Life force

Sol stretched his sore limbs, rolling his shoulders before cracking his neck. His excitement quickly overtook his exhaustion as he prepared himself for this final stage of training. Specialized plant formations—this wasn't just about combat anymore. This was about expanding what he could do with his Plant Affinity beyond just offense and defense.

He knelt down, pressing his palms against the floor, closing his eyes to feel the energy within him. His mind ran through the system's suggestions—spore plants, bioluminescent flora, adaptive structures. The possibilities were overwhelming, but Sol grinned. Overwhelming was just another word for limitless.

"Alright, let's start with spores," he muttered to himself.

Channeling his energy, he envisioned a plant that could release something into the air—something invisible, something potent. His fingers tingled as a small bud sprouted from his palm, its surface smooth and slightly translucent. He willed it to grow, watching as it swelled, its edges curling like delicate petals before suddenly bursting—releasing a barely visible mist.

Sol coughed, stumbling back as a wave of drowsiness hit him. His vision blurred, his limbs felt heavy, and before he could react, his body gave in. He collapsed onto the floor, the world around him fading as sleep overtook him almost instantly.

Several hours passed before his eyes finally fluttered open. Groggy and disoriented, he pushed himself up, blinking away the haze.

"Shit," he wheezed. "Guess that one works."

The system chimed in. "Analysis complete. Induced drowsiness effect confirmed. Refinement required for precision and targeted dispersion."

Still shaking off the residual effect, Sol let out a breathless chuckle. "That was way too strong. Let's tone it down before I end up knocking myself out again."

He moved onto the next experiment, adjusting his technique as he worked through different types of spores—ones that numbed, ones that disoriented, ones that caused mild hallucinations. This time, however, he was more careful, making sure not to inhale any of the airborne particles himself. Instead, he relied on the system to analyze each attempt, providing feedback on whether the effects were too weak, too strong, or if they had unintended consequences. The process was slow and meticulous, but Sol kept at it, refining each creation, experimenting with dispersion methods, and pushing himself to discover new possibilities.

Eventually, he switched gears, focusing on bioluminescent plants. He conjured small glowing flowers, willing them to change color, intensity, and even pulse in specific rhythms. The dimly lit ruins around him became bathed in eerie, shifting hues of blues, purples, and greens.

He marveled at the sight. "This could be useful for signaling… or just setting a mood."

The hours passed, but Sol barely noticed. The more he experimented, the more the thrill of discovery consumed him. He was pushing boundaries, unlocking new possibilities, and for the first time in a long while, he felt like he was truly growing—not just in power, but in understanding.

And he was only just getting started.

With his control over spores and bioluminescence improving, Sol moved on to the final step—healing. If his Plant Affinity could manipulate life energy, then surely it could be used to mend wounds. He had read about plants with regenerative properties, but applying that concept through his affinity was an entirely different challenge.

He sat cross-legged on the ground, taking a deep breath as he channeled his energy into his hands. This time, instead of focusing on aggression or manipulation, he concentrated on restoration. He envisioned his energy flowing like gentle streams, nurturing rather than commanding.

A small sprout formed in his palm, its leaves shimmering with a faint green glow. Unlike the other plants he had created, this one pulsed softly, radiating a warmth that felt soothing rather than destructive. Encouraged, he brushed his fingertips over his arm, guiding the energy into his skin. A small cut from earlier training began to close ever so slightly, the raw edges knitting together at an accelerated pace.

His eyes widened. "No way…"

The system chimed in. "Preliminary healing properties detected. Efficiency remains low. Further refinement required for full cellular regeneration."

Sol exhaled, both amazed and frustrated. The process worked, but it was slow—too slow for it to be useful in a life-or-death situation. Still, this was only the beginning. He had cracked the surface, and now, he just needed to refine it.

Determined, he pushed forward, spending the next few hours honing his ability. The more he experimented, the more he realized that raw energy alone wouldn't cut it—precision was key. He carefully adjusted the flow of life energy, altering its intensity and direction, gradually improving the plant's ability to mend injuries.

Over time, he saw small but significant improvements. Minor wounds healed faster, the warmth of the energy becoming more refined and effective. But even so, it wasn't enough. The deeper the wound, the slower the process. He sighed, wiping sweat from his brow, realizing that true, instantaneous healing was still beyond his grasp.

Yet, despite the limitations, he couldn't help but feel exhilarated. He was making progress. The potential was there—he just needed to keep pushing.

His stomach let out a low, grumbling protest, reminding him just how long he had been at this. Hours of nonstop training had drained his energy, and hunger gnawed at him. He paused, rubbing his stomach before an idea struck him.

"If I can grow flowers and vines… why not food?"

The thought alone reignited his enthusiasm. He had seen plants produce fruit in nature—why shouldn't his affinity allow him to do the same? It was worth a shot. Kneeling down, he pressed his hands into the ground and visualized a tree forming, not just any tree, but one bearing fruit.

At first, nothing happened. He furrowed his brow, pouring more energy into the thought, guiding the life force carefully. The ground pulsed beneath his fingertips, and slowly, a sapling emerged. It was weak, frail, and barely stood a foot high. Sol gritted his teeth and kept at it, refining his approach, urging it to grow stronger, taller, more vibrant.

Minutes passed, then an hour. The sapling thickened, stretching upward with slow determination. Leaves of a striking azure hue unfurled, their glow subtly illuminating the space around him. And then—finally—small fruits began to form, hanging delicately from the branches.

Sol stared at them in awe, wiping the sweat from his brow. He reached out, plucking one of the strange, radiant fruits. His heart pounded with anticipation as he examined it.

"Alright… moment of truth." He hesitated for a moment before holding the fruit up. "System, scan this for anything dangerous."

"Scanning..." The system processed for a few seconds before responding. "Fruit type unknown. No harmful substances detected. It is edible."

With a relieved sigh, Sol finally took a cautious bite. The moment the fruit touched his tongue, his eyes widened in surprise. It was incredibly juicy, the sweet yet slightly tangy flavor bursting in his mouth. Each bite sent a refreshing sensation through his body, unlike anything he had ever tasted.

But that wasn't all.

A strange, warm energy coursed through him with every chew, spreading from his core to the tips of his fingers. He froze mid-bite, recognizing the sensation instantly. It was the same life force energy his affinity used. His grip tightened around the fruit as realization dawned on him.

A slow grin stretched across his face. "No way…"

He looked up at the glowing tree, then back at the fruit in his hand. If this thing was replenishing his energy, then that meant…

He no longer had to leave this place for food. He could train as long as he wanted. He could push his abilities to the limit without worrying about exhaustion or hunger slowing him down.

The thought sent a thrill through him. He was no longer bound by the same limitations as before. His training was about to reach a whole new level.

"Alright," he muttered. "Let's see how far we can take this…"