The moment I breach the barrier, the orc comes charging right at me. But I was prepared for that and calmly reserves the attack, misdirects it and counterattack - all in one motion.
If I had to say, I have become rather skilled at fighting like this lately. Mostly thanks to all the experimenting I did before. But one could also say that it’s because my skill level have risen considerably.
The orc takes a few stumbling steps backwards, but soon finds its balance again.
It seems to have learned from its mistake and takes a stance, ready for a serious battle.
But I do not wait around, instead - this time I take the initiative. I concentrate my attack at a single point in an attempt to pierce its defence, make him stumble - lose his balance again. But he withstands it, and counterattacks with a strike directed at the opening, created by my seemingly reckless thrust.
All according to the plan. I release my form and wash over him as if I was a liquid, swallow him. Just like how the sea consumes sailors and ship alike - whole. I am the one in charge now.
Chapter 3: The status window
A status window appears in my mind.
Status Window:
-No Name- [Living Stone Lv. 1]
HP: 5/5
MP: 10/10
Strength: 2
Agility: 1
Intelligence: 100
Stamina: -
Passive Skills:
[Immortality] [Sleep Nullity] [Sense Nullity] [Stone Skin]
Active Skills:
[Lesser Mind Control Lv. 1]
Titles:
-
.. Well, that explains why I can not see anything. I simply have no eyes, do I?
Now that I think about it, I can not feel, hear or smell anything either.
.. What the f*ck!?
I could accept not being reborn into a human being, but then I at least expected to be a humanoid. Even a goblin would have been better than this! Such luck, why a stone of all things?!
Answer:
The only species with the inborn skill [Immortality] is [Living Stone].
Oh? I actually got an answer.
Dumbfounded I looked through my status but could not find anything that possibly could have caused this strangeness. Why was there an answer?
Answer:
The system's purpose is to notify self aware individuals about skills and their effects.
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Really? Well, since I can not die, feel pain or even need to sleep judging by the names of my passive skills I should take my time to appraise my status for the time being.
[Living Stone]:
A living stone. Immortal, but lacks intelligence.
Hmm.. There does not seem to be any downside in my case. Well, ignoring being a stone..
On the other hand, there would have been if I did not have the awareness of a human from my previous life, but then again, if I did not have that I would not know the difference.
Phew, dodged that bullet..
[Immortality]:
The user can not die of aging. Inborn skill.
Immortality seems to be unconditional - great! I was actually worrying a bit before, but I feel kinda reassured now. On the other hand, it seems that I am not immortal in the literal sense, rather by the standards of this world.
Oh well, you can't get everything.. Actaully, it would have been a little boring being completly immortal from the very beginning wouldn't it?
And I should have a perfect camouflage anyway, so I shouldn’t suffer any major danger from being attacked at the moment anyway..
[Sleep Nullity]:
The user do not need to sleep and is unable to fall asleep by force. Inborn skill.
[Sense Nullity]:
The user can not make use of the five senses. Inborn skill.
As for sleep nullity, it is a plainly useful skill. This means that I have double the amount of time being conscious- Wait, no, it does not. Is this what one would call “anti-combo”? Thanks to my immortality the usefulness of sleep nullity is downgraded.. Oh well, I guess there is no chance that I will be caught of guard at night time, or put to sleep for that matter.
Sense nullity is really bad though.. Simply a strictly terrible skill to own.
[Stone Skin]:
The user's skin is as hard as stone. Inborn skill.
Nice, does that mean that I take decreased physical damage?
Yes, that would make sense, wouldn’t it..?
Whatever - I'll leave testing my abilities for later.
Now, lastly, my trump card:
[Lesser Mind Control Lv. 1]:
The user is able to control a lesser creature with less intelligence than the value of 20*.
With this, my ridiculous existence have come to light. Yes~ My lady’s and gentlemen, I am the great-
..Oh, I don’t have a name yet, that's right..
Whatever, I am the great and mighty mind controlling, immortal stone!
Ha! So what if I can barely move as a stone. I do not need to move. Also, what was that about not being able to use the five senses? Hmm?
Now, servants, carry me! .. Servants! Huh? It doesn't seem to be working..