Alicia watched her reserves.
The number had finally reached it.
10,000 Life Energy.
She didn't hesitate.
Her focus moved to the system.
[System Shop]
Skill: Mineral Creation
Cost: 10,000 Life Energy
1,000 Space Energy
"…Finally."
She purchased it.
The energy disappeared instantly.
A large portion of her reserves dropped at once.
The change was noticeable.
Then—
something new appeared within her awareness.
Not a message.
Not instructions.
Just a new function.
Alicia focused on it.
A small amount of Life Energy gathered near her core.
She tried to compress it.
At first, it failed.
The energy scattered.
"…Too fast."
She slowed down.
Instead of forcing it, she guided it carefully.
The energy began to condense.
Slowly.
It became denser.
More stable.
Then—
it stopped dispersing.
A small crystal formed.
Alicia paused.
"…So this is Mineral Creation."
The crystal was rough.
Small.
Low quality.
But it was solid.
A Life Stone.
She examined it.
The energy inside was contained.
It didn't spread like normal Life Energy.
It stayed inside the crystal.
"…Storage."
That was the difference.
Alicia moved it.
The stone disappeared from her core—
and appeared beneath the plains.
Near the human gathering.
The effect was immediate.
The surrounding Life Energy became slightly denser.
Grass grew thicker.
The air felt heavier.
Hus opened his eyes.
He looked around.
"…Different."
The others noticed it too.
They didn't understand.
But they stayed closer to that area.
Alicia observed quietly.
"…It works."
She created another Life Stone.
This time, it was easier.
Still slow—
but more controlled.
She placed it deeper underground.
The effect spread further.
The area became more stable.
Alicia compared it to before.
"…Better than spreading energy randomly."
She turned her attention to the forest—
then stopped.
"…No."
The forest was already growing faster.
Adding more there would make the imbalance worse.
So she focused on the plains.
"…Stabilize first."
She created a third Life Stone.
Her reserves dropped again.
"…So each one has a cost."
Not something she could spam endlessly.
Alicia paused.
Then expanded her awareness.
Plains—slowly improving
Forest—still dominant
Highlands—quiet
The balance was shifting.
But not enough.
Then—
she felt it.
Deep beneath the forest.
The pulse.
Stronger than before.
Closer.
Alicia focused on it.
"…You reacted again."
The ground above it shifted slightly.
Not visible from the surface—
but clear to her.
The energy flow there became unstable.
Not decreasing.
But disturbed.
Alicia didn't interfere.
She watched.
"…Not yet."
She turned her attention back to the plains.
Humans had started gathering more tightly.
Around the Life Stone area.
Hus remained at the center.
Not leading.
But different.
The others stayed close to him.
Alicia observed.
"…This is the beginning."
She now had control over resources.
But control came with limits.
Energy cost.
Balance.
Unknown threats.
Alicia remained still.
"…Now I can shape it."