Jacob lay still, his fractured surface still reeling from the night's torment. Dawn broke through the forest canopy, but its light offered no warmth. Every fragment of his rocky form ached, and his core pulsed faintly, dim and weary. He wanted nothing more than to collapse into nothingness, but the system's familiar chime interrupted the silence.

System: "Jacob... we need to talk."

"Talk?!" Jacob snapped, his voice trembling with a mixture of exhaustion and fury. "What the hell is there to talk about? You abandoned me when I needed you most! He tortured me, and you left me alone!"

System: "It wasn't abandonment. The Neutralization Formation cut me off. I couldn't—"

"Save it!" Jacob's outburst echoed through the clearing, his anger briefly numbing the pain. "Why could he even hear you in the first place? How did he know what we were saying?"

The system paused, its usual snark absent. System: "That... is a fair question. Let me explain."

Jacob let out a ragged sigh, his core dimming slightly as he tried to focus. "Go on. Make it good."

System: "You don't have a mouth, Jacob. When we communicate, I transmit frequencies—magical ones, to be precise. It's efficient, but it's not foolproof. Experienced mages, particularly sadistic maniacs like Eldrin, can pick up on those frequencies if they're attuned to them. It's like shouting in a quiet room—you think you're whispering, but someone sharp enough can still hear you."

Jacob's frustration boiled over. "So, what you're saying is that every time we've been talking, it's like we've been yelling our plans to every mage in earshot?"

System: "Not exactly 'yelling.' More like... softly humming."

Jacob groaned, the weight of his helplessness pressing down on him again. "Great. Just great. So what's the solution, genius? Or do I just hope the next psychopath doesn't have magic ears?"

System: "No need for sarcasm. I have a solution. In fact, you've just unlocked the conditions for a new skill: Mind Solidification."

Jacob's core pulsed faintly with interest. "Mind Solidification? What's that?"

System: "It's a passive ability that allows you to isolate your thoughts and communicate with me in a private mental space. No frequencies. No magical eavesdropping. Think of it as building a mental fortress around your consciousness. It's always active, doesn't drain energy, and keeps our conversations strictly between us."

The explanation was detailed, but Jacob's skepticism lingered. "And this just... conveniently pops up now? After I've already been through hell?"

System: "The conditions for unlocking it were specific: you had to experience direct interference from an outside force during communication. It wasn't available until Eldrin's interference made it necessary."

Jacob muttered under his breath. "Fine. How do I use it?"

System: "You don't need to 'use' it. It's already active. From now on, you can think in complete privacy. No one will hear us except you and me. Give it a try."

Jacob hesitated, then focused inward. His thoughts quieted, and for the first time, he felt an invisible barrier around his mind, a sense of solitude that was both comforting and alien.

System (within his mind): "See? Crystal clear."

Jacob smirked faintly despite himself. "Not bad. I guess you're good for something after all."

System: "Aw, does this mean we're friends again?"

The smirk vanished. "Don't push your luck."

A Deal and a Shop

Jacob's anger hadn't entirely subsided, but the system's attempt to reconcile was persistent.

System: "Listen, Jacob. I know last night was... traumatic. And I'm sorry I couldn't help. But I want to make it right."

"Words don't mean much right now," Jacob said coldly.

System: "How about actions, then? I'll unlock the shop interface early. It'll make things a bit easier moving forward."

Jacob blinked—or at least, he felt like he did. "The shop? The same shop you've been dangling over my head since I woke up?"

System: "The very same. It's yours to explore. But fair warning: you don't have any EP yet, so don't get your hopes up about buying anything."

With a mental nudge, Jacob accessed the newly unlocked interface. A glowing menu appeared in his mind's eye, displaying various items: elixirs, defensive upgrades, offensive skills, and even cosmetic enhancements for his form.

Jacob skimmed the list, his curiosity growing. "Some of this stuff looks useful. And some of it looks... ridiculous. A 'core polisher'? Seriously?"

System: "Hey, don't knock it. A polished core can intimidate lesser creatures. But yes, most items are designed for practical use. Of course, to afford them, you'll need EP—energy points."

