[ Modify me with plant genes? ]

[ Yes! ]

[ How so? To what extent even? ]

Back in high school, one of Izo’s teachers was a crazed plant supremacist of sorts. He taught music not science but for some reason he would just drop by on biology class and just preaching.

“Plants can regrow even if its body parts were separated”, “Photosynthesis is more efficient and isn’t as needy as other energy absorption” and “They evolve faster since they can share their information through their roots. That’s why they are the longest lasting among living things” were his famous lines.

[ Lots of abilities Izo. If you wish, you can be 100% grass! ]

[ It’s a no for now.]

[ Why is your body shaking Izo? ]

[ It’s called shivering. A result of fear. ]

[ It’s noted! ]

“…”

Speechless as he sped through more alleys, Izo finally returned to the hidden inn. Again, nothing much had changed as he climbed to the fourth floor and entered the penthouse area.

The battery of the Ural was 55%. Enough for two more days without battling or sometime close to 1 if there was.

‘Yeah. I’m charging it.’

Izo removed the armor then gave himself a simple stretch. Other than a few sore spots in his body, he was feeling alright though somewhat sweaty. The Ural might’ve temperature control but intensive actions would still make him sweat.

Thinking about it now, he hadn’t taken a bath at all since he came here.

‘I haven’t encountered any water source. There’s no river here. No well or water pump. How did the inhabitants get water before?’

Since having lots of water would probably be a challenge here, Izo should probably use it only for drinking. If there was an abundance however taking a bath would be great.

In fact, he had decided to spruce up the inn to make it more comfortable for him in the future.

Izo laid down on the bed without its mattress and immediately felt uncomfortable. Not only that he felt naked and vulnerable.

After thinking about a solution for a second, he got inside the Ural and laid down. He turned it off to let it charge. A happy compromise was found.

[ Izo, I could research other than analyzing. ]

[ Research what? ]

[ Lots of things! Like mapping how the genome of an edible plant from what I have now. This would take way longer than analyzing a DNA that already has it. ]

[ How long would the edible plant research take? ]

[ Calculating! Minimum 3 months! ]

[ That’s too long. Hmm. Is there anything that can be done now? ]

[ The genealogical history of the grass. I could determine its history. ]

This might give a clue on what happened to the living things in the city so Izo allowed the analysis. It would be complete in 10 hours which most could be done during his sleep.

He surrendered himself to his tired mind. The physically demanding day before seemed to not tax him as much as this day. It was evident when he didn’t wake up at all until 8 hours later.

*

After eating the okay tasting food supply, Izo opened the manual. He simply knew too little about battling. By all means, he was comparable to a town militia. Has some ability but should never be trusted with anything too important.

That’s why he has decided to spend at least 1-2 hours every time he wakes up to absorbing the knowledge within this holy encyclopedia of battle.

Izo heavily focused on the undead and spiritual beings section. The enemies here seemed to be somewhere in between the two.

He read about common types and how to deal with. There were multiple videos of battle footage. Maybe it was by design but the carnage from the footage wasn’t censored at all. Izo wasn’t squeamish so it wasn’t an issue.

In fact, he found the candid brutality of how close death was for explorers great. It would serve to make him not underestimate any situation.

[ Should I let the orb see this? ]

The effect of doing was unclear so Izo decided to not do so.

[ Some undead are controlled by a central entity that once killed would render their “spawn” dead.

…a powerful soul, even if its body is completely destroyed, may survive for a while. Some can possess a new vessel like an abandoned body or another living thing. ]

‘Fighting undead is an expertise huh?’

There was simply too much information that it would probably take a lifetime fully dedicated to anti-undead and spiritual being fighting to be an expert.

‘I wonder if there are explorers that are famous for this.’

Anyway, Izo finished his daily reading task. It was now time to explore the sewers and find the spaced eye being.

He was on the first floor of the inn when the orb t

[ Genealogical History Analysis Complete! What would you like to know Izo? ]

[ Umm. Is there any abnormalities in its history? ]

[ There is! This grass used to rely on sunlight to live. Somewhere around 70-80 years ago however there was it began relying on a different energy instead. It’s unknown what only that it’s likely from underground since it also adapted new traits for subterranean conditions.

This garden variety seemed to be another branch that got spread here. It now relies less from that energy and adapted to moonlight. ]

[ You’re saying this grass came from underground? ]

[ Yes! ]

Izo had passed over it multiple times now and never thought too deeply about it.

‘This fountain.’

The water it needed should come from somewhere.

Izo towered over the marble decoration. He made a fist with his right hand and clasped it with his left. He now looked as if he was about to bow or pay respects. Only he did anything but and raised his hands over his head then unleashed the force on the fountain.

The shards flew everywhere yet the destruction didn’t match the effect. Izo had to keep hammering with his battle suit until cracked the ground open. There was a mechanism of sorts with pipes that led to the sewer system.

With a cursory glance and determining no hostiles, Izo jumped down to a 5-6 meter tunnel.

His guess was wrong however. Instead of finding a manmade system, Izo found an original underground river where a sewer was then built. Stalactites and random outcrops telling of a natural cave then a mishmash of bridges and torches. It was a half-finished mess.

Izo looked up to 10 meters away until there was a bend. He then checked behind.

‘There’s no mushrooms or bats. No moss either.’

From the opening of the manhole cover that the spaced eye creature came out from, Izo saw vines and moss.

He ordered the Ural to open the map and track where he was moving on the map underground. By moving northeast, he would arrive at that irradiated area.

‘Just in case.’

Izo took out the crimson orb.

[ One, prioritize your safety. Two, warn me of life signs. Three, collect DNA samples when possible. Follow this order in this priority ok? ]

[ Understood. ]

[ Now you sound serious. ]

[ Izo’s safety is paramount! ]

Honestly, the orb’s metal would be way harder to damage than the Ural but if Izo was a green explorer. The orb was lacking in any common sense or danger sense.

Izo then activated the spiritual attack talisman, physical attack mana barrier and even took out the Maxima sniper rifle. The gun changed to its battle form that was as tall as the Ural. Only then did he feel safe enough to continue exploring this underground.

Izo employed the wall hugging strategy where he minimized the sides he could be seen or attacked from. He made sure to mind the 3 meter distance of his talismans especially when having to turn a corner. If an attack happened inside this distance, the talismans were nonexistent so he kept it aimed during those times.

With a steady pace, Izo was 3 hours in amidst silence broken up by gurgling from small streams that he encountered once in a while. Near the 2 and half hour mark however was when he encountered the first strong current.

‘Just up ahead.’

It seemed the source of the water was where the spaced eye creature’s sighting was also. This conjecture was confirmed more as he got closer and closer, encountering the living things.

It started with weird tea like leaves that when he touched would close before spewing gas.

[ Warning! Nerve-agent detected! ]

He quickly moved past through it as well as the crimson orb who targeted the plant with its laser.

‘This is a lake.’

Izo never expected to find an underground lake 100 meters wide with an unknown depth. On its edge was an incredibly biodiverse variety of plants along with small animals. He was just in time as a green glowing snake opened its mouth and poison spit splashed over a frog’s face. It was unfazed however as its tongue stuck to the snake’s mouth.

The snake bit its tongue as it was pulled towards the frog. There they began battling for their lives.

Far away were more of these lakes with some being higher than others. Small waterfalls were everywhere with whirlpools accompanying them.

All of this area was irradiated with a side of toxic gas and poisonous animals.

Not only that Izo could hear the roars of predators. And if he wasn’t incorrect, far in the distance was a large-scale scuffle with poison spouts of water travelling far from whatever was sending it out.