The morning sunlight spilled over the back garden, filtering through the leaves and casting soft, dappled shadows on the ground. The air was fragrant with the mingling scents of soil, blooming flowers, and the faint sweetness of nectar drifting from distant blossoms. The quiet hum of bees filled the garden, a gentle, rhythmic sound that underscored the serenity of the place.

Luciel stood in the center of the garden, his calm gaze sweeping over the plants that had grown under his careful attention. At his side, Ariel observed silently, her golden eyes bright with curiosity. In his arms, Mino rested lightly, her long rabbit ears twitching as she dozed softly, lulled by the calm of the garden and the faint fragrance of the Mist Flower nearby.

"Are you really going to plant the Misty Flower here?" Ariel asked softly, looking at the towering black bloom in front of them. Its petals, as large as sails, swayed gently in the light breeze. The flower's sheer size—six meters tall—and its dizzying drowsy effect made most visitors wary of venturing close. Even in the calm back garden, only a few could approach without succumbing to its passive talent.

Luciel's gaze remained steady, resting on the swaying petals. "It's called the Misty Flower," he replied. "I haven't decided whether it will stay here permanently." He frowned slightly, weighing the flower's potential against its limitations.

The Misty Flower's dizzying talent was double-edged. On one hand, it could ward off intruders or help with controlled domestication; on the other, it affected everyone indiscriminately. If fully activated, the Sleepy Pollen talent could put most of Black Tortoise's residents into a deep, unbroken slumber.

Buzzing sounded above them—a soft vibration in the air that immediately drew Luciel's attention.

The Uranus(Bee Queen's name)hovered, its wings catching the sunlight in a golden shimmer. The king bee circled gracefully, its enormous form precise and majestic in the calm morning air. Luciel allowed a small smile to curve his lips. "You can do as you like," he murmured, watching as the Uranus approached the heart of the Misty Flower.

The bee shook its body gently before beginning to gather pollen. Even with the flower's powerful dizziness aura, the Uranus resisted effortlessly, its evolved form naturally attuned to the flower's passive effect. Luciel's eyes flicked to Ariel, noting the bright anticipation in her expression.

"This domesticated beast can resist it," she said softly, her golden eyes shining. "I want to collect some blood for research."

Luciel inclined his head slightly, a faint smile of understanding. "I'll provide you blood from all the domesticated beasts here," he said, his voice calm and gentle. After observing Ariel's unique talent for trial and error, he had resolved to support her work fully.

"Really? Black Tortoise's blood?" Ariel's eyes gleamed with excitement, and she seemed almost unable to contain her eagerness.

"No problem," Luciel confirmed.

Her lips curved into a delighted smile. "This will allow me to try so many ideas," she said, bouncing lightly in place.

Buzzing sounded again as the Uranus completed its task. Its wings slowed, and it rose from the flower with measured flaps, carrying a small quantity of pollen.

Luciel's attention returned to the Misty Flower. Its dizzying talent had potential not only as a defensive measure but also as a raw material for advanced secret medicine. The challenge was neutralizing the dizziness effect without diminishing the flower's intrinsic properties. Ariel's eyes lingered on the flower, thoughtful and analytical.

"Give it to me to study for a few days," she said softly, nodding. "I should be able to develop a secret medicine that counteracts the dizziness."

Luciel inclined his head. "I'll leave it in the back garden temporarily. I'll ensure it doesn't activate its talent passively."

He gently lifted Mino from his arms and placed her carefully in Ariel's. The earless girl's small form fit comfortably against Ariel's chest, and Ariel instinctively hugged her tightly, resisting the urge to rest her cheek against the child's soft hair.

Luciel moved to the next flower—the Anesthesia Flower, its slender purple vines trailing gently across the soil. His hand rested lightly on the stem as he spoke. "System, domesticate."

A soft chime rang in his mind.

"Evolve to fifth level."

Instantly, the flower responded.

"Ding! After deducting 10 domestication points, domestication successful."

"Ding! Level 1 evolves to Level 5, deduction: 11,110 points."

"Ding! Thousand Thorns Flower has evolved successfully."

"Ding! Talent inherited: Thousand Thorns."

Luciel's eyes narrowed slightly in surprise. The Thousand Thorns Flower's ability differed from what he had anticipated. He had expected a focus on passive effects similar to the Misty Flower, yet this talent seemed more active, precise, and potentially formidable.

"Ding! 'Thousand Thorns' is being improved, adapted, and the inheritance is complete," the system added.

Luciel opened his attribute panel. It had been some time since he had studied its details so closely.

