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After returning to the Tim Hortans Grocery Store, Ryan received a message from the system:To further alter the fate of a world, gain 30 offset points in this stage.Obtain a medium-sized planting base (large farm).The reputation of Plants vs. Zombies has met the required threshold. The time-space door can now be opened outside the store at a certain cost.You can remotely trade with designated friendly personnel in the main world during non-combat situations. Currently, you can trade with two individuals: Dave and Kenway.Following the notification, Ryan's laptop and mobile hard drive levitated toward a shelf, transforming into two black books labeled Crazy Dave's In-depth Plant Cultivation Guide and Crazy Dave's Ultimate Plant Cultivation Guide.
Studying these books required 5 and 9 offset points, respectively. Without hesitation, Ryan chose to study both. This time, the process was different. Not only did the knowledge integrate into his mind, but he also felt a subtle transformation in his temperament. He became more attuned to plants, which explained why the Ultimate Guide was so expensive.
The supernatural infusion within the Ultimate Guide significantly enhanced his efficiency and expertise in plant cultivation. With 41 offset points remaining, Ryan felt reassured, knowing he could handle any unexpected issues in the future.
His final reward consisted of several seeds: Torch Stumps, Energy Coffee Beans, Pumpkins, Jet Mushrooms, and Frozen Peas. These new additions expanded his plant army, making them more versatile in different combat situations.
After taking stock of his rewards, Ryan nodded in satisfaction, opened the time-space door, and returned to his own world.
A Brief Respite
Back in his bedroom, Ryan felt an overwhelming sense of detachment. After experiencing such an intense battle, returning home to find that only an hour had passed felt eerily surreal. The contrast between the two realities unsettled him.
Seeking to reorient himself, Ryan buried his head under the covers and forced himself to sleep. Fortunately, he confirmed that he hadn't developed PTSD—he wouldn't suddenly lash out at others or harm himself. That, at least, was a relief.
The next morning, Ryan awoke early and eagerly returned to Tim Hortans Grocery Store to test his abilities. To his delight, his magical proficiency had improved considerably. However, after inheriting Dave's plant knowledge, he noticed several flaws in his previous cultivation methods. Resolving these issues required time and effort, but he remained optimistic. He estimated that his newly cultivated plant species would reach maturity shortly after the new school term began—a prospect he was eagerly anticipating.
His greatest gain from this ordeal was the complete absorption of the Assassins' and ancient Viking wizards' legacies from Iceland. Now, he could seamlessly utilize the abilities that aligned with his current strength. The rest would require gradual mastery over time.
For a moment, Ryan felt powerful—capable of taking on any challenge. However, the moment he remembered his upcoming adversary—a Basilisk larger than a doorway—his fleeting sense of pride vanished instantly.
His life magic had proven ineffective against grotesque, mutated zombies, whose unnatural resistance made them nearly impervious. When it came to facing the Basilisk, the situation wasn't much better. Although it was classified as a living dark creature, its resistance to life magic wouldn't be nearly as severe, but that didn't make it any less formidable.
Moreover, being Salazar Slytherin's pet, the Basilisk undoubtedly possessed multiple layers of advanced magical protection. Having survived for over a thousand years, it had accumulated immense power.
Ryan's assassin skills wouldn't be much help either. The Hidden Blade was practically useless against the Basilisk's thick, armored scales. Trying to attack it with a dagger would be akin to poking an elephant with a sewing needle.
Clearly, a more reliable strategy was necessary.
For now, Ryan decided to enjoy the remainder of his summer vacation as an ordinary student, using the time to relax and ease his nerves.
"Luckily, my soul is not that of a real child. Otherwise, all this might have left a permanent trauma," Ryan mused, feeling grateful.
However, one aspect of his summer proved more exhausting than expected—his study sessions with Hermione. They met three to four times a week, reviewing next year's syllabus in advance. The level of academic rigor Hermione demanded was almost overwhelming.
"Pretending to be a scholar is fine, but actually facing a real one? That's a nightmare."
Ryan quickly realized he needed to study in advance just to keep up. Despite his superior combat skills, he knew full well that being a sharp shooter didn't automatically make him an expert in gun manufacturing theory.
An Unexpected Letter
With just over a week before school started, neither Ryan nor Hermione had received any news from Harry. Their concern grew with each passing day.
One afternoon, while they were reading in the library, a sudden thud against the window startled them. Looking up, they saw what appeared to be a gray feather duster colliding with the glass before sliding to the ground.
"Oh no," Ryan muttered, immediately recognizing the owl. It was Errol—Ron's family owl.
He and Hermione rushed outside. Sure enough, Errol lay unconscious, a letter clutched in its beak.
"Poor thing," Hermione sighed, shaking her head. She instructed Ryan to pick up the exhausted bird while she unfolded the letter.
Ron's message was straightforward: He, along with his brothers, planned to visit Harry and possibly bring him back.
"I hope they don't do anything illegal," Hermione said, frowning. She sat on a nearby bench, pulled out a quill, and began drafting a response.
Meanwhile, Ryan carefully tucked Errol into his bag, then hurried to a street vendor to buy a skewer of unseasoned chicken and a glass of water.
By the time he returned to Midtown Park, Hermione had nearly finished her letter. Ryan took out Errol, carefully shredded the roast chicken, and fed it along with some water. Slowly, the owl regained its strength.
Once Hermione sealed the letter, they attached it to Errol's leg. Though still a bit unsteady, the owl managed to take flight, albeit in a wobbly manner.
Ryan watched Errol disappear into the sky, silently praying for its safe return.
Preparing for Second Year
Two days later, Ryan received a letter from Hogwarts.
Unfolding the parchment, he found a full-page list of school books written in elegant cursive script. At first glance, it looked as though Hogwarts was requiring them to purchase several years' worth of books all at once.
Most of the professors' booklists were reasonable, but one stood out—Gilderoy Lockhart's selection. He had demanded more books than all the other teachers combined.
Ryan sighed. Lockhart was a celebrity, and in the dull wizarding world, his adventure novels served as one of the few sources of entertainment. His attempts to make his stories feel authentic often led him to collect firsthand accounts from experienced adventurers. However, the fact that he managed to wipe their memories flawlessly with Obliviate proved he wasn't completely useless.
Still, despite Lockhart's hard work to build his idol status, Ryan couldn't help but feel irritated. The expensive books he was forced to buy would become worthless within a year.
"What a fraud," Ryan muttered in frustration.
And so, with the final week of summer vacation unfolding, Ryan prepared himself for another year at Hogwarts—one that promised to be even more dangerous and unpredictable than the last.
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