In the vast plain, a brisk wind whipped across Tyler's skin, cool against the warmth of the morning sun. It teased at his hair, rustling the strands as he settled onto the earth, a fine layer of grass and dirt beneath him. His legs were crossed, and he rested his arms on bent knees, feeling the hard, uneven ground beneath him. He closed his eyes, blocking out the expansive sky and focusing inward. Breathing deliberately, he thought to himself, *Right, the system said I would gain 60 points of mana in an hour. But why is that? Why is it so slow?" Frustration tinged his thoughts. "It feels like I could draw so much more mana if I just concentrated hard enough.*

He paused, reflecting on the internal pathways he had opened. It was as if they were not mere channels but tiny, eager orifices, primed to absorb the very essence of energy swirling around him. It felt peculiar, almost surreal, like breathing through his nose but instead inhaling something ethereal, not air.

Tyler inhaled deeply, feeling the crispness fill his lungs, then sighed, releasing his tension into the expanse. He focused again, sensing how he didn't need to spread his mana throughout his entire being this time. A sudden awareness washed over him as he felt the mana pathways come alive, the potential of the air stirring around him.

Rather than actively drawing in mana, it felt more like an effortless influx, as if he was standing before a hidden cave, with the essence of mana rushing in from the world around him, without design or intent. The sensation was like a gentle stream flowing into a small hole in the earth, not a desperate pull, but a soft welcome of what was already there.

Focusing intently, he tried to pull in even more mana, deepening the connection. Earlier, amidst his efforts, he had noticed the wane of his mana a reminder of the toll it took: he had lost a significant chunk, 110th of his reserves, while opening those once-closed pathways.

Now that Tyler was acutely aware of the point where his mana was being drawn in, it felt as if he were manually guiding the flow. Although it was technically a passive skill, the mana in the air didn't simply pour in; instead, he sensed those small orifices along his mana pathways actively sucking it in.

A rush of surprise coursed through him, quickening his heartbeat, causing his eyebrows to lift even as his eyes remained closed. His chest rose slightly, as if drawing in air with each pulse of mana filling him.

"This feels incredible... strange," he thought, marveling at the unmistakable increase in his mana. No longer was it a mere whisper of energy, but a tangible surge. Yet, he knew he needed to concentrate. "If I lose focus, this might stop."

As he delved deeper into concentration, he sensed something wasn't quite right. Though it felt as if he were absorbing more mana through those tiny orifices, their capacity struck him as limited. It was akin to trying to force a deluge of water into a minuscule hole in the ground; no matter how much water surged, the hole would only take in what it could handle.

"These mana pathways... this seems to be their limit," he mused. The frustrating realization lingered in his mind, that despite the potential he could sense within himself, the pathways were too small to harness more.

Yet a stubborn part of him couldn't shake the feeling that he could push beyond this boundary. A flicker of doubt nagged at him, forcing it might lead to complications, but the tantalizing possibility of greater power beckoned him forward.

"This might be a bad idea, but I'm going to try it anyway. Let's see what happens," Tyler thought, determination threading through his mind. He focused on those orifices scattered throughout his mana pathways, feeling them pulse within him, almost like perspiration glistening on his skin. With a deep breath, he forced the mana to pour in more aggressively.

Suddenly, a revelation clicked into place. The other orifices, which were originally designed to release mana, began to open, releasing their energy. He envisioned a cycle, drawing in the mana he expelled, over and over, recycling it with a relentless force to test the limits of his pathways.

In his mind, he pictured the orifices as small holes in the ground, and the mana as a rushing river desperate to break through. He imagined the pressure of the water widening the hole, and with that mental image, he felt a shift within himself. The more mana he drew in, the more it seemed as if the insides of those orifices were expanding, the pressure pushing against their confines as the mana spread purposefully through his body.

