Chapter 33

Stone slid through the throat of the Monster and landed in the Monster's stomach.

"This is a very strange place," Stone stated, floating on the surface of the acidic pool.

"No way, you miserable shitstone!" Luci responded, sarcastically.

"You know, lately, you panic too much. Can you be more helpful like before? Like with the ants? And look, the shield holds."

Lucifer gaped a bit as his mind blanked out of anger. He was fuming. If a person could observe him closely, he (or she) could see steam rising from him.

"… you fucking, miserable piece of shitty mineral! I will show you useful!"

"Sorry, Luci," Stone apologized with a stony expression that could mean something like embarrassment. Lucifer very, very deeply inhaled. He continued to inhale as he didn't have a body.

"Fine, apology accepted. Now, let me think for a bit," Luci slowly regained his composure and focused on the situation.

[Your spell Mana Shield gained a level]

"Is it bad if my shield levels up this quickly?"

"… that means we are dead if your shield collapses. The acid of 4th or 5th tier Monster is nothing to scoff at."

"If you don't cast your own spells, it should hold forever," Stone flexed his insane mana regeneration.

"You are truly a monster… so small, yet so big…" Lucifer was glad for it. He could survive.

Stone tried to think of a solution too but the situation was above his… expertise. And he got bored anyway. So, instead, he recalled his tablets for distraction. 'Thud, Thud'

Name: Stone

Title: Guardian of Talc Anthill

Race: Mana Crystal

Sub-race: Talc

Level: 7 [15]

Exp: 15.73%

Hardness: 2.999

Lifeforce: 53.1 / 299.9

Mana: 150 / 150 MReg: 45.1 / sec

Refined mana: 37.5 / 37.5 MRef: 7 / min

Strength: 0

Dexterity: 0

Intelligence: 15

Talents: Ageless, Heat Accumulator, Lucifer {wielder}

Resistances: Heat T1L4, Electrical T1L3

Expertise: Mana Point T2L5, Ambient Mana Refinement T2L16, Mana Carving T2L7, Healing Bath for stones T1L6, Ants' Souls T1L1, Mana Shield T1L3

[Spell: Healing Bath for stones

The spell itself is extremely old. Ancient even. It was created for repairing golems as it greatly enhances the regrowing process of the minerals.

You require refined mana, Mana Bubble spell T1L10 and a mineral ground to fine dust.

For your case, you need your Sub-race material.

Maximum: Tier 3

Spell: Mana Shield

A basic spell that everyone who can use mana, knows. Even Monsters know this spell instinctively.

It conjures a protective film over the caster's body. Many people above a certain threshold have it permanently activated as it's basic protection against radiation and ambushes.

It can be used even with normal mana, however, its power is greatly reduced and is easy to break through.]

As minutes passed, Stone observed the mana crystals around him to be dissolved and the released mana was absorbed by the Monster.

[Your spell Mana Shield gained a level]

"Oh, Luci, I forgot… I am quite hurt from before."

"One thing after another, please!" Luci said absentmindedly as he was trying to find a way out.

They felt a movement as the monster moved to catch a new prey. Two bodies of dwarfs dropped near them and slowly dissolved into floating puddles of tissue and harder bones.

Stone observed it with fascination. It never occurred to him that these… these… were so interesting. While Stone was searching for a new description for these creatures filled with strange things like blood, meat, bones and other tissues, Lucifer happily exclaimed, "I have an idea!"

He proceeded to explain to Stone what he had in mind; Stone would conjure as many souls as he could and use them to irritate the Monster's stomach.

[Your spell Mana Shield gained a level]

A few hours went by. Stone was fervently training the spell [Ants' Souls] and involuntarily, his shield. Thankfully, his nigh-infinite mana and constant automatic refinement, made them perfectly safe.

Stone pondered for a bit and decided he liked training. It made him feel good. Not like levelling up, but still, it was pleasant and fulfilling to see the progress. While he thought about it, now in a calm situation, he decides another thing; he hates to feel weak, hates to be thrown around like a… like a… like a piece of stone.

"Oh, meatbags!" Stone cried out as his mind found the right word for those meat-filled beings.

"Some things never change..." Luci sighed and fell back into his thoughts as he was completely and utterly bored yet again. He could not train, because all of the refined mana was reserved for the [Mana Shield] and his survival.

While Lucifer was waiting for Stone to be done with training, he grasped several things too; he was still compelled to be helpful. Not due to Rules of Conduct for Partners, but by his talent, [Subordinate], which when he examined it, was legally the same thing.

"Fuck me sideways! Really!"

[Subordinate

You were subordinate of @!#Hidden#!@, now you came under entity Stone… I feel you… I really do. *pat pat*

You're influenced by your master to a certain level and compelled to help him the same way as a Partner. You can try to resist, but it will result in punishment.

Your master can fully see your status screen, but can't manipulate it or conjure explanations.

When ordered, you have to listen (fortunately for you, your master does not know about this)

You are protected by your master's soul.

You are limited by your master's level. Your level is always at 90% of your master's level. (Artificially raised limits does not count.)]

"Again, fuck this!" Lucifer cursed as he examined the tablet again.

[Your spell Ants' Souls gained a level]

[Your spell Mana Shield gained a level]

[Your technique Ambient Mana Refinement gained a level]

"What's wrong, Luci?" Stone halted his training of spell Ants' Souls and showed some interest, which was very… let's say unusual for him.

"Nothing, nothing… Go back training," Lucifer hastily answered. "No way in the eternal Universum, I will be commanded by this piece of shitstone. I wonder what that means that I am protected by his soul. That proves he truly has one. And if he trains this soul-based magic and he became a sentient mana crystal…oh dear fucking gods…" A possible future dawns on his overworking mind, scaring him to hell. "Better not to think about this. Well, I'm sub-raceless Ethereal. That in itself is an anomaly too. I will have to research this after we get out of this freaking underground," his train of thoughts was interrupted by a strange realization, "Wait a minute… Did he show interest and didn't complain about me being loud?"

"Okay, silence" Stone commanded those pesky messages to shut up. He returned to his training with his stony patience, but this time, he has a mind full of thoughts, ideas, and emotions, which is quite unnerving for him. "Luci?"

"What again? Shouldn't you be training?"

"I can't concentrate. My thoughts are so annoying and loud."

"What thoughts?"

"Everything… I have many ideas, thoughts, and emotions I didn't have before… It's distracting. How can anyone concentrate with this?"

"Oh, you have not adapted yet… Well, you're a few months old. I will teach you a technique for this," Luci says, happy he can do something. "Settle down and clear your mind, block every thought you have, ignore every sound."

"How?"

"Do what I said."

☁☁☁☁☁☁

Encyclopaedia Stonia

Shul-Gahat

Relatively rare amphibian monsters, who prefer deep waters or underground lakes. While they are considered prey for most Sea Monsters, they are treated with the utmost respect in the Abyss. How this Monster found its way into the first layer of the Abyss is unknown, but the druegars who settled nearby pray to it.