They moved swiftly but cautiously through the jungle, the dense undergrowth growing thicker with each step. Dexter’s drones buzzed ahead, their small, glowing lights flickering like fireflies, guiding them deeper into the jungle toward the source of the disturbance. The air was stifling, clinging to their skin in heavy sheets, while the usual hum of jungle life—birds calling, insects buzzing—had faded into an eerie, unnatural silence.

  When they arrived, the source of the anomaly was nearly hidden, tucked away in the heart of a dead tree stump. The stump, its wood charred and hollowed out from some long-past decay, bore a jagged crack running deep into its center. At the base of the crack, a small pool of glowing liquid shimmered, its surface pulsing softly. The light from the pool barely illuminated the surrounding darkness, its glow dimmed by the dense foliage. The air around the crack crackled faintly with energy, but it didn’t reach the surrounding flora. Only a few scattered signs of disturbed earth indicated something unnatural was at play.

  “That has to be it,” Dexter whispered, his voice filled with awe as he gazed at the pool. “That has to be what transformed the jaguars.”

  Emily stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the pool, her breath shallow as if drawn in by its very presence. “I can feel it,” she murmured, her voice almost reverent. “The energy... it’s almost calling to me.”

  Quinn’s instincts flared. He quickly raised his arm, blocking her path as he stepped forward, his expression hardening. “Careful,” he warned, his tone firm. “We don’t know what touching it will do.”

  But Emily, seemingly oblivious to the caution around her, extended her hand toward the glowing surface, her fingers trembling as they neared the liquid mana.

  “Emily, stop!” Sim’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding, slicing through the tension. “I’m postulating that liquid mana is incredibly powerful.” A shimmering cup materialized in Emily’s hand, summoned effortlessly by Sim. “Take a sample first. Let’s test its effects before diving in headfirst.”

  Emily hesitated for a moment, then knelt by the pool, carefully lowering the cup into the liquid. As it touched the surface, the mana swirled within the vessel, its glow intensifying as though it were aware it had been separated from its source. She rose, holding the cup out to the others. “We should do this together. On three?”

  Dexter shrugged, a grin tugging at his lips despite the situation. “Why not? What’s the worst that could happen?”

  Quinn sighed, his brows furrowing slightly, but he nodded. “Alright. Together.”

  Emily counted down, her voice steady and calm despite the tension. “One.”

  “Two,” Dexter said, his fingers hovering just above the glowing surface.

  “Three,” Quinn finished, and in unison, all three dipped a single finger into the mana.

  The reaction was instantaneous.

  A surge of raw, unfiltered energy coursed through them, electrifying every nerve and overwhelming their senses. Emily gasped, her wide eyes glowing faintly as the mana flowed through her, expanding her internal mana channels at a staggering rate.

  The trio froze, rooted in place as the liquid mana infused their bodies. It wasn’t just entering them—it was reshaping them, deepening and fortifying their mana pathways, enhancing them in ways they couldn’t fully grasp. It felt as though their systems were craving the energy, pulling it in faster, with an insatiable hunger.

  Alerts flooded their system interfaces: “LEVELED UP!” flashed repeatedly in bold, bright letters as their mana reserves surged to unprecedented heights. The cup in Emily’s hand dimmed as its contents were consumed, the vibrant liquid vanishing as if drawn into the very air itself, until not a single drop remained.

  Quinn’s muscles rippled with new power, his physique visibly enhanced as energy radiated through him. Dexter’s bracers hummed with an electric glow, the nanobots shimmering silver as they activated with greater efficiency. Emily’s forehead glowed faintly, a small mark of light appearing as her body pulsed with newfound energy, the air around her practically vibrating with power.

  When the mana finally dissipated, the trio staggered back, their breaths ragged and uneven, their minds reeling from the intensity of what they had just experienced. The world around them felt sharper, more vibrant. Their transformation pressing against them in every sense. Their system menus blinked with new updates, revealing that their mana channels had grown in capacity, their strength and endurance heightened in ways they had never anticipated.

