Damien crouched low behind the dense thicket, his eyes fixed on the writhing orchids. They twisted and shifted on the forest floor, their roots curling and uncurling like tiny tendrils. Despite their unsettling movements, they seemed unaware of his presence. He remained motionless, watching and waiting, his patience unwavering.
Minutes passed before one of the orchids began to inch closer, its movements slow and deliberate. It was small, no larger than his palm, and its vibrant green petals bore the distinct blood-red stains described by his system. When it was within reach, Damien lunged forward, his hand wrapping firmly around the plant.
The orchid squirmed violently in his grasp, its roots writhing in an attempt to escape. Without hesitation, Damien retreated several meters, distancing himself from the cluster. He knew the one he’d captured would likely alert the others if he wasn’t quick.
Safely away from the group, he turned his full attention to the orchid in his hand. It wasn’t much larger than he’d thought, but up close, he noticed something new. Its petals were folded inward, concealing tiny beads nestled within. These beads glowed faintly, pulsing with pure essence. Damien’s lips curled into a grin. ‘This is it—the source of their power.’
The orchid continued to thrash in his grip, but Damien’s mind was already made up. He had to test it. Lifting the squirming plant to his mouth, he shoved it in without hesitation. Its writhing roots tickled his face as he bit down, the petals crunching loudly between his teeth.
A burst of sweetness filled his mouth, far more pleasant than he expected. But the moment he swallowed, his body tensed. A surge of energy rushed through him, starting at his mouth and spreading rapidly to his limbs. His muscles tightened involuntarily, and the sensation grew hotter and hotter until it settled in his abdomen.
Then came the pain.
“Shit!” Damien doubled over, clutching his stomach as a burning sensation exploded within. It felt as though molten lava had been poured into his core, churning and tearing at his insides.
His teeth clenched tightly, and a low groan escaped his throat as he endured the agony. Seconds stretched into what felt like hours, but gradually, the burning began to subside.
The searing heat was replaced by a soothing warmth that radiated from his essence core. A soft chime echoed in his mind, signaling the completion of the process.
Ding!
«You have consumed a Bloody Green Orchid. +0.1% increase to essence core.»
Damien straightened slowly, a grin spreading across his face despite the lingering ache in his abdomen. The notification confirmed what he already suspected—this was worth the effort.
“That’s just one,” he muttered, glancing back toward the cluster. There were hundreds more waiting, and he wasn’t about to let them slip away.
He reached up and tapped Luton, the Stellar Slime resting on his head. “Get ready for storage,” he instructed. The slime wobbled in acknowledgment, its surface glowing faintly as it prepared to use its (Universal Space) ability.
Damien drew his sword from Luton’s storage with a quick motion, the blade humming softly as he infused it with magic essence. Staying low, he crept toward the cluster of orchids. His movements were slow and deliberate, ensuring he didn’t alert them prematurely.
Crouching until his blade hovered just above the ground, Damien’s lips curled into a grin. This was the perfect chance to test a sword skill he had been practicing for weeks. He funneled magic essence into the weapon, preparing for a horizontal slash.
But as the blade began to glow, the orchids froze. Their writhing movements stopped abruptly, and every single one turned toward him. Damien’s grip tightened as he felt the shift in the air.
“They’ve noticed,” he muttered.
Before the orchids could react, Damien launched his attack. With a swift horizontal slash, he released a wave of sharpened magic essence in a wide arc. The energy tore through the clearing, slicing through hundreds of orchids in an instant.
To his surprise, several of the plants erected faint magical barriers. The defenses weren’t particularly strong, but they were enough to deflect his initial attack. The survivors trembled briefly before scattering in every direction, their movements frantic and chaotic.
“Luton, now!” Damien shouted, his voice cutting through the noise.
The Stellar Slime leaped from his head, landing squarely on one of the fleeing orchids. Its Universal Space activated instantly, swallowing the plant whole. Luton moved with startling speed, bouncing from one orchid to the next, consuming them in rapid succession.
Swoosh!
Swiiishh!!
Meanwhile, Damien worked from the other side of the clearing. His blade flashed as he cut through the plants like weeds, each strike precise and deliberate. The orchids were quick, but Damien was quicker, his movements fueled by a relentless drive to complete the mission.
The duo worked in perfect harmony. Luton cornered the orchids from one angle, its efficiency unmatched as it devoured them one by one. Damien pressed from the opposite side, his blade carving through the dense cluster with unwavering focus.
Minutes turned into half an hour as the clearing descended into chaos. The orchids scattered, but their numbers dwindled steadily under the combined assault. Sweat dripped from Damien’s brow, but he didn’t slow down. His sword moved in a blur, each strike reducing the writhing plants to nothing.
Finally, the last orchid disappeared into Luton’s (Universal Space). The clearing was quiet once more, the once-dense cluster reduced to an empty patch of churned soil. Damien lowered his sword, his chest heaving as he caught his breath.
He glanced around, taking in the aftermath of their efforts. “That should be all of them,” he said, his voice tinged with satisfaction.
Luton returned to his side, wobbling proudly. Its gelatinous form glowed faintly, a sign of the massive haul it had stored. Damien patted the slime with a tired grin. “Good job, buddy. You did great.”
He estimated their catch to be at least eight hundred orchids—a staggering number that made the effort worthwhile. Dropping to the ground, Damien let out a long sigh, his body finally relaxing after the intense hunt.
Above him, the forest canopy swayed gently in the breeze, the tension of the past hour slowly fading. For now, Damien allowed himself a moment to rest, “We’ll continue after I finish eating all of them.”