Luke pushed himself up from the ground and leaned against a nearby tree. His entire body still pulsed with heat, the lingering aftershock of fusing the Blood of Mother Freya into his bloodstream, only for it to immediately clash with the Dark Blood already inside him.

I should've taken that warning seriously, he thought, still wincing as the residual pain simmered in his veins.

Slowly, his blood began to cool. The burning eased. His breathing leveled out.

"Hey, Luke? You alright?" Artemis chimed in, her tone somewhere between casual and annoyed. "For all I know, you're just collapsing and groaning in pain. You could have food poisoning or be dying, and I wouldn't even be able to tell the difference."

He ignored her sarcasm.

"I chose a skill that... sort of altered my biology. What you saw was the side effect of that process."

A low whistle came from Artemis, mock-impressed.

"What was that for?"

"Mortal beings are weirdly attached to the bodies they're born with," she said. "Which is funny, considering their bodies are basically their biggest weakness. And yet, most of them instinctively reject any kind of mutation. So the fact that you embraced one? That actually means something to beings on a more... cosmic scale."

"Seriously?"

"You'll understand someday," she replied, cryptically as ever.

A notification popped up in front of him.

[Your skills have evolved.]

[Blood of Mother Freya (Rare)] -> [Corrupted Blood of Mother Freya (Ultra-Rare)]

Luke blinked. "Corrupted?"

He tapped the message.

The skill hadn't just changed its name, it had jumped in rarity too.

[Corrupted Blood of Mother Freya (Ultra-Rare)]: The botanist's blood, once blessed by Mother Freya and now fused with a demonic symbiotic essence, has evolved into a living organism. It functions as a perfect catalyst, enhancing and stabilizing any plant-based concoction. When applied to flora, it regenerates damaged tissue, accelerates growth, and can even revive near-dead specimens. It allows cultivation in infertile soil and can induce natural mutations, reshaping plant structures. Internally, the mutation has fortified the user's body. The blood now grants high resistance, or even immunity, to most poisons and diseases, thanks to active antibodies that seek and neutralize threats with lethal efficiency.

"Holy shit," Luke muttered.

This wasn't just an upgrade. It was an entirely new playing field. He could feel it in his gut. Or maybe that was just leftover nausea from almost dying.

The potential here was massive. His blood wasn't just reactive, it was alive. A mutagenic super-fertilizer that could reshape nature itself... and a toxin-resistant miracle source all in one.

"I literally have the cure for cancer running through my veins," he said, half-joking.

"Yeah, not impressive," Artemis replied. "Most diseases in your world are laughably easy to treat with magic. They're not even magical diseases."

"Well, sure," Luke shot back. "But that's only useful if someone has a system. They need mana, they need stats. But me? I might be able to use this as a base to treat people without access to the system, like folks from universes that haven't been integrated."

Artemis snorted. "Your universe was one of the last ones to join the network. Pretty much everyone else already has the system. So whatever it is you're imagining? It's a dead-end anywhere else."

He didn't argue. Not because she was right, but because he knew she lacked vision. Luke could see it: antidotes forged from his own blood, field kits built from his cells, maybe even entire forests grown with just a few drops.

"I need to test this super-fertilizer on some real soil," he muttered, eyes gleaming.

That's when a new notification flashed in front of him.

[Plant Growth (Uncommon)] -> [Corrupted Plant Growth (Rare)]

And immediately after, another followed:

[Skill evolution complete.]

"Another one?" he muttered, eyebrows raised as he tapped to open the description.

[Corrupted Plant Growth (Rare)]: The herbalist channels magical energy to accelerate the growth of plants within a controlled radius. Inside this area, seeds germinate faster, sprouts mature with vigor, and herbs bloom outside their natural cycle. The technique demands focus and harmony with the surroundings and is effective only in small, controlled spaces. Due to the Corrupted Blood of Mother Freya, the botanist can now summon mutated roots within a five-meter radius. These roots grow unpredictably and aggressively, reacting to the environment with abnormal patterns of development.

"What the hell?" He had to reread it to make sure he wasn't hallucinating.

"What happened now?" Artemis asked, voice wary.

"My plant growth skill got an upgrade. I can apparently make roots burst out of the ground now."

Raising his hand, Luke focused. In his mind's eye, a translucent circle formed around him, faintly glowing green. It wasn't visible in reality, just a projection from the skill, marking the effective range. The green glow probably represented the mana field.

He concentrated harder. A sound tore through the soil beneath him, and right where he pointed, something burst out from the earth: a thick, gnarled root. But something about it was... off.

"Black roots? That's creepy as hell," Artemis muttered.

The thing didn't look like a root so much as a writhing black tentacle. Luke reached out and touched it, then activated Identify.

[Corrupted Root (Uncommon)]: A root formed by a botanist's mana. The root has undergone mutation, altering its appearance and properties.

He tried using his Herbology skill to see if the root could be used as a potion ingredient, but the system didn't offer any info. Blank.

