Wasteland: I Awakened A Plant System-Chapter 64: Guest

"Consider the Territory Core a gift to them. We can just rob another one on the road."

"Let’s do it, the three of us will have boundless freedom. If not, we’ll continue to live like dogs in the shadow of those high-ranking beasts in the Brown Wood Shelter for the rest of our lives."

"Just one word: are we doing it or not?" Abhishek was growing impatient and shouted loudly.

Hearing these words, they also remembered their experiences of oppression in the Shelter. They were all ruthless people, yet they had to work like oxen and horses for those high-ranking members.

"Let’s... let’s do it, brothers!"

"Me too!" With the support of one companion, the other wavering companion also extended his hand in agreement.

"Phew~" Abhishek finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, "These two cowards, as soon as I’m done using them, I’ll kick them out first." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

---

After forming a united front, the three men began a careful and methodical search around the surrounding hills, trying to locate any trace of Vikram’s activities.

And sure enough, after more than an hour of combing through the rugged terrain, they finally discovered freshly cut tree stumps at the foot of one of the mountains.

Following the scattered wood chips and trampled grass further inward, they soon reached the hidden junction between the two mountain slopes.

There, half-concealed by natural elevation and thick vegetation, Vikram’s Territory silently revealed itself.

"Holy crap... Big Brother... this kid is really cunning! Who even places a shelter like this?" the short survivor whispered in shock, pointing ahead.

Abhishek narrowed his eyes and studied the terrain layout. Even he, who had seen many survival strategies over the past weeks, had never encountered such a defensive positioning.

"Hmm... Anyone who can survive alone this long must have some real tricks. Otherwise he would’ve joined a group already," he muttered.

After a brief pause, he motioned for the other two to lean closer. Lowering his voice, he began outlining a quiet, scheming plan, his lips curling into a faint smile.

"Understood?" he finally asked, scanning their nervous faces.

"Don’t worry, Big Brother. This kind of trick... we’re best at it. It won’t fail," the two replied quickly, patting their chests in assurance.

"It better not," Abhishek said coldly. "Whether we can build our own territory depends on this. Stay sharp... and don’t mess it up."

With that, he strode forward toward the distant territory gate, leaving the other two to exchange uneasy glances before following.

---

Inside the temporary shelter tent near the Treehouse, Vikram was passing time idly.

In his arms was the small baby goat, barely the size of a pillow. Its soft white fur trembled slightly as it bleated in a thin, high voice.

"Mehh... mehh..."

Vikram lightly tapped its tiny horns, amused by its stubborn attempts to nibble his sleeve.

Just then, he heard a long painful scream, "Aaaarrrrrgggghhhh..."

Before he could react, a sharp warning pulse flashed through his awareness, a biological alert transmitted directly from the Territory Gate.

Vikram’s expression instantly changed.

"Someone has come..." he thought.

He set the baby goat down and rose at once, signaling silently.

The Warrior Sprout sprang upright from beside the doorway and hurried after him with quick, determined steps.

As Vikram approached the entrance zone, the defensive plants reacted instinctively.

Dense clusters of Bloodvine, Thornvine, and Spikevine slowly parted, forming a narrow living pathway for their master.

The massive gate began to loosen its sealed structure, metallic vines shifting quietly.

Before it fully opened, however, pained cries drifted through the cold wind.

"Big Brother... It’s been so long! Akshay is still caught in that plant... it looks terrifying... he’s bleeding so much... please do something!"

Another voice trembled with fear.

"Don’t panic... the territory owner will come soon. Once he arrives, Akshay will be released..."

"Do you really believe that?" the short man whispered shakily.

"I... I don’t know," Abhishek replied grimly. "But we can only try."

Ahead of them, the unfortunate Akshay was entangled by a Thornvine coil before he had even managed to knock on the gate.

Barbed vines had pierced deep into his calf.

Dark blood dripped onto the frost-hardened ground, instantly steaming in the bitter cold.

Every small movement tightened the thorns further, causing waves of agony.

"Big Brother... Brother Abhay... do something... I’m going to die..." he sobbed hoarsely, his face pale from both pain and freezing wind.

Abhishek opened his mouth to speak—

At that very moment, the towering gate slowly opened.

From the slowly opening gate, Vikram stepped out into the cold twilight.

Snowflakes drifted across his shoulders, yet he showed no sign of discomfort. His calm gaze swept across the three strangers before finally settling on the man still tangled in the blood-stained Thornvine coils.

"For what reason," he asked indifferently, "Do I owe you hospitality?"

His tone was neither hostile nor welcoming, simply cold and distant.

Abhay hurried forward half a step, panic clearly written on his face.

"Brother... Please help us. Our second brother has a high fever. We only came to ask for help... but suddenly this devil plant appeared from nowhere and trapped him."

He spoke quickly, not even realizing that the so-called devil plant was in fact part of Vikram’s territory defense.

Abhishek also nodded, forcing a respectful expression onto his face.

"Can you please help release my brother from this plant? We only wish to stay for one night... until his wound stabilizes. We promise we’ll leave immediately afterward and won’t trouble you again."