"And how exactly do I get those?"

System: "Two ways: absorbing energy sources like the Water Nexus or defeating creatures in this world. Every minute you exist, you also passively generate 0.01 EP. So, technically, you're always earning."

Jacob did the mental math. "So I get... what, 1 EP every hundred minutes? That's painfully slow."

System: "Hence why quests and combat are more efficient. Speaking of which, you still have an active quest: Adaptation to Elements. Finish that, and we'll get you moving toward something lucrative."

Jacob scowled. "Great. Just what I need. A menu full of useless stuff."

System: "It's not useless, Jacob. These items are tools—tools that can help you grow. To earn Energy Points, you either absorb magical sources or kill creatures in this world. And you have a quest."

"A quest, huh?" Jacob let out a hollow laugh. "What's next? A nice relaxing stroll to the boars?"

System: "Actually... yes. You'll need to hunt down a group of boars for your next quest. Kill them, collect their energy, and you'll receive 5 EP."

Jacob's thoughts froze. The system's words barely registered. He was going to kill boars? The same way Eldrin tortured him, draining his energy, forcing him to endure pain... That thought made his pulse race, his mind scrambling.

System (louder): "Jacob, focus!"

The shout cut through the haze in his mind. The system's urgency broke him from his spiraling thoughts. It was right—he needed to stay focused. His previous hesitation was no longer an option.

He could feel his mind starting to clear, but just as it did, an image flashed in his mind: Eldrin's twisted grin, the crackling magic as the sadistic mage tortured him, and the feeling of helplessness. He had to move on if he wanted to forget, Jacob needed power and that's what he was gonna get.

Jacob screamed, but the promise of progress kept him moving forward. He ventured deeper into the forest, his senses on high alert. Soon, he heard the sound of grunting and rustling in the underbrush.

Peering through the foliage, Jacob spotted a small group of boars rooting around near a fallen log. Their tusks gleamed in the sunlight, and their thick hides looked anything but inviting.

Jacob's thoughts stuttered as the boar moved closer, grunting in irritation. The moment of hesitation was enough for it to charge. Jacob's instincts kicked in, but the terror from Eldrin's torture gripped him like chains. His thoughts spiraled again.

System (screaming): "Now, Jacob! Focus! Use Kinetic Pulse!"

His body screamed at him to move, but his mind locked up. The thought of unleashing anything felt wrong, like he was giving in to the same pain that Eldrin had forced him to experience. His vision blurred, his form trembling.

System: "Jacob, you're stronger than this! Don't let fear control you!"

Finally, something inside Jacob clicked. His thoughts, still raw and fragmented, shattered the lingering paralysis. He drew a deep mental breath, focusing on his form. With a tremor of concentration, he unleashed the Kinetic Pulse, the blast streaking toward the boar.

The blast hit with a loud crack, piercing the boar's thick hide. It squealed, stumbling to the ground with a mighty thud. The energy from its fall crackled through the air, feeding into Jacob's core.

System: "Yes! That's it! You did it, Jacob!"

The boar's body twitched, and Jacob felt the energy surge through him, fueling his inner well of magic. Something within him shifted—he wasn't just a passive stone anymore. He was learning, adapting, evolving. His mood lightened, and for the first time, a flicker of confidence sparked.

"Well, that wasn't so bad," Jacob muttered to himself. "I can do this."

System: "You're getting the hang of it now! Keep going—finish the others. You're closer to your reward."

Jacob's eyes shifted toward the remaining boars. His gaze was harder now, focused. He launched himself at the next, using his new control over his powers to guide his strikes with precision. This time, he didn't freeze. The terror was still there, lurking at the back of his mind, but it no longer controlled him.

One by one, the boars fell, each one fueling his drive to survive. The bloodied animals lay in the grass, their energy seeping into Jacob's form, filling him with both power and a grim satisfaction.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

By the time the last boar hit the ground, Jacob was breathing heavily, but there was no fear in him now—just exhaustion and a quiet sense of accomplishment.

System: "Well done, Jacob! Quest complete. You've earned your 5 EP."