"So... that's it? You make a root pop out of the ground?" Artemis asked flatly.

"Pretty much. Based on the skill description, I thought it'd be... you know, cooler."

Luke sighed, pointing to a different spot. Another black root burst upward, then froze, motionless and inert. That was all the skill did. Summon a root. Underwhelming. Until he remembered another skill buried in his arsenal: [Plant Manipulation of Mother Freya].

He pulled up the system and reviewed the description.

[Plant Manipulation of Mother Freya (Rare)]: Similar to one of Mother Freya's own abilities, you can mentally control plants you've cultivated. They must be within your perception range and respond to your will as extensions of your body. The complexity of control depends on the bond of friendship with the plant.

Luke's eyes narrowed. Now that had potential. A thought began to form. If those black roots were technically his… then what stopped him from controlling them?

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Luke stared at the root, a slow grin spreading across his face. He raised a hand toward the thick, black tendril and flicked his wrist to the side. The root obeyed, mimicking the motion like it was wired into his nervous system.

"No fucking way," he muttered.

He pointed at another root and focused, willing it to grow longer and coil around itself. It responded instantly, twisting into a tight spiral.

"No fucking way," he said again, louder this time.

With both hands raised, he pointed skyward, then sharply down. The ground burst open in response, and thick roots erupted from the earth all around him, cracking through soil and stone. He waved his arms, and the roots moved with him, slithering like massive, serpentine limbs, synchronized with his will.

From his storage bracelet, he pulled out a wooden barrel and tossed it high into the air. He extended a hand toward it. Several roots shot upward, wrapped around the barrel mid-flight, and locked it in place. With a grin, Luke slowly clenched his fist. The roots mimicked the gesture. A sharp crack echoed through the clearing as the barrel caved in, crushed like a tin can between the roots.

Luke let out a low breath, eyes gleaming. "Looks like I just stumbled onto something very, very interesting."

***

Luke sprinted through the city streets under the cover of night, drawing closer to the fortress with every step. Below, scattered patrols of foot soldiers, stone knights without their mounts, moved in tight formation. He didn't slow down. Instead, he vaulted from a ledge and landed right in the middle of them.

The statues reached for their horns, but Luke raised a hand to the ground. Black roots burst through the cobblestones, entangling them before they could blow the alarm. Charlie dropped in right behind him, her fist glowing with stamina and skill energy.

[Princess Charlie has slain a Watcher Knight - Lvl 45]

*The [Pugilist] 2nd Class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 15! (+3 Strength, +2 Endurance, +2 Agility, +2 Vitality, +2 Perception, +2 Intelligence, +2 Free Points.)*

[Princess Charlie has unlocked new Second Class Skill]

Luke moved like smoke between the remaining three knights, kukris flashing. One clean kill after the other.

[You have slain a Watcher Knight - Lvl 45]

[You have slain a Watcher Knight - Lvl 45]

[You have slain a Watcher Knight - Lvl 45]

The stone bodies collapsed in pieces around him.

*Your class [Demonic Assassin] has reached Level 37! (+5 Per, +4 Str, +4 Agi, +3 Vit, +2 Int, +3 Free Points)*

A faint grin tugged at his lips. He'd been working hard to master this root skill, and now it was paying off. It gave Charlie room to rack up kills without the threat of a horn blowing the whole operation.

The only issue was proximity. He had to be close to trigger the skill, and fast enough to trap them before they could strike. The statues' weapons could easily crush the roots if they had even a second to react. Still, the potential was obvious.

"Another one incoming," he whispered.

Charlie gave a sharp nod and took position. Luke sprinted ahead, the sound of hooves echoing down the street. He pressed himself to the side of a building and waited. The moment the stone horse passed, he struck. Roots exploded from the ground, wrapping around the mount's legs and yanking it off balance. The knight tumbled off in a clatter of armor. Luke stepped forward and slit its throat with a swift kukri slash.

[You have slain a Watcher Knight - Lvl 45]

Sure, he could've just thrown the blade and ended it from a distance. But that wasn't the point. He was pushing this skill to the limit, and for good reason.

A new notification appeared.

*Your profession [Botanist of Mother Freya] has reached Level 31! (+2 Strength, +2 Agility, +2 Endurance, +2 Vitality, +2 Perception, +2 Intelligence, +4 Free Points)*

"Bonus experience," he muttered, pleased.

Killing enemies granted him XP for his class and race, but if his profession contributed to the kill, it tossed him a little extra as well. Not much, but enough to matter. It all added up. More levels meant more power, and more power meant more options.

The fortress loomed in the near distance now, and the road ahead was finally clear. No more horse patrols in sight. Luke pressed forward with Charlie at his side, moving like shadows toward their next challenge.

***

Luke dove through the window of an abandoned house and quickly pulled up Charlie's interface. A new skill selection notification blinked for her Pugilist class. Five options appeared, though only three of them were new. The other two were older ones he'd skipped over before.

