Nightmare Despair

Chapter 64 [Quick Driver] and Vitality
[Item: Cherubim's Fruit]

[Effect: Unknown]

[Note: In the long, dark night, may wisdom and strength accompany you on your journey.]

"what?"

Zhou Kai picked up the pure white granule, about the size of a soybean, and felt a warm, smooth texture.

His eyes held scrutiny, not mere doubt.

Thinking back carefully, what I dug out of Diablo's parasitic head was something like an insect egg, right?

My thinking was simple: the insect eggs were part of the parasitic corpse, and once the corpse was completely absorbed by the nursery, it might bring me some unexpected surprises.

It turns out that the "egg" was not only not digested, but was transformed into something new.

“Cherub...that sounds familiar.”

Zhou Kai stared at the three characters, which were clearly foreign words, and searched his memory for a moment before suddenly remembering something.

Morning Star's Journal, Part Two.

He took out an old notebook from the inventory and began to flip through its pages.

Sure enough, in a page cut from some book, he found a word that sounded very similar to "cherubim".

This insert was one of the few pages out of dozens that he could understand.

This line of text was heavily crossed out by the previous owner with red ink.

Cherubim...know and accept God's wisdom...the chariot will carry you on your journey.

It's all very mystical and nonsensical, and the description sounds like it's about something sacred and great.

This is strange.

"The Diablo parasite, which translates to 'demon parasite'."

"How did the demonic parasite egg transform into a holy and great fruit? Could it have had an epiphany while buried in the ground these past few days?"

"Or maybe I'm wrong, and this thing isn't an egg at all..."

Zhou Kai ultimately decided to keep the so-called "cherry fruit" safe.

He wouldn't try it until he figured out whether it was candy or poison.

The size of a soybean, round and smooth, and with the connotation of fruit, it does indeed resemble something that can be swallowed directly.

But... better safe than sorry.

If someone were to eat random things and die in a nightmare, it would definitely be historic.

Then, Zhou Kai took the prepared gastrodia elata from his inventory.

He can't wait any longer; time is experience.

"Adding a little will restore the vitality of Gastrodia elata and allow it to attach with Armillaria mellea, which can sustain its survival."

[Consuming 2 universal experience points, this Gastrodia elata plant has been revived.]

[General Experience Points: 14 → 12]

As the numbers on the panel changed, the few dry slices of Gastrodia elata in Zhou Kai's hand made a slight crackling sound.

The fibrous tissue rapidly expanded and filled at the microscopic level, and the cut healed like a movie playing in reverse, eventually coalescing into a complete tuber in his palm, with a bare red branch even emerging from the top of the tuber.

It has no roots and no leaves.

As a plant, its appearance is rather unappealing.

"And what will the effect be?"

Zhou Kai reached into the soft black soil of the nursery and dug a shallow pit about the size of a palm. He carefully placed the gastrodia tuber into it and covered it with soil.

After all this was done, the nursery remained quiet and unresponsive.

Zhou Kai's heart skipped a beat, a hint of disappointment flashing across his face: "It won't work? The Gastrodia elata from the Limpini Church isn't the same variety as the one I found?"

However, just as his doubts began to grow.

The long-awaited dialog box finally popped up slowly. [The microbial community is providing nutrients to the Gastrodia elata plant.]

The soil here is fertile, and the gastrodia elata has adapted to the nursery's environment.

When you smell the aroma of Gastrodia elata, the life force within your body will become even stronger.

The moment the three lines of text came into view, an indescribable pungent smell, a mixture of earth and herbs, suddenly assaulted my nostrils.

Zhou Kai instantly became incredibly energetic.

"Increased vitality?"

He closed his eyes and carefully felt it. The gears in his mind seemed to be oiled, and the speed doubled. His strength seemed to be surging wildly. He could even clearly hear his heart beating more powerfully, and his blood was rushing like a river in his veins.

This is... a comprehensive upgrade!
Moreover, that's not all... Zhou Kai's heart stirred, and he suddenly slashed his index finger with his thumb, instantly creating a deep gash that exposed the flesh.

He can now easily break through my defenses.

The next second, he watched as the skin and flesh at the edge of the wound slowly wriggled and moved closer together, as if they were alive.

The healing speed is...visible to the naked eye!
"This small wound will heal completely in just a few minutes!"

This is only the effect of smelling the scent. The blessing reward will not be received until the nursery has completely digested the monster's corpse!
"The effect overlaps somewhat with the fireplace, but honestly, this thing is just as valuable as Moonshine Orchid. It was a really good gamble."

Zhou Kai's mind raced as he quickly calculated all the benefits that Gastrodia elata could bring him.

If Moonlit Orchid is a strategic-level defensive weapon, dispelling blood tides and suppressing mental pollution, it protects the safe zone while providing a layer of armor for his sanity.

Then the effect of Gastrodia elata is even purer and more violent—it directly affects Zhou Kai's life itself.

With the combined glow of the fireplace and the aroma of Gastrodia elata, Zhou Kai was confident that even if he lost half his body in the nightmare, as long as he could drag himself home and get to the vicinity of the nursery... he would survive.

"Moreover, the restorative effect of the fireplace is limited to the shelter, while Gastrodia elata is different."

“There are at least two ways to permanently solidify this ‘vitality’ effect on oneself, or even bring it back to reality.”

Fertilizer will bring blessings and rewards, and you can also cultivate Gastrodia elata to craft items.

"Having this Gastrodia elata plant is like having double insurance for me!"

Zhou Kai's eyes gleamed with excitement.

His confidence in the adventure ahead grew even stronger.

……

[Status: Erosion, Clear Mind (Double), Vitality (Temporary)]

After glancing at the status bar on the panel, Zhou Kai took out the heavy pistol from the inventory, cocked it, and the crisp metallic sound was particularly loud.

He stood at the door, ready to leave.

Besides having to distract the willow people.

To permanently solidify the "vitality" effect that would disappear upon leaving the shelter, he must hunt down more monsters.

Today, in addition to a series of status enhancements that give him confidence, he also holds a powerful weapon from modern civilization for the first time.

【Grand Industries 02 (12/13)】

A pistol.

Thirteen-round magazine, 9mm bullets.

A gift from Qiu Ping.

Before departure.

Zhou Kai took several deep breaths to calm his heartbeat, then suddenly flung open the door and darted into the rain like a cat.

Thanks to the Willow Man's inextinguishable flames, half of the town is no longer pitch black.

Even without lightning and thunder, Zhou Kai could barely see.

This was also thanks to his eyes gradually adapting to the darkness, sharply scanning his surroundings, searching for any moving creatures, and his fighting spirit and hunting desire were higher than ever before.

(End of this chapter)