Luciel rose from the earthen ridge, brushing the dust from his palms. The young tea tree before him shimmered faintly in the sunlight. He reached out and touched one of its soft green leaves.
A clear chime echoed in his mind.
> Ding! A domesticable plant has been detected. Would you like to domesticate it?
Luciel grinned. "Tame."
> Ding! Level 0 Lifeform — Green Tea Tree detected. Beginning domestication…
Ding! Domestication successful. Ten taming points consumed.
Ding! Would you like to inherit the 'Starlight Tea Tree' Talent: Glorious Growth?
"Inherit," Luciel said at once.
> Ding! 'Glorious Growth' being synchronized… adapting… inheritance complete.
A faint warmth rippled through his body, spreading like sunlight across his skin before fading away. For a brief moment, he felt his senses sharpen, as if every living thing nearby had exhaled in harmony with him.
When he opened his eyes again, the tea tree had changed. The small plant that had barely reached his knee now stood half a meter tall. Its leaves glowed a deeper green, and on each one, tiny specks of light twinkled like distant stars.
Luciel crouched, eyes widening. "So this is the Starlight Tea Tree… but what exactly can you do?"
Curious, he extended his hand toward the withered tomato vines beside it. "Let's find out. Activate Glorious Growth."
A soft emerald glow spread from his palm, flowing through the plants like water. The wilted vines trembled, color returning to their stems. Leaves unfurled again, fresh and alive.
The light faded after a few breaths.
Luciel's dark eyes brightened. "It really works! It actually accelerates growth!"
He laughed quietly to himself. "A power that revives crops in a dying world… this is practically divine."
But the grin faded a little as he examined the results. The plants looked healthier, yes, but the effect was small — more like a gentle boost than a miracle. "Still too weak," he muttered. "If this is a divine ability, then it's one with training wheels."
He tapped his chin, then looked at the shimmering tea tree again. "Let's see what happens if you evolve."
He straightened and gave the mental order. "System, evolve the Starlight Tea Tree to Level 3."
> Ding! Evolving from Level 1 to Level 3. Deducting 110 Evolution Points.
Ding! Evolution successful.
Ding! Starlight Tea Tree Talent evolved into — Starlight Realm.
Ding! Trainer's linked ability 'Starlight Spawning' has been upgraded to Level 3 and synchronized with 'Starlight Realm'.
Luciel blinked. "Starlight Realm?" He scratched his head. "Another fancy name. Let's see what you really do."
Without hesitation, he activated it.
"Launch Starlight Realm."
A soft hum filled the air.
Light flared from his body — gentle, verdant, and impossibly pure. His clothes rustled though no wind blew, and for a heartbeat he looked otherworldly, as though a holy child had descended to earth.
Within a radius of ten meters, every wilted plant stirred. Yellow leaves regained color, dead stalks straightened, and tender sprouts pushed through the soil. Life spread outward like a quiet wave.
Luciel stood in the center of it all, mouth slightly open. "So that's what Starlight Realm does… it rejuvenates everything within range."
He exhaled, half-laughing, half-in awe. "This isn't just a good skill — this is godlike."
The faint radiance slowly faded. Luciel opened his system interface to check the numbers.
---
Trainer : Luciel
Strength 42 | Speed 42.6 | Endurance 45 | Spirit 56
Lifespan 24 years / 930 years
Taming Points 0 (Refills daily; can accumulate)
Evolution Points 858
Abilities :
• Mimicry — Scaly Hardening (Lv 4)
• Hundred Silk Control (Lv 4)
• Earth and Rock Control (Lv 4)
• Starlight Realm (Lv 3)
• Angel's Tears (Lv 1)
Domesticated Creatures :
• Three-Color Lizard — Mimicry · Scaly Hardening (Lv 4)
• Red Ghost Spider — Spider Silk Manipulation (Lv 4)
• Rock Tortoise — Earth and Rock Manipulation (Lv 4)
Domesticated Plants :
• Starlight Tea Tree — Starlight Realm (Lv 3)
• Angel Wings — Angel's Tears (Lv 1)
---
Luciel whistled lowly. "No wonder I feel different. A Level 4 tortoise, a Level 3 tea tree, and an angelic herb… my foundation's ridiculous."
