It had been a day since Luke had acquired the Herbalist profession, and he had spent every hour of it immersed in the book Samael had given him. Unlike the volumes in the library, which were broader and more generalized, A Study in Green: Beginner's Herbology by Mother Freya was deep, technical, and incredibly rich in detail. Luke had chosen to study it thoroughly before stepping into the field.

The content was impressive. It described an ecosystem entirely different from Earth's, filled with bizarre plants adapted to mana-saturated realities. Even with the theoretical knowledge granted by his skill, he couldn't access everything passively. It was like having a built-in internet dedicated to plant life, but one that only activated when he encountered flora in the real world.

When he looked at a plant and used Identify, the data flowed in. And the book served as a map to interpret that data. More than just a scientific treatise, the book read like a personal journal. That's what made it so fascinating.

"Mana, like air, is a fundamental component of matter in the universe. Just as sunlight strengthens and nourishes a plant's growth, mana also influences it, enhancing and refining its natural properties."

Luke read each note with growing interest. The woman who had written the book, Mother Freya, seemed like a respected specialist, perhaps even a pioneer. What little Luke had known about plants before gaining his profession had been limited to Earth species, which still seemed to be adjusting to mana-rich environments. That contrast became clearer the deeper he read:

"Newly integrated universes undergo ecological transformation, but the true change occurs when the planet becomes fully synchronized. Mana must become the foundation of reality itself. Only then can the full power of plants be tapped."

He had no idea when the book had been written. But Freya had performed comparative studies between ecosystems in the early stages of integration and those where mana had already become woven into the very fabric of the world. Perhaps she had witnessed the transition firsthand.

As he continued reading, Luke began to grasp the underlying logic: when a planet is fully absorbed into the system, it becomes saturated with mana. The atmosphere changes. Magical energy begins to travel through sunlight, seep into rainfall, and radiate upward through the heat of the earth's core. This constant mana infusion alters the plant life, and, by extension, the entire ecosystem.

Then he read something that made him pause.

"The most significant planetary changes occur starting at 51."

Luke frowned. Fifty-one? That number again.

Angelica had mentioned it once, almost in passing. Then he'd seen it again, on the gate leading into the Wild Zone. What does that number mean? He considered asking Samael, but the demon was currently busy, working on modifications to Artemis's necklace. Setting the thought aside for now, Luke gently closed the book, slipped it into his bag, and stood.

Time for practice. Nature was waiting.

***

Luke walked through the forest, boots pressing into the soft earth with each step, the sounds of distant creatures echoing between the trees as filtered sunlight danced over his path. Now, the fresh air and the sharp scent of damp vegetation hit him with unexpected force. The crunch of branches beneath his boots and the distant calls of unfamiliar creatures reminded him that the world outside still pulsed, wild, untamed, and unpredictable.

Kalysto had told him she'd help with his profession, but only after he reached level five. Until then, she'd said, there was nothing she could or should do. Early help, according to her, only got in the way of truly understanding the path you were trying to walk. Luke didn't disagree. In fact, he understood her reasoning perfectly. Rushing ahead without mastering the basics had cost him dearly before, and he wasn't about to make that mistake again.

Right now, his only practical skill was being able to identify plants. And for that, he had to be out here, finding real specimens, using Identify, experimenting. As he walked between thick trees and tangled roots, light shifting through the canopy above, he opened the system interface he hadn't looked at in a while.

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Name: Luke Level: 15 Rank: F Class: [Demonic Assassin (Lvl 28)] Race: Half-Demon Profession: Herbalist (lvl 1) Titles: [Dark Lord] Bloodline: [Bloodline of the Dark Demon] Health Points (HP): 1270/1270 Mana Points (MP): 821/920 Stamina: 362/630 Soul Fragments: 62/1000

Stats: Strength: 144 Agility: 135 (185) Endurance: 43 (63) Vitality: 128 Perception: 147 (157) Intelligence: 89 (94) Free Points: 2

Class Skills: [Basic Blade Handling (Common)], [Profane Knife Throwing (Uncommon)], [Twin Blade (Common)], [Basic Dark Dash (Rare)], [Basic Blood Regeneration (Rare)], [Assassin's Mark (Rare)], [Demonic Blade Dance (Rare)], [Wraith Form (Ultra-Rare)], [Force Infusion (Rare)]

