Everything was louder now.
Not in sound.
But in presence.
The field wasn't just operating.
It was reacting.
Constantly.
rustle… shift… pulse…
Ryo sat up slowly.
"…This is escalating."
Status Check
Level: 7
Farm State: Active Instability
Anomaly Count: 1
Fragment Count: 1 (Contained)
Field Size: Expanded
Control Level: Strained
"…Strained again."
"…I just fixed that."
The system flickered stronger than ever before.
System Notification
New Function Unlocking Soon
Condition: Sustained Multi-Zone Control
"…Multi-zone."
"…That sounds like more work."
Kiro spoke quietly.
"…That sounds like infrastructure."
The adventurer added:
"…That sounds like danger."
Ryo lay back down.
Staring at the sky again.
"…That sounds like tomorrow's problem."
THUMP…
The anomaly answered.
Stronger.
More aware.
The fragment echoed.
The field responded.
Faster.
Sharper.
Connected.
Everything was connected now.
Not loosely.
Not accidentally.
But actively.
Ryo closed his eyes.
"…I didn't start this."
rustle…
"…The farm did."
And somewhere beneath the soil—
Something grew.
Not a crop.
Not a fragment.
Something new.
thmp…