Jacob's core thrummed with energy, the faintest pulse of life that almost made him feel like something more than just a stone. As he absorbed the last bit of energy from the final boar, his thoughts settled into a fragile calm.

"5 EP..." he muttered. "Enough to buy some of that junk in the shop, I suppose."

System: "I'd say it's a good start. Now, let's see what you can get."

Jacob's mind was still reeling from the hunt. The adrenaline rush from the battle with the boars had given him a brief reprieve from the psychological torment he'd endured, but now that the quest was done, a deep emptiness set in. His gaze turned toward the newly unlocked shop, and with a mixture of curiosity and frustration, he focused his mind on the interface.

System: "You've earned 6 EP—5 for completing your quest and 1 for absorbing energy. You can now purchase items from the shop."

Jacob could already feel a sinking sensation in his rocky core. It wasn't that he was excited about the items in the shop—it was the fact that he was a stone. Nothing here would be useful. But he couldn't stop the urge to look. He began scrolling, his internal vision flicking through the myriad of options in the Shop Interface.

System: "Take your time. This will help you on your journey."

Jacob's fingers, if he had any, would have curled in frustration. His stone form was useless when it came to most of these items. The system had said that the shop could help him, but it was clear he wasn't the target audience for most of these wares. He skimmed past expensive weapons, magical artifacts, and rare potions. His 6 EP felt like nothing in the face of their astronomical prices.

Jacob (sarcastic): "Wow, a 1,000,000 EP Sword of Eternal Flame... Just what I needed."

System: "Some items are beyond your current reach, yes. But they are meant for future progression. Focus on what you need now."

Jacob let out a scoff. "Right, because right now I need a Mighty Gauntlet of The Sun King that costs more than the entire forest's worth of resources."

He continued scrolling, feeling more and more disillusioned with each passing second. Then his eyes caught something—a skill. At the very bottom of the list, hidden beneath the glitzy, powerful items, was a skill with a price tag of 6 EP. He stopped his scrolling and focused.

Skill: Magic Sensing – Level 1

Price: 6 EP

He couldn't believe his eyes. Out of all the powerful, costly items, this was the only thing within his reach. It wasn't much—just the ability to sense magic in the world around him. He had been relying on the system to provide him with insights about his surroundings, but this was something he could use on his own. Finally, some semblance of control.

Jacob: "Well, what the hell. It's the only thing I can afford."

Without hesitation, Jacob purchased the skill, feeling the familiar jolt of energy surge through him as the purchase went through. For a moment, there was nothing. He waited, half-expecting the skill to be another useless addition to his already cluttered mind.

But then...

A faint buzzing began to fill Jacob's consciousness. It wasn't a sound, but a feeling—an awareness that seemed to extend beyond him. He could feel the ebb and flow of magical energies in the air, the subtle currents of power that had previously been invisible to him. It was like being submerged in a new reality, where magic pulsed through everything, alive and tangible.

System: "Congratulations, Jacob. You've unlocked Magic Sensing. You can now detect and understand magical sources around you, even in their purest forms."

Jacob's rocky core trembled slightly. This was... overwhelming. His perception of the world had just expanded by a thousandfold. He could sense the faint glow of magic in every tree, the way the land itself seemed to hum with ancient energy. The magic in the forest was almost palpable, a silent force that had always been there but now stood exposed to his mind.

Jacob's thoughts spiraled. He focused on his surroundings, his mind tuning in to the new skill. He could feel the intricate web of energy around him, the subtle energies that surrounded all living beings. It was beautiful, chaotic, and terrifying all at once.

But then something else pierced through the magic—a faint, burning ember of dark magic. It pulsed with an oppressive weight that made Jacob's thoughts grind to a halt. He could feel it now, far off in the distance: the residual traces of Eldrin's cursed magic. It was unmistakable.

Jacob (gritting his mental teeth): "That bastard... He's still here, isn't he? I can feel him."

His thoughts boiled with fury. The skill had unlocked something inside him—an awareness that connected him to everything around him, yes, but also to the source of his pain. And that source, that mage, was everywhere.