Vikram looked at them silently.

The moment they had discovered the gate of his territory, he had already judged them as walking corpses.

Still, without revealing anything, he gave a faint signal. The Thornvine instantly loosened its grip.

Within seconds, the sharp barbs withdrew from Akshay’s leg, and the vines slowly retreated back into the defensive lattice.

Abhay let out a breath of relief, assuming the "devil plant" had simply exhausted its strange energy.

But Abhishek’s eyes flickered.

He had clearly seen it, Vikram hadn’t moved, hadn’t spoken, hadn’t touched anything. He had merely looked at the plant... and it obeyed.

A subtle chill crept into his heart.

Akshay, finally freed, collapsed onto one knee before struggling back to his feet.

"Thank you... thank you for saving me," he said hurriedly. "May I know this Survivor’s name?"

Before Vikram could respond, Abhay anxiously added, "Big Brother... Second Brother still has a fever and is bleeding badly. Can we go inside first before talking?"

"What’s the rush?" Abhishek snapped quietly. "Has he even allowed us in yet?"

Realizing his impatience, he immediately bowed slightly toward Vikram.

"I apologize. My younger brother is still immature and lacks manners. Please don’t take offense."

Every flicker of expression on their faces was calmly observed by Vikram.

If not for the system interface already displaying their identities and hidden intentions, he might have been momentarily deceived by this performance.

In his vision, faint translucent panels appeared one after another.

[Name: Abhay

Strength: 6

Speed: 6

Stamina: 5

Reaction: 5]

[Name: Abhishek

Strength: 7

Speed: 6

Stamina: 6

Reaction: 6]

[Name: Akshay

Strength: 7

Speed: 5

Stamina: 5

Reaction: 6]

After a brief glance, Vikram lost interest.

Just weak opportunists.

Whether they lived or died would hardly affect him.

A faint, almost gentle smile appeared on his lips.

"Come in," he said. "I’ll allow you to stay for one night."

He stepped aside slightly, clearing the path through the living gate, as if welcoming guests.

Seeing his plan seemingly succeed, Abhishek, who was still bent in a respectful bow, could barely suppress the manic curve creeping onto his lips.

For a fleeting second, madness and greed flashed across his eyes.

But the moment he raised his head, he instantly twisted his expression into an awkward, overly humble smile.

"Then... thank you, Brother."

"You’re welcome," Vikram replied calmly.

However, the instant the three of them stepped past the gate, a strange unease gripped their hearts.

Behind them, the massive bio-steel gate closed on its own with a dull metallic thud. A moment later, living shadows slithered across its surface.

Clusters of Thornvine tightened like layered barbed chains. Then darker, thicker Bloodvine coiled over them like frozen serpents. Finally, rows of Spikevine rose from the ground, forming a silent wall of green spikes.

The exit... had vanished.

At the same time, they suddenly noticed something else.

The biting cold outside had softened dramatically within this territory. The air felt strangely warm and breathable, almost comfortable.

In front of them was not a simple shelter.

It was an entire living domain.

To their right stretched a patch of lush green farmland, soft grass shimmering faintly under pale winter light.

At the center stood a huge ancient banyan tree, its roots spreading like the veins of the earth itself.

Beside it rested a well-structured shelter building, neat and orderly, far superior to the crude Shelter most Survivors struggled to maintain.

And then...

They saw them.

Several plant-like beings were moving around silently.

One carried a bow almost as tall as itself. Another bore a heavy vine-forged shield. Their bodies were half plant, half humanoid, and their movements were disciplined, like trained soldiers.

One such being even followed behind them slowly, as if monitoring every step.

The scenery was beautiful. Peaceful. Almost heavenly.

Yet at that moment, all three men felt the same realization crash into their minds, they had not entered a paradise. They had walked straight into a devil’s den.

They had seen no one else besides Vikram... but instinctively they understood he could not possibly be alone.

No single survivor could build such a territory. And most importantly, his domain looked far more advanced than anything they had ever imagined.

"Come," Vikram said pleasantly, showing what he considered a warm, sunny smile. "Inside is the main area... and my shelter."

Abhishek, who had been leading the group, felt a cold pressure rise from deep inside his chest.

The man’s demeanor had changed too smoothly. From guarded caution... to effortless composure.

A bad premonition began to grow.

"Um... my stomach suddenly hurts," Abhishek said, forcing a strained laugh. "I’ll go outside to use the restroom first. Abhay, you take Akshay inside."

It was a simple plan to create distance... observe... then escape.

But Vikram spoke before he could even turn.

"No need to rush," he said casually. "My shelter has a restroom. You can use it inside."

Abhay quickly seized the chance to support the excuse.

"Brother... actually my stomach feels strange too. Let Big Brother go first, I’ll just go outside for a moment."

"You don’t have to worry about that," Vikram replied in the same indifferent tone. "I have as many restrooms as you need."

The words sounded polite. Reasonable.

Yet to Abhishek, they felt like steel chains tightening around his neck.

Did he build this place only to build restrooms...? he wondered inwardly.

Without speaking, he subtly signaled Akshay and Abhay with his eyes, found another excuse... and got out.