A thin cloud of golden dust floated into the air.
Bai Li immediately pulled Yan Cijin backward.
"Do not breathe it."
Yan Cijin covered her mouth.
The dust settled.
A small insect touched one of the leaves.
The insect grew larger in seconds.
Its shell thickened.
Its body changed.
Then it dropped dead.
Yan Cijin stared.
"That is new."
"Yes."
Bai Li looked at the plant.
"The fruit is changing everything around it."
"Including the monsters."
"Including the humans."
They moved carefully through the transformed level.
Several creatures attacked from the plants.
Small at first.
Then larger.
Bai Li burned through the vines with a controlled burst of power.
Yan Cijin cleared the creatures that came through the gaps.
Neither woman took unnecessary risks.
The plants were more dangerous than they looked.
One vine wrapped around Bai Li's wrist.
She tore it free.
Another tried to coil around Yan Cijin's ankle.
Bai Li cut it before it could tighten.
