Wasteland: I Awakened A Plant System-Chapter 60: Water And Light Mage Sprout
The oblivious protagonist, noticing that quite some time had passed after sending the photo without receiving any reply, took the initiative to ask:
[Vikram: So, how is it? Am I not super handsome?]
Divya had been so absorbed in looking at the picture that she only came back to her senses after a brief daze, realizing that two or three minutes had already passed.
[Divya: Hehe... it’s just okay. Barely passable.]
[Vikram: Humph. Then why did you take so long to reply? You must have been captivated by this handsome guy.]
He refused to believe her teasing words. Stroking his chin thoughtfully, he found himself liking the photo more and more the longer he stared at it.
His already handsome face, combined with the faintly defined muscles shaped by his improved physique, gave him the aura of a true male idol.
Even he, who had gone so long without looking at his own reflection in the Wasteland World, felt a strange sense of amazement — as if he were seeing himself for the very first time.
The calm, gentle gaze paired with the rugged wolf-fur coat created a unique contrast between wildness and composure. For a moment, he couldn’t help but exclaim inwardly,
"Who is this unbelievably handsome man?"
"Oh... it’s me. Never mind."
Just as he was still immersed in admiring himself, another message from Divya arrived, pulling him back to reality.
[Divya: Alright, alright. You’re very handsome, okay?]
[Divya: It’s getting late. Go wash up and sleep.]
[Divya: Goodnight.]
Seeing how casually she brushed him off, he decided not to prolong the conversation.
[Vikram: Alright. Goodnight.]
It was already late, and he had no mood to deal with anything else.
Outside, the freezing wind continued to howl through the wasteland. Inside his Shelter, wrapped snugly in his warm bed, Vikram soon drifted into a deep sleep.
Clearly, he was having a pleasant dream tonight — because even in his sleep, a faint, silly giggle escaped his lips.
"Hehehe..."
---
At noon the next day, Vikram sat blankly on his bed, dark circles visible beneath his eyes as he yawned repeatedly.
After a while, his thoughts gradually became clear, and he recalled the events of the previous night.
After exchanging goodnights with Divya, he had fallen asleep almost instantly. The comfort of the bed, combined with the lingering warmth of their conversation, had made his dreams especially sweet.
He had expected to sleep peacefully until morning as usual.
However, sometime during the night, he had awakened briefly for no particular reason, his mind still half-immersed in dreams. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
After adjusting his blanket and changing his sleeping position, he had quickly drifted back into a deep and restful slumber.
Now, sitting upright in the quiet Treehouse, Vikram rubbed his face and stretched lazily.
"Looks like I slept too much..." he muttered, still feeling slightly drowsy.
With a long breath and a slow blink, he finally shook off the remnants of sleep and prepared to start a new day in the unforgiving wasteland.
---
After breakfast, Vikram walked toward the newly grown Mage Sprouts that had fully matured during the night.
Under the pale winter sunlight filtering through the territory canopy, two elegant plant figures stood quietly, one radiating a gentle silver-gold glow, the other surrounded by faint drifting mist and droplets.
Their presence alone made the surrounding air feel calmer... and more alive.
Vikram narrowed his eyes slightly and opened their status panels. Soon, detailed information unfolded before him.
---
[Light Mage Sprout (Purple)]
Type: Ranged Supportive Mobile Plant Unit
Status: Level 1
Growth Potential: High
Upgradeable: Yes
Daily Plant Essence Generation: +30
Physique:
Strength: 25
Speed: 25
Stamina: 45
Reaction: 40
Level-Up Requirement:
• Combat Experience +100
• Active battle participation
Upgrade Requirement:
• Reach Level 10
• 1500 Plant Essence
• Total Combat Experience +1000
Description:
A rare elemental plant mage born from condensed life-radiance within the Plant Life System. Its body is formed from luminous vine-wood and crystal-like leaves that continuously emit purifying light energy. Unlike offensive plant units, the Light Mage specializes in battlefield support, healing enhancement, curse purification, and mental stabilization. Its presence alone can weaken dark-attribute creatures and suppress abnormal status effects.
Abilities:
• Radiant Bolt — Condenses concentrated light energy into fast-moving luminous projectiles. These bolts deal moderate holy-type damage and are especially effective against shadow, undead, or corrupted enemies.
• Purifying Bloom — Releases a wave of soft golden light that removes minor toxins, infections, fear effects, or low-tier curses from allies. It can also stabilize mental disturbances caused by terrifying creatures.
• Halo Barrier — Generates a semi-transparent circular shield of radiant energy around a target or small group. The barrier reduces incoming damage and weakens hostile elemental impacts.
• Dawn Restoration — Channels steady streams of warm light into allies, accelerating wound recovery, restoring stamina, and improving combat focus over time.
• Territory Regeneration — When inside the Host’s territory range, the Light Mage absorbs ambient life energy to gradually restore its stamina and structural durability.
Role: A strategic battlefield support mage responsible for healing reinforcement, curse cleansing, defensive shielding, and morale stabilization. Best positioned behind frontline sprouts, ensuring sustained combat endurance and reducing long-term attrition.
