Chapter 108: Chain Levicorpus, Fire-Fearing Skin

In Ciel's vision, Devil's Snare revealed a reward with characteristics he had never seen before. [Cultivating Devil's Snare to maturity can yield rewards—] [Binding Control Spell Chain Count +1 (Silver Tier)] Ciel stared at this "Chain Count +1" reward, his mind racing. A speculation quickly formed. In his past life, he had played derivative games based on the Harry Potter world. In those games, the protagonist's magic was so overwhelming that even Voldemort would cry out in shock. Even the Killing Curse could chain like lightning across multiple targets! Could the reward he saw from Devil's Snare create a similar effect? The thought made his breathing quicken. If so, this reward would be extraordinary beyond measure. The only binding control spell he currently possessed was Levicorpus, which could only target one person at a time. While it had the advantage of wandless, wordless casting and proved invaluable in single combat, once chaos erupted with multiple enemies, its effectiveness plummeted dramatically. His recent battle with the poachers had driven this limitation home with brutal clarity. But if Levicorpus could chain... the moment one enemy was caught, it could trigger another effect, potentially controlling two opponents simultaneously! The tactical implications were staggering. If he'd possessed this ability during the poacher ambush, perhaps Hagrid wouldn't have been knocked unconscious. They could have neutralized the threat swiftly and decisively. Even more tantalizing, this was merely a Silver-Tier reward increasing chain count by one. What if he could elevate this ability to Epic or Legendary status? Ciel might be able to suspend entire battlefields of enemies with a single casting of Levicorpus! The mental image sent heat coursing through his veins. Such a technique, properly wielded, would become his ultimate trump card. This alone made him lean heavily toward prioritizing Devil's Snare cultivation. However, as his eyes moved down the reward list, his expression shifted to one of uncertainty. Another unfamiliar reward type appeared, one that seemed to carry both blessing and curse. [Fire-Fearing Skin] Ciel quickly traced this reward's origins to Devil's Snare's inherent characteristics. The plant feared flames above all else, yet possessed incredible resistance to physical damage. Once Devil's Snare ensnared a victim, panic would set in. Unless they possessed the presence of mind to conjure fire or brilliant light, even someone with Hagrid's half-giant strength would struggle to break free through brute force alone. The internal conflict gnawed at him. Enhanced skin defense would prove invaluable given his combat-heavy lifestyle. His constitution already provided formidable protection, and further reinforcement would render most physical attacks essentially harmless, save for his relatively low magical resistance. But accepting a crippling weakness to flames in exchange... Suddenly, realization struck like lightning. His gaze fell upon the Legendary-Tier heat resistance he'd possessed since before enrollment. "My heat resistance stands at Legendary level already. Fire resistance approaches maximum effectiveness. Could some minor negative effect possibly compete with a Legendary-tier ability? The weakness would be neutralized completely, leaving only the benefits!" Every trace of doubt and inner conflict evaporated instantly. His decision crystallized with perfect clarity. Devil's Snare cultivation would take absolute priority! Without hesitation, Ciel dressed and strode from the bathroom toward the greenhouse. House-elf Liss had been joyfully preparing his bed but watched in bewilderment as he departed. "Young Master! Aren't you going to sleep? You haven't rested for three days!" Ciel's pace quickened, excitement radiating from every step. "Three days? That's nothing. At my age, with important work remaining unfinished, how could I possibly sleep?" Liss stared after his retreating form, then burst into emotional tears. "So much good fortune! How could Liss be so lucky to serve such a wonderful, caring young master? If Young Master won't rest, then Liss won't rest either! The whole house will shine like new!" While the house-elf celebrated this inspiration, Ciel had already returned to the greenhouse. This time, he retrieved the Devil's Snare root from Professor Sprout's carefully prepared package. Rather than rushing into immediate action, he forced himself to slow down. Snape's meticulous approach to potion brewing had become second nature. Regardless of discipline or experiment, the first step never involved flashy techniques or hasty execution. Thorough examination of the subject matter came first, always. Ciel studied the Devil's Snare root with intense focus, and surprise flickered across his features. Here was a magical plant with virtually no weaknesses save its fear of fire. Small wonder that Devil's Snare had been chosen to guard the Philosopher's Stone's second chamber in the original timeline. Even this small root segment pulsed with unusual magical energy. Its vitality remained remarkably robust. Aunt Sprout had clearly provided him with exceptional quality material, which would significantly improve his cultivation success rate. As he observed the specimen, Ciel recalled the critical points Professor Sprout had outlined regarding Devil's Snare cultivation. "Devil's Snare earns its name not as 'Devil's Vine' but for the special magical nodes distributed throughout each root section. Applying Pruning Charms to cut openings at these nodes will generate new branch growth. Each new branch develops its own magical