Chapter 52
The night grew deeper.
The radiance of the light field gradually faded, as if the entire plain had sunk into bottomless darkness.
Seed 237 closed its eyes and entered a light sleep.
However, within his body, a cold, dark domain quietly unfolded.
Black roots spread through the void, twisting into a sinister, smiling face.
That is precisely—"Shadow Parasite".
It chuckled softly, its voice seemingly echoing in its veins:
"How touching... bonds, vows, trust."
Your dialogue is like a boring love song.
Black Root gently caressed 237's mental body, with a corrosive tenderness:
"Unfortunately, you know in your heart—"
Without me, you would have died long ago under the claws of the Armored Vine Beast, or been swallowed by the currents of the Tide Swamp.
Sprout12's companionship is heartwarming, but how many times can it save you?
Can he stop an army of thousands? Can he bear the blood and darkness for you?
The whispers of the shadows gradually pressed closer to my mind:
"Did you hear that, 237?"
He's not protecting you; he's afraid of you.
Every word of his advice is a reminder to you:
'Don't become a monster.'
But you already know...
Only monsters can survive.
Dark laughter echoed in the endless abyss:
Keep struggling.
No matter what you choose, you will eventually belong to me.
Because of the 'Path of the Mother Tree' you have walked...
"Nothing can be created by light alone; it must be nourished by darkness."
The dark abyss gradually closed in, and silence returned.
But Seed 237's chest heaved violently without his consent.
As if in a dream, he heard another voice of his own, laughing coldly.
The night breeze gently swept across the realm of light.
The new shoots emerging from the scorched earth trembled slightly, bearing the unhealed scars of battle.
Sprout 12 stood alone on the edge, its pods gently patting, as if suppressing its inner anxiety.
He looked towards the center—
Seed 237 is sleeping peacefully, its surface glowing intermittently.
Sometimes it resembles a newborn moon, and sometimes it suddenly shrinks, emitting a cold, black mist.
At that moment, Sprout 12 held her breath.
He saw 237's roots twitch slightly uncontrollably, as if being pulled by some dark force.
Some tiny dark lines are spreading along the light roots, appearing and disappearing intermittently.
Sprout12's heart sank.
"...Has the shadow truly begun its infiltration?"
His branches involuntarily tightened, and the "intelligence seed" inside the pod emitted a faint warmth, as if reminding him: this is a dangerous clue.
He took a few steps closer, but then stopped.
Two distinct voices echoed in my mind:
"We must tell him! Make him realize the situation, otherwise things will get out of control sooner or later!"
"No... If I say it now, he will waver even more, or even fall into the shadows."
Bean Sprout 12 looked up at the night sky. The rain of flowers had long since dissipated, leaving only an endless black curtain.
Under the heavy darkness of the night, his heart felt as if it had been crushed in two.
He gazed at Seed 237 and murmured softly:
"How long can you hold on...?"
And how long must I stay by your side before the darkness takes me away?
The wind blows, and the sea of grass surges.
Under the watchful gaze of Sprout 12, the leaves of Seed 237 trembled slightly, as if in response, yet also as if in an unconscious struggle.
That night, Sprout 12 didn't sleep a wink.
He simply stood guard, the contradictions and fears in his heart gradually weaving a shadow heavier than the night.
--------early morning---------
The first rays of dawn pierced through the night, casting their light upon the tattered veins of the leaves.
The dew from last night had no chance to sparkle before it was evaporated by the invisible heat.
Seed 237 slowly opened its eyes.
He felt a faint stinging pain deep in his chest, like some kind of breath that didn't belong to him, still lurking in his heart.
Sprout 12 was already standing beside him.
He hadn't slept all night, and dew still clung to the leaves, but his eyes remained sharp.
"Awake?" Sprout12's voice was soft, but it carried a hint of probing.
Seed 237 nodded and raised its leaves to stretch out.
The radiance flowed along the veins, and the surface appeared perfectly calm.
Sprout12 stared at him for a long time before speaking:
Did you sleep well last night?
Seed237 was taken aback.
A dark whisper flashed through my mind: "Tell the truth, and he'll suspect you. Only by hiding it can you protect yourself."
He caught his breath and forced a smile: "It's alright."
Sprout 12 did not respond immediately, but took a step closer and placed a small "pod shadow" next to the root of 237.
It is a seed that can sense changes in light and darkness, so sensitive that it cannot miss even the slightest anomaly.
"That's good." Sprout12 said slowly, her gaze never leaving him.
"But I hope that if one day... you feel that you are no longer yourself, you can tell me immediately."
The leaves of seed 237 trembled slightly.
Inside his body, the shadow parasite sneered: "Haha, did you hear that? He already suspects you. In his eyes, you're not a partner, but a ticking time bomb."
Guanggen immediately trembled, trying to suppress the chilling aura.
237 took a deep breath and looked directly at Sprout 12:
"Don't worry, I'm still me."
The moment their eyes met, the air seemed to freeze.
Sprout 12 stared at him, as if trying to see through everything inside his body.
Finally, he nodded slightly, but then turned away.
"I hope so."
He said nothing more, leaving only his back as he walked alone towards the edge of the light domain.
The morning light shone on him, but it failed to dispel the shadow cast among the branches and leaves.
Seed237 slowly lowered its gaze.
He knew that this trust was gradually becoming dangerous.
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