A soft blue energy began to radiate from him, like an ethereal mist swirling around his form. It shimmered faintly, reminiscent of smoke licking at the air, an aura that marked mastery usually reserved for those of A-Rank or higher. Yet, in his fervor, Tyler was oblivious to it; all he sensed was the brimming mana that felt as if it was surpassing his natural capacity.

Then, another strange sensation washed over him. His mana pathways seemed to be inflated, bulging with more energy than they were created to handle. Panic flickered in his chest as he instinctively wanted to close the mana orifices, but to his dismay, they remained stubbornly open.

"What the hell is going on? Why aren't they closing?" His thoughts raced as beads of sweat began to trickle down his forehead, mixing with the tension that coiled within him.

At first, it felt as if the mana orifices drawing in energy were overtaking the output orifices, causing a growing tide of mana to swell inside Tyler. He planned to release more mana through the points meant for expulsion, but something felt amiss. The mana accumulating within him became thick, viscous, a sensation akin to being clogged.

It was as if a part of him were struggling to breathe, an unsettling weight pressing against his insides. The mana thickened further, creating a sense of pressure that was both foreign and uncomfortable, reminiscent of a profound constipation. While the orifices continued their relentless absorption, this passive skill he had amplified had made them wider, drawing in far more mana than his body could manage.

His pathways felt as though they were inflating, straining against the abundance they could no longer contain. A surge of electricity rippled along his skin, igniting nerve endings with erratic sparks. A small groan escaped his lips as he opened his eyes, catching sight of the faint blue mist surging from him.

His eyes glowed intensely, a luminescent blue that seemed to illuminate his surroundings, while his hair lifted and danced, fluttering like ethereal flames as the aura thrummed around him. His clothes rustled violently in tandem with this overwhelming energy.

"This is bad," he groaned aloud, panic rising within him. "Why can't I stop it?"

*This is starting to hurt,* Tyler thought, a growing dread settling in his chest. It felt as if his insides were expanding, though he knew they were not; it was the sensation of blood rushing through his veins, straining against their limits.

Suddenly, a sharp pain lanced through every nerve in his body, sending shockwaves of agony coursing through him. He clenched his teeth, his eyes widening in shock as he groaned, his gaze fixed on the vast blue sky above.

His entire body was trembling like violent jolts of electricity were coursing through him, yet it did little to halt the expansion of his mana pathways. They were cracking open, filled to the brim with overwhelming mana. Without warning, he collapsed onto the grassy ground, his back hitting with a solid thud. He began to jerk uncontrollably, the intensity of the pain becoming unbearable.

Blood spilled from his eyes, a macabre stream that mingled with the frantic movements of his body. More blood seeped through the spaces between his clenched teeth, the metallic taste merging with his cries of distress.

*It hurts, it hurts, it hurts. Oh God, it hurts. Someone help! I can't… I can't stand it anymore." The pain threatened to push him into unconsciousness, darkness creeping closer around the edges of his vision.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Joy, his little green pet, remained blissfully unaware of Tyler's agony. She was still focused on the task he'd given her, diligently pulling the steel bars toward the tree he had pointed out.

This time, she was running, more like a slight jog, her teeth clenched in determination. After several attempts, she had grown accustomed to his instructions, beginning to understand the intent behind his gestures.

The shadow of the tree enveloped Joy, offering a momentary respite from the heat as she felt the coolness of its shade. With a heavy sigh, she reached the tree, her small hands resting on her ankles as she tried to catch her breath. Suddenly, a loud scream shattered the calm of the vast plains, tearing through the air with an intensity that made her heart race.

It was Tyler.

His cry, filled with excruciating pain, made her eyes widen in horror. She could see him in the distance, his body curved and writhing as he twisted in agony. Panic surged through Joy, and without a moment's hesitation, she took off running, her small green feet pounding against the grassy ground with rapid thuds. The exhaustion that had weighed her down moments ago vanished, replaced by an adrenaline-fueled urgency to reach him.

