As another week went by and there was no hint at what was refilling his energy levels the frustration began to set in, although it had only taken him killing 20 slimes to get a core he was still no closer to figuring out a new cultivation method.

Water the plants, kill slimes when they come close, expunge all energy form his body and let it refill. Again and again for the entire week, although the time it took for my body to recover energy had dropped from fifteen hours to fourteen he still spent more time unconscious than awake and with the ever increasing number of slimes and incremental increase in surrounding energy due to the plants stress was racking up.

He knew attempting a new type of cultivation was insane but he had little other choice but to gamble. After watering the plants once more he once again sat down and began expunging the energy in his body, as the familiar fatigue and heaviness sets in I continue to focus on my energy trying to find were the energy was being made.

When a small tiny connection point caught his attention, he had been cultivating his intake and release points from the age of five and he knew although small this connection point had not existed until now.

This was it, the point I was looking for, tugging at the connection point I begin to focus on where it led. Instead of somewhere in my body like I had expected it to be it led out of my body and into the garden, a plant, he had somehow made a connection with one of the plants and was receiving and releasing energy to and from the plant.

Shock was the only way to describe his current emotion, how in the world had he connected to a plant of all things. But there was no denying he had made a connection with one of the vegetables.

Seconds after discovering this while still focused on the connection he collapsed just like he had all the times before, however a drastic change occurred when he collapsed. Before it was just like falling asleep but now he could sense his body despite not being awake, and unlike before where it was always pitch black in his dreams it was instead now more like being surrounded by small white and black ball.

The ball was 80% black with flecks of white that although hard to see exists, as I lay there looking and feeling a new feeling emerged like a knock or a small bump. Unsure of what it is I focus my attention on this and what I sense is a small tiny plant in the garden, slowly feeling it push up against the ball that surrounds me I watch as a 10% of the current black on the walls turns white.

After that the ball expanded a small centimeter before stopping, pulling back the plant returns to its normal position and the energy slowly gathering in my body completely fills up. Suddenly wakening from a detached state was jarring, it felt like there was little control over yourself and that your body was no longer your own.

Attempting to get up felt like moving through glue, and the round ball was still present sitting in the center of my brain.

Looking at my comm device I realize the amount of time spent asleep had been decreased by another hour. This drastic change in time could only be caused by the change in what happened when he was asleep, it isn't hard to guess what caused the sudden decrease in time but why it had this affect was something he could only mess around and see to find out.

After stretching and walking around a bit he realized that in fact he wasn't moving any slower but that he was seeing and recognizing things faster. With a sigh of relief he sat down and began meditating and while looking at his energy veins he realized the amount of corruption had decreased drastically over night. Stunned he begins to check his absorption points and came to the realization that the amount of energy blocking the way had decreased.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

However just as he began to analyze why he heard the familiar sound of plop, however unlike usual it wasn't one plop but several indicating that it was a small group of slimes approaching. With the situation being what it was as long as he remained in this cave they will continue past, as the sound got closer however it was clear that a change had occurred as before the slime would only get close enough to the water that you could barely hear them now the sound was clear as day.

Although slimes would get braver in groups he hadn't thought it would also extend to how close they would be willing to get to water, taking this into account if to many slimes were to gather they would end up over running the stream.

Knowing he had to deal with it now before it got worse he began by filling up all three of his pots and putting it in his comm space, then he got out the tarp tied the four ends together and put more water in it. Hanging it by using the cooking utensil to make a makeshift hanger he takes all the water and heads towards the sound making sure nothing was behind him at all times as all it would take is him being surrounded by slimes to die.

Coming up on the slimes I wait until they are about to come round the corner in front of me to step out and release the tarp full of water in seconds all but 2 of the five slimes are soaked, while taking a step back I take out a pot and chuck the water in it at a remaining slime.

In only 3 seconds 4 of five slimes are done for, watching as the last one tries to roll away I rush forward and immediately douse it. All five slimes dead in 5 seconds, surprise overwhelm me at how quickly my judgment came maybe I shouldn't though with my mind moving faster than my body I'm comprehending things faster then my body can respond.

Returning to my cave as sadly none of the slimes dropped anything, I prepare to immediately start cultivating again after eating and drinking my fill.

I need to advance as fast as possible if I want to survive the onslaught of slimes that is slowly building.

----------------------------------------

P.O.V. Izel (second oldest and first born girl)

It has been one and a half months since eldest brother died leaving me to take care of everyone in the family, one week after his disappearance we were told that Aadi had left all the money he saved up to me the second eldest. As time went by however it became more obvious how much control and say in the family he had, without him here trying to keep everything clean and in order while making sure everyone completed what they were meant to do it became a animal pen in less than a week after he left.

Although we have slowly adjusted there are always fights and arguments on who has what chore and who cleans what up. It took two weeks for everyone to start getting up on their on and even now a month and a half later their are still some who subconsciously fall back on old habits calling out his name to ask a question, to ask where something is. The silence that permeates the house following times like this is enough for the person to realize what they had done.

She knew that it would take a long time before hearing his name wouldn't spark a certain amount of pain and loss for those old enough to remember him.

However she also knew that those to young would forget him quickly leaving them without any good and loving memories. She felt both comfort and sadness at that fact as she felt they shouldn't have to deal with it while still so young but somewhat wished there would be a few more with precious memories with him.

While getting ready in the morning at 4 O'clock like he used to and waking the others I head out to prepare food for myself and those who aren't yet five years old, those over five have begun preparing the food on their own since Aadi left.

Everything is the same but also shifted slightly like a missing row that causes just slightly off alignments on both sides the only change that has occurred is when bed time hits those older than five have to stay awake all but one night of the week to cultivate.

This shift in habit makes me feel better like he truly had meaning in our life and with him gone we feel less safe.

I know the younger kids will forget him but he will always be more of a parent to me then my real ones.