Noah scrutinized the snake as it was in the midst of observing its changes. Although the snake was now in an unbreakable bond with the tree, that didn't mean that the snake was necessarily on their side. It lacked freedom but it still retained its free will.
His sharp gaze missed nothing, the snake's restless movements, the quickening flicker of its tongue, even the fluctuations of its mana. If it so much as hinted at rebellion once it gained the strength to act on it, Noah wouldn't hesitate. He would ensure the tree absorbed everything, the power granted by the fruit, and even the snake's very life essence.
Noah couldn't tell how strong the snake had become, but he doubted that his webs could hold it down as easily as before. That was why there wasn't any hesitation in his heart to put it down if he had to, even if it meant wasting the fruit that required so many resources to create, and even if it meant losing out on a valuable pawn.