I'm trapped in a block

Chapter 628 Companions
"Where is this?"

An indistinguishable smell drifted around Mo Ling.

The bees in the flowers prepare a variety of scents for the curing ceremony, some of which smell very fragrant, while others do not quite fit the definition of "fragrant".

Now the smell in this smell zone is very special.

Mo Ling always felt that it was somewhat familiar, but he couldn't quite remember where it was.

What's even more strange is that there is not a single newborn baby in this smell zone. They probably don't like this strange smell.

Mo Ling thought for a moment, followed the smell to the center of the smell belt, and finally remembered where the smell came from.

“The smell of rotting leaves.”

In the past, adult lemon bees in the flowers would often come to play with Mo Ling with some strange smells, including this one. Although it didn’t smell very irritating, it had nothing to do with “fragrance”.

"Why do we have to prepare even this kind of smell?" Mo Ling was a little confused.

But after thinking about it carefully, he understood...

These rotten leaves are excellent fertilizer for flowers.

If a bee happens to fixate on this scent, they will be better able to find "fertile" land.

The bee is a social creature that needs to carry out a variety of civilized activities. Different individuals are different and have different divisions of labor. It is a relatively healthy social structure.

Those that turn into the fragrance of flowers are responsible for maintaining the flowers, those that turn into the smell of soil are responsible for observing the changes in the soil, and those that turn into the smell of rotting leaves are responsible for finding more fertile land. They do not interfere with each other, but all contribute to the reproduction of the race.

As for those completely useless smells, they will be placed outside the camp.

And conflicting smells are bound to become hostile.

Thinking of this, Mo Ling roughly understood.

"So, there should also be the smell of animal feces. Bees that transform into this smell can use the smell to drive away animals and protect the flowers..."

It's not just "aroma" that is useful, any smell has a corresponding effect.

However, it seems that no newborns like this smell. Most of them choose floral or fruity scents. Even those who choose earthy smell are very few, let alone this strange smell.

Mo Ling continued to float forward, and sure enough, not long after, he found the smell belt of "animal feces".

The pungent smell immediately flooded into Mo Ling's mind, and he fled from here in a hurry.

However, even after experiencing such a strong pungent smell, the uncollapsed odor molecules in his body did not react at all, as if they were completely asleep.

Mo Ling's worries grew deeper and deeper...

"It seems that I really have no way to solidify it."

After passing through several more smell belts, Mo Ling encountered more stimulating smells and also experienced some ordinary fragrances. Some he liked very much, while some he avoided, but no smell could loosen the smell molecules in his body.

He was like a tourist passing by in a hurry, experiencing all the smells but being excluded, and finally still alone.

"There's nothing I can do." Mo Ling's worry gradually turned into despair.

He loved the smells, but he just couldn't solidify them.

Just like what the scent of plants said, there is no point in having him participate in the solidification ceremony...

The other newborns had solidified the smells they wanted and were chatting happily. Waves of joy could be heard from time to time in the smell belt. The newborns who had completed solidification were entangled with each other, feeling the smell of their companions, arguing excitedly, and testing their abilities after solidification.

Hunting, building, talking... If their current concentration was not high enough, they would probably reproduce on the spot.

Mo Ling, who had not solidified, could only stay away and feel the joy that did not belong to him.

Without solidified bee bees, there is no basis for communication.

They were just a bunch of meaningless, undefined odor molecules, and of course they could not fluctuate, like a pool of stagnant water. Feeling those odors passing by his body and drifting away, Mo Ling felt a little frustrated.

"Is there still no way..."

He could only remember these smells silently as he had done before.

After a while, the leader's fruity scent permeated again.

"Congratulations, you have found the scent that suits you best."

"Next, there will be companions with corresponding smells to help you get familiar with the control and use of smells..."

The leader's way of addressing everyone changed from "newborns" to "companions", which also meant that these solidified individuals became members of the tribe and they were no longer newborns that needed care.

The scent belt on the ceremony grounds gradually dissipated, and various scents floated down from above, helping these fledgling "new companions" to familiarize themselves with their newly acquired abilities.

Only Mo Ling stayed where he was, feeling the smell slowly dissipate until it disappeared...

But it wasn't long before the familiar scent of grass and trees reappeared.

Just like before, he pinched Mo Ling and wanted to put him back into the cradle.

"It's the Guardian..."

However, the guardian's actions were stopped by the sudden smell of fruit, and the leader had come to Mo Ling's side without knowing when.

"Are you going to put it back?" the leader asked calmly.

"It hasn't grown up yet, and I have the responsibility to take care of it." The guardian still followed his duties.

"It has grown," the leader retorted.

"No, as long as it is not solidified, it has not grown up... It has no way to cope with the changes in the external environment. The war is still spreading. If it cannot solidify, even survival is a luxury. Only the cradle is the most suitable place for it."

"But you...can't protect it forever."

"I can."

"..."

The guardian still looked rigid, and the fluctuations of the scent of plants and trees were firm and steady, as if nothing could affect its judgment.

The leader was silent for a long time, the fruity scent continued to permeate, and the smell gently caressed Mo Ling's body. I don't know if it was pity or regret...

"During the ceremony, I was observing it..."

"It's not as fragile as you think. This little guy will roll around in the smell of animal feces, try hard to remember the smell of sour fruits, and feel novelty when he smells different smells of bugs..."

"It's much braver and smarter than you think. Although it can't be solidified, it has been trying its best to remember various smells and has been understanding the world in its own clumsy way."

"Although it can't control the smell, it can already bear this world on its own... Isn't this enough?"

The fruity aroma slowly dissipated into the aroma of grass and trees, pushing away the guardian's surrounding.

"Give it a chance...or rather, let it choose for itself."

The rich fruity aroma enveloped Mo Ling, but this time Mo Ling did not feel any discomfort. He only felt a ball of warm fire holding him and placing him above the flames.

It was neither roasting nor burning, but simply placing him on an equal footing with all smells, granting him infinite empathy and respect. The fragrance of the red heart fruit seeped into his heart, and the fluctuations were steady yet hot.

"My friend, may I ask..."

"Are you willing to leave your cradle and experience the world on your own?"

(End of this chapter)