Though Xiao Ran had activated both Quantum Burst and Quantum Assimilation, and Sheryl's singing was helping his Mental Power recover rapidly, his condition was still just as dire. He had completely fallen into a state of overexertion.
Of the one hundred points of Mental Power required to activate Quantum Assimilation, fifty came from the boost provided by Quantum Burst, while the other fifty had been transmitted one-sidedly by Sheryl through the FOLD Crystal necklace around her neck. But a boost did not entirely count as recovery; it was merely an added status buff. The Mental Power Sheryl transmitted was more like replacement and replenishment, and that did not truly count as recovery either.
Originally, with the two effects stacked together, Xiao Ran's depleted Mental Power had gradually begun to recover, allowing him to slowly restore his own true Mental Power. But because of Quantum Assimilation, it had all been drained again. It was as though Xiao Ran had exhausted every drop of water poured into the spring of his mind, leaving it dry once more. So even with Quantum Assimilation active, Xiao Ran lacked the strength to do anything more.
Xiao Ran could not even use the ability granted by Quantum Assimilation to enter the Quantum Field with the strength he had left. He could only wait for Quantum Assimilation's Self-healing Ability, combined with the Recovery Ability provided by Sheryl's singing, to gradually replenish him. That time was the ten minutes Xiao Ran needed—equivalent to having a weakening buff on him that would fade over ten minutes.
These ten minutes could be called the weakest period Xiao Ran had ever experienced. Even while piloting an A-class mecha, even with the strength of an A-Class Pilot, he could not bring out even half of his true power. The most direct negative