Profession Skills: [Herbology (Common)]

Race Skills: [Identify (Common)], [Demonic Perception (Uncommon)], [Dark Blood (Uncommon)], [Meditation (Common)], [Demonic Endurance (Uncommon)]

Bloodline Skill: [Servant of the Dark Lord (Unique)]

Servants: [Princess Charlie (Skeleton) - Lvl 14], [Servant Slot Available]

"Looks like it's just me for now," Luke said, weaving through the trees.

Not even Charlie was around. She had chosen to explore on her own, wanting to experience the wilderness differently now, through the senses of a true Herbalist. A faint smile crossed his face.

"I might be able to get a second servant..." he murmured.

The idea excited him. It would be like having a mobile team, especially useful if he ever needed to activate mechanisms or confront the massive serpent lurking on the outskirts of the city.

"Could I turn the serpent into a servant?" he wondered aloud, glancing toward the distant city skyline.

He remembered how he had transformed Charlie. He'd had to nearly kill her first.

"Damn Pokémon rules... it's like I have to beat the legendary before I can throw the Poké Ball. But how the hell do you beat a legendary?"

He chuckled to himself, then shook off the thought. Game logic clearly didn't apply here. Luke broke into a jog. The forest air was invigorating, and everything around him pulsed with mana. As he activated Identify, data began popping up before his eyes. He spotted a drop of golden liquid on the ground. The system responded instantly.

[Wild Honey (Common)]: Thick, golden, and harvested from hives hidden high in the tree canopy, wild honey contains traces of local magical flora. A potent catalyst, it softens bitter potion mixtures and accelerates healing effects.

Luke looked up. Tucked high among the branches was a hive.

"Great... I hate bees," he muttered, taking a cautious step back. Still, it was an interesting find.

He kept running, eyes sharp, senses focused, each breath drawing in the earthy scent of moss and wet bark. With every new plant, the system offered more data. He hadn't realized even grass came in so many variations. He silently thanked himself for choosing a profession that allowed him to grow out here, in the wild. The last thing he wanted was to go back to the city.

Taking a slow breath, he let his ears guide him toward the sound of running water. Near the stream, he spotted odd-looking leaves and thick stems tinted in shades of green that didn't exist in his original world. Using Identify on the soil nearby, he received another notification:

[Fortified Clay (Common)]: Collected from moist regions with nutrient-rich sediments, this clay is dense and stable. When mixed into potions, it maintains ingredient consistency and prevents unwanted reactions during preparation.

"Clay and honey... not exactly plants. Or are they?" he mused. "Maybe my profession's about understanding nature as a whole..."

Another plant caught his attention near the water's edge.

[Purifier Cattail (Common)]: Strengthened by natural mana, this plant holds purifying properties that have intensified over time. Ideal for cleansing and preparing water before brewing, ensuring an unadulterated, impurity-free base.

Luke began gathering what he could. Without his storage item, he'd improvised a large satchel. He wrapped the clay in cloth, carefully packed the cattails, and crouched to examine a curious root...

When something vibrated inside his mind.

*Your profession [Herbalist] has reached Level 2!*

[The Herbalist profession has granted the following bonus attribute points: +2 Intelligence, +1 Vitality, +1 Perception, +1 Free Point]

Luke's eyes widened.

[You have acquired a Profession Skill: Precise Extraction]

"That easy?" he muttered. "Must be because I'm still at a low level... but hey, no complaints here."

He opened the skill window.

[Precise Extraction (Common)]: The herbalist has learned to identify and extract the most useful part of a plant, whether root, leaf, flower, or sap, without damaging the specimen. This allows for more efficient harvesting and helps preserve the plant for regrowth or future collection.

The knowledge entered his mind like a newly implanted memory. Suddenly, he understood how to handle a plant without harming it, where to touch, how to cut, what to avoid. Staring into the forest ahead, Luke took a deep breath.

Then, without a word, he drew his kukri. And began cutting his way forward, into the unknown.

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