Chapter 49: RV, Decaying Flower

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: RV, Decaying Flower

Seraphina Sullivan cautiously approached the RV, which was parked incongruously in the middle of the spider’s territory.

The dusty RV was covered in rust, with tattered spiderwebs clinging to its frame. It looked like it had been abandoned for a long time.

But its very presence here was inexplicably bizarre.

’Could it be related to the Spider Queen? Didn’t Cheryl Chase say all Insect Speakers used to be human?’

Seraphina mused.

The RV’s exterior was rusted, and its windows were caked in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs, making it look long-abandoned.

A Silver Needle materialized in Seraphina’s hand as she cautiously pulled the RV door open.

The door creaked open.

"Huh?"

To her surprise, the interior of the RV was remarkably well-preserved, a stark contrast to its dilapidated exterior.

Though covered in a thin layer of dust, its overall structure was intact and it was fully equipped with living amenities.

A simple cot, a small kitchen, and even a functioning bathroom.

To her delight, she found several boxes of unopened canned food and bottled water stacked in a corner.

This proved someone had actually lived here before.

’With a little cleaning, this place is livable...’ Seraphina’s eyes lit up, a faint smile finally breaking through her exhaustion.

She had been looking for a safe place to get through her first day in this instance.

She glanced up at the sky outside.

Although the sky of this world was perpetually shrouded in an eerie red mist, the light had grown noticeably dimmer, signaling that "night" was approaching.

After her fierce battle with the Spider Queen, her ribs were injured and her stamina was nearly depleted. She desperately needed to rest.

"This RV is a real godsend," Seraphina murmured.

The RV had appeared at the perfect moment; it was practically a tailor-made shelter just for her.

She first inspected every corner of the RV. Once she confirmed there were no hidden dangers, she started cleaning.

She took a clean sheet from her Space to make the bed and used a rag she found to wipe away the dust.

As she cleaned, Seraphina discovered the vehicle was very well-equipped—it even had a solar power generator.

’Looks like someone specially modified this RV...’

Seraphina noticed that steel plates had been added for protection, along with a simple ventilation and filtration system—all clearly preparations for surviving in the red-misted world.

Once she finished cleaning, she took out her medical kit to treat her injury.

Her ribs were painful, but thankfully, they weren’t completely broken.

She took out the Universal Syringe and gave herself a shot to numb the pain. The ache in her body immediately subsided.

’Time to get some energy...’ Seraphina opened a can of beef and wolfed it down, washing it down with bottled water.

After eating her fill, she took out a Power Apple and studied it closely in her hand.

’Should I eat it now...?’ She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately returned the fruit to her Space.

She was in an unfamiliar environment; it would be dangerous if she had a severe reaction after eating it.

’Better to wait until I’m somewhere safer.’

’Like after this instance is over? Or at least when my surroundings are secure.’

Night fell completely, and the world within the red mist grew even more sinister and terrifying.

The howls of mutated creatures echoed in the distance, but the area around the RV remained eerily quiet, as if protected by some invisible force.

Still, it was unnerving to rest in the territory of giant spiders.

Seraphina carefully surveyed the RV. She realized it was a moderate size—just small enough to fit inside her Space Equipment.

Without a second thought, she stored the entire RV in her Space and quickly left the area.

Several kilometers away, she found a secluded, abandoned warehouse. There were no dangerous insects nearby, so after confirming it was safe, she brought the RV back out.

Once inside the RV, Seraphina tidied up a little.

She then set up a tripwire alarm system around the door and windows using spider silk.

One end of the silk was wrapped around her arm, while the other encircled the RV.

The silk was exceptionally sensitive, allowing her to feel the slightest vibration.

After lying down, exhaustion washed over her like a tide, and Seraphina quickly drifted into a light sleep.

But less than two hours later, she jerked awake, her forehead beaded with cold sweat.

In her sleep, she thought she’d heard the skittering of countless insect legs.

’Just a nightmare. Forget it, I’m not going back to sleep.’ Seraphina rubbed her temples.

Since she couldn’t sleep, she decided to pass the time by taking stock of her loot.

Checking her Space, she saw her haul from the first day was quite substantial:

Primordial Power Apples, glowing with a faint cyan light.

A bundle of Power Apple Branches with new buds.

Two Spider Queen Poison Fangs, emitting an eerie glow.

One strand of Spirit Mutation Spider Silk, which could be used to control targets like puppets.

’Why is there a giant spider corpse in here? Did I just toss it in without thinking?’

As she rummaged around, she spotted a Decaying Flower she had also stored in her Space.

’Huh? I almost forgot about this.’

Since she had nothing better to do, she decided to take it out and examine it.

When she took out the Decaying Flower, Seraphina was surprised to find it had lost all its former ferocity.

Its once-menacing vines now hung limply, and its enormous bud drooped listlessly, looking for all the world like a puppy caught in the rain.

’What happened to it?’ Seraphina gently poked its petals with a Silver Needle.

This was the same plant that had sent Cheryl Chase and the others into a panic, but now it seemed completely lifeless.

The Decaying Flower wriggled weakly, then sent out a clear, telepathic pulse: *Hungry... hungry... hungry...*

’Am I hearing things? Why do I get the feeling this thing is saying it’s hungry?’

Even more surprisingly, it seemed to have sized up the situation completely, understanding that the person before it was not to be trifled with.

A few of its vines cautiously wound around Seraphina’s wrist. It wasn’t an attack; they rubbed against her gently, like a pet seeking affection. The bud even swayed from side to side in a fawning manner.

Seraphina’s eyes widened. ’Are you... trying to get on my good side?’

The Decaying Flower immediately bobbed its bud up and down, as if nodding.

One vine slowly reached for the empty beef can in the corner, then retracted to tap its own bud (which was actually a large, tooth-filled mouth) before pointing back at Seraphina. Its movements were just like a small child asking for a treat.

"You want something to eat?"

Seraphina took the giant spider corpse from her Space and tentatively offered it to the plant.

The Decaying Flower instantly sprang to "life." Its vines shot out like lightning, coiling around the corpse. The bud snapped open, revealing rows of sharp teeth, and devoured the massive spider in a few quick bites.

After finishing its meal, it even used a vine to "wipe its mouth" like a puppy, then cozied up to Seraphina’s hand with an expectant "more, please" air about it.

’Well, I’ll be. You’ve become sentient, haven’t you?’ Seraphina was both shocked and delighted.

She suddenly realized that if she could tame this Decaying Flower, she would gain a powerful ally.

She fed it a few more spider corpses, carefully observing the Decaying Flower’s reaction.

As it ate, the Decaying Flower’s color gradually shifted from a listless gray-green to a vibrant violet-red, and its vines became thick and strong once more.

Strangely, though, it seemed to have truly accepted Seraphina as its "master" and showed no intention of attacking her whatsoever.