IDBIRR Chapter 2: Change

A deer...came by. It's antlers were certainly big. Is It a Reindeer? No, It actually is one. I'm surprised myself, a reindeer found it's way in inside this place. Animals must be inhabiting the surroundings of this room from the outside. I wonder, are there any other different animals outside? Just the thought of it makes me curious for relishing the chance to see more creatures from the outside.

It seems like the reindeer came in to find some fallen fruits to eat. Go ahead Mr. Reindeer, it's all yours. Just be careful not to eat any rotten peaches or apples. But nay, it's ears shot up with an alerted sequence. Wary of any nearby presence. Could there be hunters nearby? I fear the moment of witnessing the cycle of life through murder, I hope the Reindeer escapes safely by it's own.

After waiting for a brief moment, nothing happened, what could it be? Which presence did the Reindeer felt earlier? Or was it just a coincidence?

Then I saw the Reindeer cast's it's gaze towards my direction.

I couldn't help but stare right back at it. Though I don't have any eyes...it's certainly weird to be me. Did the Reindeer...possibly felt my presence? That's...impossible.

At some point it left. Though I was very glad to have an unexpected visitor. Finally, after a hundred years, I was able to see another sign of life. An animal with a proud confidence from it's stature. It's antlers were a sign of it's strength and noble figure. Who knew that Reindeers looked very scary and yet so elegant from up close.

When it left, it felt like I was visited by an old friend. An old friend I haven't met in years.

I wish I could move with a body so free, that it feels like I haven't been in isolation for a hundred years. I wonder how I'd live my life then? Heh...hahaha...what a carefree dream.

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A week later...I was visited by the same reindeer once again. I was surprised obviously, never would I imagine something like this to ever happen again. Like a once-in-a-million lifetime opportunity come true.

Hiiii~! Hellooo~! It's me Mr. Reindeer! Don't you remember me? Hehe, of course you don't silly. You can't even hear me in the first place...

The reindeer approaches some fruits that have fallen too far from their trees. They were just freshly fallen down as well, so I guess it should be fine and tasty. It lowers it's head to eat the fruits, and then after that, it switched to eat some of the overgrown weeds.

Wow, I actually feel like I have another company with me. Thank you Mr. Reindeer, It's been years since I've met someone. I already feel like this life is getting more and more special thanks to you.

Once it was done eating the weeds, it left quickly as soon as it arrived earlier.

Bye Mr. Reindeer. I hope you visit this place again.

After it left, I stared at the calm blue sky. It was a peaceful day again. I looked around, ants crawled about everywhere, trying find a new source of food for their colony.

Everything became still and quiet. A passing by breeze brushes the leaves of the trees. It returned to how it was before, a quiet and tranquil ambience. Wherever I was, it surely was peaceful.

The outside...I wonder what would greet me outside if I could posses the ability to move. I wonder...I wonder...

I close(?) my eyes(?). I tried to sleep in this calm afternoon, if possible, I'd like to sleep throughout the whole day if possible.

How can I sleep? I can't. But I'd like to try and feel like I'm doing it. Whenever I shut my view, I just feel comfortable when doing it.

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Another day has aroused, and half a year had already passed since that day. Everyday, the Reindeer always visits this room to eat the fruits that have fallen from their trees. I was looking forward for the Reindeer's next visit for today, It was relaxing to have him with me in this strange room.

But I have a bad feeling for today. There's this...uncomfortable dread that bothers me. I don't know what it is, but I can somehow feel that today won't be a great day.

The feeling started ever since last night.

As I gazed upon the lonesome darkness that covered this room at night, light struck upon my surroundings.

I looked everywhere, trying to find out where does this strange light come from? A few seconds later, I found out that the strange light came from me. A tint of red hue as I lit up my surroundings. It felt very ominous. The strange light only lasted for a moment, until it slowly died out on it's own.

For a second, I thought I was gonna die once it disappears. Turns out, nothing special happened. Everything went dark again, the only source of luminance was the moonlit light that gave this room it's signs of life.

I already knew I was a little oddball of a tiny rock, but nowhere did it passed my expectations to suddenly glow red out of nowhere in my perfectly still life.

