Throughout the day, Harry continued attempting to brew the Essence of Dittany under Adrian's guidance. As for the results...
They weren't ideal. Adrian even briefly questioned whether his teaching ability was the problem.
But when he saw the growth progress bar of the Wisdom Tree slowly increasing, he thought: well, let's continue teaching for a while longer.
Over the next few days, Harry continued learning from Adrian. Although Harry had little interest in potions, he was willing to do anything as long as it kept him away from the Dursley family.
During breaks from studying potions, he also learned about many plants in Adrian's greenhouse. Things like dancing cacti, mushrooms that constantly changed size, and so on.
Everything fascinated him. Adrian hadn't planted any dangerous plants in this greenhouse, so he didn't stop Harry from exploring. Devil's Snare grew on the outside walls of the greenhouse, and would occasionally extend its vines inside to tease Harry.
Speaking of Devil's Snare, Adrian felt it had been showing increasing signs of intelligence lately.
[Type: Devil's Snare]
[Level: 2]
[Characteristic: Intelligence]
[Status: Growing (96%)]
The Devil's Snare's information panel showed only one characteristic: "Intelligence."
This explained why it was so responsive—not only could it understand Adrian's commands, but it could also think independently. Looking at the Devil's Snare's 96% growth progress bar, Adrian nodded. It seemed that it won't be long before, the Devil's Snare would advance to the next level.
During the break, the Devil's Snare stretched out its vines toward Adrian, and playfully grabbed his hand like a child seeking attention. Adrian looked at the restless Devil's Snare moving in front of him and chuckled softly. "Seems like it's time."
He took out a dark red potion from the storage shelf, the bottle was still emitting a faint glow. This was Adrian's special potion, specifically made for plants affected by his "mutation" ability.
This potion could greatly accelerate a plant's growth rate. Of course, the potion's ingredients were also quite special. The main ingredient of this potion was Adrian's own blood.
A wizard's blood is often saturated with magical energy, and Adrian's magic was particularly unique, highly beneficial for plant growth.
Adrian removed the cork and poured the entire bottle onto vines of the Devil's Snare. In an instant, the Devil's Snare contracted violently as if electrocuted, then quickly expanded again. Red luminous patterns, like blood vessels, appeared on its dark green skin, rapidly spreading throughout its body.
Adrian narrowed his eyes, and quietly observed the Devil's Snare's transformation. The Devil's Snare soon calmed down, and the patterns that had appeared on its surface spread out, giving it a strangely alluring yet eerie appearance.
Adrian slowly extended his hand, and his fingertips lightly touched the surface of the stem. The Devil's Snare coiled around his fingers, and a piece of information appeared in his mind:
[Type: Devil's Snare]
[Level: 3]
[Characteristics: Intelligence, Parasitism]
[Status: Growing (0%)]
It had advanced to the next stage in one go, which surprised Adrian a little. Moreover, the Devil's Snare had acquired a new characteristic.
"Parasitism?"
Just from the name, he couldn't tell what this characteristic would do.
Adrian focused his gaze, feeling the sensation of the Devil's Snare coiling around him. The vines that had gently wrapped around his wrist suddenly tightened, as if receiving some signal, and slowly climbed up his arm. The vines intertwined and spread, eventually covering his entire upper body.
"It seems 'Parasitism' isn't parasitism in the literal sense, but rather a more advanced form of symbiosis," Adrian murmured to himself and did not resist but allowed the Devil's Snare to continue its transformation.
As the Devil's Snare enveloped him further, Adrian could clearly feel the vines seemingly merging with his body.
This was a deeper level of connection! Finally, the Devil's Snare's vines slowly contracted, receding like the tide, and vanished into Adrian's body.
Adrian looked down, lifted his robe, and examined his arm. A dark web-like pattern had appeared on his skin, like a miniature Devil's Snare imprinted beneath his skin.
These patterns fluctuated with his breathing.
Adrian frowned slightly and tried channeling his magic.
The next second, the Devil's Snare pattern on his arm began to glow, and a slender vine instantly extended from his palm. Adrian controlled the Devil's Snare, and swung it around a few times. It responded as naturally as if it were part of his own body and was flexible nearly like his own arm.
"So that's how it works..." Adrian thoughtfully looked at the vine in his hand, then gently clenched his fist. The vine instantly retracted, transforming back into flowing patterns hidden beneath his skin.
"Eldra, analyze the 'Parasitism' characteristic of the Devil's Snare."
Soon, the Wisdom Tree transmitted its analysis result:
[Parasitism: The Devil's Snare can fully integrate into the host's body and draw magic from the host for self-repair.]
A very simple effect, but quite intuitive. Adrian nodded as he was very satisfied. This characteristic greatly enhanced the Devil's Snare's ability to conceal itself.
But Adrian also had mixed feelings. When those vines emerged from beneath his skin and waved around freely, he felt somewhat like a strange monster.
'Hmm... perhaps similar to some kind of tentacle creature like octopus?'
Thinking of this, Adrian shuddered.
"Come off me now, Devil's Snare," he ordered. The vines still wrapped around his arm seemed reluctant, and beagn contracting slightly, but eventually obeyed, and slowly withdrew from Adrian's body.
The dark web-like patterns gradually faded away as if they had never been there. The main body of the Devil's Snare reappeared before Adrian. Its vines trembled slightly, as if expressing reluctance to part.
"Stop being clingy," Adrian patted it. "Go back outside. If I need you, I'll bring you out."
The Devil's Snare's vines contracted, as if considering Adrian's words, before slowly crawling back to the greenhouse wall, resuming its previous state.
.....
While Adrian was testing the Devil's Snare's new abilities, Harry, who had been left aside, had nearly dropped his jaw in amazement. He had only seen the large vines wrap around Adrian, then disappear and reappear.
Honestly, the scene was rather horrifying.
"Mr. Westeros..." Harry's voice was somewhat dry as he pointed at Adrian's arm. "Did those vines... go into your skin?"
"Oh, don't be so tense," Adrian smiled faintly. "That's the Devil's Snare I introduced to you before, isn't it?"
"Can I learn that?"
"No."
Adrian laughed, knowing this wasn't something just anyone could learn.
He clapped his hands, as if to put everything that had just happened behind them. "Well, Harry, we've rested enough. Let's continue learning about the more interesting Essence of Dittany."
Harry's expression froze for a moment.
'Damn potions.'
He was certain that after arriving at Hogwarts, this would be the subject he hated most.