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 mont of thought, Flora Bloom said to them.
"Listen to . This mountain where your family keeps its animals is extrely dangerous right now. I don’t think you should be taking such a risk."
Neal Wallace sighed. He looked like he wanted to say sothing 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 ti. 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 deal with Seth and ca all this way with . But as a son, I can’t just leave my mother behind. You have no obligation to help . 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 soone 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 an 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 extrely difficult."
Flora Bloom smiled. "What I an is, you two go et 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 agreent with Oscar Owen. "If you insist on going in, you have to take with you. You saved my life. Dying with you would just be 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 n even more confused.
At that mont, Flora Bloom received a ssage 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 would just slow down.’
The two n’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 seed to have undergone a special tamorphosis during its ti in her space.
Its entire body had turned a jade-like green, and that shade of green had a deep, erald 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 imdiately jumped back to a safe distance and assud 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 accomplishnt. She then introduced it, "Hey, don’t be afraid. This is my evolved creature. Its na is, uh, let’s call it Vert. Mr. Wallace has seen it before; it’s incredibly strong. If I take it with , 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 re shock.
This behemoth was a good three tis the height of a grown man. Its sharp, scythe-like forelegs glead with a dark light; not only were they sharp, but they also seed 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 abdon. 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 n 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 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 co with , you’ll just slow 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 co out."
"Be careful with everything."
Oscar Owen wanted to say more but held his tongue, choosing to trust Flora Bloom instead. The two n 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 mont, the two n made a silent vow to themselves: they would beco stronger. That was the only way to survive in this apocalyptic world and protect the people around them.
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