System (hesitant): "Jacob... I know this is overwhelming. But you have a purpose. This is just another step toward understanding this world, and how you fit into it."

"Purpose?" Jacob hissed, his mind burning with hatred. "What purpose? What do I really fit into? A world where I'm nothing more than a rock, a tool to be used and discarded? A world where that sadistic bastard walks free while I suffer?" His voice, although silent, screamed within the confines of his mind. "What the hell did I do to deserve this? What is this world even for?!"

System (apologetic): "Jacob, I—"

He didn't let the system finish. "No. Don't you dare try to comfort me now. I can feel it—everything. This world. The magic. It's all a trap, isn't it?" His voice came through, fierce and filled with venom. "This is all your doing, isn't it? Whoever sent me here... I can feel their hand in every thread of magic, every damn flicker of power."

System (shifting, worried): "Jacob, that's not—"

Jacob (furiously interrupting): "Don't lie to me. I'm not an idiot. I've been tortured, broken, and left for dead. And for what? So I can be some experiment in this hellhole of a world?" He paused, and for the first time in days, a tear—no, not a tear, but something deeper, darker—began to seep into his heart. "I hate this. I hate it. I hate them. And I won't let them win. Not like this."

He could feel his pulse—the thrum of his magic. It was a power that hadn't been there before, but now it coursed through him, a mixture of anger, rage, and despair.

System (softly): "Jacob, the journey isn't over. You will find your answers."

But Jacob wasn't listening anymore. The overwhelming tide of emotion had consumed him. The fresh memories of Eldrin's sadistic smile, the words that had torn him down, the endless feeling of isolation—it all boiled inside him. Magic sensing wasn't just a gift—it was a curse.

Jacob (coldly): "I'll make them all pay. I'll make this world feel everything I've felt. Every ounce of pain, every moment of terror."

Jacob sat there in the silence of his stone form, the bitter weight of his emotions pressing down on him. The magic he had just unlocked—the power to sense the world around him—was both a blessing and a curse. With it came a flood of realizations. Not only did he now feel the delicate web of magical energy that bound the world together, but he also felt the deep scars that had been left on him. The burns of Eldrin's cruelty. The endless torment. His thoughts were heavy, a tangled mess of fury and despair.

As his anger boiled, the system's voice once again broke through the storm of emotions in his mind.

System (tentative): "Jacob... I understand your pain. But you must focus. Vengeance, while just, is a path that will only consume you if you let it. Focus on your next step."

Jacob's response was immediate and cold. "Focus? Focus? What do you think I've been doing, huh? You think I don't know what you're trying to do? You think I don't see this... game you're playing?"

His tone dripped with venom. "Do you think I'm just going to play along like a good little stone, doing what I'm told? 'Complete your quests, Jacob,' and maybe you'll get a reward—what a joke."

System (calm, trying to reason): "Jacob, please—"

"No," Jacob interrupted, his voice sharp and full of raw emotion. "You don't get it. You have no idea what it's like to be broken down to nothing, to have everything ripped from you, over and over again." He paused, the memories of Eldrin's cruel words and actions flooding back, each one sharper than the last. "I had nothing before this, and now... now I'm just some rock with a system that feeds me more tasks. Quests, rewards, and all this empty talk about evolving and becoming something bigger. But for what? So I can grow, just to be what? A tool? A weapon?"

The system remained silent for a long moment, as if weighing its next words carefully. It understood, perhaps for the first time, the depth of Jacob's bitterness. But it also knew that Jacob's journey was far from over. The pain, the anger—it was all part of something bigger. Something he couldn't see yet.

System (gently, understanding): "Jacob... the path you've walked has been one of unimaginable torment. But what you must realize is this: there is power in your suffering. It will shape you, but only if you allow it to. You are not a weapon, Jacob. You are something more. You are the foundation of something great."

Jacob's mind, however, was not ready to accept comfort. Not now, not after everything he'd been through. His bitterness still ran too deep, his heart too scarred. But he knew, deep down, that there was no other way forward. He had no choice but to move. He couldn't stay in this pit of despair forever. So, he asked the question, the one that had been gnawing at him for so long.

