“We'll leave tonight. Get everything in order, as we're going to be stuck inside for an entire year… This is your last chance to back out.”

Trice speaks up.

“I don't think I could do an entire year, so count me out.”

With Trice gone, the only female left in the group is Leaf…

“Leaf… I don't want you to go.”

She looks almost sad at me saying it. I quickly explain.

“I-it isn't like that… I just meant… If I get a year older and you don't… We'll be a year closer to the same age.”

She turns away embarrassed. That is one of the reasons... I don't want to tell her that if she was locked inside with me for a year I would get no work done.

“Remember we're going in later tonight. You should have your answer on whether or not you can stay inside for an entire year by then."

We talk for a few more minutes. I still have so much to do before we head inside. Every ounce of preparation before entering can help pass the time inside the tree once the doors are closed. I go and collect a dozen feathers from Darkclaw. He winces in pain from the first one, so I make some numbing poison before I remove the rest. His feathers are very slash resistant. Bludgeoning weapons work far better to hurt him, which most people wouldn't have or expect for a dragon. I still need at least four more philosopher stones. I've adjusted it so my troops can collect philosopher's stones by themselves.

It doesn't take the job to make philosopher stones. Only the transmutation circles, it seems that with the transmutation stone you gain the transmutation job without taking a job spot… Meaning it is potentially one of the strongest items in the world. It is in my best interest that none of these fall into the wrong hands. One of the drawbacks is that the stone is very brittle, if you were to drop it on the ground it would shatter.

Even the transmutation weapons are potentially more valuable than most rares or legendaries. As it can constantly make more philosopher stones… I need to make sure that only me and the old man know the true value of the transmutation stones and weapons… The old man is too crazy for anyone to believe the transmutation stone story anyways. I also doubt the old man is going to say anything. I head there to collect the stones. Two of each kind…

I guess I could try swallowing one of these transmutation stones… They are fairly big though. At least the size of my finger. Eating a sharp rock the size of your finger isn't a good idea. I think the pros outweigh the cons in this situation. I have to swallow it in one gulp though…

I put it in my mouth but can't force it down… How did this old man do this!? I need to get something to drink to trick myself into swallowing it. It might also help reduce the cuts to my throat as it goes down. It is pretty painful but I can se-. STOMACH PAIN! OUCH! FUCK IT HURTS! It feels like knots are being tied in my stomach, ahh! So much pain! Why do I do this to myself!

You've become a living transmutation circle

My pain starts to ease… The pain slowly fades but doesn't dissipate. I heal myself but I feel the transmutation stone cut into my stomach as I do. Almost embedding itself in… This is going to be a painful next few days until this disperses. Aegis speaks up.

“Me next, you should also try drinking one of those false soul stones. If what Epieoth said was the truth, you should have mana mixed in with your soul that might work similarly to a monster.”

I guess that makes sense… Somewhat… It might be dangerous to eat two stones this close together… I'll use Aegis as an experiment first.

“I heard that. I also don't think that would matter, seeing as I am indestructible. Even if it would cause you more harm it would do nothing to me.”

… I drink the liquid as I hand Aegis a transmutation stone. It doesn't taste to ba-. FUCKING AGAIN!! More pain, another level of pain! It feels like regrowth did when I tried to repair my arm! So intense! It hits my stomach. AHHHHHHH! The two philosopher stones are mixing together! This pain is beyond anything I've ever felt before. I the pain is so intense, I lose all other senses except the one that feels pain.

I grab for my heirloom sword. I'll cut it out of me before I go insane! The pain of my stomach being cut open would pail in comparison to what I'm feeling inside of it. My hand shakes as I grab for it. My body starts to seizure and I can't cut into myself… It… It feels like I'm growing! I pass out from the pain…

You've created a new race High human- (As the creator of a new race, your life will determine the characteristics of this new race)

Life span doubled

Grow faster towards peak form of fighting, stay in peak form for longer than normal humans

All main stats increased by 100

New high human passive skill gained Adaptability- Able to change to certain situations, every mistake is learned from, every failure is improved upon

“Greater gods note” Be better… Be better for you now have the future of an entire race on your shoulders (p.s. I look forward to seeing what you do)

I wake up a few hours later with some pain still inside my stomach… It seems that I've absorbed both philosopher stones… DID I JUST EVOLVE!? What was the greater god talking about? What does p.s. mean? Aegis answers me.

“Hurry! You've been out for hours now! You need to go to the time tree.”

Shit! I rush back towards the time tree. Even with some pain still in my stomach, I feel faster than normal. Lance, Leon, Leaf and Trice standing outside waiting for me. Leon yells out when he sees me.

“What the!?”

“I know, I'm sorry I am late.”

“That's not it. Your scars are gone! It looks like you've grown a few inches too!”

I look down at Aegis and use his metal as a reflective surface. What!? Scars I've had on my face since practicing the first few knife and knives cannons are gone! I take off my shirt and look at my left arm. The entirety of pinkish skin from my arm being blown off is gone. It almost looks like it was replaced with a new hand.

Almost all of my previous injuries are gone… Even so… For there to still be a pain in my stomach… Even after a life altering change in my body the pain was so strong it stuck around. Even the calluses from intense training are gone… What about my strengthened bones? Aegis speaks up. I hope this pain dissipates... I hope the soul leech didn't absorb any of the stone... I don't think he did... That was more painful for myself then him most likely.

“Before we go in. Give me those two other philosopher stones.”