Going back to my current state right now, I am still waiting for the Reindeer to come. Strange as it may seem, I already grew fond of it's presence. With it's everyday visits, it's like my close friend keeps visiting me at the hospital, after I broke my leg.

Tap, tap, tap.

I could hear some steps coming closer. Ah, I know that sound. How could I possibly forget, when it visits this room everyday.

It's just like a reflexive mannerism. I recognize those steps even if it were a dozen meters away. More steps could be heard simultaneously, it truly was the Reindeer. I brace myself to happily greet him once again.

I bet it would be happy to see me again! oh who am I kidding, it doesn't even know I'm alive, hehe.

I was wrong. I thought...no, I hoped. I hoped it would be another happy day, but from the looks of it; the Reindeer was far from looking happy.

It was shot by an arrow.

It looked weak, snorting, and also very tired. It's body, which was stained with blood, quivered as it slowly felt very cold. It's blood, a very crimson color, which reflected the violence that was brought upon it's body...It was a color that I have never seen before in my entire life.

I could not speak, nor tend to it's need for help. I was just but a simple rock:

That could do nothing.

If one were to express the deep feeling that I harbor inside of me right now...it was an immense feeling of uselessness, self-hatred, deep grievance and sadness.

Weak as the Reindeer would be feeling right now. I also felt weakness, and also immobile. A punctured feeling if I ever had a heart. It was a feeling that I haven't felt for a century.

And this was my greatest fear. Truth be told, all of what I felt were lies. Currently, I do not feel anything physically, that also goes for my emotional feeling.

Emotions, Pain, Sense, Regret, all of it was just inside of my head. A memory of a life that I had once lived in the past. It was only nothing but a happy memory of a human before he became a rock.

I wanted to heal the animal that tried to reach for anyone's hand, but sadly, I do not have any. This too, was just a caring thought I developed inside of my head. I do not truly feel like I have an urge to help the Reindeer, I just think that I do. Looking back to my human life, I always had everything, I could also do anything. But If I look at myself right now, I was empty, devoid of everything, I had nothing to grasp at my palm. I was just a simple, old and tiny rock that has nothing special.

The Reindeer stops in it's tracks right in front of me...and then it fell, a loud thud echoes. It was so quiet in this place, how could it have chosen such a lonesome place to wait for it's death. It was a very lonely toll for it's evening bell, a lonesome death, for an animal who had left so much freedom in it's wake.

Unlike me, who could only sit here in this place for all eternity. Shackled by the word called "Rock".

The Reindeer catches it's breath, his time was now measured so little. It was slowly succumbing to it's eventual death. It was then that our gazes locked upon each other. Such dark, round eyes, stared back at me.

At that moment, I was given an answer. On why did the Reindeer chose to come to such a very isolated room. Because I was wrong, It wasn't actually what I thought it would be. Now I could see the clear answer for myself.

I was there.

The Reindeer's body started to emit a white light that covered it's whole body. It's body slowly became brazen with pure white light. While this development transpired before me, I became mesmerized. It was a beautiful glow that chased out the darkness of this room.

Soon, the light became scattered fragments into the air. The body of the weak Reindeer was no more, it was already nowhere to be seen. The light fragments then went inside of me, all of it, not one fragment piece was left.

[[Congratulations, you have met the exceeding amount of EXterior Power.]]

[[Do you wish to "Evolve" into a new form?]]

The voice called out to me. I answered yes.

[[Understood.]]

[[Take note. While undergoing through this unknown change...]]

[[The Particular Body such as one possesses may be exposed to any outside dangers.]]

[[Would you still like to progress through?]]

I agreed. It's not like I'll be in harms way anyways. I'm just a rock. Who would find an interest to harm rocks.

[[Lastly, what would you choose to become?]]

[Lesser Golem+]

or

[Earth Puppet+]

[Lesser Golem+] Description - A Golem born out of either magic or alchemy. It is quite sturdy, but not that strong. Can survive the harshest of weathers and can also be used as a perfect decoy to protect someone. They are quite loyal to those who created them. Further evolution may strengthen this little mass of stone.

