A narrow road cut through the edge of the forest.
Ryan pulled his car onto the gravel shoulder, the tires crunching softly as they came to a stop. The engine idled for a moment—
Then fell silent.
For a few seconds—
He didn't move.
The world outside the car felt… still.
Tall eucalyptus trees lined both sides of the road, their pale trunks rising like pillars into a canopy of thin, silver-green leaves. The wind moved gently through them, producing a soft, whispering sound that carried across the forest.
The scent hit him as soon as he cracked the door open.
Sharp.
Clean.
Distinct.
Eucalyptus.
Ryan stepped out and shut the door behind him.
The sound carried further than it should have.
Too far.
Like the forest was listening.
Then disappeared into the quiet.
He stood there for a moment, letting his eyes adjust to the shaded tree line.
Time.
He didn't have much of it left to waste.
Then—
"So," he said, glancing toward the forest, "you found Clearleaf in there?"
Iris answered immediately.
[Yes.]
[Not far.]
Ryan nodded once.
No hesitation.
He stepped off the gravel and into the forest.
The ground shifted under his feet immediately.
Dry leaves crunched with each step, brittle twigs snapping softly beneath his shoes. The air felt cooler beneath the canopy, the sunlight filtering through the leaves above in thin, broken beams that painted the forest floor in shifting patterns of gold and shadow.
The deeper he walked—
The quieter it became.
No cars.
No distant voices.
Just wind.
And the sound of his own movement.
Each step felt louder than it should have.
More noticeable.
As if the world itself had gone still.
After a few moments, Iris spoke again.
[You know…]
[You don't actually have to speak out loud.]
Ryan stopped mid-step.
"What?"
His brows pulled together slightly.
"The way you said that makes it sound like you can read my mind."
A soft laugh echoed through his thoughts.
Light.
Playful.
[Why?]
[Do you have something to hide?]
Ryan stared straight ahead into the trees.
"Of course I do."
His voice rose slightly.
"My thoughts are my own."
Iris burst into laughter.
The sound rang clearly in his mind—bright and unrestrained.
[Relax.]
[I can only hear thoughts directed at me.]
A brief pause.
Still amused.
[So unless you're actively thinking at me…]
[Your secrets are safe.]
Ryan exhaled slowly.
Some of the tension left his shoulders.
"…That's good."
He hesitated for a moment—then tested it.
You can hear this?
[Yes.]
Ryan nodded to himself.
"That's actually useful."
Iris's tone shifted instantly.
[Of course it is.]
[I didn't design this system halfway.]
Ryan smirked faintly.
For someone who claimed to be an immortal being…
She could sound surprisingly petty.
The forest thickened as he moved deeper.
The light dimmed slightly, shadows stretching longer between the trees. Fallen bark littered the ground, mixed with dry leaves that cracked softly underfoot.
Ryan's pace remained steady at first.
Then—
Slowed.
His breathing grew heavier.
Subtle at first.
Then more noticeable.
His chest rose and fell with increasing effort.
Ten minutes passed.
Then twenty.
Then nearly thirty.
Ryan clicked his tongue softly.
Too slow.
Every minute here—
Was one less he had to prepare.
Ryan finally stopped.
His lungs burned faintly.
He bent forward slightly, resting his hands on his knees as he caught his breath.
This body…
Annoyance flickered across his expression.
"I really was in terrible shape."
A century of combat experience—
Reduced to this.
[Yes.]
Ryan straightened slowly, exhaling through his nose.
"Unfortunately, I don't have time to fix that right now."
Iris's response came without concern.
[You don't need to.]
Ryan frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
He lifted his head, scanning the undergrowth more carefully.
Then—
He saw it.
Nestled between two rocks—
A small plant.
Dark green leaves spread outward in a low cluster.
At its center, a single crimson flower bloomed—its petals faintly translucent, catching what little light filtered through the canopy.
A thin mist drifted slowly from the leaves.
Barely visible.
But unmistakable.
Clearleaf.
Ryan stepped closer and crouched.
His eyes studied it carefully.
"I know what this does," he said quietly.
