It didn't start near the anomaly.
That was the problem.
It started in the expansion zone.
Quiet.
Subtle.
Unnoticed.
At first.
crk…
A small disturbance in the soil.
A slight shift.
Nothing unusual.
Nothing alarming.
Until—
It didn't stop.
crrk… crk…
Ryo didn't notice immediately.
He was watching the anomaly.
The fragment.
The synchronization.
The obvious problems.
Not the quiet ones.
The adventurer noticed first.
"…Ryo."
"…Later."
"…No."
"…Now."
Ryo sighed and turned slightly.
"…What."
"…There."
A small mound had formed.
Barely visible.
But—
Growing.
crrk…
"…That's not scheduled."
The system flickered.
New Entity Detected
Origin: Field Replication
Status: Unknown
"…Unknown again."
"…I don't like unknown."
The mound shifted.
Then—
Something broke through.
pop
A stem.
But not like the others.
Thicker.
Darker.
Pulsing faintly.
thmp…
"…No."
"…We already have one problem."
Kiro leaned forward.
"…That's new product."
"…That's new problem."
The stem grew rapidly.
Too rapidly.
crrk—shff—
It twisted.
Expanded.
Changed shape.
"…That's not replication."
"…That's mutation."
The system flickered again.
Stronger.
System Update
Trait Evolution Detected
New Classification: Derivative Growth
"…Derivative?"
"…That's worse than fragment."
The anomaly pulsed.
Responding.
The fragment echoed.
The new growth reacted.
All three—
Connected.
THMP—THUMP—THMP—
"…No."
"…We are not adding a third."
Ryo stood again.
Faster this time.
Less hesitation.
More frustration.
"…Contain."