A notification blinked into view.

[Your profession Botanist of Mother Freya is undergoing a mandatory evolution!]

Luke's grin widened. This was exactly why he'd indulged in those so-called "vacations." Once he started hunting down the mechanisms, he knew there'd be little time to focus on his profession. He'd wanted to push it as far as possible now, stacking up attribute points and, more importantly, hitting that evolution trigger. A new profession tier meant new ways to rack up experience.

As a Herbalist, most of his growth came from analyzing plants and mixing concoctions. As a Botanist, he'd found himself gaining more by cultivating and… conversing with them, not to mention the small but steady trickle of experience from using his corrupted roots in combat. Every evolution had widened his options for growth.

"Hey, Luke, quit making that 'find out next episode' face," Artemis cut in. "I'm the audience here. I'm nosy and I hate cliffhangers."

He exhaled through his nose. "Now I get why Samael wrote that disclaimer about not being responsible for 'inconvenience caused.' I'm pretty sure he just dumped you on me because you were his problem first."

"My fans would disagree," she shot back. "There's a line of people at the castle who'd kill for the privilege of serving me."

"There's a lunatic for everything…"

His gaze shifted to the stone on the counter. "So, snake… in a better mood yet?"

"No. I'll never be your friend. Don't talk to me. Put me back in your inventory. I'd rather rot there for eternity than spend another minute in your presence," Franky's voice hissed from within.

"Really? You sure about that? Because I happen to have some nice, juicy meat right here."

"That won't buy me, human. The only thing that would make me happy is your death."

"But if I die, you die too, right? Everything in my inventory goes with me."

The serpent clicked its tongue in frustration.

Luke ignored the Beast Lord's sulking and returned to the glowing notification.

**Mandatory Profession Evolution Achieved!**

Congratulations, Botanist of Mother Freya! You have reached the pinnacle of your craft, mastering every lesson it had to offer.

Through your journey, you've discovered the true value hidden in plants, drawing out their full potential, whether to heal or to destroy. Your care and dedication have deepened your bond with nature, and your mastery of plant-based skills has opened the door to countless branches of Mother Freya's legacy.

You've turned a seemingly harmless profession into a weapon for your ambitions. Botanist, may your next choice take you even further.

[Mandatory Profession Evolution]: A mandatory profession evolution occurs for every race in the multiverse upon reaching level 50 in a profession. Along the way, a rare few awaken a special evolution, but even those never surpass the power of the mandatory ones. The multiverse holds countless paths. Some choose to live ordinary lives. Others devote themselves entirely to their classes. And then there are those like you, who give everything to their profession.

Every step of your story has shaped the options now before you. Each path is unique, each capable of taking you farther than you have ever gone. Choose wisely, there is no turning back.

(Notice: Until a new profession is chosen, no experience can be gained, no new skills can be learned, and must not hold any unspent attribute points.)

Luke read the message carefully. It reminded him of the explanation for a mandatory class evolution, though clearly adapted for professions.

[Warning: You must allocate all Free Points before proceeding, or they will be lost.]

"Oops."

Yeah, losing his hard-earned attribute points was not an option. Ever since his class had evolved into a Demonic Predator, he had not spent a single one. Just those six levels alone had given him the kind of raw power that would have taken roughly thirteen levels in his old Demonic Assassin class to match. It was absurd strength, enough that he had let the points sit untouched. But now? Now it was time to use them.

Name: Luke Level: 43 Race: Half-Demon Rank: F Class: [Demonic Predator (Lvl 56)] Profession: [Botanist of Mother Freya (Lvl 50)] Titles: [Dark Lord] Bloodline: [Bloodline of the Dark Demon] Health Points (HP): 3530/3530 Mana Points (MP): 3250/3250 (3330) Stamina: 2430/2430 (2630) Soul Fragments: 62/1000

Stats: Strength: 519 Agility: 383 (433) Endurance: 243 (263) Vitality: 353 Perception: 418 (428) Intelligence: 325 (330) Free Points: 100

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

Profession Skills: [Herbology of Mother Freya (Ancient)], [Precise Extraction (Common)], [Basic Potion Crafting (Common)], [Corrupted Plant Growth (Rare)], [Plant Sensor (Uncommon)], [Botanical Bond of Mother Freya (Rare)], [Seed Conversion (Rare)], [Plant Manipulation of Mother Freya (Rare)], [Corrupted Blood of Mother Freya (Ultra-Rare)], [Thorn Mutation (Uncommon)], [Soil Analysis (Uncommon)], [Botanical Purification (Uncommon)]

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 27], [Servant Slot Available]

Luke glanced at his pool of unspent points, and a proud, satisfied smile crept across his face. Not just satisfaction, this was the deep, smug contentment of someone staring at a perfectly round number. One hundred free points.

"Okay, stop smiling like that. You look like a supervillain," Artemis muttered.

"A simple man is allowed to be happy when faced with a beautiful stack of free points. Don't judge me."

He already knew exactly how he was going to spend them. Nothing fancy, just focused, brutal efficiency: damage, speed, and magic. Hit hard, move fast, kill faster. The perfect assassin's recipe.

