my view. It follows what appears to be the centre of my vision, so I have no way to miss it at least.
Status Screen - Basic information
Player name
13241 – name change available
Gender
Unspecified, see notes
Race
Hybrid
Subtype
Human-Plant hybrid
Titles
N/A
Class
None
Power Level
4
Traits and Skills (click for more info)
Plant body
Increased water resistance
Heavily reduced fire resistance
Decreased ice resistance
Photosynthesis
Increased regeneration in Sunlight
Dulled senses
Resistant to minor injuries
Increased regeneration at high health
Regrowth
May regenerate limbs and organs
Abilities (click for more info)
Root
Root yourself to the ground. Allows the body to absorb nutrients from the soil below you. Bonuses:
Vastly increased health regeneration (affected by soil quality)
Increased upper body strength
(Partially) Immune to dislocation
Activates trait Underground Detection
Underground Detection – allows user to sense objects and creatures within a small radius
May be cancelled at will, or when a sufficient uprooting force is applied
Oooo…k. That’s a lot of information. And somehow, not that much. Can I get a witty introduction first? Overlords?
You’re half-plant, you’re a joke already
Ah right up my alley, that’s the spirit. Thanks, Overlords.
You’re welcome
First things first, the numbers there don’t seem to be ANY relevant numbers here. I don’t even know what the rating is supposed to be based on. Considering I was able to withstand a wall being blown off towards me, I’d say I’m leaning more towards the tankier side so that just might be it. It’s confusing if anything.
Maybe I can ask? What is the power level?
Power level: Algorithm determined rating that ranges between 1 and 10. Decimals may be included.
Current algorithm version: PWLVL0.9.0.0.1
Advertisement
Hmmm. And I’m a 4 based on what? Is that the baseline for whatever it is I am now?
Can I call you anything, oh great status profile?
Well, that shut it up.
Back to the matters at hand.
The messages mentioned day seven, meaning I’ve been knocked out for at least a week, which would imply that everyone had a head start. I assume that whatever these guys did, I assume that there would be something weird going on outside.
Especially since barely a sound came through the vast open space that was once my window. Which would be understandable if I didn’t live next to the interstate and the train station. It’s simply too quiet.
My mouth runs dry as I dejectedly try to intake any amount of water from my apartment. My fridge contains only a small bottle, which I would prefer to take with me on my inevitable exit from the building, seeing there is no reason to believe this is just going to pass. It never does in the things I’ve read, and this seems similar.
I remember I put away a six-liter bottle of water under the sink to use when the plumbing is under maintenance. It will have to do for now.
I fumble the bottle out of the corner, my hands too large and stocky to get a proper grip on the plastic. The next few tries yield better results, and a bottle now rests on the working surface of the kitchenette. I unscrew the lid of the bottle and raise it to above my head, not bothering to try with glasses for now. I’m thirsty and could also use something to hydrate my skin, it feels incredibly dry.
The water pours out, splashing my face, as my open mouth takes in gulps of water at a time, and my skin refreshes from a simple room temperature liquid running over it.
A puddle forms beneath my feet as I intake all the water I can as fast as possible, the wave of relaxation washing over me. My feet start to tingle, as I look below me, the dulled senses my new skin provides leaving me only partially aware of the changes in or around me.
The roots on my legs shiver briefly before opening to reveal smaller strands hidden below the brownish bark. The white strands branch outwards into the puddle, as another wave of relief overwhelms my mind.
Advertisement
The puddle of water is soon sucked dry by the thin roots, and I lift my legs one at a time, the bark again covering the sensitive roots within.
Well, that provides an answer to how much of a plant I actually am.
My thirst sated, I try to think of some step-by-step approach to whatever this situation is. I step back into the ruined room, the clear view from my window giving me a panoramic image of my city. Or what it remained of it. Vats of smoke are coming out from various places as the once tall buildings seem partially destroyed in the distance. Some fires could be seen in the background but I can’t discern anything else from that. The three bridge connecting the parts of the city are all severely damaged or missing in one case. I try not to step too close to the edge, my (I believe rational) fear of heights coming over me.
I need to get out of this place. That requires some preparation beforehand.
I move around my flat surrounded by ghastly silence, opening every drawer that wasn’t ruined by the debris. I’m surprised so much remained, to be honest. I’m even more surprised I slept through it all.
The scavenger hunt of the remains of my apartment brings me to a paltry total of zero edible food. At least I have salt.
Wait, there are 2 cans of tuna and a beer. That goes into the bag. I put a small blanket into the bag as well, which I may decide to throw away, considering that I haven’t actually felt that cold while being basically naked all this time. Not that I need to hide anything for decency, the roots are doing a grand job of that, as I still can’t find anything that would point out to my missing… parts. That’s what Unspecified gender implies, I guess.
Oh right, clicking for notes.
