The new growth resisted immediately.
Unlike the fragment.
Unlike the anomaly.
It didn't push.
It didn't test.
It expanded.
Aggressively.
crrk—shff—
The crops moved to contain it.
But—
It moved faster.
"…That's inefficient."
Ryo's voice was sharper now.
Less lazy.
More focused.
Skill Activated: Field Command I
"…Stop."
The field surged.
All zones.
Partial sync.
Controlled.
The growth compressed.
But—
It split.
crrk—
Two stems.
Then three.
"…No."
"…No splitting."
The system reacted.
System Alert
Derivative Growth Behavior: Adaptive Multiplication
"…That's worse than fragment."
The anomaly pulsed.
The fragment echoed.
The new growth expanded.
Everything was reacting to everything.
"…This is too connected."
Kiro stepped back again.
"…This is bigger than trade."
"…Everything is bigger than trade now."
The adventurer drew his weapon again.
"…We destroy this one."
Ryo paused.
For a moment.
A rare moment.
Then—
"…No."
"…We control it."
"…Why?"
"…Because it came from the farm."
Silence.
Then—
THMP—
All three pulsed again.
In sync.
Not by system.
But naturally.
"…That's worse."