[Stats]

Hp: 1,000/1,000 (Bonus: +3%)

Mp: 0/0

Skill pts: 3

EXP: 0/200

Atk: 5

Def: 50 (Bonus: +1%)

C.Atk: 3 (Bonus: +1.1%)

S.Pwr: 20

Dex: 2

Spd: 15

Lck: 999 (Bonus: +2%)

[Skills]

[God's Blessing (Passive)]

God's Blessing - Grants bonuses in your stats, your Character's specialized stats will be awarded by these bonuses. Skill cds are negated.

[Solid Body Lvl.1]

Solid Body - Harden's your body for a short amount of duration. Increasing Def stat by 10 pts. (No MP cost)

[Earth Walk (Passive)]

Earth Walk - One will become a part of the earth. Freely travel distances while inside natural minerals from the earth, you will perceive intangibility. Your presence shall lessen if you enter the earth, become invincible through all types of damage.

[Earthen Warrior Lvl.1]

Earthen Warrior - A Warrior Transformation shall commence. Drastically Increase Atk stat with a debuff of lowered Def stat for a limited duration based on the skill's active duration as well. Skill effect is only active for 3 minutes, Atk stat gains 100% of increased buff effect. Def stat will be debuffed for 20% of debuff effect. (No MP cost)

[Earthen Puppet+] Description - A Puppet born out of either magic or alchemy. This puppet isn't particularly the sturdy one of most, but it can use spells and deadly magic. Always accompanied by Mages, they act as a cover support or as a guard against weaker monsters.

[Stats]

Hp: 200/200

Mp: 12,000/12,000 (Bonus: +3%)

Skill pts: 3

EXP: 0/200

Atk: 40 (Bonus: +1%)

Def: 3

C.Atk: 15

S.Pwr: 999 (Bonus: +2%)

Dex: 10 (Bonus: +1.1%)

Spd: 25

Lck: 70

[Skills]

[God's Blessing (Passive)]

God's Blessing - Grants bonuses in your stats, your Character's specialized stats will be awarded by these bonuses. Skill cds are negated.

[Earth Shift Lvl.1]

Earth Shift - Allows you to mold the earth, harness it's shape from within the clutches of your hand. (20 MP cost)

[Earth Bind Lvl.1]

Earth Bind - Binds the target of your choice, making them immobile and unable to resist or move for a short amount of the skill's duration. If the target struggles, they will receive continuous damage ranging from an increasing scale of 10-1,000 scaling damage per second. (100 MP cost)

[Summon Earth Elemental Knight Lvl.1]

Summon Earth Elemental Knight - Summon the Earth's humble Knight to serve under your rule. This Earthen Knight is extremely mobile, strong, and very durable. The Earthen Knight's stats increases by 30% if the Skill Lvl is increased. Maximum amount of Knight(s) to summon (1). (4,000 MP cost per summoned Knight)

Was this a dream? I thought. Let's just roll with it I guess. I stare at the screen that suddenly showed up from thin air. It was filled with an RPG-esque detail. It reminds me of the video games I've played before as a rebellious teenager. I loved those games. Especially Tekken, Smash Bros, Monster Hunter and Zelda.

It was an old memory of a past life I had lived before. I used to play with my youngest sister, and I also wrecked her at every game we played. No mercy.

I really...really loved playing games...

But to see such as one transpiring before me, in this exact moment, felt like a sick joke played by the world for me. But I have an easy tolerance to manage my problems quickly, and just like I said before, I chose to roll with it.

I picked the Lesser Golem+ option. If I were in a game, I always chose the toughies. Cause dying from one hit sucks. Now that I think about it, I don't want to get hurt, I might die from shock again. I was diagnosed with a very fragile heart in my previous life, that's why I easily died from the shock of pain from tripping.

Gahhh! So embarrassing!

When I look at the two options, both of them have extremely good stats. But I chose the Lesser Golem+ evolution. It's my choice anyways, not like anyone's gonna voice their opinions...cause there's no one here to begin with.

Now that I think about it, why did an RPG-esque like development happened?

I...don't really...know...

Huh...?

Why do I...feel sleepy?

That's...impossible...

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A change happened that day. One that would surely shake the ends of the world and the deepest of voids in space.

A legend has just been born. And You, who shall witness this legend, will remember it till the ends of your time.

The "End" is Near.