  Sim’s voice broke the heavy silence, calm but laced with approval. “Congratulations. You’ve just undergone a significant power boost. That liquid mana seems to be very potent.”

  Quinn blinked, his mind still trying to catch up with the sudden surge of power. “We didn’t mean to—”

  “You didn’t have to,” Sim interrupted, her voice cutting through the confusion. “Your bodies are designed to absorb mana, especially raw sources like that pool. This transformation was inevitable the moment you touched it. Your channels have expanded, your power increased—a lot.”

  Emily flexed her hands, watching the faint glow that flickered beneath her skin, a subtle but constant reminder of the change within her. “This is... incredible.”

  Dexter grinned, his usual humor tempered by the awe he couldn’t quite suppress. “We just hit the mana jackpot.”

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  Sim’s tone shifted, becoming more measured, the weight of her words settling in. “Yes, but remember: power without control is dangerous. The system will adjust, but you must remain disciplined. You’ve unlocked potential, but you must stay in control.”

  “I’ll secure the mana source,” Sim continued, her voice now cautious, her focus unwavering. “No telling what might happen if someone—or something—falls in.”

  Quinn nodded, his gaze drifting back to the now-empty pool. His brow furrowed as the implications of their actions weighed on him. “We need to be careful. If something like this caused the jaguar mutations, there could be other pools out here.”

  Suddenly, a voice echoed from the trees above, breaking the tense silence and sending a shiver through the group.

  A soft, yet oddly clear voice echoed from above, cutting through the charged air still buzzing with residual mana. "Never see people drink pool before. Was good? Big power, yes?"

  The trio whipped their heads up in unison, their eyes scanning the dense canopy above them. The voice had a slow, high pitched, almost caveman-like cadence, its curious, uncertain tone a stark contrast to the usual rhythm of the jungle.

  Dexter squinted into the shadows of the branches above, his eyes straining to catch the slightest movement. Something small and quick darted between the leaves, almost imperceptible. “Uh, did that… did that tree just talk?”

  Before anyone could respond, a tiny, round face peeked out from the foliage, its large, luminous eyes locking onto them. The creature was no bigger than a house cat, its velvety golden fur shimmering in the faint light. A long, curling tail swayed behind it, moving like a pendulum in time with its movements. Its eyes glowed faintly, the emerald green reflecting the vibrant energy of the mana pool.

  “Me no tree,” the voice echoed directly in their minds.

  “What the…” Quinn started, his words trailing off as the creature descended from the tree with startling grace. Its movements were impossibly fluid, each leap and twist carried out with the ease of something accustomed to this environment. It landed lightly on the ground, rising onto its hind legs with a theatrical flourish. Its tail curled around it like a cloak, completing the picture of unspoken flair.

  "Me Kinkajou," the creature announced proudly, puffing out its tiny chest. Its mouth remained still as the words resonated directly in their minds—telepathic communication, though rough and unrefined, unmistakably clear.

  Dexter’s jaw dropped, his excitement spilling over. “Holy crap! It’s like Rocket Raccoon but with telepathy!” He clapped his hands together, excitement bubbling up inside him. “Can I keep him?”

  The Kinkajou’s glowing eyes narrowed, its tiny claw pointing accusingly at Dexter. “No keep! Me no pet!” it snapped, the indignation clear in its voice. “Kinkajou talk, yes. You give food, me help. Banana good.”

  Emily took a cautious step forward, her brow furrowed in a mix of disbelief and scientific curiosity. “You… drank from the mana pool, didn’t you?”

  The Kinkajou nodded proudly, its small face breaking into a grin. "Drink pool. Many times. Big brain now." It thumped its chest with its tiny paw. "Can talk with brain, think better."

  Quinn tilted his head, skeptical. “How many times did you drink from the pool?”

  The Kinkajou scratched its head, counting its fingers with exaggerated focus. “Many. Drink every day. Make Kinkajou... smart. Like you.” It grinned wider, its teeth gleaming. “Not bad for little guy, huh?”