His eyes caught on the lifespan value. "Nine hundred and thirty years." He grinned. "Guess I'll be around for a while."
He looked up at the now-towering tea tree — two meters tall, its leaves glowing softly with three tiny star-spots on each blade. "You're my treasure now," he said warmly, patting the trunk. "You and I are going to do great things together."
A soft hiss interrupted his thoughts.
Luciel turned. "Ah, Skink — perfect timing."
The three-colored lizard crawled lazily toward him from the edge of the turtle shell, scales glimmering like molten bronze.
"You've got guard duty," Luciel said. "Stay near the garden. No one gets close unless I say so."
Through the link between them, he marked Elara and Mino as 'trusted.'
"Those two are allowed. Everyone else, chase away."
"Hissss." The lizard flicked its tongue and nodded, nestling happily under the shade of the tea tree.
"Hey, not there!" Luciel frowned, shooing him. "That's my future tea-drinking spot."
The lizard gave him a pitiful look before slithering over to lie sulkily along the ridge.
Luciel chuckled. "Good boy. I'll make you a sunrock later."
He stretched, looking around at the thriving plants. "The cabbages are coming back nicely. Maybe they'll even seed soon… Wouldn't mind some oil for cooking."
His stomach rumbled faintly at the thought. "Boiled cabbage soup… ah, that'd be heavenly."
But the leaves were still small — too precious to harvest yet. He shook his head. "Patience. Let them grow a bit more."
He glanced toward the other rows — unfamiliar sprouts with odd colors and shapes. He didn't dare eat those yet. Not until he was sure they weren't poisonous. Dying of curiosity — literally — would be a stupid way to go.
So he settled for the safe option. He picked three bright-red tomatoes, their skins glistening under the sun. They fit neatly in his palm.
"If only I had eggs," he sighed, wistful. "Tomato and egg stir-fry… no, even just soup would be nice."
He smiled at the thought, then looked at the seeds stored in a wooden box nearby. "Better plant some more. Would be a shame to waste the Starlight Realm's area of effect."
Luciel fetched the seed pouch from the house, knelt in the soft soil within the ten-meter circle of the tea tree, and sowed them carefully. He patted the ground smooth and stood up with a satisfied nod.
"Now for water."
He looked toward the wooden barrel sitting under the table. Inside, faint light flickered. "The crystal fish," he remembered aloud.
He carried the barrel outside, listening to the gentle slosh of water inside. When he lifted the lid slightly, a cool sparkle flashed at the gap, followed by the playful sound of bubbling.
"Still lively, aren't you?" he said with a grin. "When I dig a pond tomorrow, you'll have your own home."
He closed the lid carefully. "Tomorrow I'll tame you too. Can't waste today's points since they're gone."
Balancing the barrel, Luciel tilted it just enough to let a trickle of crystalline water spill over. The liquid gleamed as it soaked into the soil, shimmering faintly before vanishing into the ground. The seedlings seemed to perk up immediately, as though they too enjoyed the touch of purified water.
"Perfect," Luciel murmured. He leaned on his shovel, surveying the whole scene — the neat rows of crops, the glimmering tea tree, the loyal lizard on guard, and the gentle sunlight bathing it all.
What had begun as a patch of dirt on the back of a giant turtle was slowly turning into something far more — a living plantation in motion.
He couldn't help but smile. "No," he said softly, "not a vegetable patch anymore. A plantation."
His thoughts drifted as he listened to the faint hum of life around him — the wind brushing through leaves, the distant scurrying of the spider setting webs for defense, and the rhythmic breathing of the rock tortoise below them all.
Peaceful. Alive. His.
Luciel crouched beside the ridge once more, running a hand through the damp soil. "Tomorrow," he murmured, "we'll see just how far this 'godlike ability' can go."
He laughed quietly to himself, the sound blending with the rustle of the wind.
For now, it was enough to watch everything grow.
..
...
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