Rating

Sol sat with his back against the glowing azure tree, lazily chewing on a piece of the fruit he had grown. The refreshing taste filled his mouth, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he was truly at ease. His body hummed with newfound energy, the lingering warmth of the life force still pulsing through his veins.

Across from him, Peach was bouncing excitedly, chasing after a vine Sol was absentmindedly controlling. The thick green tendril wove through the air, dipping and twisting just out of reach as Peach pounced after it with enthusiastic growls. Sol chuckled, watching the oversized bear-like creature swat at the moving target, determined to pin it down.

As he took another bite of fruit, a sudden thought struck him. He blinked, staring at Peach with narrowed eyes. "Wait a second… why don't I pair with Peach?"

He sat up straighter, the idea taking root in his mind. The system allowed him to pair with objects and tech—so why hadn't he considered it before? Peach was already an incredible companion, but if they were linked through the system, what would that mean for their abilities?

His heart began to race with excitement. If this worked, it could open up entirely new possibilities.

Without hesitation, he focused his thoughts and spoke aloud. "System, initiate pairing with Peach."

A brief silence followed before the system's voice chimed in. "Acknowledged. Initiating synchronization process. Stand by."

Peach perked up at the sound, tilting his head in curiosity as a faint glow surrounded him. Sol felt a subtle pull in his chest, as if something inside him was linking to the massive creature before him. A surge of unfamiliar energy rippled between them, not overwhelming, but undeniably present. There was something deeper now, an unspoken connection that Sol couldn't quite explain—like a bond not of words, but of instinct and understanding.

The system's voice cut through his thoughts. "Pairing complete. Synchronization successful."

Immediately, Sol tested the link. In his mind, he willed Peach to shrink down and come to him. Before he could even process how it worked, Peach let out a joyous squeak, his form glowing briefly before rapidly shrinking. With effortless grace, the now tiny Peach hopped onto Sol's lap, nuzzling against his chest as if he had been doing this forever.

Sol blinked, then let out a laugh. "Well, that worked way better than I expected."

As he absentmindedly petted Peach, feeling the tiny creature's warm fur against his palm, another thought struck him. His Plant Affinity had come a long way since he first started training. He was more in tune with it now, understanding the flow of life energy in ways he never imagined before.

"System," he said, his voice calm but curious. "Update me on my Plant Affinity. How much progress have I made?"

The system processed for a moment before responding. "Analysis complete. Your Plant Affinity has increased to 12%."

Sol sat up straighter, his eyes widening in shock. "Wait, what? My rating grew that fast? My Illusion Affinity didn't increase at all, and the training was about the same. Why?"

The system paused for a brief moment before answering. "Affinity growth is dependent on both usage and conceptual understanding. Your specialization exercises—such as the development of spore plants, bioluminescent flora, and healing-based plant manipulation—have significantly deepened your comprehension of plant-based life force control. The rapid increase reflects your enhanced synchronization with your affinity."

Sol processed that, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. It made sense. Unlike Illusion, where he was mainly testing its direct applications, his work with plants had forced him to think beyond simple execution. He had created, adapted, and refined. He wasn't just using his affinity—he was understanding it.

Sol leaned back against the tree, waiting, his fingers gently scratching behind Peach's ear as the little creature let out a satisfied hum. He could feel it—he was stronger now. But just how much stronger?

The system continued. "During your training, three distinct techniques have been developed. First: Thornshield, a defensive formation where multiple vines intertwine into a reinforced structure, able to absorb impact and resist physical force. Second: Vinefang, a method of shaping vines into hardened, bladed weapons, allowing for offensive combat applications. Third: Vital Bloom, a healing-based technique where life energy is channeled into plants to accelerate regeneration of minor wounds."

Sol absorbed the information, his mind racing. Each of these techniques had come naturally during his training, but hearing them recognized and named by the system made it feel more real. He had actual combat and survival techniques now, not just raw experimentation.

Feeling full and energized—especially after having been knocked out for hours by his own spores—Sol stretched, rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck. His body felt refreshed, his mind sharp. It was time to move on to the next challenge.

He took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself. He had explored Illusions. He had pushed his Plant Affinity beyond his expectations. Now, it was time to confront the one ability he had been avoiding since the moment he discovered it.

Time.

A part of him still felt uneasy about it. Controlling something as fundamental as time itself seemed… unnatural. Dangerous. But there was no point in running from it. If he wanted to understand it—master it—he had to start somewhere.

Wasting no time, Sol turned to the system. "System, give me the training regime for my Time Affinity. I don't feel comfortable experimenting with this one blindly."

The system processed his request before responding.