  Dexter was practically bouncing with excitement, leaning closer. “You’re amazing. And so cute. Seriously, this is so awesome. OK, how about a name? Can I call you Kink? No, to close to Kinky. You need something cooler, like Paco or Bruno. Ooh, how about Cookie? You should join our team! Be our little telepathic sidekick?” Turning to the others, he said, “Can I keep him, PLEEEEEEASE!”

  The Kinkajou stared at Dexter blankly for a long moment, its large, luminous eyes unblinking. “Funny names? No. Me Kinkajou. Smart, but not that smart. No want name. No want team. Want mana. And bananas.”

  Emily folded her arms, her voice cutting through Dexter’s enthusiasm with a calm, measured tone. “So, what happens if it keeps drinking mana? It’s already telepathic. What’s next?”

  The Kinkajou rubbed its chin thoughtfully, its small paw mimicking human gestures in a way that made it seem almost too aware. “Hmm... not sure. But no hurt. Just Kinkajou. Not big cat. Not mean.” It flashed a toothy grin. “Me help. Know jungle. Know mana. You want more pool, yes?”

  Quinn exchanged a glance with Emily, his expression cautious but intrigued. “You’re saying you’ll help us find another mana pool? And all you want is bananas?”

  The Kinkajou nodded vigorously, practically bouncing on its hind legs with excitement. “Yes! And mana. Drink good. Help think, help talk. But no be pet. Deal?”

  Dexter’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he extended a hand, already completely on board. “Deal! Bananas for life, and you help us. Man, this is the coolest thing ever. We have our own telepathic Kinkajou!”

  Quinn sighed, rubbing his temples with a groan. “I can’t believe we’re entertaining this.”

  Emily, arms still crossed, studied the Kinkajou with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. “Sim, any concerns about teaming up with this… telepathic Kinkajou?”

  Sim’s voice chimed in, calm but thoughtful. “Mana has unpredictable effects on animals. However, this could be a valuable opportunity to study its influence on this particular creature.”

  The Kinkajou looked around, clearly searching for the source of the voice. “Where other voice?”

  “That’s Sim,” Dexter explained. “She’s our friend, she is very far away. And like you, she can communicate through telepathy.”

  “Hi, Sim. Pleased you meet!” the Kinkajou chirped, its voice cheerful despite its earlier urgency.

  “It’s a pleasure, Kinkajou,” Sim responded.

  Emily paused for a moment, her skepticism still lingering. She glanced at the creature, then nodded, her expression softening slightly. “This is a little unorthodox, but what isn’t anymore. Alright. But we’ll be keeping an eye on you. If you start causing trouble…”

  “Kinkajou stay good!” the creature interjected, its voice rising with a sense of urgency, as if eager to prove its loyalty. “Help find pool. More there. Me follow.”

  Dexter grinned from ear to ear, practically glowing with excitement. "This is officially the best day of my entire life!"

  The Kinkajou turned with a sudden burst of energy, scrambling up onto Dexter’s shoulder. It pointed with its tail in the direction they needed to go. "Pool that way. More drink. Hurry, before other animals find," it insisted, its telepathic voice growing clearer, but still carrying a childlike tone of eagerness.

  Just as they prepared to move, Sim’s voice cut through again, precise and calm. "Dexter, Emily, Quinn, before you go further, check your mana reserves. The absorption process from earlier was... substantial."

  They paused, each of them summoning their system interfaces. Bright numbers and flashing alerts lit up their vision, all indicating the same thing: their mana reserves had quadrupled.

  “Holy smokes…” Dexter murmured, his eyes wide with disbelief. "I could power the grid for an entire city with this."

  Emily flexed her fingers, feeling the power surge through her, her senses sharper and more attuned. "We’ve leveled up. Again. And this time, it’s a serious boost."

  The Kinkajou tilted its head, clearly growing impatient. “You strong now. Good. Pool ahead. Go, see.” Its emerald eyes sparkled with excitement, its small frame bouncing slightly with energy.

  Dexter’s grin stretched from ear to ear as he nodded enthusiastically. “Lead the way, little buddy!”