Four hours. It took me for hours to swallow that monster. Inch by slow inch, I felt it's body slide down my gullet. Several times I even got parts of it stuck on my beak, which normaly led to about twenty minutes of chomping and gnawing to wear down the bone and flesh enough to continue my slow endeavor.

The Squiglies have come and gone at times, though I've ignored them until now. Along the way though, I seemed to come to an understanding that they are a sort of...guide. Alive and knowing but...controlled. They are my friend, and my path to growing strong like Mama!

Other strange things are happening too, my body felt like liquid for at least an hour earlier, and since then I've just felt different somehow. Like my legs aren't my own, and my face feels a lot more stiff. Then again, my jaw was pretty much fully opened for most of the time I've been awake.

Finally though, the last little tip of the feline's tail passes over my tongue. I'm still trapped under a literal ton of rocks, but...all in due time. I will definitely be here a while, but it isn't like I actually have to eat...or do I? Whatever changes my body is going through, i'm pretty sure it takes care of the dead Rulka in my...stomach? Torso? Shell? Regardless, I don't inately feel like I'll ever actually need to feed.

Well, time to liven up, Orchid! Squiglies, come here! What's all that stuff you were saying earlier, and sorry for not paying attention to you!

Congratulations, you have ascended! You have grown from a Rock Tortoise and into a Snapping Cave Tortoise! As such, we apologize for the discomfort, but there is far more pain in life than simply this. You have grown thicker muscles and skin across your body, and your shell has grown far denser to allow for better grounding while biting or preparing to jump. Due to your inherent soul skill, given before birth, your species has mutated into Snapping Cave Tortoise(Jumping)!

Not only has your body grown stronger, but so to have your natural weapons and defences. Your beak has now been lined with a hard, jagged edge comprised of the same material that your shell is currently, or will adapt to. The area around your eyes and jaw have been slimmed and reinforced, allowing for better grip as well as maneuverability while trying to sink your 'teeth' into a foe.

Each of your feet and knees have been adjusted to better jump and plant yourself to the ground, as the need arises. This change has also allowed your shins and feet to become extremely dense, increasing your ability to jump higher in the air due to increased leverage and strength.

Due to your first envounter with a fellow Firstborn being not only a one-hit kill, flawless vitory, sneak attack, Luck roll win, and worthy of the "Ant versus the swarm" title, you will now passively gain +14% damage when engaged in skirmish class combat with a Firstborn leader as your opposition.

Congratulations, your patron deity, Lilac, has gifted you a boon! Faith +70, affinity to nature-based spells +1%, affinity to holy spells and happenings +2%.

New trait earned; Bioweight. A summation of your total mass, without the effect of {Redacted Information} taken in as a variable.

Strength +209

Agility +76

Dex +30

Luck+748

Perception +43

Ooookay, Squiglies, enough of those. Get on to anything else important please. This rock has been mean for the last twenty minutes, and the numbers are starting to hurt my head. I'm almost out, just give me things to fill the time.

System adapted to higher intelligence command. Orders deemed sufficient to qualify as higher thinking. New vocabulary and information added. Congratulations! your intelligence is now categorized as Moderate, ranking up from Minute.

Congratulations! Your Wisdom stat has reached a stage capable of naturally dawing in mana from the air! As such, you gain a +1% general bonus in all locations, and a +3% general bonus in terrain your body is designed for.

Congratulations! As you have now recieved a gift from your patron Goddess, you have become eligible for a Divine Trial. This shall serve as the first step down your purpose in life following the Goddess Lilac. Should you wish to accept it, of course.

Lilac...the name reminds me of a gentle flower, smaller than even my tiniest bump. Memories begin to seep into my brain of running water in a sun-filled glen, white columns littering the area, covered in a myrad of beautiful foliage and flora. Then, I see myself. Old, cracked, sleeping...happy. Beside me sits the goddess, her silver hair ever so gently flowing in a light breeze. That...that is my place. That is my home. It will never be mother's nest, but it will mean so much more. Slowly, I fall asleep, pebbles and stones trickling out of my mouth as my head hits the floor.

In the next moment, I am sitting beside the red-eyed goddess herself. Sighing contently as she gently traces her fingers along the edge of my shell, I lazily gaze at a bubbling spring that spreads out before us. After a few moments, the goddess begins to speak, and I inwardly hum at the melodic notes of her voice.

"This, child. Is what I offer you. Serenity, sloth, free from the worries of the world and time. Forever resting, forever content. You see, your curse is your heart. Soon, you shall feel the urge to leave your mother's side. Your sibling's will mean nothing to the pull of the wind.

You will leave, though for what purpose to pursue is yours to decide. Shall you sink lower into the depths of the caves, as your race is meant to? Perhaps though, I can offer you a better alternative, young one. One of far less danger and evil...at least for a short time.

Venture to the surface of your world, through the winding tunnels of your home caves, and climb to the top of the mountain you shall find yourself at. However! You are never once to gaze at the land around you until given my permission. Once you have reached as far as you are physically able to go, I shall command you to halt. Upon my word, you are to close your eyes, slowly turn, and then gaze at the land around you.

In that moment, I want you to think of one word, and one word only. Should you choose the correct word, I shall come to you once more. If not, then you will have to wait before you once more gain the chance of my Trial.

Should you complete all of my trials and tribulations, however...I shall give your wandering soul a place to rest.

Go now, Orchid, and choose. You need not leave immediately, but you must know in your heart what you shall do. Be strong, be fearless, and be kind to those who deserve it."

Then, just like that...she was gone. Once more I felt the weight of my current prison, mentally and literally. Pebbles...back to chewing. Well, it shouldn't be too long now. I wonder what Mama and the others are doing...