The farm had changed again.
Not visually.
Not obviously.
But the behavior—
Different.
Sharper.
More aware.
Ryo stood in the middle of the field.
"…You're all acting like you have a plan."
rustle
"…I don't like plans."
The adventurer walked beside him.
"…That thing isn't leaving."
"…I noticed."
"…It's circling."
"…It can circle somewhere else."
"…It's tied to this area."
Ryo sighed.
"…Of course it is."
Status Check
Level: 5
Farm State: Adaptive
Threat Level: Active
"…Threat level."
"…I don't like that."
The crops shifted again.
Forming pathways.
Clear lines.
Like directions.
"…Why are you organizing?"
The adventurer looked around.
"…They're guiding movement."
"…To where?"
The crops leaned.
All at once.
Toward the expansion zone.
"…No."
"…We're not going there."
The crops didn't move.
But the pressure remained.
Silent insistence.
"…You're suggesting."
"…I don't accept suggestions."
thump…
Closer.
The thing moved again.
The adventurer rested his hand on his weapon.
"…It's getting closer."
"…Good for it."
"…We should intercept."
"…We should not."
THUMP
The ground shook.
Closer.
Ryo looked at the crops.
Then at the direction they pointed.
Then back at the approaching sound.
"…This is forced."
He stepped forward.
"…I don't like being forced."
The crops parted.
System Prompt
Suggested Action: Investigate Source
Reward: Unknown
"…Unknown is bad."
He walked anyway.
"…I blame the system."