On the system panel, intense changes were occurring. The parts of Ancient Weather Magic originally shrouded in iron black lustre were now covered by rich bronze lustre, with flickering silver glints within.
Although portions of the text remained dim, preventing the overall assessment from reaching the Iron level, Ciel only needed to remedy his shortcomings. Ancient Weather Magic mastery could leap dramatically in a short time, possibly jumping directly to near Silver level!
Simultaneously, the text for Occlumency blazed intensely.
[Occlumency (Gold, platinum traces emerging)]
As his consciousness immersed in natural will, every minute and second made the golden radiance slightly more brilliant than before. The Illusion Potion was indeed working, allowing him to contact denser natural will through this wondrous potion's effects even when lightning intensity couldn't be increased.
Though he didn't know whether the natural will contacted through Illusion Potion truly existed or was an extremely realistic hallucination created by the potion, the system panel changes were undeniably real.
Just as he planned to continue revelling in this wondrous feeling of becoming a thunderstorm, letting Ancient Weather Magic and Occlumency progress further, a brutally rough mental force invaded his mind. It was Snape's voice.
"Fool. Have you forgotten? While you're immersed, your body is also suffering. This pain will also be amplified. If you continue extending the time, when the pain sensation floods back all at once... Do you think your Occlumency can handle it?"
Snape's brutal interruption immediately awakened him. Though his endurance should exceed Snape's estimated limits, Illusion Potion wasn't some unique resource that would be completely gone once used. Why push toward extremes and add unnecessary risks?
Instantly, his Occlumency operated at full power. All distracting thoughts were banished from his mind. Even that thunderstorm-like experience was expelled. On the system panel, the glowing Ancient Weather Magic and Occlumency returned to calm.
But in reality, an even greater wave was approaching. As Snape warned, while he enjoyed the Illusion Potion's benefits, the potion also amplified pain. When his consciousness returned, agony far exceeding the sum of all his previous suffering spread through every nerve and inch of flesh.
His expression suddenly became as pale as paper. He didn't know what enduring the Cruciatus Curse felt like, but this experience was probably comparable. Excessive pain could directly destroy one's spirit.
Like Neville's parents, who suffered incurable mental injuries under repeated Cruciatus Curses and could only remain in St. Mungo's Hospital. Many wizards also suffered mental aftereffects from the Cruciatus Curse.
Fortunately, his Occlumency had strengthened compared to before entering the Room of Requirement. Facing the sudden flood of pain, though Occlumency's load skyrocketed with a precarious feeling, under his gritted determination, the protection wasn't destroyed.
Until the pain finally dissipated. His pain-curled body finally relaxed. He gasped heavily. His charcoal-like skin cracked repeatedly from the electric damage. New skin emerged with waves of painful itching.
But he was somewhat accustomed to this sensation. While gritting his teeth, he could spare energy to thank Snape, who stood tensely nearby, constantly sprinkling healing potions on him.
"Professor. Thank you for the warning. Otherwise I'd be in more trouble."
But Snape's expression remained tense, as if he hadn't recovered from the earlier tension. His powder-sprinkling hand visibly trembled upon close inspection. He squeezed out through gritted teeth:
"Ciel Sprout. I must be mad to agree to brew Illusion Potion for you. If you'd died here today or gone insane, everyone would assume I'd been torturing you with Cruciatus Curses. If you want to send me to Azkaban, just say so directly."
He smiled wryly. The earlier events had indeed been risky. Without Snape's timely intervention, his Occlumency might truly have been broken by intense pain.
But when his gaze fell on the system panel, seeing the progress in Ancient Weather Magic and Occlumency, even Lightning Resistance now showed bronze hues within its iron black lustre, his eyes still burnt with intensity.
[Lightning Resistance (Iron, bronze traces emerging)]
This suffering hadn't been wasted. This level of progress amplification equalled an entire day of electric shock! With several more sessions, he was confident that before Quirrell returned to Hogwarts, he could directly push Ancient Weather Magic mastery to the Silver level. Occlumency might even impact the Platinum level!
Thinking this, he said to Snape: "Professor. Practice makes perfect. Since we have experience and nothing went wrong, this proves the method's safety is guaranteed. Those materials should be enough for more than one Illusion Potion, right?"
Hearing this, Snape's face twitched. He thought he'd been crazy enough during his school days. He hadn't expected to meet someone crazier today. Snape said coldly:
"Consecutive Illusion Potion usage in short intervals could permanently trap you in hallucinations. The next dosage must wait at least seven days. Of course, you could try your luck with taking chances. Will you risk that?"
Hearing this, he showed regret. Since Snape spoke this way, the Illusion Potion's side effects were quite troublesome. Better forget it. He'd wait seven days safely. Besides, even without Illusion Potion, he could still progress through electric shock, just with reduced effects.
"Never mind. I won't take the potion for now. Professor, I want to be electrocuted here a while longer. You should go rest first."
Snape's eyes widened. He remembered him being electrocuted until his entire body was charred, with flesh regenerating from underneath. Even without the Illusion Potion's sensory amplification effects, such pain was definitely hellish. Yet this little badger wanted to continue?
Before he knew about this, how many times had he been electrocuted in this room? How many times had he repeated this process? For a moment, even Snape, who bore unimaginable pressure, fell silent.
This little badger Ciel Sprout, whom no professor favoured at enrolment, was truly remarkable. His mind recalled Professor Sprout's confident declaration at term's start:
"My Ciel has legendary potential!"
Snape's lips slowly curved into a strange smile. He murmured internally: "Legendary potential? I thought you were exaggerating, Pomona. But now it seems even you probably underestimated your little badger."
Strangely, Snape's countless anticipated endings suddenly didn't seem so pessimistic. Perhaps this little badger could truly change something.
