Chapter 186: Between Plants, Poison, and Madness

Before Luke, five options glowed across his system interface, each one a potential evolution of his profession as Herbalist. He had seen something like this before, when his Assassin class evolved, and again when Princess Charlie’s warrior path transformed. But this… this felt different. It was deeper.

“I can’t stay in the room,” Kalysto said, her tone more serious than usual. “This is a personal choice. I’ll leave you to it.”

She didn’t wait for a reply. Her footsteps faded quickly, leaving only the soft bubbling of potion flasks and the quiet sound of Luke’s breath. He’d wanted to ask her more, especially about divine orders, but the message was clear: this moment was his alone.

**Herbalist Profession Evolution!**

Your profession can evolve and branch into different paths depending on how it has been developed. Several factors can influence these changes, such as the tools you choose to wield, the abilities you awaken, the way you apply your knowledge, and even fragments of legacies gifted by the gods or uncovered throughout your journey. The possibilities are vast, but not limitless. With each path you take, certain doors will close. Choose wisely.

Warning: If you select a profession different from your current one, you will stop progressing the knowledge you’ve already acquired. Some skills will cease to evolve, and you won’t advance them further.

The structure was almost identical to what the system had used for his class evolution. But now, there was something more.

That warning… if I choose a path that veers too far from where I’ve been, the knowledge I’ve gained might become obsolete. No more progress.

Luke also noticed the direct mention of legacies and gods. He recalled Samael’s words about divine coins tossed into their cosmic investments. These five options were likely that. Coins tossed in his favor, or perhaps awakenings triggered by accident, the result of how boldly he had explored his craft. He opened the first one.

[Veteran Herbalist: You are no longer a novice wandering the trails of herbology. Through consistent practice and close communion with nature, you’ve honed your skills in harvesting, identifying, and extracting the properties of plants. Your eyes can spot rare herbs, and your hands know precisely how to handle them without destroying their essence.

You’ve uncovered magical and medicinal potential in plants far beyond what any book could teach. Potions, balms, and infusions have become part of your craft, each new mixture bringing you one step closer to mastery. This profession is devoted to the detailed study of both the natural and arcane effects of plants, a bridge between knowledge and the living magic of the earth.

There is still much to learn, and the path toward true mastery is long and demanding. But you’ve already taken the first steps, steady, deliberate, and full of intent.]

(Attribute Bonuses per level: +4 Intelligence, +2 Vitality, +2 Perception, +2 Free Point)

Luke was surprised. Even though he hadn’t yet produced a fully functional healing potion, the system had acknowledged his growth in the field: the camouflaged mud, the shadowy mixture, the wild extracts, the flawed potion… It all counted.

Was it because I found that stamina plant? Or maybe it was when I used mana to help the sprouts grow?

Still, this was the natural evolution, safe, reliable, and with absurdly strong bonuses. Double the usual attribute points. But Luke knew: the real value wasn’t in the numbers.

It was in what each path unlocked. This choice would lead him toward mastery of potions and healing, a deeper dive into the traditional and arcane uses of Herbology. A solid path. But… was it the right one for him? Luke took a deep breath. And moved on to the next option.

[Venomous Herbalist: While many restrict themselves to the healing properties of plants, you walk among thorns and shadows. You are a Herbalist who has learned that nature is not only a source of life but also of death. Your focus is not easing pain, but wielding nature’s toxins with subtlety and precision.

You specialize in crafting complex poisons, hallucinogens, paralyzing agents, and mixtures that rot the body from within. Every leaf is a blade, every flower a potential vial. Your mastery of herbology is sharp and refined, like a poisoned needle, and your pursuit of power goes beyond traditional medicine: you seek to prove that plants can be weapons as lethal as any sword or spell.

You do not fear nature, you command it. And you’re ready to make it your accomplice on the path to ascension.]

(Attribute Bonuses per level: +3 Endurance, +2 Vitality, +2 Perception, +2 Intelligence, +2 Free Points)

“Whoa…” Luke murmured.

This would definitely expand his toolkit as an assassin. Diving deep into poison-making could be a powerful trump card. The system had clearly picked up on the indirect efforts he’d made. Especially after that healing potion, one that turned into corrosive acid the moment he spilled Dark Blood into the mix. But Luke… he wasn’t particularly interested in making poisons. He wanted to fight them.

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He couldn’t quite explain it, but something deep down told him that using poison wasn’t his path. He opened the third option. And everything changed.

[Alchemist of Ardan: The Alchemists of Ardan walk the razor’s edge between brilliance and madness. Where others see failure, you see incomplete formulas. Your experiments, often volatile and unpredictable, have revealed a path where science and magic blur into a chaotic harmony.

You will learn to transmute materials, craft refined elixirs, and create alchemical bombs with a variety of effects, from smoke clouds and corrosive acids to mind-numbing brews and deadly toxins. Your vials and flasks aren’t just tools; they’re extensions of your restless mind, a laboratory and battlefield in one.

The Order of Ardan chose you not despite your failures, but because of them. To Ardan’s followers, every misstep is a gateway to discovery. Your defiant brilliance pushes past the limits of logic and traditional magic. Your recklessness makes you dangerous, and therefore, respected.

Praise Ardan, God of Alchemy! May your formula bring ruin to the fools who dare challenge true alchemy.]