Aegis' memories

I'm not sure when I was created or when I gained sentience. I knew I was different, born in a world of complete darkness the only thing I could do was focus on seeing. I learned sensory field showing me what is happening close to me. Giving me pseudo vision and hearing. The demigod of creation gave me the insatiable appetite for eating metals and gems.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

He then starved me for hundreds of years in that dungeon. He had it in his mind to only give me away to a worthy adventurer… Thus started the routine of people entering the dungeon, noticing me, getting very excited, pulling me from the pedestal, then being killed after attacking the demigod of creation.

Hundreds of years of this routine. It continued this way with no exception besides the people who didn't try to loot me. Apparently the rumor started of the unclearable dungeon. Which changed into the dungeon with the impossible death trap gauntlet. I had no say in the matter as I was just stationary with no voice. The worst part of it was, anyone who would eventually get me, I would be bound to until they died or I got cut from them.

With nothing happening over the years. I took to trying to expand my sensory field. What was a field very close to my body. Expanded to that of being able to see 3 to 4 times further away. Life was boring, the only thing I felt was hunger. I couldn't communicate it though, I could only sit around. Being stationary without the ability to speak.

Until Kite's group finally entered the room. It was… An odd group to say the least. Several gnolls. Gnolls that were armed with weapons you would normally not see gnolls with. A female knight covered in so much armor it was difficult to tell she was a female. A hobgoblin, which is already rare… Covered in armor similar to that of the gnolls. Finally the most unassuming of them all. A child entered the room.

I felt bad when the giant killed children. He had before in the passed, some children seem to rush towards death like this one. Not waiting until they understand how dangerous the world is. The hobgoblin spoke when approaching me.

“Master, it seems there is a very strong gauntlet in here. We should take it!”

Who is he talking to? Is it the female knight? Maybe the bigger gnoll… The child spoke up.

“We have to be very careful Gobber, the gauntlet is on a trap pedestal. Anything could go wrong once we take it off the pedestal. Just get ready, we might need to flee the room in a hurry.”

… This child is very smart for someone his age… It looks like he hasn't heard the rumors about this dungeon though. The second he lifts me off the pedestal I know his fate is sealed. The giant comes rushing in… Something is different… What is happening!? The child made no attempt to fight the giant. Because he didn't, neither did anyone else. The giant chuckles… This child is having a conversation with giant as if his life isn't on the line.

He said something that angered the giant. He seems to have calmed the giant down though. He continues to do this… The giant gets mad again… So mad he slams his club down right next to the child. The child doesn't flinch, he just continues to explain his point. The demigod grabs me and I feel a part of myself being ripped off of me. The child continues to talk with the giant… Then I feel something being added to me. The tiny portion that was ripped is instantly replaced with a power far above what was lost…

This child has just done what centuries of people couldn't do. He just made a deal with a demigod, a deal in his favor. A favor that gave me a voice… No one could here me no matter how loud I yelled though… So hungry for so long… I cry out hoping for an answer from someone.

“Feed me.”

Aegis' point of view

The time I've spent with Kite has been the best of my entire life. Hundreds of years on the outside than hundreds of years inside the dungeon added to barely being fed. My time with Kite I've been fed more than all my other years alive. Not just quantity but also quality. I've been fed things I wasn't even sure existed. Delicious things like a black sword, now I have the chance to eat more rare items.

I'm not technically a monster. I am a item with a voice, I also act somewhat like a leech. Sort of siphoning Kite's powers to change my form or give him a boost during fights. So I'm not 100% positive this false soul stone will even work… The other one has, absorbing it instantly while Kite made a big deal about it hurting him.

He also finished his false soul stone once he handed the transmutation stone to me. His reaction was far… Worse than I thought it would be… I was there when Kite lost his arm… There when Kite tried to regrow it… I've seen him in pain but… That was almost unbearable for me. Kite speaks, handing the entire vial of liquid to me as I absorb it, glass and all.

“Here goes nothing Aegis…”

… I feel nothing… I'm disappointed more than I thought I would be. I feel as if I'm letting Kite down. While I don't see myself as his pet, I do see myself as his partner. I just… Want to be as helpful if I can… This person who gave me mountains of good food… I feel… Something that I haven't felt before… What is this feeling?

You've become a monster

You've evolved into a living gauntlet

Unlocked the ability to learn classes

Living gauntlet passive skill unlocked Telekinesis- Can move things (including yourself) with you mind power (gets stronger with practice)

Whatever that feeling was, it is gone… I'm not sure how to explain the feeling. It feels as if I let Kite down and I feel bad… But not quite that… Could the feeling I just felt have been pain? Kite speaks up…

“I can't inspect you anymore… That must mean that you are classified as a monster now.”

“It seems my monster class is living gauntlet. While I won't let you tame me, we're partners. I don't see you as my master. I will still follow you Kite… It does seem greedy but after listening to Greed for so long, maybe he rubbed off on me a little.”

Everyone around us is now staring at me… Did I say something? I speak up again.

“C-can you four understand me?”

I'm only greeted with four nods from Kite's generals… It seems I can communicate telepathically, somewhat similar to how Purple speaks. Purples was far more precise, able to target specific people. I feel that once I practice this more I would be able to communicate further away. Purple also had a limit, I feel I could communicate with everyone inside my telepathic range but everyone in range would hear it. Kite speaks again.

“Well… I guess I'll give you the last philosophers stone you need then. After this we'll head inside.”

Kite hands me the eye of the beholder. I absorb it easily… This time there is no pain but I can feel another change, sort of the feeling I had gotten when the demigod gave me the symbiotic effect.

Additional monster variant added metal eating mimic

Metal eating mimic passive skill gained Metal consumption- Consume metal to increase your permanent mana and the strength of your telekinesis

Sensory field increased from 15 to 30 foot radius

New skill gained Sensory zoom- Look with far greater detail at an object than you naturally could, can focus your sensory field in one direction to increase the distance you can see