"It purges impurities."
His fingers hovered just above the stem.
"But that doesn't magically fix my body."
[You're looking at it from the wrong perspective.]
Ryan's grip shifted.
Careful.
Precise.
He plucked the plant cleanly near the base—leaving the roots intact beneath the soil.
Regrowth.
Always preserve the source.
[The last time you used Clearleaf…]
[You were already strong.]
Ryan placed the plant carefully into his bag.
"So?"
[At your current level…]
A brief pause.
[It will cleanse everything.]
Ryan stilled slightly.
"…Everything?"
[Yes.]
[Every impurity in your body.]
Ryan's gaze sharpened.
That was different.
More than different.
That was an advantage he hadn't had before.
"Then what?"
He began scanning the surrounding area again.
Slower now.
More deliberate.
[Once your body is purified…]
[You'll be able to absorb mana continuously.]
Ryan stilled.
That wasn't just useful.
That changed everything.
"Wait."
He crouched again.
Another plant.
Slightly smaller.
Hidden beneath fallen bark.
He harvested it the same way.
"Doesn't my body still have a limit?"
[Yes.]
[But there is a way around that.]
Ryan looked up slightly.
"Explain."
[Instead of storing mana…]
[You circulate it.]
Ryan paused.
Processing.
He found another plant—this time carefully digging around the roots with a small folding shovel.
[Think of it like breathing.]
[Draw it in…]
[Move it through your body…]
[Release it.]
Ryan lifted the plant carefully, keeping the roots intact.
"And that helps me how?"
[Circulation strengthens your body continuously.]
Ryan stood slowly.
"So…"
His voice lowered slightly.
"Early cultivation."
[Exactly.]
Ryan placed the plant securely into a container.
His expression shifted.
Focused.
Interested.
This wasn't just helpful.
This was time.
Time he didn't have—
Created.
[The effects will slow as you grow stronger.]
[But right now…]
[The improvement will be significant.]
Ryan slung the bag over his shoulder.
"Will it increase my capacity too?"
[Yes.]
[Especially at your current stage.]
Ryan nodded slowly.
Then—
Another thought surfaced.
"Can you teach me the technique?"
He glanced upward through the trees.
"Or is that going to trigger some divine punishment?"
Iris sounded calm.
[It's fine.]
[As long as I don't reveal restricted knowledge.]
Ryan relaxed slightly.
"Good."
They walked back in silence.
Ryan's mind was already moving ahead.
Planning.
Adjusting.
Rebuilding.
Radios.
Communication.
Positioning.
Because when the first mana wave hit—
Electronics would fail.
Globally.
No warning.
No recovery.
That had been one of humanity's first collapses.
Coordination vanished overnight.
And people died because of it.
If he wanted to keep Alice safe—
He needed something better.
Something reliable.
Ryan stepped out of the forest.
The open air felt warmer immediately.
His car sat exactly where he left it.
Waiting.
"Iris," he said as he approached it.
[Yes?]
"You mentioned space-time abilities."
[Correct.]
Ryan stopped beside the car.
"What if you used that to protect a radio?"
A brief pause.
[That should be possible.]
Ryan's eyes sharpened.
"And link two of them?"
Another pause.
Then—
[Also possible.]
Ryan went still.
Completely.
"…You're serious?"
[Yes.]
Ryan turned slowly.
"Private communication?"
[Yes.]
His pulse picked up.
Finally—
Something dependable.
[There is a limitation.]
Ryan waved it off.
"Of course there is."
"What's the range?"
[Based on your current mana…]
[Approximately one hundred miles.]
Ryan grinned.
That was more than enough.
More than he had hoped for.
One of his biggest problems—
Solved.
He got into the car.
The engine roared back to life.
"Have I ever told you that you're amazing?"
Iris sounded instantly pleased.
[Obviously.]
Ryan laughed.
The sound filled the small space of the car as he pulled back onto the road.
But his eyes—
Remained cold.
Focused.
Because tomorrow—
The world wouldn't ease into chaos.
It would break.
And this time—
He wouldn't be behind it.
He would be ready.