Rebirth: 100 Days Before Doomsday - Chapter 166

Chapter 166: Mutated Plants (II)

“Did it just say… 79%?” Grace asked, turning her attention back to the little creature. While the rest of the information surprised her equally, she was unable to focus on anything else but the percentage.

They had believed that the plants were unable to withstand more than 31% of Shadow Rain, and that was what their study so far had showed. But it seemed like they were far from the real truth.

These plants didn’t mutate because they consumed very little of the Shadow Rain. No! They mutated because they consumed insanely high amount of Shadow Rain and still succeeded in surviving somehow.

“This is indeed crazy. Let’s check the second plant.” 2025 directed her to continue with the harvest before they would jump around with their new theories.

Grace nodded her head and selected the ‘harvest’ for the second plant – the blue one.

Just like the emerald one, the blue one had changed a lot in appearance too. It was tallest among the three and its blue petals resembled the shards of sapphire.

This plant too got surrounded by a bright light for a second or two before disappearing from its pot. The very next moment, a small vial filled with blue powered appeared on the digital screen.

Once again, the system started its processing as it studied the harvest. This time, the wait ended quickly and the mechanical voice once again filled the backyard.

“This plant is Sapphire Bloom with 71% of Shadow Rain consumption, and its harvest is Powder of Clarity. Its inhalation enhances mental focus and temporarily boosts cognitive function by 50%.”

Once again the percentage was surprising, but neither Grace nor 2025 commented on it. Instead, Grace went ahead and clicked the icon to ‘harvest’ the third and final plant – the red one.

The final plant was unlike the first two. Its previously crimson petals had turned darker to the point they were almost looking black with a crimson hue, and the plant had turned into a twisted vine that was emitting a faint silver glow.

The plant got surrounded by the bright light before disappearing from its pot. The next moment, the vine appeared on the digital screen in its solidified form, looking like a crystalline rod.

“This one is Eclipse Vine with 77% of the Shadow Rain consumption. It produces Moonlight Crystal, a unique item that can create a protective barrier capable of withstanding high-level attacks and purifies any harmful energy within a 10-meter radius.”

The mechanical voice announced the information it gathered after processing the harvest of the third and final plant.

Grace watched as the screen changed and an updated report of the three plants appeared on it.

System Update

“Mutated Plants Database Expanded.”

[Verdant Starleaf]

Level: 5

Harvest: Essence of Renewal

Properties: Accelerates healing, enhances immunity, rare but not unique.

[Sapphire Bloom]

Level: 4

Harvest: Powder of Clarity

Properties: Boosts cognitive function, excellent for strategic applications.

[Eclipse Vine]

Level: 8

Harvest: Moonlight Crystal

Properties: Provides protection and energy purification, one of the rarest known plants.

–

Grace let out a long exhale as she studied the updated system report. The new information wasn’t just a breakthrough, it was a revelation.

These plants had absorbed far more of the Shadow Rain than what they had assumed after studying a few sampled plants she picked from around the cities during her time out. Yet, these plants not only survived but thrived, becoming something extraordinary.

“79%, 71%, and 77%,” she murmured, her eyes fixed on the glowing screen. “These numbers aren’t just high – they are unheard of. How did they even survive this?”

2025 surfed through the previous and new reports before it finally presented a theory. “Let’s say that these plants consumed those high percentages of the Shadow Rain and were in the process of mutation when we found them. They would have originally died out there, but they survived because they were shifted in here?”

Grace stared at 2025, not being able to deny that while this sounded like a great answer to their questions, it was actually a crazy theory.

She didn’t respond immediately, her mind was buzzing with all the questions and thoughts that were running around. After what felt like forever, she finally spoke. “I want you to list down all the types of study we might need to do after this to find out the truth.”

2025 accepted the task with a nod of its head before speaking, “We also need to test these harvests to see just how well they actually works. Let’s see if you can find chances to test them.”

Grace nodded as she thought about how to test each of the three harvests. She would need to discuss the matter further with Davian and others to come up with a good plan.

She carefully transferred the harvested items into the special storage compartment, ensuring they were securely stored for future use. Once done, she recalled another important matter. “Let’s go and see if there’s something left of the plants that could be used for regrowing them.”

The two approached the now-empty pots where the three plants had been growing. The soil was still shimmering faintly under the bright sunlight.

Grace knelt beside the first pot, the one that had held the Verdant Starleaf, and sifted through the soil with her fingers.

To her surprise, she found tiny root fragments embedded in the soil, glowing faintly with the same golden-green hue as the harvested liquid.

“Look at this,” she said, holding up a small piece of root for 2025 to see. “Do you think these fragments can be used to grow another plant?”

2025 hovered closer while making the system scan the fragments in Grace’s hand. While the system took its sweet time to analyze, Grace held her breath in anticipation of the result.

After a moment, 2025 finally answered, “Potentially. These roots still contain traces of the plant’s essence and genetic material. If we nurture them under optimal conditions, there is a chance they could regrow, though the process might take time.”