Though she didn't fully comprehend what was happening, it was unmistakable that her human was in distress. Each painful scream echoed in her heart, a reminder of her own past struggles. She recalled her experiences in monster zones, those terrifying moments of being torn apart, of fighting back with every ounce of strength she had.

Joy understood all too well what that sound meant; it was the sound of someone enduring tremendous pain. Fear gripped her heart as the realization struck that Tyler was going through something similar. Her speed increased, driven by an instinctual need to protect him. With every stride, she raced toward him, fueled by a fierce determination and a heart full of concern.

However, Joy felt an unsettling heaviness tethering her, a force that held her back from unleashing her full speed. With each stride she took, anxiety clawed at her insides; despite her rapid pace, she was only halfway to Tyler when a painful realization washed over her, she was still dragging the steel bars with her, vines ensnaring her body.

In a surge of desperation, she ripped the vines away with her small hands, tearing them off as if freeing herself from a shackle. With newfound liberation, her speed surged, and she abandoned the heavy burden behind, her heart racing as she rushed toward Tyler.

As she neared him, terror gripped her heart. His figure was contorted in pain, eyes wide and bloodied, a haunting sight that sent chills coursing through her. His clenched teeth were stained with crimson.

Confusion morphed into sheer panic; she didn't understand what was happening. No one was there to harm him, yet he was clearly suffering, and her heart ached at the sight of his torment.

Crouching beside him, her mouth fell slightly open in shock, eyes brimming with fear. She felt powerless as he writhed, his body trembling violently like a live wire.

The sight was agonizing, his insides were as if being electrocuted, pathways threatening to rupture. A guttural sound escaped her lips, a fragile reflection of her overwhelming helplessness.

With trembling hands, she reached out to touch his shoulder, yearning to connect, to offer comfort. But Tyler's reaction shattered her resolve; his scream pierced the air like a terrifying siren, raw and filled with unimaginable agony. Joy recoiled, falling onto her back, the sound rattling her core.

Tears spilled from her eyes, blurring her vision as she circled him in frantic disarray, heart racing with panic. She moved restlessly, searching for any sign of what could be afflicting him, wishing with every fiber of her being that she could take his pain away. The cries that echoed in the air twisted into a haunting melody of her own fear, constricting her throat.

There was nothing she could say, no words of comfort to offer, only the desperate longing to help him in any way she could. In her heart, she screamed a silent plea: Please, let me save you.

Boom!!!

A cataclysmic energy erupted from Tyler, a primal force unleashed as his mana pathways tore open, ripping through reality with an overwhelming intensity.

The air crackled with a bluish glow, almost invisible yet electric, tendrils of energy dancing through the atmosphere like furious strands of lightning. In an explosive sphere of raw power, it surged outwards, colliding with Joy. The impact was a chaotic mix of searing heat and biting cold, an otherworldly sensation that sank into her skin, rattling her very core.

Joy yelped, her tiny form hurled high into the air, spinning violently as she soared through the sky. Time seemed to slow as she flipped end over end, her heart racing with a cocktail of fear and disbelief. Below her, the grass beneath Tyler exploded like a battlefield, roots and earth torn apart as if an unseen force was mowing down everything in its path.

The ground swirled into a chaotic circular formation, revealing the rich, wet earth that lay beneath.

As the force of energy roared forth, Tyler was lifted off the ground, his body momentarily suspended four feet in the air, before crashing back to the earth with a solid thud. Silence fell in its wake, but the air remained charged and thick, heavy with the scent of something burning as warmth enveloped him, wrapping around him like a suffocating blanket. Gasping for breath, he struggled to orient himself, heart pounding like a war drum.

"What the hell was that?" he thought, eyes wide as he pushed himself up, confusion battling with the memories of pain that had wracked his body just moments before. But the moment he saw Joy sprawled on the ground a short distance away, a fresh wave of dread washed over him.

"Joy!" he muttered, urgency flooding his veins as he tried to stand. However, even as he rose, his legs felt like jelly, buckling beneath him as he stumbled forward, body reluctant to cooperate. With each shaky step toward her, panic multiplied, and he couldn't shake the image of her small form lying still.

