Palim stood outside, energized by the progress he had made in the last 5 months. Recently, he had been thinking about the concept of simultaneous recycling. What if he could recycle multiple objects at once? The possibilities were endless—greater efficiency, more energy generated, and perhaps even more effective training.
He gathered several items from the garden: a handful of pebbles, some leaves, and the remains of the broken twig from earlier. Sitting cross-legged on the soft grass, he laid the items before him and focused on the task at hand.
"Okay, let's do this," he muttered, centering himself.
First, he imagined each object separately, feeling their unique energies. The twig was brittle but held a natural warmth. The pebbles were cold and solid, while the leaves rustled gently, alive with potential.
With his mana flowing through him, he wove it into a complex web, binding it to each object. "Recycle!" he commanded, visualizing the energy from all the items merging into a single flow.
The process was challenging. He felt his mana stretching thin as he attempted to maintain the connection with each object simultaneously.
"Focus," he reminded himself, pushing deeper into concentration.
Slowly, he could feel the items beginning to dissolve. A wave of energy surged through him as he drew the recycled essence into himself. It was exhilarating and exhausting at the same time.
"Almost… there…" he grunted, beads of sweat forming on his brow.
[Skill Gained: Simultaneous Recycling (Level 1)]
At last, he managed to pull the energy together. The flow felt rich and vibrant, filling him with warmth. It was like sipping from a cool stream on a hot day, and Palim grinned in triumph.
"I did it!" he exclaimed, his heart racing.
The thrill of success coursed through him, igniting a new wave of excitement. But Palim was far from finished; he wanted to explore the possibilities of his recent breakthrough in simultaneous recycling.
Sitting cross-legged on the grass, he took a moment to catch his breath. "How can I use this?" he pondered. He could already envision various ways to experiment with simultaneous recycling.
With determination, he gathered more items from the garden. He picked up some small branches, an assortment of leaves, and even a few small rocks. He also collected a few wildflowers that added vibrant colors to his collection. This time, he intended to recycle each item while maintaining the connections he had just established.
"Okay, let's try this!" he said, his voice bubbling with enthusiasm.
He focused on the wildflowers first, visualizing their energy—their delicate petals and rich life force. "Recycle!" he commanded, weaving his mana into the essence of the flowers. He felt their warmth as they began to dissolve, becoming a part of the vibrant energy he was crafting.
Next, he turned his attention to the small rocks. "You're up!" he said, imagining their cold, sturdy nature. "Recycle!" he repeated, layering his mana over the stones, feeling the hard edges soften under his influence.
As the two elements began to merge into a brilliant swirl of energy, Palim felt a challenge arise. Could he maintain the connection with both items while adding a third?
"Let's go for it!" he shouted, grabbing a handful of leaves. He visualized them, lively and fresh, and brought them into the fold. "Recycle!" he declared once more, and as he directed his mana toward the leaves, he felt the trio of energies intertwine.
The task was arduous; he could feel his mana stretching thin as he held the connection. "Focus, Palim!" he whispered to himself, pushing deeper into concentration. Slowly, he could sense the essence of each item beginning to dissolve. This is amazing! he thought, a grin spreading across his face.
Finally, he merged the energies into a single, pulsating sphere. It swirled with colors that danced like flames, vibrant and alive.
[ Skill: Simultaneous Recycling (Level 1 -> 2)]
His heart raced as he beheld his progress. "Now, for the next step…" he murmured. He remembered the breakthrough he had made a month ago, converting air into sustenance. What if he could merge that technique with simultaneous recycling?
He felt a spark of inspiration. "Time to bring it all together," he said, eager to try.
"Let's start to recycle air to refill my stamina first" he thought excitedly.
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes. I can do this. He envisioned the air around him, rich and full of mana. Drawing in the energy, he combined started to recycle it into stamina, then absorb it.
"Good!" he whispered, "Now, simultaneously recycling these leaves."
Palim inhaled deeply, focusing on the familiar trickle of air-recycled stamina refilling his body. It was slow, barely enough to counter the exhaustion from splitting his attention, but it was there. Now came the hard part.
He closed his eyes, visualizing the dry leaves before him, channeling his mana into them while keeping the flow of air recycling steady. The leaves' fragile essence was different from the air—more tangible, more volatile. "Focus," he whispered.
His mind stretched, balancing the subtle, steady draw of air with the more intense, demanding energy from the leaves. He could feel the leaves begin to dissolve, their essence merging with his mana, feeding him, but at a cost.
The stamina strain was heavy. Maintaining the delicate balance felt like trying to hold two fragile strings taut in opposite directions. His heart pounded, beads of sweat rolled down his temples, and his limbs trembled. The energy gain from the leaves was substantial, but the effort was still draining him faster than the air could replenish.
Even so, he saw the potential. If he could refine this technique, balance it better, he might one day achieve a constant influx of stamina. A grin tugged at his lips. One day, he thought, hope flickering inside him. I'll make this work.