Char's gaze lingered on the silver-level reward information. At first, he had imagined that the reward for cultivating the mutated piranha algae to maturity would be silver-level water affinity. But the words that caught his eye were different:
[Increase in water holdings (Silver level)]
This left Char feeling both puzzled and intrigued. It wasn't about affinity—it was about increasing holdings. Just by the name, it sounded far more substantial than simple water affinity. Affinity would allow him to move more easily in water, but increasing holdings suggested a real, tangible boost in power.
Still, Char knew better than to jump to conclusions. Until he experienced the ability firsthand, he couldn't be sure what it actually did. He made a decision: instead of waiting for the piranha algae to mature and reap the full silver-level reward, he would harvest it now. The reward wouldn't reach silver level—at most, it would be bronze—but at least he would get a sense of what the ability could offer.
He didn't want to wait for weeks, only to find out the ability wasn't what he hoped. That was a lesson he'd learned the hard way over the years.
Char reached out toward the reward orb floating above the piranha algae. The orb merged smoothly into his body, and a new prompt appeared on his system panel:
[You successfully planted the Piranha Algae (after mutation)]
[You get a reward - a slight increase in cutting spells (Black Iron Level)]
[You get the reward - Water Increase (Bronze Level)]
Both abilities appeared in his ability column, but the black iron luster of the cutting spell blessing was so faint it was almost invisible. The bronze luster of the water increase was also dim, barely reaching that level. Clearly, these were just the beginnings of the full potential he could achieve by letting the algae mature.
But for the sake of verification, it was a worthwhile trade-off. Char cleared his mind and focused on the sensations brought by the new abilities.
First, he tested the [Cutting Spell Blessing]. He narrowed his eyes, waved his wand in a triangle, then flicked his wrist upward like a pair of scissors opening and closing.
"Arbor-Siccus!"
A pruning spell shot toward a dead branch nearby. With a sharp snap, the branch was cleanly severed. Char's eyes lit up with surprise. His pruning spell had long since reached silver level, and after countless hours trimming brooms in the abandoned warehouse, he was close to gold level. He had cast the spell so many times that it felt almost instinctual, and he could detect even the smallest difference in its effect.
This time, even though his magical perception had improved, his spell proficiency remained the same—yet the pruning spell was slightly more effective than before. That meant the [Cutting Spell Blessing] was working. Even at black iron level, it provided a noticeable boost. If he could raise the ability further, the effect would be even greater.
What's more, this wasn't a bonus to a single spell—it was a bonus to an entire category of spells. That made it incredibly valuable. Just this ability alone made Char feel that cultivating piranha algae was absolutely worth it.
Next, he turned his attention to the [Water Increase] ability, which glowed with a faint bronze light. "This one has to be tested in water," he murmured. "But do I need to be fully submerged, or will it work with just part of my body in the water?"
He found a large tank, big enough to submerge himself, and filled it with water. Holding onto the edge, he slowly lowered himself in—ankles, calves, thighs, chest—until more and more of his body was underwater. But he didn't feel any effect from the ability.
Taking a deep breath, Char submerged himself completely. With his legendary vitality, he could hold his breath for a long time without discomfort. The moment his head went under, a strange sensation spread through him. He didn't feel any suffocation or discomfort. Instead, it was as if the water itself was blessing him, wrapping him in a gentle, supportive force.
The bronze-level boost to his legendary power and vitality was so slight it was almost negligible, but the [Water Increase] ability seemed to affect him in every way. Even his mind felt clearer, sharper. A thought flashed through his mind: "Could this ability enhance my magic power—even my magical perception?"
Char focused inward, feeling the flow of magic within him. His eyes widened in amazement. Both his magical perception and his magical strength were enhanced! The increase in magic power, in particular, was remarkable—something he had never experienced before.
His excitement grew. [Water Increase] could boost both his magical perception and strength, giving him a significant advantage as long as he was in the water. If he could stack this ability to legendary level, the benefits would be unimaginable.
There was just one drawback: the mutated piranha algae, now thriving under the frequency light spell, had become a relentless "black hole," constantly craving more light. That meant it would take longer to mature than before.
But Char shook his head, dismissing the concern. "For plants that can provide silver-level rewards, I've only encountered guardian trees and blood emeralds before. Those are still out of my reach. If I hadn't learned the Frequency Light Spell and tried it on the piranha algae, it would have taken me more than half a year to cultivate plants of this level. This is already a huge gain—I shouldn't be too greedy."
Just then, a new thought struck him. "Wait—the guardian tree! The last time I tried to process the seeds, I failed because my magical perception wasn't strong enough. But even then, I could see a glimmer of hope. Now, with my improved perception and [Water Increase], maybe I can try again."
Char's heart raced with anticipation. If he could succeed with the guardian tree, it would be another major step forward. He stepped out of the water tank, dried himself off, and headed toward the storage area where the guardian tree seeds were kept. The possibilities seemed endless, and he was ready to push his limits once more.
As he walked, Char reflected on how far he had come. Every experiment, every failure, and every success had brought him closer to his goals. With each new ability, he felt more confident in his path—and more determined to keep growing, no matter the challenges ahead.
The greenhouse, filled with the scent of earth and magic, felt like a world of endless potential. Char took a deep breath, savoring the moment, then set to work preparing for his next experiment. The guardian tree seeds awaited him, and with them, the promise of new discoveries and greater power.