Chapter 38 - Stamina Is Not Optional
Tave moved with quiet intent, every sense honed and alert. His eyes scanned the ground, noting the subtle indentations, tracks left by passing monsters. The faint stench of their scent still lingered in the air. He listened closely, filtering through the rustling of scorched leaves, searching for even the softest echo of movement beyond the trees.
He did his best to sync his instincts with Fang's. The beast prowled quietly at their front, their awareness linked now as they swept through the shadowed remains of the forest. They were searching, not for a fight this time, but for a place to breathe.
They needed rest.
No one could keep pushing through a Rift like this indefinitely. Gaia Force didn't work that way.
The system ran on two essential pillars: Energy and Stamina.
Energy, in its simplest definition, was the raw force stored within the core of every Gaia Awakener. It replenished slowly over time and was consumed whenever abilities were cast. The more powerful or complex the ability, the more Energy it drained. Think of it as akin to Mana. Fluid, essential, but limited.
Run out, and you couldn't fight with any special techniques. Chain-casting abilities drained the core fast, leaving only the basic swings of a sword behind.
Though in truth, every Awakener could choose how to develop themselves. Either by strengthening their physical endurance or expanding their core capacity. Most magic casters leaned heavily into the latter, cultivating a larger force reserve within their Gaia Core. That way, they could cast spells more frequently and sustain longer engagements without running dry.
Then there was Stamina.
Stamina wasn't just physical exhaustion; it was mental, emotional, spiritual. It was the fatigue that came from pouring one's will into every Gaia-infused strike, every shield of force, every instinct-triggered surge of power. It wasn't something that could be recharged by standing still. Stamina didn't return with time.
It returned only with rest.