Sonia turned to look at Yani, bit her lip, then pressed her hand hard against the knob on the wall. She closed her eyes and silently sensed the spiritual factors within her, channeling her spiritual power into it as Shali had taught her.
In an instant, the bear-girl felt as if her mind were about to break free of her body's protection and be swallowed by the wall. Fortunately, she instinctively activated her psychic defensive technique as well. It steadied her mind while allowing the invisible spiritual limb formed from supernatural power to reach deep into the wall.
She sensed endless branching paths and narrow trails inside it, as if she would lose herself completely just by lingering there for a moment. Even so, Sonia wasn't repelled by the sensation. Instead, she felt an urgent desire to sink deeper into it, as if she'd found a warm bed on a bitter winter night. Or perhaps like a chilled baby finding its way into its mother's arms.
Then she suddenly shuddered. Her heart gave a jolt, and she came fully to her senses. She felt a distinct ache and exhaustion in her head, but also a strange sense of satisfaction.
The country girl had no idea that the lingering mystical power had forcibly pushed her through a ring advancement. She only knew she felt wonderfully refreshed.
Still, no matter how good she felt, the fatigue was hard to ignore. But since Shali hadn't told her to stop, she should keep going, right?
The bear-girl continued channeling psychic energy, as if she were holding up a massive boulder with her mind. She turned her head slightly and looked at Shali, who was standing by the opposite wall, only to see that she, too, was leaning against it with one hand pressed to