nodes, though fewer in number than the parent. Through continued cultivation using this method, eventually producing completely nodeless branches, a single Devil's Snare root transforms into a dense, mature specimen. Historical records indicate the largest individual Devil's Snare ever documented covered nearly two acres!" Precisely cutting Devil's Snare's magical nodes represented the most crucial aspect of successful cultivation. Accuracy mattered immensely. Whether every viable node received perfect treatment would determine the final size and quality of the mature plant. Professor Sprout had emphasized with particular intensity: "Devil's Snare possesses extraordinarily strong resistance to Pruning Charms. Only those with advanced Pruning Charm mastery can successfully trim Devil's Snare specimens." Ciel reviewed these essential points thoroughly before turning his attention to the root specimen. His Pruning Charm had nearly reached Platinum tier mastery. Surely adequate for this challenge. Besides, this root contained numerous magical nodes. Even if he failed with one or two, the final cultivation quality wouldn't suffer significantly. Carefully extracting the sealed Devil's Snare root, Ciel placed it within a darkened area. The specimen immediately showed increased activity, its magical emanations intensifying noticeably. His enhanced magical perception kicked in automatically. He locked onto a promising magical node almost instantly, then raised his wand with deliberate precision. A sharp, invisible magical force whistled through the air. The Pruning Charm struck the Devil's Snare root with focused intent. His expression shifted immediately. The Pruning Charm, which had never failed him in plant cultivation, barely scratched the Devil's Snare root. Instead of creating the needed opening, it left only the faintest mark. The sensation reminded him of attempting to cut thick cowhide with a dull blade. Completely ineffective! Within seconds, the Devil's Snare root's natural healing erased even that minimal damage, and the targeted magical node vanished. He drew a steadying breath. Professor Sprout's repeated warnings suddenly made perfect sense. "Pruning Charm mastery doesn't seem to be the primary limitation," he murmured thoughtfully. "The main problem appears to be insufficient magical strength, rendering the Pruning Charm too weak overall. Like a master swordsman whose age and frailty rob his techniques of all lethality." Fortunately, solutions existed. Moving quickly to a nearby water container, Ciel submerged his head completely. Underwater Enhancement activated immediately, flooding him with enhanced magical capabilities. That familiar sense of limitless potential surged through his consciousness. He raised his wand again with renewed confidence. Another Pruning Charm targeted a different magical node. The cowhide-cutting sensation returned, but now he wielded a razor-sharp blade rather than dull metal. Pop! A substantially deeper mark appeared on the Devil's Snare root. Yet as Ciel analyzed the magical fluctuations, disappointment creased his features. "Still failed. The strike lacks sufficient precision and speed." After a moment, his equilibrium returned. Devil's Snare cultivation represented a sub-topic of the legendary Whomping Willow project. Despite his dramatically improved magical abilities, expecting immediate success was unrealistic. "But the gap isn't insurmountable," he estimated quietly. "If Pruning Charm mastery advances further to true Platinum tier status, combined with Underwater Enhancement, each attempt should achieve reasonable success rates. However, even fifty percent success per trimming would produce terrible Devil's Snare quality through accumulated failures. Better to wait until this Marguerite harvest boosts my magical strength another level. Then Devil's Snare cultivation becomes truly viable." Anticipation gleamed in his eyes. "It won't be long now. Should be achievable before these Christmas holidays conclude." Ciel exhaled slowly. Devil's Snare cultivation had to wait, and his Marguerites needed only time for their reward orbs to reach maximum potential. Aside from spell practice, he found himself momentarily without pressing tasks. "Actually, there's the combat training Professor Snape outlined during our last encounter. I understand his concepts theoretically, but I'm still far from mastering the practical applications. If I can improve my combat capabilities during these holidays, I'll face Quirrell with much greater confidence should he persist in his schemes. But here at the family home, where might I find suitable training partners?" His brow furrowed in contemplation. His gaze wandered past the greenhouse toward house-elf Liss bustling about the family residence, and sudden inspiration struck. House-elves possessed truly impressive magical abilities according to the original stories. Wandless, wordless spellcasting came as naturally as breathing to them. They could effortlessly bypass magical barriers that stymied most wizards. In truth, the majority of wizards would find themselves outmatched by determined house-elves. Even Voldemort had learned to respect their capabilities the hard way. Wouldn't such a creature make an excellent training partner? With this revelation, Ciel immediately summoned Liss. Under the house-elf's surprised and eager gaze, he spoke with complete seriousness. "Liss, I need you to help me train!" [Chapter Complete] *** Want more? Check out my Patreon for: ✓ Advanced chapters of all my stories ✓ Exclusive novels & fanfics ✓ Early access content [email protected]/meowthtl ???? 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