Three days after convergence crisis ended, Hunter discovered that surviving impossible odds felt worse than nearly dying during them.
Foundation Mid was stable. His body disagreed violently with that assessment. Hidden injuries had graduated from "manageable problem" to "serious life complication" through fighting Core Formation beast immediately post-breakthrough. Every meridian ached. Spiritual energy circulation required active concentration instead of natural flow. His foundation felt like someone had welded it together with spit and prayer.
Wei Suyin examined him with medical efficiency that had improved significantly through repeated exposure to his terrible life choices.
"Good news. You've stopped making progress backward." She pressed spiritual sense against damaged meridians with practiced precision. "Bad news. Hidden injuries are worse than before breakthrough. Microscopic scarring expanded during Core Formation combat. You're functional but compromised."
