Breakthrough

[Day 8: You feel weaker due to the evil power consuming your vitality…

Your hand is bruised and swollen…]

The next day began with Lem's simulated self waking up in tremendous pain. 

He had been attacking the flower so relentlessly that he had not realized the extent of the damage he was doing to himself.

Now, he understood that he had made no progress towards improving his situation, and had injured himself for naught.

Distraught, he reverted back to his first instinct, to escape from the flower.

Lem watched as his simulated self ran away in every possible direction.

The trees flew by, and it appeared that he had outpaced the flower.

And then he realized that he was running headlong back towards it.

He turned around and tried again.

Only to see the flower…

[You try to escape from the range of the flower by running at full speed, but you always return back to where you started…]

Once he had lost the motivation to run, Lem's simulated self could only try the [Nine Bull Fist] again, desperately hoping that he could make a breakthrough in power.

At the very least, he wanted to damage the vines.

But alas, he could not put a mark on it.

[You attack the vines with the [Nine Bull Fist] for a period of time, but it only leaves your fists more swollen and bloody…

You rest for a few minutes…

You attack the tree again…

You eat from your rations and fall asleep…]

[Day 9: You feel weaker due to the evil power consuming your vitality. You feel as though your situation is hopeless, but you fight to maintain a positive outlook…

You are sure that your only path to survival lies with improving your understanding of the [Nine Bull Fist] so you meditate on the art for a few minutes…

You attack the tree…

You rest…

You attack the tree until your fists are a bloody mess…

You rest…

You eat from your rations and fall asleep…]

As he was thrust into darkness again, Lem thought over what had occurred the past two days.

His simulated self was growing increasingly desperate, but the improvements to the [Nine Bull Fist] were minimal.

His mind was beginning to deteriorate, along with his physical condition.

At least he still had rations that could be stretched out for a few days, but it would only prolong the inevitable.

Lem only hoped that he could see a breakthrough in the [Nine Bull Fist] before the end came.

[Day 10: You feel significantly weaker due to the evil power consuming your vitality, and your fists are unrecognizable from the bruises and bleeding…

In addition to the danger of the tree, you worry for the health of your mind and the fact that you are on the brink of dying…

You continue to attack the tree…]

…

[Day 13: Your mind has become impaired due to lack of vitality…]

Lem was carefully observing the changes in his body while his simulated self attacked the vines.

Punch!

Punch!

Punch!

Bits of skin and dried blood covered the vine's surface over a meter-long stretch.

Punch!

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

Suddenly, Lem saw a shift in the fluidity of his attacks. Each punch delivered far more power, and left more of his skin on vine. 

The emergent force produced at the point of impact had multiplied by several times, and made his fist feel like it was on fire.

His simulated self began to laugh madly, attacking with greater fervor. 

[You enter a state of comprehension while attacking the tree. You feel that your fists are infused with energy, and you laugh, feeling as though you are making progress…]

Unfortunately, Lem could clearly sense what was so difficult for his simulated self to see.

The vines were still utterly unaffected.

His punches were completely self-destructive, only serving to vastly increase the amount of energy he was expending and accelerate his demise.

This made Lem feel a bit sad, even though he had already expected it.

Deterioration at the end of simulations was becoming commonplace.

He decided that he would finally choose the comprehension option at the end of the simulation to experience the moment of enlightenment for himself.

However, before that time came, he was determined to continue studying his use of the [Nine Bull Fist].

Perhaps, he could independently make a discovery that would improve his understanding even further.