Then, under his surprised gaze, Snape said: "I'll research Illusion Potion. Reducing dosage intervals and minimising amplification of negative sensations like pain. It needs time."
His eyes brightened. If this were truly possible, it would tremendously help his future runic studies and mastery of other ancient magics. "Thank you, Professor."
Then he left the now dimmed Room of Requirement with Snape. Snape headed to his office. He turned back, re-entering the Room of Requirement to face coiling electric bolts.
Without the Illusion Potion's amplifying effects on natural will sensation, ability growth immediately slowed. But accumulated progress was still considerable. He repeated this process until night became exceptionally dark and deep, the darkest hour before dawn, before he finally rubbed his aching temples, relaxed his tense spirit, and walked toward the small greenhouse.
While he acted in the sixth-floor corridor, the Golden Trio had spent all night under the Invisibility Cloak, aching and drowsy, but they perked up. Besides constantly entering and exiting that strange door, he finally showed other activity.
They'd monitored Snape many times before without discovering any clues. Perhaps they could breakthrough with him? With this thought, the trio quietly followed him.
Seeing him head toward the small greenhouse, all three widened their eyes. Only one thought remained: "Really? Isn't he tired? After a whole night's trouble, nearly 4 AM now, he's still returning to work in the greenhouse?!"
Hermione had always thought herself very hard-working and was puzzled why she couldn't catch up to him despite superior talent. Seeing this scene, her unwillingness directly vanished. She almost wanted to laugh.
How could she compete? The man could practically go sleepless all night. Compete with what? This schedule would probably kill her in two days!
Seeing him opening the greenhouse door, the trio exchanged glances and quickly followed inside. But immediately, the scene in the small greenhouse made their faces turn pale.
He walked straight to the greenhouse corner, approaching the variant humanoid bioluminescent mushrooms. His gaze fell on the reward orb above them, eyes flashing strangely. The reward orb was quite full, very close to maturity. It might even be ready after one more blood feeding.
Thinking this, his eyes flashed. This time, he'd feed them more. Earlier maturity might reveal Quintaped weaknesses sooner. He might prepare countermeasures against Quirrell in advance. Though Quirrell might not come for him, preparation was better than none.
The next moment, he directly cut his artery, letting blood spray like a water gun over the soil planted with variant humanoid bioluminescent mushrooms. Unprecedentedly rich blood, misting with tremendous vitality, drove these already bloodthirsty variants nearly mad.
The human faces on them opened wide, as if breathing sweet blood. Strange, disgusting crimson fuzz waved constantly, absorbing any blood they could contact.
Under the Invisibility Cloak, the trio smelt this thick bloody scent, all turning pale and feeling nauseous. They'd never expected to see such a scene in the small greenhouse. He was actually feeding some evil-looking plants with fresh blood?
Imaginative Harry immediately connected this to the magical world's disappearance cases. Could those disappearances be caused by plants like these? Did Snape recruit him to exploit his plant cultivation talent for these things?
Suppressing nausea and fear, Harry looked at Ron and Hermione. "We need to get closer. See clearly what those plants are. To understand what Snape really wants."
Ron and Hermione nodded while covering their mouths. They slowly stepped toward the variant humanoid bioluminescent mushrooms. The closer they got, the more bone-chilling feelings surged through them.
Hermione's voice revealed shuddering fear: "I've never seen anything like this. 'One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi' has no plant matching it. This must be a Dark Arts creation."
Harry clenched his fists. "This confirms it. These plants are definitely suspicious. We have to do something..."
But the next moment, under the Invisibility Cloak, Ron's body swayed. Without Harry and Hermione's quick reflexes, one grabbing Ron, one covering his mouth, he would have cried out.
Hermione whispered: "Ron! What are you doing?!"
After steadying himself, Ron pointed to his leg with a pale expression: "I accidentally brushed against that disgusting thing. I think it pricked me? I'm not sure."
Harry and Hermione quickly examined Ron's leg. Hermione frowned. "Ron. Besides your leg hair, there's no wound. Are you sure you were pricked and injured?"
Ron's face flushed red. "First, I said I might have been pricked. Second, I didn't say injured; maybe just brushed, but it's disgusting, understand?!"
As both looked displeased, Harry quickly stopped them. "Stop talking. That was too loud just now. Ciel seems to have noticed something."
All three immediately held their breath. Indeed, they saw him frowning, looking around as if searching for something. Fortunately, they wore the Invisibility Cloak. He couldn't discover them.
Moments later, he walked to the door, opening the greenhouse to ventilate and disperse the thick bloody smell. Taking this opportunity, the trio quickly left the greenhouse.
After going far away, their voices finally grew louder: "Good! Now we finally know what Snape and Ciel are up to. Figure out what that thing is, and maybe we can stop a big conspiracy!"
They excitedly discussed this, no longer feeling drowsy.
At this time, his gaze fell on the slightly sunken mud at the greenhouse entrance. He roughly guessed what happened. "The Golden Trio, wearing the Invisibility Cloak to investigate me?"
He shook his head. It didn't matter. He wasn't planning to participate anyway. These three reckless little lions could think whatever they wanted.
Rather than their thoughts, he closed the greenhouse door, his burning gaze falling on those reward orbs. After feeding on large amounts of blood, these variant humanoid bioluminescent mushrooms seemed to finally take the last step toward maturity. The reward orbs became like heavy, ripe fruit.
After taking a deep breath, he reached out and gently touched them. The next moment, dozens of orbs immediately flowed into his body!
[Curses (Silver)]
[Quintaped Transfiguration (Iron)]
On the system panel, text for Curses and Quintaped Transfiguration suddenly appeared!