He focused on the new ones.

[Demolition Punch (Uncommon)]: The Pugilist channels raw strength into a ground-smashing blow, causing a localized tremor. The impact can stagger nearby enemies, interrupt attacks, or create space in a crowded fight.

Luke wasn't sure how useful that would be for Charlie in their current situation. Still, he remembered seeing that move in action once. A Pugilist they'd fought before had used it to knock them off balance mid-fight. Not game-changing, but effective in the right moment.

[Forceful Breath (Uncommon)]: With a powerful exhale, the Pugilist unleashes a wave of pressure that pushes back nearby foes or extinguishes flames. A versatile technique, usable in both offense and defense.

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Yeah… unless those statues are made of straw, I doubt she's blowing anything down." He couldn't help but mutter, "The Three Little Pigs taught me better than that."

He moved on to the next.

[Pugilist's Leap (Uncommon)]: By channeling stamina into their legs, the Pugilist performs a high, controlled jump. Perfect for reaching elevated ground, dodging hazards, or launching aerial attacks.

No surprise there. At class level 15, Charlie wasn't exactly going to pull a game-breaking skill out of thin air. And unlike her Death Knight class, her second class hadn't undergone any mutations yet. Still, utility had its own value. Luke made the call.

[Princess Charlie has acquired the 2nd Class Skill: Pugilist's Leap]

Not flashy. Not offensive. But definitely useful. Luke had a similar jump skill built into his enchanted pants, and it had saved his ass more than once.

He let out a breath and peeked out the broken window, eyes locked on the fortress up ahead. "Time's up," he muttered.

***

Nature had completely reclaimed this part of the city. Tall grass swayed with every breeze, vines wrapped around half-buried walls, and the fortress itself looked less like a structure and more like something the forest had decided to consume. Luke moved through it all in silence, shrouded in stealth, every step calculated. He was too close now to risk alerting anything.

He'd made it to the back of the fortress. One of the knights patrolled nearby, a lone stone figure trudging mindlessly beneath the trees. As it passed too close to one, thick roots exploded from the ground and coiled around its limbs.

Charlie emerged from hiding, her spectral chain lashing out. She yanked the knight forward and brought her sword down with brutal precision, cracking its helmet wide open.

[Princess Charlie has slain a Watcher Knight - Lvl 45]

**[Princess Charlie has reached Level 18! Skeleton (Rank F)] (+1 bonus point to all attributes, +1 free point)**

*The [Death Knight] class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 30! (+3 Str, +3 End, +2 Agi, +2 Vit, +2 Int, +1 Per, +2 Free Points)*

[Princess Charlie has unlocked a new Class Skill]

"Nice work, Charlie."

She gave him a thumbs-up. Ever since she learned what it meant, she'd been doing it constantly.

They continued forward until Luke pulled her into his soul once again, needing the stealth advantage. He crouched low, hidden by the brush, and surveyed the clearing ahead. What lay in front of the fortress wasn't just a defense. It was an army.

A massive formation of statues stood in complete stillness, an eerie silence hanging over them like a curse. Knights. Archers. Mounted warriors frozen mid-step. It looked like a battlefield preserved in stone—or a twisted chessboard, waiting for someone to make the first move. Some of the statues were cracked, others half-swallowed by moss and dirt.

How the hell do I fight the boss without waking those things up?

He brought Charlie out again, motioning for her to keep watch behind him. Then he activated Assassin's Tracking, eyes scanning the area for any signs of recent movement. Nothing. No footprints. No mana ripples. Just centuries of stillness.

They really are dormant.

The fortress wall ahead had no gate, just a gaping opening into shadow. Luke crept forward, scanning every inch. Still no sign of the boss.

If it's a statue too, then it could be any one of these damn things.

His eyes landed on something strange—a massive stone warhorn mounted just inside the fortress gate. Its base was carved into the earth, runes etched deep along its sides.

What the hell is that?

He edged closer, using Identify on the structure.

[Warhorn of Battle]: An enchanted relic from an ancient war, usable only by the Fallen Stone Angel. Once sounded, the horn's echo will awaken the slumbering statue army across the city. Upon activation, all stone sentinels rise and march to war, bound by oath and stone to protect their master or crush all who oppose them. It only sounds in times of war… and when it does, the stone walks.

So that was it. That's how the penalty would be triggered. The boss was the one who would blow the warhorn if it heard the horn from the other patrol statues.

Luke peeked past the entrance, eyes narrowing as he finally saw her.

Standing before the fortress's inner sanctum was a towering feminine statue. Larger than any human, sculpted in unnerving detail, her form was bare and solemn. She had four arms, one wing shattered, the other stretched like it had been mid-beat for centuries. Her face pointed skyward, hands in a pose of prayer, a thick chain wrapped around one of her legs and connected directly to the warhorn.

[Fallen Stone Angel - Lvl 60]

Then, as if pulled from a nightmare, one of her eyes slowly opened… and stared in Luke's direction.

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