> [Congratulations, you've reached Level 17.] All your attributes increase by +13 points. You've gained 1 new skill. "Elemental Mastery" has reached Level 5.
> Acquired Skill: Stone Golem – Level 1
A mineral creature linked to your essence. Automatically regenerates as long as the master has mana. Summoning time: instant. Control is limited to psychic link.
"…Huh?"
A small mound of dirt slowly rose next to Lior. One eye. Then two. Pebbles rearranged themselves… into a kind of misshapen plushie, all cute and barely reaching his knee.
It looked about as dangerous as a pebble in soup.
Lior tilted his head, frowning. The golem blinked. Not a word.
> [This creature cannot speak.] [No name registered.]
An awkward silence fell.
"No name? Really? And no voice either?" He stared at it… then shrugged.
"Well… I'll give you one then. Let's call you…"
He observed it a second longer. The little creature raised its arms like it was celebrating something.
"Moji. You've got the face of something way too harmless for this world."
> [Name "Moji" registered.]
Lior smiled, for the first time in a long while. A childlike smile… twisted, devilish, filled with schemes to come.
"We're gonna level up together, Moji. And one day, you'll even crush dragons, you'll see."
The golem took a step back. Lior laughed—a deep, unsettling laugh.
"What? Already making that face? You're supposed to be a warrior now."
He raised his hand. A blade of stone burst from the ground. Then another. Then a wall. Then ten. His body vibrated with newfound power.
> [Elemental Mastery – Level 5: You can now reshape earth into any form: spears, swords, walls, shields… up to 100 formations simultaneously.]
Spikes erupted around him—menacing, beautiful, artistic.
"Hahaha… I'm a damn sculptor of death now."
Moji stepped back again, raising its arms like "Sorry!"
And then… a vibration.
A chill in the air.
Then the alert came.
> [Alert. An Ogre Shaman approaches. Specializes in fire and wind magic.]
Estimated power: greater than the Alpha Werewolf.
Objective: avenge his soldiers.
Evaluation: you have no chance.
Silence. Then Lior's smile widened.
"No chance, huh? That's what you said last time too."
The sky darkened.
Lior lifted his face. Even blind, he felt the pressure shift. The air grew heavy. Electric. And a guttural roar tore through the distance.
"GRAAAAAAAHHH!!"
A column of flames crashed down a hundred meters away, incinerating everything in its path. Trees melted. Stones shattered.
> [Enemy distance: 278 meters.] [Magical ability detected: "Flaming Vortex."] [Threat level: Extreme.]
"Well, of course it's extreme…"
Lior snapped his fingers. Moji leapt into his arms.
"You're too tiny to fight. Stay behind my walls."
With a gesture, Lior raised a dozen stone domes around him, nested like armor shells. Moji curled up inside, trembling.
> [Elemental Mastery – Fortifications created. Resistance: 3200 pts.]
Another gust came from the distance.
Then a voice.
Grave. Ancient. Unsettling.
"Little human… You killed my children. You will die for them."
Lior smirked.
"Your 'children' were wrecking everything. I just cleaned up."
A silhouette appeared on a cliff below. Over three meters tall. Red, rugged skin. Burning runic tattoos across his chest. Hair made of ashes.
And in his hand: a staff as tall as a tree, carved with bones and fire.
> [Name: Zurr'Gha, Shaman of the Burning Winds]
Class: Elemental Sorcerer – Supreme Rank
Weaknesses: unknown
Resistances: extreme (fire/wind)
Immunity: mental paralysis
Lior burst out laughing.
"Perfect. I need at least that to test out my new toys."
He touched the ground. The telluric threads returned. Dozens. Then hundreds.
> ["Telluric Condition – Level 3" — Active Analysis.]
He drew a circle with his foot. With a slow motion, he raised a wall around the plain. Then spikes. Trenches. Underground spinning blades.
Moji, on his end, began to glow faintly. His body pulsed. Ready to sacrifice himself to repair the walls, heal Lior, or even explode if needed.
"You're not just a cute pebble, huh?" Lior said with a wink. "You're my secret weapon."
A rain of fire poured down on them.
And Lior vanished into the dust… smiling.
"Welcome to my kingdom, asshole."
He patted Moji's head.
"Now… let's see what reality is really made of."