His mind drifted to the old mantis from the cavern. They might have been good friends, assuming the creature didn't try to kill him and could be convinced to play the loyal mount.

A giant mantis as a second servant that I could ride into battle? Yeah… that'd be a solid deal.

The plan was simple: twenty-five points into Strength, twenty-five into Agility, and a clean fifty into Intelligence. Now that his bow scaled perfectly with Basic Archery, that distribution would make his kukris hit like a truck and swing like lightning, while also cranking up the damage and draw speed of his arrows.

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Sure, each arrow ate five mana to craft inside his enchanted quiver, but at this point Luke was practically a walking mana reservoir. So why dump fifty points into Intelligence? Easy. He had grown fond of his mutant root and thorn mutation combo, and that little trick needed five profession skills running at the same time. Mana had become a precious commodity. And besides, he wasn't stupid. The Midnight Lord, the Witch, and the Midnight King were going to make the Beast Lord look like a warm-up fight.

And he still had the Beast Lord's fang. With Mana Infusion, that fang could become a single arrow capable of holding an obscene amount of mana. The more mana he had to pour into it, the bigger the blast. His goal was simple: if he fired that shot, whoever was on the receiving end, no matter how strong, wouldn't even leave a corpse behind.

Stats Updated: Strength: 519 -> 544 Agility: 383 (433) -> 408 (458) Intelligence: 325 (330) -> 375 (380) Free Points: 100 -> 0 Mana Points (MP): 3750/3750 (3800)

With the points spent, he confirmed the profession evolution. Five new paths unfolded before him. Unlike his class evolution, every single one was tied directly to Mother Freya. Looked like his "investment" had paid off. All those times he'd picked her skills, even when they were weaker than the alternatives, had bought him deeper access to her legacy.

From here on out, his profession skills would only get stronger. And with each new tier, he'd be able to pull more "coins" from the goddess's vault. His eyes fell on the first option.

[Seasoned Botanist of Mother Freya]: Over the course of your journey, the Seasoned Botanist has learned to wield nature with refined precision, drawing out every ounce of power from plants and soil. Your bond with the flora runs deep, and your skill in cultivation, potion-making, and plant manipulation has grown not only more effective, but far more sophisticated. The Seasoned Botanist turns plants into even stronger allies, crafting remedies, brews, and other preparations with unmatched skill. Your control over plant-based abilities has been sharpened, letting you wield nature with creative and calculated adaptability. (Attribute Bonus per Level: +5 Endurance, +3 Perception, +4 Vitality, +4 Intelligence, +8 Free Points)

That came to a total of twenty-four attribute points per level.

"That's excellent."

His current profession granted him: +2 Strength, +2 Agility, +2 Endurance, +2 Vitality, +2 Perception, +2 Intelligence, and +4 Free Points. Sixteen attribute points in total per level.

Not a massive leap compared to what he already had, but his current profession was an anomaly, a mutation. He had unlocked its evolution early through sheer dedication, bending the rules in a way the system clearly had not intended.

If he had continued as a basic Herbalist, though, that would have been a miserable +2 Intelligence, +1 Vitality, +1 Perception, and +1 Free Point. Five points per level. Comparing that to twenty-four was like comparing a potted weed to an ancient world tree. The gap only widened at higher levels. And from level fifty to a hundred, the climb was bound to be brutal. Whatever the system required past that threshold, a single level-up past one hundred would probably feel like a lifetime's work.

His eyes lingered on the Seasoned Botanist of Mother Freya, the natural continuation of his path. It encompassed everything he already knew, only sharper, more refined, awakening new skills rooted in his skill set.

Then he shifted to the second option.

[Gardener of Mother Freya]: The Gardener of Mother Freya is a careful steward of the land, one who cultivates not only plants, but the natural balance surrounding them. Through patience and devotion, they understand the power held in each seed, nurturing them into flowers, herbs, and trees, each with a purpose, whether for healing, protection, or the deeper mysteries of nature. Their bond with the soil runs deep, and they know that a well-tended garden can be both a source of life and a line of defense. By cultivating plants that guard their home, they transform their surroundings into a sanctuary, one that thrives in harmony and stands resilient against outside threats. The Gardener of Mother Freya does not simply nurture the land, they turn it into a living shield, honoring the cycle of life while defending what is sacred. (Attribute Bonus per Level: +5 Perception, +3 Agility, +4 Vitality, +4 Intelligence, +4 Free Points)

This one granted twenty points per level.

"Gardener?"

He glanced around at the small patch of cultivated plants nearby. Naturally, this option had appeared because he had been actively growing his own plants rather than just harvesting what he found in the wild. Some of his choices had clearly been tied to gardening, his Thorn Mutation, Seed Conversion, even Plant Manipulation. All indirect investments that had unlocked this path.

But it was obvious: this was a specialization for holding ground, for defending fixed locations.

"Kalysto mentioned once that she took care of the garden where she worked," he said to Artemis.

"Yes. One of her many duties. Of course, she doesn't do it alone, there are plenty of servants to help," Artemis replied.