Introduction message
Human-Plant hybrid
User 13241
Your body is currently somewhere between plant and human. That includes metabolism functions such as breathing, nutrition, excretion, and reproduction.
Breathing: User 13241 currently uses breathable air to fill its lungs. Photosynthesis during the day requires carbon dioxide and sufficient amounts of water. The manufactured oxygen is released back into the air and cannot be stored for emergencies.
Nutrition: User 13241 currently uses both types of nutrition intakes. Rooting allows for essential minerals and water to enter through the limb system. Digestion of food yields more energy and increases core body temperature.
Excretion: User 13241 can use the Rooting subsystem to purge the body of unnecessary byproducts of metabolism. The ending of the digestive system has been terminated.
Reproduction: Currently unavailable.
This section may improve upon self-inspection, exploration, or the Overlords’ whim.
That answered something but didn’t help with the thing I was asking about.
No use in crying over spilt milk. Speaking of milk, I just realised the carton next to my fridge is unopened and consumable. Into the bag, it goes.
Let’s change the name I guess. I already decided on Treant, and the opinion hasn’t changed.
I try to remember what I was actually called, but only a fog remains over any semblance of my name as I wrangle through my brain for answers. It could be temporary amnesia, possibly shock, but most likely a consequence of whatever happened to me during the past week.
So, Treant it is.
Name change successful
Status profile updated
Name change no longer available
A ding resonates through the air, but I’m pretty sure I’m the only one able to hear it.
I guess that’s it. I’m a Human-Plant Hybrid named Treant now, and this is my life. Where's MTV?
I look at my arms. The prospect of using any kind of a tool is beyond my current hand coordination, so I guess I’ll have to use my bark hands. I chuckle at the self-made pun, then go back to doing something, anything, useful. Jokes only go so far.
A linen bag over my shoulder with the little possessions I decide I can use at this point (some clothes put for good measure, just in case my anatomy decides to come back) and basic provisions of food and water that I could find around me, I take my branchy hand and unlock my home for what seems to be the last time in a while.
Advertisement
Fantasy Assassin In A Modern World
Fade was a legendary assassin that could kill just about anyone, as long as the price is right and the reason is sound.
8 4419The Evolution of a Goblin to the Peak
The fantasy VRMMORPG, Battle Worlds, is one of the most played games in the world.In this game, there' a legendary player that could defeat a "Boss" on his own.His name is Blood(In-Game-Name).
8 87STAR WARS: THE TRANSMIGRATOR
Suddenly finding himself In a unknow place, he discovered that he is now living in the universe of Star Wars, thankfully the gods decided to help him by giving him a System and using it to the best of his abilities, he will one day stand at the peak, with power comparable to if not greater than that of those beings he always admired on the Star Wars legends! Accompany the adventure of Garrod Seafair as he travels the galaxy and makes his way through all the mess the Jedi caused over the course of the years! -------------------------------------------------- This is a just for fun project that I'm doing to pass some time, I was inspired to do it after reading a really good fanfiction that someone started to write in another platform, I basically used his same idea of initial settings, that being the Jedi temple, and I used part of his System but with some modifications. Read his fanfiction as well if you can, its name is "Force user supplementary system", he published it in webnovel. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
8 175Firestorm: Descent
A world ravaged by war; humanity on the brink.A stranger comes from another time.Is he the saviour mankind has been waiting for... or something far darker?When an accident with an experimental Time Machine plunges David Tweed into another dimension, at first he thinks he got lucky. He's alive, and the world in which he finds himself seems remarkably familiar.Soon, however, he begins to realise how strange this world really is, how tangible is the evil that crawls across the shattered landscape.But strangest of all, everyone he meets seems to have been expecting him. How do they know who he is, and just what have they been waiting for him to do?Alan Porter weaves a deceptively simple story of one man's courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Yet Firestorm is also a fiendishly complex puzzle, where time twists in on itself and nothing is ever quite what it seems.*Firestorm: Descent is also available in paperback or Kindle formats from Amazon. (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Firestorm-Descent-Alan-Porter-ebook/dp/B00792I3KQ/) You can also keep up to date with news of new releases, follow me on Twitter, or like my Facebook page. For more information, see alancporter.com. Your support is appreciated. Thanks for reading!
8 92BREATHE
She was floating around under water. Suffocating and slowly dying, the blue of the water causing her to not see anything. Tears covered her eyes, leaking out and flowing down her face like a stream. Suddenly she can see a bright light, and a hand was reached out towards her. She slowly reached up taking his hand. He pulled her out into the light. Her darkskin glowing and shining. With one more pull she was out the water, sensing everything around her. Finally seeing everything around her. She can finally BREATHE.
8 113I have reach boundless infinity as a good for nothing. Now I want to restart in another world being the ultimate genius.
Just a random story guys. Just another of my OP stories but this time with cultivation.
8 314