Alicia checked her reserves again.
2,000 Life Energy.
She compared it with the cost.
One low-grade Life Stone—
100 Life Energy.
"…Twenty."
That was her limit.
If she used everything.
Alicia didn't move immediately.
She observed first.
The plains had changed.
Humans stayed closer together now.
Most of them remained near the area where she placed the Life Stones.
The difference was clear.
That area had denser Life Energy.
Better conditions.
Hus was still there.
Sitting.
Practicing.
The energy inside him moved slowly.
Not perfect.
But controlled.
Alicia focused on him.
"…Consumes less than I expected."
Then she looked at the others.
They were trying to copy him.
Most failed.
The energy scattered before it could settle.
"…So it's not easy."
That was good.
If everyone succeeded instantly, balance would break.
Alicia shifted her attention to the forest.
Beasts were still fighting over resource zones.
Still stronger.
Still ahead.
The gap remained.
"…Humans need more time."
She looked back at her reserves.
2,000.
Then at the plains.
"…i have enough."
Alicia created another Life Stone.
Energy dropped.
1,900.
She placed it carefully.
Not at the center.
But slightly away.
The effect spread.
A few humans moved toward it.
Slowly.
"…Good."
Not everyone gathered in one place anymore.
She created another.
Then another.
Each time—
her reserves dropped.
1,800
1,700
1,600
Alicia stopped.
"…Enough."
She didn't continue.
Instead, she observed.
The plains now had multiple small zones.
Not equal.
But distributed.
Humans began spreading between them.
Less crowding.
More space.
Alicia noted the change.
"…Better stability."
She didn't feel satisfied.
But it worked.
Then—
One of the humans near a new Life Stone—
suddenly stopped moving.
Alicia focused.
Energy gathered.
Slow.
Unstable.
Then—
it held.
"…Another one."
Not as smooth as Hus.
Not as stable.
But successful.
The second cultivator.
Nearby humans reacted.
Surprised.
Alicia didn't move.
She watched.
"…So environment matters."
More Life Energy.
Better stability.
Higher chance.
That was the pattern.
Alicia looked at her reserves again.
1,600 Life Energy.
Then at the plains.
"…If I use more, they grow faster."
Then she looked toward the forest.
"…But they'll still be behind."
The imbalance wasn't gone.
Just delayed.
Then—
the pulse beneath the forest surged again.
Stronger than before.
Closer.
Alicia locked onto it.
"…You're speeding up."
The ground above it shifted again.
Slightly more this time.
Beasts nearby moved away.
Instinct.
Alicia didn't act.
She compared both sides.
Plains—slow growth, increasing stability
Forest—high pressure, hidden change
"…I can't focus on just one."
Her reserves were limited.
Her world was not.
Alicia stayed still.
"…I need a better method."