Luke was not about to anchor himself to a profession that sounded tailor-made for guarding one place. His journey from here would keep him constantly on the move. Still, the Thorn Mutation nagged at him. Would becoming a Gardener unlock more skills to make his roots even deadlier? Was it worth gambling on a profession that, on paper, focused on defending a single patch of land?

He swiped to the next option and stopped, genuinely surprised.

[Guardian Botanist of Mother Freya]: Nature is calm and peaceful… until provoked. Then it becomes an unstoppable force. The Guardian Botanist walks in harmony with soil and stem, forging a bond so deep with the living world that it transcends mere plantcraft. This path is reserved for those who carry the Blood of Mother Freya, a rare, potent gift that ties them directly to the land and to nature's essence itself.

Over time, that connection grows into something far beyond simply commanding plants. Freya's blood flows in their veins, allowing them to shape their own body as an extension of nature's will, channeling its strength to defend or to strike. The Guardian Botanist does not just direct flora; they turn it into living weapons, wielding it with a reverence for the cycle of life. When the land's peace is broken, the Guardian unleashes nature's raw might, invoking Freya's power to restore balance and protect what is sacred. Only those who possess her blood can walk this path. (Attribute Bonus per Level: +5 Strength, +3 Agility, +4 Vitality, +4 Intelligence, +12 Free Points)

Twenty-eight attribute points per level. But what caught his attention even more was the implication, he could potentially weaponize this profession's skills for direct combat.

Twelve free points per level. That's insane. All because I took the Blood skill.

It was far stronger than he had expected from a profession option. Those free points could be invested anywhere, anytime, making them absurdly versatile. And if he took this profession, it would push him deeper into Mother Freya's special legacy, another rung up the ladder toward whatever ultimate path her blood offered.

He kept it marked as his current frontrunner, then flicked to the next.

[Apothecary of Mother Freya]: The Apothecary is a master of harnessing nature's potency. With a deep bond to the earth, they craft pills, remedies, salves, and herbal teas, but also poisons and elixirs, each capable of healing or killing as they choose. Their skill goes far beyond simple gathering; they distill the very essence of plants, knowing their mysteries and reshaping them to fit the need. More than a healer, the Apothecary is a creator who understands the balance of life and death, using what nature offers to mend wounds, redress wrongs, or deliver justice. Guided by Mother Freya's wisdom, they know when to heal and when to answer nature's call for something far less merciful. (Attribute Bonus per Level: +5 Agility, +3 Endurance, +4 Vitality, +4 Intelligence, +9 Free Points)

The total came to twenty-five attribute points per level, better than the Seasoned Botanist, his natural profession upgrade. But unlike that broader path, which balanced plant manipulation and potioncraft, this new profession focused almost entirely on brewing, remedies, potions, and poisons. No surprise there. He had made more than a few concoctions in his time, including the medicine that indirectly killed the Beast Lord.

He needed to look beyond the numbers. Attributes were nice, but each profession opened very different doors for future skills. And while the Guardian Botanist still held the top spot in his mind, the reason was simple: once he returned to the Wild Zone, there would be no time for tending gardens or brewing potions. Combat skills, on the other hand, could feed directly into killing enemies, and every kill meant more experience. The choice seemed obvious.

Then he read the last option, and something about it snagged his attention.

[Deep Botanist of Mother Freya]: The Deep Botanist communes with what grows in the shadows, far from the touch of sunlight. They gain the skill to adapt to the underground, moving through the roots of the earth as though they were part of it. With this gift, they can travel silently beneath the soil, sensing vibrations and disturbances above. They command plants that thrive in caverns and darkness, sending their roots into places no one else can reach, striking enemies from below and defending their territory in ways unseen. The Deep Botanist is the earth's hidden hand, wielding the mysteries of the underground to achieve their goals. (Attribute Bonus per Level: +5 Strength, +3 Perception, +4 Vitality, +4 Intelligence, +12 Free Points)

Twenty-eight attribute points per level, same as the Guardian Botanist, including that glorious +12 free points.

This has to be tied to my Dark Blood corrupting Freya's blood and giving me the root skill.

It did not promise potioncraft or plant care, it was pure predatory potential. The skill to vanish into the ground and move like living roots? That was a killer's tool. These were the clear contenders now: Guardian Botanist or Deep Botanist.

They both look so good I would take them both if I could.

Should he delve deeper into Mother Freya's legacy or not? Attribute-wise, they were identical. The differences came down to focus: the Deep Botanist offered immediate, tangible combat utility, while the other option was shrouded in mystery, a long-term investment that might pay off in ways he couldn't yet foresee.

But Luke was not here to think ten steps ahead anymore. All he wanted was enough power to clear this cursed tutorial, confront Samael about his mother's death, and then go home to his family. Short-term gain mattered more. Still, the curiosity burned.

He held one of the rarest professions in existence, and inside it, even rarer branches, paths locked to those carrying the blood of its original creator. But both of these were already exclusive to Freya's lineage, and one felt like it had been designed for an assassin.

Guardian Botanist or Deep Botanist?

Decision made, he tapped his choice.

[New profession successfully chosen!]

[You have become a…]

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