I decided to first satisfy the curiosity that was eating at me—I was certain that understanding it would help me handle Ana's situation as well.
The silence inside the tunnel was absolute. Only the quiet hum of Essence coursing through my channels, and the soft breathing of the two lovebirds, served as reminders that there were people here.
I stared at my status window, watching the numbers flicker.
Psynapse: 996
"Almost there."
My fingers twitched. With a slow breath, I transferred exactly 8 units of Essence into Psynapse.
The moment it reached 1000, a system notification echoed in my mind.
[Psynapse: 1000]
[Alpha Tier Unlocked]
The world didn't tremble. I did.
Not from pain—but from disconnection.
Every nerve, every tendon, every cell in my body froze. I couldn't even blink. It was as if the signal between my thoughts and limbs had been severed.
And then my mind ignited.
Not in fire. Not in sound.
But in structure.