Trainer: Luciel

Stamina: 221.9 Speed: 226.7

Strength: 225.6 Spirit: 250.8

Lifespan: 24 years / 4,610 years

Taming Points: 250 Evolution Points: 401,420

Abilities: Light Element Manipulation (Lv.7), Moonlight Change (Lv.5), Queen Bee Contract (Lv.5), Sleepy Pollen (Lv.5), Thousand Thorns (Lv.5)

Domesticated Beasts:

Shining Beetle – Talent: Light Elemental Control (Lv.7)

Moon Wolf King – Talent: Moonlight Change (Lv.5)

Uranus – Talent: Queen Bee Contract (Lv.5)

Domesticated Plants:

Misty Flower – Talent: Sleepy Pollen (Lv.5)

Thousand Thorns Flower – Talent: Thousand Thorns (Lv.5)

Luciel's eyes scanned the numbers, lingering on the evolution points. With over four hundred thousand points, even four sixth-level domesticated beasts could evolve further. Once he surpassed one million points, a seventh-level domesticated beast could be evolved without hesitation.

He closed the panel and turned back to the rapidly growing Thousand Thorns Flower. In mere moments, the vines, initially no more than two meters, surged upward and outward, stretching over twenty-five meters. Thick as a calf, the main vines were lined with spikes nearly half a meter long, while smaller offshoots curled like flexible arms. Among the fan-shaped green leaves, purple blooms spread generously, each one palm-sized and vibrant.

"Wow," Ariel whispered, her eyes wide with awe as she stepped closer to examine the enormous vine. She carefully returned Mino to Luciel's arms and approached the plant. Tentatively, she reached out her index finger to touch a spike. The tip of her finger brushed the sharp thorn, and she felt the subtle numbing effect of the Anesthesia Flower.

"How strong is the anesthesia?" Luciel asked, holding Mino in a gentle "princess hug."

Ariel's golden eyes sparkled with realization. "It could easily incapacitate a Tier 5 opponent," she said softly. "If I didn't have my own poison immunity, I might already be unable to move."

Luciel's expression softened into satisfaction. "Good. It's perfect for defense," he said quietly, his calm confidence evident in every gesture.

"Are you planning to plant it here?" Ariel asked, gesturing to the now-wild back garden.

"Not here," Luciel replied. "I'll move the Thousand Thorns Flower to the cliffs."

Unlike the Misty Flower, which had one enormous bloom, the Thousand Thorns Flower sprawled in vast, tangled vines covered with spikes and smaller blossoms—ideal for a defensive line. Worker bees would be able to gather nectar along the vines without triggering the full anesthesia effect.

"Leave me a few spikes first," Ariel said, producing a short knife. She carefully began cutting a few of the smaller thorns for study.

Sophia appeared then, holding a tray of tea, her eyes wide as she observed the transformed back garden and the small figure of Mino in Luciel's arms.

"Master Luciel…" she murmured, a mixture of awe and hesitation in her voice.

Luciel turned, offering a simple instruction. "Sophia, come and take Mino. Let her rest in her room."

"Yes," Sophia replied promptly, setting the tray down and taking Mino gently. Luciel brushed a stray lock of blue hair from the child's face as she left, his calm hands ensuring nothing disturbed her small, peaceful expression.

Ariel turned back to the sprawling Thousand Thorns Vine, her golden eyes tracking every curve and spike.

"How will you move such a huge plant?" she asked softly, her curiosity still bright.

Luciel smiled faintly. "Simple." He extended his hands, summoning his Earth Rock ability. The plant lifted smoothly from the ground, its enormous mass manageable as he reduced its weight magically. With spider silk carefully wrapped around the vines, he guided the massive plant upward, defying gravity as the morning sunlight glinted off the purple blooms.

Ariel's mouth fell open in surprise, unable to hide her amazement.

Boom!

Luciel stamped lightly against the ground, his body shooting upward in a swift arc. He overtook the falling Thousandthorn Flower in midair, closing the distance with effortless grace.

Calling upon his talent, "Twentyfold Gravity Manipulation," he shifted the weight of the flower, guiding it downward. The immense bloom drifted with controlled force, settling against the rugged cliffside.

"This will be your home," he murmured, securing the roots firmly into the rock. "Grow here, and spread your vines across the heights."

The cliff he chose was unguarded—isolated, yet perfectly positioned. Once the Thousandthorn Flower matured, its thorned tendrils and the nearby Uranus bee swarm would intertwine, forming a natural barrier.

A living fortress, grown rather than built.

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