Jacob (through gritted metaphorical teeth): "Fine, then. What do I do now? What's my next step in this twisted game of yours?"

There was a long pause, and then, the system spoke again, but this time with a new sense of urgency in its tone.

System: "Your next step is evolution. You've completed your initial task, and now you must evolve further to begin the true journey ahead. I will grant you a quest—one that will take you toward your true potential. A quest to increase your power, to evolve beyond your current form. You will grow into a medium-sized rock, with abilities far beyond what you have now. And once you complete that, you will reach a decision point—an evolution tree. Your choices will shape your path forward."

Jacob felt the weight of those words settle on him. A decision. A choice that would determine everything from this point on. He could feel the weight of the system's implication. He could evolve into something greater—something stronger. Maybe even something unstoppable.

Jacob: "A choice. Right. A tree. So, what am I evolving into, exactly? A boulder, a giant slab of granite?" He let out a bitter laugh. "Great. That's just what I need—more rocks."

System (calmly): "Not just any rock, Jacob. You will evolve into a medium-sized rock first. A stepping stone toward your greater potential. But after that, you will have a choice: to evolve into a Golem, mimicking a human form—an entirely new existence. Or a Stone Beast, a creature of unimaginable power. Or, perhaps most grandly, you could evolve into a Mountain. A mountain of stone, unshakable, powerful, towering over all."

Jacob was silent for a long moment. A mountain. The idea was both absurd and strangely appealing. A mountain, solid and unyielding, towering over everything. It was the ultimate form of dominance, a symbol of unmovable strength. But Jacob's thoughts quickly flickered back to the path that had brought him here. His suffering. Would becoming a mountain erase that? Would it make him forget everything he'd endured?

Jacob (quietly, to himself): "A mountain, huh? To be that powerful... to make everything below me seem insignificant..."

System: "That's correct, Jacob. The choice is yours. But before you can reach that stage, you must first complete the evolution to a medium-sized rock. That will give you more advanced powers—greater strength, a wider range of abilities. And with those powers, you can begin the real journey. The one that will bring you the vengeance you seek."

Jacob's mind began to churn. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for. He could finally take control of his fate. His path was laid out before him, and for the first time, he could see a sliver of hope—of power.

Jacob (more determined): "Alright, let's do it. Let's evolve into that medium-sized rock. I'll take the first step. And then... then I'll decide where I go from there."

The system's voice came again, softer this time, with an almost imperceptible hint of relief.

System: "Good. I knew you would come to understand. Your strength lies not just in your power, but in your choices."

A new quest prompt appeared before Jacob's eyes, and he read it through, his mind focused entirely on what lay ahead:

New Quest: Evolution – Medium Rock

Objective: Evolve from a small stone into a medium-sized rock, unlocking new abilities and strength.

Reward: Increased Power, New Abilities.

Failure Consequence: None. This is a necessary step for your journey.

Jacob let out a slow breath, the weight of the quest settling within him. This wasn't just another task. This was the beginning of something far bigger. He could feel the power building inside him, just waiting to be unleashed. His stone form might be limited now, but this evolution would take him somewhere else entirely. Somewhere where he could finally make his mark.

Jacob: "Let's get this over with."

As the system's interface faded, Jacob's mind focused inward. He could feel the pull of magic, the subtle shift in the air. His essence—his being—was beginning to change. The stone that was Jacob began to pulse with new energy, filling him with the power he had longed for.

His transformation began. The process was slow, almost painful, as his form expanded and grew. He could feel the weight of his existence shift, his very essence altering at a molecular level. As the evolution took place, he could feel a sense of power washing over him. He was growing stronger, more advanced—more ready to take on the world that had shattered him.

Jacob let out a deep, gravelly sound, something between a grunt and a sigh, as his new form settled into place. He was no longer a small stone, but a medium-sized rock, more substantial, more potent, with new abilities at his disposal. The world around him seemed different now, more vibrant, more alive with potential.

System (approving): "Well done, Jacob. You are now a medium-sized rock. Your power has increased, and you are ready to continue your journey."

''Yes''