Niwla continued to look at the huge super freezer, deliberating whether this idea might actually work.

Theoretically, it should, at least based on his present understanding of how Species Skill operated.

If it really did choose the path of least resistance, then he could create a path for it through the huge super freezer.

It would also solve the Mixing issue, most likely.

Based on the knowledge gleaned from that short trip to the library, spellcrafting was all about intention. There were also multiple ways to create the same spell. Case in point, Ice Arrows.

When he had first started creating it, he froze a huge block of ice and carved out the shape of an icicle. That was the first approach.

It evolved into using molds, where liquid Mana was poured into a mold and frozen into Ice Mana.

One involved carving. The other molding.

Two different approaches to derive the same spell.

He was hoping that the same principle applied to something as abstract as Mixing.

Alwin resorted to having them orbit around each other because of Lapis' demonstration of the skill and the way his Yin-Yang Blast operated. So, why did Lapis have the spells, or ingredients in her case, orbit around each other? This was more of an educated guess, but it most likely had something to do with her and her baking background.

Mixing involved circular motions: moving a spoon in a circle, a blender, etc. That was the most natural form the spell adopted based on her background.

Again, this was merely a hunch. Grasping at straws that may or may not even be there.

Basically, the whole preamble was him trying to justify why Mix didn't necessarily require two different spells to orbit around each other in order for the Mixing process to work. As long as both spells were in contact with each other in a motion that promoted Mixing, the spell should work. The key here was intention—the intention of having the two spells combined to form a brand new one based on the individual components.

Hopefully, this would work.

Winal came skittering back, flames burning brightly and electricity zip zapping all over the place.

The Mental Hands above signed for him.

I have an idea on how to prevent the gas from pushing the flask all the way out of the Core."

Behind him was another swarm of Mental Hands. The first group carried the glass Mental Flask, zipping forward with ease. Behind them were the two other groups of Mental hands. These ones struggled. With trembling fingers and sluggish movements, they were barely even able to get off the ground as they carried two large lumps. One was black, the other white.

"You plan to attach heavy weights to the flask so that the gas can't pull the flask up?"

Winal nodded furiously, antenna flopping around.

Niwla looked back at the two weights that the Mental Hands were struggling to carry.

"Is there any reason why the weights are black and white?" Niwla asked.

Winal's flames grew bright red, while his lightning turned orange.

"It's okay," Niwla said. "I get it."

"But I'm sorry, Winal; I might have wasted your time." I just thought of another way to contain the gas, while also Mixing it with the Ice Needles."

"It's no problem at all. I am just happy that I got to help. Do you still need help?"

"As long as you're offering," Niwla smiled.

Winal nodded his head furiously once more.

"Okay, basically my idea is to funnel the Withdrawal gas through the huge super freeze, and run it down the line of Mental Conveyor Belts all the way to the edge of the Core. That should contain it long enough to be Mix with the Ice Needles."

The ant paused, sparks of electricity flowing between this antenna as he pondered Niwla's suggestion.

He finally looked up, Mental Hands signing for him.

"And you want me to help?"

"Of course."

"Even though I failed the last time you asked me for help?"

"Failure is part of the process, Winal. As long as you keep trying, it'll always be okay."

"Thanks, Niwla. Sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry about, Winal. I'm always here for you, just like how you're always here for me."

"Thanks again, Niwla." He blushed. "I promise that I'll do my best."

"And I know you will."

Niwla watched as Winal went to work. The ant skittered toward the huge super freezer and placed a leg on the side of the insulated Mental Wall. The structure trembled as another addition to the super freezer was made. From the wall, protruded a new extension. Unlike the walls that covered the biological conveyor belts, this one was circular; it was a pipe of some sort.

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It jutted forward, extending toward the Mana Pool, before finally coming to a halt. Following that, it extended ninety degrees downwards until it was inches above the surface of the liquid Mana. Rails were along the side of the pipe, stretching the entire width of the super freezer.

The inside of the huge super freezer continued to shake and rumble, though Niwla couldn't tell what was happening.

The ant was done with the changes to the Mental construct, as quick as always. That was the Winal he knew.

Niwla waddled over to the ant, placing a wing on his electrifying shoulder, though not a single spark jolted his feathers.

"Did you do it?" he asked.

Panting, Winal replied, "Yes. Would you like to know what I've done?"

"Yes."

"I've—"

Niwla raised a wing, stopping Winal.

"Did I do something wrong?" I'm sorry, Niwla. I didn't mean it."

"You didn't, silly. I want you to show me, not tell me."

The ant lit up, nodding furiously with almost as much enthusiasm as Alwin for just about anything.

"Could you cast Withdrawal?"

Niwla nodded, channeling the intent to cast Withdrawal.

Like before and all of the other times, Mana within the Mana Pool froze solid into Ice Mana. However, just before it could convert into gaseous Withdrawal, the Mental Pipe that Winal had set up began to move. It shifted along the rails until it was perpendicular to the floating Ice Mana chunk. The pipe inched forward, moving until the bent portion was right above the chunk. That part extended downwards until the entire Ice Mana chunk was contained within the pipe.