---
[Water Mage Sprout (Purple)]
Type: Ranged Defensive Mobile Plant Unit
Status: Level 1
Growth Potential: High
Upgradeable: Yes
Daily Plant Essence Generation: +30
Physique:
Strength: 25
Speed: 40
Stamina: 40
Reaction: 25
Level-Up Requirement:
• Combat Experience +100
• Active battle participation
Upgrade Requirement:
• Reach Level 10
• 1500 Plant Essence
• Total Combat Experience +1000
Description: A rare elemental plant mage nurtured from deep life-roots and flowing natural water currents. Its body is composed of flexible aqua-vines and translucent leaf-membranes that store and manipulate liquid energy. It excels at defensive battlefield control, damage mitigation, and environmental adaptation, transforming terrain into protective or restrictive water zones.
Abilities:
• Aqua Shot — Launches compressed water spheres at high speed. These projectiles deliver moderate kinetic impact and can disrupt enemy balance or interrupt charging attacks.
• Flowing Vine Current — Extends fluid-covered vines across the ground, creating slippery or muddy terrain that slows enemy movement and reduces their stability.
• Tidal Guard — Summons a rotating water shield around allies, absorbing part of incoming damage and reducing the effect of fire or explosive attacks.
• Mist Veil — Releases a dense, drifting mist that obscures vision and reduces enemy targeting accuracy while slightly enhancing allied evasion and stealth capability.
• Territory Regeneration — When inside the Host’s territory range, the Water Mage absorbs ambient life and moisture energy to slowly restore stamina and structural durability.
Role: A defensive control mage responsible for terrain manipulation, protective shielding, and tactical disruption. Works in coordination with Guardian and Warrior sprouts to weaken enemy advances while maintaining formation stability.
---
Standing before the two newly awakened elemental plant mages, Vikram could clearly feel the difference in atmosphere.
The Light Mage gave him a sense of safety, like dawn after a long night. The Water Mage, on the other hand, felt like a silent flowing river... calm on the surface, yet capable of controlling the entire battlefield when needed.
Then Vikram shifted his gaze toward the iron defensive wall surrounding his territory. One section still remained incomplete — an open gap where a proper gate should have been installed.
Since the news of the mysterious ruins had spread and Survivors might begin roaming more aggressively, he had already decided to prioritize strengthening his territorial defenses.
For Vikram, defense always came first. Only after securing the ground perimeter would he consider aerial or long-range protective measures.
He immediately communicated with the Plant Life System to request an optimized upgrade solution.
A faint green interface shimmered before his eyes. Soon, the system responded with a structured defensive enhancement plan.
Territory Gate & Wall Upgrade Proposal
Primary Upgrade Direction: Upgrade existing Iron Wall into Stainless-Steel Bio-Fortified Wall. Install Automatic Bio-Recognition Gate System.
Frost-Resistant Stainless-Steel Frame
Using high-density stainless steel as the structural core of the upgraded wall will greatly enhance durability. Its superior corrosion resistance ensures long-term stability in extreme cold climates, preventing brittleness, cracking, and structural fatigue caused by sub-zero temperature cycles. It also improves impact resistance against medium-grade creature assaults.
Verdant Gene Sentinel (Bio-Detector Plant)
A special sentient detection plant recommended by the Plant Life System. Once rooted near the gate structure, it will form a subtle biological scanning field capable of recognizing, the Host’s life signature. Authorized allies marked by the system. Territory-bound plant units. Hostile organisms or unidentified intruders.
The plant reacts instinctively, emitting warning pulses, tightening defensive vines, or activating linked gate protocols when unknown biological signals approach.
Without hesitation, Vikram immediately purchased this plant seed. Security based on instinctive life recognition was far more reliable than mechanical locks.
Thermal Anti-Freeze Entrance Grid: A concealed heating trace network embedded within the gate frame. This prevents freezing of hinges, sliding rails, and locking mechanisms. It also stabilizes surrounding soil temperature, ensuring nearby plant defenses remain active even during blizzards.
Thorn-Lattice Reinforcement Layer: A hybrid defensive mesh grown from compressed Thornvine fibers integrated into the steel structure. Provides flexible shock absorption and minor self-repair capability against scratches, bites, or claw damage.
Crystal Sap Shock Anchors: Bio-resin nodes installed along the wall foundation. They distribute external impact force through root-like underground channels, reducing localized structural collapse risk.
Moon-Iron Aesthetic Gate Arch: An ornamental yet functional gate arch design combining metallic sheen with living vine carvings. Enhances territory prestige while also serving as a mounting point for future defensive modules such as light towers, watch spores, or signal beacons.
After listing the upgrade modules, the system displayed the construction requirement materials:
Steel ×140
Electrical Wire ×50 meters
Verdant Gene Sentinel Seed ×1
Structural Binding Resin ×10 units
Auxiliary Mechanical Components ×various
Additional Construction Cost: 500 Plant Essence
"Steel... one hundred and forty?"
Vikram frowned slightly and walked toward his storage warehouse. After counting carefully, he discovered he had less than twenty units remaining.
"That’s troublesome."
He already knew that hunting outside would not solve this issue. Recently, creature activity near his territory had dropped sharply. Even if he spent an entire day searching, the probability of obtaining enough steel drops was extremely low.
Time was becoming precious.
Vikram stood silently for a moment, then his gaze shifted toward the huge pile of preserved food stacked in storage.
He smirked faintly.
Food, in this frozen apocalypse, was no longer just survival material. It was currency... leverage... power.
"It would be foolish to let all this sit idle."
Without hesitation, Vikram opened the Trading Market interface. Now was the perfect moment to convert excess food into strategic defensive resources.
His territory’s next evolution would begin with steel... and a gate that no ordinary Survivor could ever breach.