As he took his first faltering step, the world swayed dangerously beneath him, his thoughts a frantic chasm of worry.

"Come on!" he urged himself, struggling against the weight of his own body, each movement feeling like wading through molasses. His legs trembled, unable to support him, and with one final push he crashed to the ground, hands catching himself just before his chest slapped against the hard earth. Pain rippled through him, his bloody teeth clenching as frustration and fear clawed at his heart.

But it was the sight before him that truly shattered him. Blood was trickling from Joy's mouth, pooling beside her head on the floor, the green liquid stark against the pale ground. Panic surged through his veins; she was badly hurt. "Come on, Joy, hang in there," he murmured, the desperation thick in his voice as he began to crawl towards her, each movement a struggle against an invisible force dragging him down.

With every inch he crawled, he felt his energy draining away, a heavy weight gnawing at his resolve. Just as despair threatened to overtake him, a holographic panel flickered to life before his eyes, a rectangular blue screen, glowing ominously in the dimness.

Achievement unlocked: Limit Breaker

The user has broken the limit of the amount of mana their body could handle, resulting in an increase in both mana pull and mana pool. Mana Absorption has leveled up two times. Mana Absorption Lv 3.

Tyler's mind raced, but darkness began to creep into his vision, a suffocating shroud that threatened to close around him. "What? I need to get to… Joy!" The thought echoed in his mind, a desperate plea that urged him to fight against the encroaching shadows, but his strength was faltering.

He pressed onward, crawling through the disorienting haze, determined to reach her despite the world growing dim around him.

As the system panel flickered into view again, Tyler felt a rush of confusion mixed with a hint of hope. A new message appeared, glowing bright against the backdrop of his fading consciousness:

Achievement Unlocked: Speed Evolution

User's pet has met all conditions to evolve before reaching the required level to evolve: Level 10.

"What?" he murmured, frustration spilling from him as he felt his energy waning. Each passing second felt heavier, dragging him closer to the brink of unconsciousness. Yet, in the haze of his fading awareness, something caught his eye.

Far ahead, he saw Joy's body begin to glow with a gentle white light. Her green skin radiated an ethereal luminescence that captivated his heart. It beat faster, a frantic rhythm driven by confusion and concern; he didn't understand what was happening, but he couldn't fight the weariness any longer. Slowly, the world around him dimmed, and he began to slip away into unconsciousness.

Somewhere in this expanse of time, Tyler began to feel an familiar chill creeping through him, as if he were lying in the shade of a great tree. Yet, amid the cold, there was warmth, something soft brushing against his hair, gentle and soothing.

As he instinctively leaned into it, a wave of nostalgia washed over him. It felt dearly familiar, reminiscent of his mother's tender touch, the kind that erased worries and held comfort.

A serene heaviness settled around him, coaxing relaxation into weary muscles, and a small smile tugged at his lips as memories danced at the edges of his mind.

But suddenly, with a jolting realization, something was wrong.

His eyes fluttered open, still heavy from the weight of unconsciousness, and suddenly they locked onto a figure hovering above him, something entirely unfamiliar. A girl. She had radiant green skin, glimmering softly in the light, and her big, bright green eyes sparkled with an intensity that was both striking and beautiful. Silver hair framed her face, cut in a stylish bob that ended just below her ears, shimmering like moonlight on still water.

Concern etched across her features as she studied Tyler, and as their gazes met, something shifted within her. A faint, almost reddish blush swept across her cheeks, adding a captivating warmth to her vibrant appearance. When she smiled, her white teeth gleamed brightly against her green lips, and Tyler felt an overpowering sense of relief radiating from her expression.

"Is this… Joy?" he wondered, hope fluttering in his chest. The concern in her eyes deepened into something more profound, a connection that transcended words, making the moment feel surreal and dreamlike.

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