Chapter 32: Chapter 27: One Person Enters (2)

Oscar Owen said thoughtfully, "What if it got out on its own?"

Flora Bloom had already prepared for the worst.

A young tiger that could break through such thick iron bars to escape, no matter how small, was more dangerous than any other creature.

Besides, with these two by her side, she couldn’t just hide on her own if they ran into danger. So, after a moment of thought, Flora Bloom said to them.

"Listen to me. This mountain where your family keeps its animals is extremely dangerous right now. I don’t think you should be taking such a risk."

Neal Wallace sighed. He looked like he wanted to say something but held back, finally compromising, "Sigh, instead of going in there to get ourselves killed, we might as well just leave."

Oscar Owen also hesitated for a long time. After all, he had experienced the power of that giant pangolin firsthand. And that wasn’t the only thing lurking in those mountains.

But his mother was likely still in there. He couldn’t just abandon her and leave on his own. So, he said to Flora Bloom, "Flora Bloom, I’m very grateful that you helped me deal with Seth and came all this way with me. But as a son, I can’t just leave my mother behind. You have no obligation to help me. You two should go. I’ve decided to stay. I’m not leaving until my mother is safe."

Oscar Owen’s words made Flora Bloom suddenly wonder, ’How could such a responsible and forthright person be brothers with someone like Shelton Underwood?’

It was for this very reason that Flora Bloom felt that a person like him, who held onto his principles even at the end of the world, was worth being friends with.

So, she candidly spoke her mind.

"You’ve both misunderstood. I don’t mean we should leave."

Hearing Flora Bloom’s words, Neal Wallace and Oscar Owen were suddenly a bit confused.

"But if the three of us go in, we might face dangers we can’t possibly handle."

Neal Wallace continued, "It’s fraught with danger inside. Even if we rescue her, getting back out will be extremely difficult."

Flora Bloom smiled. "What I mean is, you two go meet up with Ethan Monroe at the side gate. I’ll go in alone."

"Nonsense!"

Oscar Owen’s expression suddenly turned stern, his voice rising. He glared at Flora Bloom and said seriously, "I can’t possibly let you go take such a risk alone."

Neal Wallace nodded in agreement with Oscar Owen. "If you insist on going in, you have to take me with you. You saved my life. Dying with you would just be me repaying the favor!"

Flora Bloom found it both frustrating and amusing.

Just then, her eyes lit up, her face filled with a look of pleasant surprise, leaving the two men even more confused.

At that moment, Flora Bloom received a message through a spiritual link in her mind.

"Master, I’ve recovered."

The other end of this spiritual link was the giant mantis she had brought into her space and saved.

The thought of the giant mantis’s incredible combat prowess gave Flora Bloom another sliver of confidence about going in.

’After all, unless we run into an evolved creature with sonic attacks like a Golden Cicada, this big mantis can fly, fight, camouflage itself, and is ridiculously fast.’

’Taking two people with me would just slow me down.’

The two men’s voices were still buzzing incessantly in her ears. Having no other choice, Flora Bloom suddenly summoned the giant mantis.

The enormous body of the mantis abruptly appeared next to Flora Bloom. She observed that not only had the mantis’s size not diminished after laying its eggs, but it seemed to have undergone a special metamorphosis during its time in her space.

Its entire body had turned a jade-like green, and that shade of green had a deep, emerald sheen, making it look like a giant insect carved from jade.

Moreover, Flora Bloom could feel that the giant mantis was even stronger than before she had taken it into her space. She could tell from the spiritual fluctuations in their connection.

The giant mantis’s sudden appearance startled Oscar Owen, who immediately jumped back to a safe distance and assumed a combat stance. Neal Wallace, on the other hand, was more curious than shocked.

Although the giant mantis had changed a little, he still recognized it as the one from the school.

He looked at Flora Bloom, bewildered. ’Just how many secrets does this girl have?’

Seeing their reactions, Flora Bloom laughed, filled with a sense of accomplishment. She then introduced it, "Hey, don’t be afraid. This is my evolved creature. Its name is, uh, let’s call it Vert. Mr. Wallace has seen it before; it’s incredibly strong. If I take it with me, there won’t be any danger."

The look in Oscar Owen’s eyes as he stared at Flora Bloom could no longer be explained by mere shock.

This behemoth was a good three times the height of a grown man. Its sharp, scythe-like forelegs gleamed with a dark light; not only were they sharp, but they also seemed to be poisonous.

"Is... is that the mantis from the school? Why does it look a little different?"

Neal Wallace, however, quickly adapted to the surprise Flora Bloom had sprung on them and began circling the mantis, observing it.

Flora Bloom stood beside Vert, only reaching its abdomen. She patted Vert’s wings and used her spiritual power to tell it to lower its body.

Vert understood instantly. It spread its six legs and lay flat on the ground, using the long, downy antennae on its head to touch Flora Bloom as if to curry favor.

The two men present stared blankly at the interaction between the girl and the insect, utterly astonished. This was especially true for Oscar Owen; the look in his eyes as he watched Flora Bloom was now filled with an indescribable emotion.

’Maybe... maybe Flora Bloom really can help me save my mother?’

"So, can you relax now? Besides, Vert can fly. If I run into danger, I’ll just ride it to escape. If you come with me, you’ll just slow me down."

In truth, Flora Bloom didn’t actually know if Vert could carry her while flying. She just said it to reassure Neal Wallace and Oscar Owen.

Oscar Owen was about to say more, but Neal Wallace stopped him. The fact that Flora Bloom was willing to summon Vert for them to see was proof enough of her trust in them. This girl had too many secrets, and he believed her true strength was far greater than what she showed.

"Flora Bloom, safety first. We’ll wait here for you to come out."

"Be careful with everything."

Oscar Owen wanted to say more but held his tongue, choosing to trust Flora Bloom instead. The two men watched the slowly receding figures of the girl and the insect, their hearts filled with worry, but there was nothing they could do.

’If only we were strong enough, strong enough to match any zombie or creature, then we wouldn’t need a young girl to take this risk for us.’

And so, in that moment, the two men made a silent vow to themselves: they would become stronger. That was the only way to survive in this apocalyptic world and protect the people around them.