A Nameless Seed in the Frozen Depths

A fragment of information bubbled up from the deepest recesses of my soul-seed, something oddly familiar. Peering into it with growing unease, I realized it was unmistakably a game's status window. Not something visible to the eyes, but projected directly into my consciousness. In that instant, all thought ground to a halt. The implications terrified me. This UI I'd seen hundreds of times before was now etching itself into my very being as an absolute truth.

This... this is a status window? Am I really inside the game?

My throat went dry. Had I truly become data within the game? Calming my trembling mind, I focused my consciousness again. Like opening a game menu, more detailed information flowed in naturally.

Wait... am I really in a game world? Or have I just become game data?

No way, no way... this can't be real. A game world? That's impossible...

But the reality was too vivid to deny. I'd read about scenarios like this in countless novels, but experiencing it firsthand filled me only with dread. If this was a real world, that might be a relief—but if I was just data in a game... The thought alone sent chills down my spine.

Let's think calmly.

Suppressing my tremors, I examined the status window piece by piece. First to catch my eye was the star at the top.

A black star... like the rating system in Shadow Symphony...

My heart sank. Shadow Symphony had no black stars. Yet the status window's format matched it perfectly. It felt like someone was deliberately showing me info in a form I'd understand.

Wait... is this really the world of Shadow Symphony?

The realization brought a wave of greater terror. Of all games, why this one without even an ending? In its lore, the Demon King tried to destroy the world, sacrificing countless lives.

Haha... trapped in a game without a full story? Who knows how this world ends... Can I even survive here?

Sweat beaded despite the cold, but now wasn't the time for panic. I needed to grasp my status fully. With a deep sigh, I turned to the next info.

My name... gone too.

The absence made it all too real, like waiting to name a character at the start— just an empty void. Next came my current identity.

A chill pierced my core. Not even a body to shudder—just raw consciousness quaking. A game world was shocking enough, but a seed?

What... what the hell? I thought I was some plant-human... but a real plant?

Wait... because I browsed plant galleries too much? No, that doesn't mean turn me into an actual plant...!

Heart-stopping shock hit me. But it explained everything so far. Absurdity and despair mingled. The most powerless form: unable to move, speak, or breathe. A passive lifeform awaiting nature's whim. At least if it was a game, evolution might be possible.

If this is really a game world, I can evolve into something else...

The following details shocked me further.

Wait... female!?

Suddenly, the subtle wrongness I'd sensed about myself clicked. It wasn't just speech—my thinking, emotions, even recalling memories felt off. Like old black-and-white photos suddenly colored; the same memories looked different.

My speech felt weird... no, blatantly off. That's why?

But plants having gender? Does that even make sense?

My mind reeled. With past-life memories intact, a gender swap was hard to swallow. My built identity crumbled in confusion.

Ugh... not the time to worry about this...

Gender was trivial compared to my plight. Still, the shifted mindset and speech felt alien. The stats followed.

What is this? HP only 10? This garbage spec...

Rage boiled. Total helplessness: HP and MP lower than a slime's, stats near zero. Only defense and magic resist hit triple digits.

No way... this pathetic build is me?

No, there has to be a way. There must be...

Dissipates on germination...? Wait... wait a second...

This is my only lifeline... and it vanishes when I sprout? What kind of crap is that!

"Dissipates." The word crushed me. My sole advantage was temporary. Losing my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠only shield someday... my whole being quivered. Unbelievable that sprouting meant losing everything.

Surely... sprouting gives new skills, right?

Clinging to faint hope, I checked traits.

Please... let the trait be a total cheat...

But seeing it last nearly brought tears.

Why! Why fire of all things! This is too much!

My previous life's end flashed back. No burning pain, but the suffocating smoke's terror lingered, branded on my soul. Even in this new life, unable to shake it—fate's cruel joke.

Not again... I don't want to end like that... please, anything but that...

Did dying in the fire create this...? No, don't think like that...

The foreboding wouldn't fade. Game experience said such weaknesses always get tested. Despair deepened after reviewing everything.

Hahaha...

…How much time passed?

This situation makes no sense...

Reality was undeniable. I was a game-world seed. Survival now: focus. Germination needed water. Losing Dormancy sucked, but eternal seed life? Pass.

So, where am I?

I extended consciousness outward. Self-awareness as a seed awakened seed-senses: soil texture, moisture, temperature—all novel. But harsh reality hit: ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠frozen, hard-packed earth encased me. Cold, dry sensation enveloped everything. Sprouting here was task one. Vast potential meant nothing without first steps. The seeping chill mocked me. Steel myself—then a ripple on consciousness's surface brought new alert.

Huh, a skill? For real...?

The status window that wrecked me finally gave good news. But the sparse description was pure system. Instinct kicked in on use. Consciousness pulsed outward like waves. A subtle vibration enveloped me, like being underwater. I sensed a small spherical area around me. Not vision, but a new sight—like peering into a fishbowl from outside. Inside the sphere: frozen dirt everywhere but me. Focusing inward: a small black seed, watermelon-like, flat black shell exact match.

Uh... am I really a watermelon seed?

Whoa, levels up this fast?

The black star at the status top came to mind. In Shadow Symphony, stars meant potential. This unknown grade might hint at 5-star or higher.

Yeah, now that's balanced...

Hope rising, scanning wider detection range—spotted non-soil material. A mystical blue-glowing substance; info popped up.

Before questioning the info ability, "Sia Kalt" jumped out.

This... isn't it the Sia Kalt Labyrinth?