Webnovel Author In The Apocalypse World-Chapter 364: Mutated Fields

In the past, there weren't enough animals to raise, but now that the institute had pigs and ducks, the space was becoming inadequate.

If they had a vast plain like this...

The group exchanged glances, and similar thoughts began forming in their minds.

Expanding the safe zone's territory would involve decisions spanning multiple considerations.

While they all entertained the idea, they also knew it wasn't something that could be decided lightly.

From that point forward, as they moved through the plain, they no longer viewed it with a casual perspective.

Instead, they analyzed it as though planning to claim it, mentally calculating the challenges they might face and devising solutions to overcome them.

Of course, the group didn't forget about the three people scouting ahead.

They kept an eye on their progress and were ready to rush to their aid if any signs of trouble arose.

Jang Dojung and his two companions cautiously approached the patch of plants.

As they moved closer, Jo Sungmo, the only one with some understanding of the area, began explaining the situation to the others.

"This seems to be a spot where a small nomadic village once resided. Look at the traces of manually cultivated fields and the remnants of cloth-based structures I saw earlier—they confirm this."

Although Jo Sungmo couldn't explain why the nomadic villagers chose to settle here and cultivate crops rather than move around herding animals, their decision had left behind these fields, providing a chance for the group to find more plants.

"Then we need to be wary of the mutation speed of these plants," Chung Hwangeun remarked, his fighting spirit ignited.

In the post-apocalypse world, humanity had conducted some research into the mutation tendencies of plants.

The plants that were cultivated by humans before the apocalypse often displayed bizarre and unpredictable abilities after mutating, influenced by their close interaction with humans.

On the other hand, naturally growing plants tended to undergo more physical and strength-related mutations, often based on their innate characteristics.

These were generally easier for ability users to analyze and exploit for weaknesses in combat.

Of course, identifying weaknesses was one thing—whether they could actually overpower the plants was another matter entirely.

Given this patch of plants was likely influenced by human cultivation, it was reasonable to expect speed-related mutations, though that wasn't guaranteed.

The three advanced cautiously, fully aware of the potential danger.

The closer they got to the mutated fields, the stranger the situation seemed.

By all logic, mutated plants, regardless of their original form, would adapt to maximize their nutrient absorption.

This behavior typically involved aggressive territorial expansion, leading to chaotic, uneven growth.

As a result, most areas with mutated plants appeared wild and overgrown.

Yet, the fields before them were nothing like that.

The first row of three types of mutated plants was arranged in perfect order: tomatoes on the left, followed by bell peppers in the center, and chili peppers on the right.

Each type consisted of five main stalks, totaling fifteen plants per row.

Their growth was uniform, from the spacing between plants to the area each occupied, and the alignment of the rows was unnervingly precise.

Had these plants not clearly exhibited signs of mutation, Jang Dojung, Chung Hwangeun, and Jo Sungmo might have believed they were looking at a neatly planted human-cultivated field.

This defied all logic.

Although this area had been cultivated by humans before the apocalypse, decades had passed since then.

The plants had mutated, grown, and competed for territory, so there was no way the fields could remain this orderly.

Not only were the plants standing in perfectly straight rows, but each individual plant occupied the exact same amount of space, as though someone had intentionally planned and marked their spots.

What was even more baffling was that the plants seemed to "obey," staying strictly within their designated spaces without encroaching on one another.

The three men exchanged serious glances.

A theory began forming in their minds.

Could it be that these mutated plants were actually being cultivated by something or someone?

Before meeting Kim Haru, if anyone had presented such a theory to them, they would have scoffed.

Mutated plants were aggressive and chaotic by nature.

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The idea of cultivating them like crops seemed absurd.

If someone could truly accomplish such a feat, the apocalypse might already be a third of the way to being resolved.

However, after meeting Kim Haru and witnessing his interactions with mutated plants and animals, Jang Dojung, Chung Hwangeun, and Jo Sungmo no longer dismissed such possibilities outright.

Even though they had never visited Kim Haru's small farm or seen the harmonious coexistence between the mutated plants and the creatures around the farm, their previous skepticism had been replaced by curiosity and cautious belief.

The lingering question now was: if this area was indeed cultivated by someone or something, what exactly was that entity?

Was it a human, an animal, a plant, or possibly even an intelligent zombie?

More importantly, whose side were they on—humanity's or its opposition?

With these speculations in mind, the trio positioned themselves at a safe distance.

Chung Hwangeun raised his hand, and a deep purple bolt of lightning gradually formed in his palm.

The lightning stretched longer and longer, shaping itself into a spear that he grasped firmly.

With precision, he thrust the tip of the spear directly at a massive tomato, which was as large as a watermelon.

Just as the spear was about to pierce the tomato, it vanished in an instant.

Chung Hwangeun's strike hit nothing but air.

Unfazed, he swiftly redirected his attack, thrusting the spear toward a different angle.

With a wet splatter, the sound of something bursting echoed.

Bright red liquid exploded outward, centered on Chung Hwangeun's lightning spear, drenching the surrounding area.

It was the very same massive tomato that had just disappeared.

The tomato had been punctured, its liquid contents spilling everywhere, leaving only a thin skin clinging to the tip of the lightning spear.

With a flick of his wrist, Chung Hwangeun dispersed the lightning spear, allowing the tomato skin to drop into his hand.