The Ice Mana sublimated, transforming into a gas. Despite the opaque nature of the pipe, Niwla managed to keep track of the movement of the gas by the way it rattled and shook. The vapor surged into the huge white box—super freezer—and the trembling stopped.

What now?

Winal turned to Niwla, panting and sweating. "I need you to focus on Mixing right now."

The Cold Turkey nodded.

Closing his eyes, he thought back to how Lapis and Alwin mixed things by having them orbit around each other. Hopefully, his hypothesis was correct: that spirals were only to focus their intent.

His method would be different. Instead of spirals, he would have the Withdrawal gas rush down the conveyor pipeline over the Ice Needle, where the sheer speed of the gas would force the two to Mix.

Sweat poured down Niwla's face, dripping over his feathers.

It was a good idea in theory, but he failed to realize the strain that it would have on him. Mixing two separate spells was one thing, but due to the production nature of the Ice Needles, it wasn't just one needle being Mixed with the gas; it was multiple.

C'mon. Mix. Mix. Mix.

The insulated Mental Walls trembled, meaning that the gas was finally traveling down the conveyor line, interacting with the Ice Needles and hopefully Mixing with them.

Then, silence. The shaking stopped, and Niwla collapsed onto the ground. He turned to the end of the conveyor line. Not a single puff of gas escaped, nor was there the familiar urge to shout out Withdrawal.

That was good. He had successfully used up all of the Withdrawal gas. Now, whether it was the outcome he desired was a different story.

He sighed again.

No wonder Lapis and Alwin both had the spells orbit each other. It was also a visual indicator of the Mixing process.

Niwla was operating blind. Quite literally, considering he couldn't even see through the insulated Mental Walls.

He didn't know how many Ice Needles were on the Conveyor Belt, but he could feel their small presence. It was odd. Surreal even. This was the first time he actually paid attention to the shaped creations. He could feel the cold Ice Mana chilling out of them as they made their way down the biological Conveyor Belt. He could feel the Withdrawal gas flowing over them. Though he couldn't outright control it, he could coax it, wheedling the vapor into the Ice Needle.

"Is it done?" Niwla asked.

Winal shrugged. Even he wasn't sure. This was the first time both of them had attempted this.

They walked to the edge of the Core, stopping at the cannons that Winal had set up. Niwla could hear the churn of biological motors turning as a small Ice Needle emerged from the slit that Winal had opened within the Mental Walls.

Niwla leaned in close. He didn't want to touch it. What if it broke under his wing?

Had he done it? Was it a success?

It certainly didn't look any different, just a small needle made out of ice with tiny black dots embedded around it. Nothing compared to the definite changes whenever Alwin attempted a Mix.

"Did it work?" Niwla asked.

Winal shrugged.

"I guess there's only one way to find out."

Winal nodded, understanding what Niwla was implying. The Ice Needle shifted back into the conveyor line with the wall sealing behind it. The cannons were loaded up with a single Ice Needle; unfortunately, it wasn't the homing kind, as they required Alwin for that.

Niwla nodded.

The cannon fired.

A small object soared past the edge of his Core.

Niwla felt a tingle in his throat as he shouted, "Withdrawal! Mix! Ice Needle!"

Yet, only a single object materialized in front of him. The Ice Needle shot forward. It struck the door, embedding itself within it.

That was a bust.

Just before Niwla closed his eyes and entered his Core to figure out what had gone wrong, he noticed something.

The Ice Needle was ejecting a blue vapor.

Not as much as a single cast of Withdrawal, but it was definitely venting something. Niwla hopped off the toilet and waddled closer. Did it work?

He observed the Ice Needle and noticed that the gas was coming out of the tiny little black dots. In other words, the little eye holes.

That was… something. Was it even a problem? As long as not all of the eyes were covered by freezing cold gas, then it probably wouldn't be a problem, right?

Niwla sighed.

Baby steps, Niwla. Baby steps. We can't all be like Alwin and his ability to magically make things just work.

He grabbed the doorknob of the toilet and swung it open. The Ice Needle could definitely pierce a defenseless door, but what about the Stone Training Dummy? How did the inclusion of Withdrawal affect its piercing strength? An increase? Decrease"? Neither?

There were just too many things he wanted to try, but so little time.

He closed his eyes, about to enter his Core, when he felt something.

He felt… cold?

That shouldn't be possible.

He was a Cold Turkey., He naturally resisted the cold.

Niwla opened his eyes again and saw something staring at him in the face. A System Screen.

What was it doing here? He hadn't thought about the System in the slightest.

Was it Alwin? Was the little slime awake and causing problems again?

Inside the shared mindscape, Niwla looked around the control seat. There wasn't a single trace of the slime anywhere. He was sure, because he even checked under the seat.

So, what was going on?

Static buzzed overhead, and Lapis' frantic voice pierced through.

"Bird boy! Quick! Put on your coat. Eat the pills. Pray to Cor! Your Tribulation's been triggered!"

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