Chapter 12

Today I am 1000 years old as an elemental, how do I know, my memory allows me to remember how many days I have been alive. My life as an elemental in itself is not bad, just somewhat repetitive because of the constant struggle.

I have changed a lot in this time, mostly in appearance, mentally I am still me, though perhaps a higher "me". Now, to explain my change in appearance I must first say that I was a fool for at least 700 years, after that I discovered that I could use the rock parts that made up the stone elementals and lava elementals as components for my body. When I discovered that I saw an increase in my mass and I also realized that I could use it to regenerate wounds... From that moment on I only fought to train and eat and not so much for the essences, because even though I don't really enjoy fighting, I enjoy the feeling of growth that overcoming my enemies gives me and advancing in my mastery of "Elemental Boxing". Although I think it's more like martial arts than boxing itself... Never mind, I'll rename it at some point. Maybe I'll call it "The 1000 Year Elemental Technique" hahaha, the inner cultivator in me is proud of such a name, hahaha.

Well, as I was going. With my mass increasing at a rapid rate I decided that I couldn't just grow and that's it. As martial artists say, I had to "possess a good base". So I decided that I would refine the materials before using them to improve my body. The process for such a thing occurred using the idea of a furnace and a press, as I would destroy what I had no use for, leaving only useful, refined and highly concentrated ore. It sounds simple but it really took ingenuity and effort to achieve it.

I decided to use my body as a forge, because lava elementals usually drop these very useful concentrated minerals to restore my body. Since I had noticed that, I concluded that it was possible for me to perform the same, but much better, using my almost zero knowledge of metal forging.

At first I had decided to create a furnace, but then I thought better of it and decided to use my body as a furnace and forge, since my body skill allowed me to create what I needed using my body... Anyway, I'm an elemental, it's not like it matters to change my body momentarily.

It took me a while, and not because creating the shape of a furnace is difficult, but because I needed a very powerful fire to generate a heat strong enough to melt a mineral that forms in a lava elemental... Anyway, I realized one thing while I was testing it and that is... I managed to get a bug. Since it's inside my body, I was able to increase the intensity of the fire as much as I wanted without spending even a little bit of mana, since practically mana was circulating through my body. But by changing the form to the one I wanted and the fire being a part of me, it just happened... Hahaha. That day a crazy laughter was heard inside a cave in a mountain.

With so much going for me, it had to be hard times, and that was because the volcanic rock that made up my body couldn't withstand the internal heat I was generating, melting and causing me INTENSE PAIN... So yeah, it wasn't that easy. Besides, I used my body ability to try to keep my shape, but I couldn't manage it. I guess my control is not yet advanced enough to perform such a task.

*SIGH*

Other problems arose after I decided to simply use my full lava form and lock myself deep inside a mountain with the intention of using myself as a fire and the mountain as a cauldron. But I had to be quick, as this lava form was not very stable and I was only maintained by my will, the same will that allowed me to keep control of my ability. Then my new problem was the minerals themselves, not all of them withstood the temperature and practically evaporated, so I had to use a process and investigate which minerals withstood my higher temperature for a longer period of time.

I finally got my answer. I didn't know the mineral, but it was black, as well as being a little reflective and hard enough to withstand the heat it was generating for much longer than the other minerals. I called it "ObsidiP1", because it resembled obsidian in color and texture, and because it was my "Template" and number 1 attempt at a tough mineral for my new stone body.

After making "ObsidiP1" I tried hitting it and nothing happened, I tried with all my strength and it broke... I had to start all over again. Try after try over time. First 1 year, then 2, 3, 10, 30 and more years of continuous testing of different combinations of minerals and their amounts, plus testing the amount of pressure it could withstand. At the end of so many tests I found the mineral that fit what I was looking for. "ObsidesPE1" or "Template/Successful Test 1".

I had managed to create the material I needed to make the changes I wanted in me. The tests were thousands of attempts, since I didn't need to sleep, nor did I spend mana, I could do it continuously as long as my will lasted. In itself, this was also another test for me. When I finished my discovery and created my new body, I observed the place I used for all my tests.

The inside of the mountain I had used as a cauldron was totally crystallized in some parts and lava was flowing all over the floor... I would use those minerals for my body, but I preferred to keep the materials within what an elemental would produce, as I believe an elemental's body is special and its connection with mana and natural energies should be greater. Besides, I wanted to take some time after so much experimenting and testing my new body. But I must say that I feel satisfied inside, I guess my instinctive elemental side wanted to let free the fire I possessed.

*sigh*

I'm always learning new things about myself. Some surprise me more than others, but it's worth taking my time for. Anyway, my new body was amazing. I say that with pride and vanity of course, modesty I will use when expressing myself to others. In front of myself I will be totally honest, because I really can't hide what I really want, and it's not healthy to do so either.

To understand why I boast so much, I counted the whole process and the years required, so I won't say "I think I deserve it" with false modesty, because I know I do. My body is now a matte black color, so it doesn't shine, but I prefer it that way. I have 10 tentacles, 8 on my back and 2 on my arms. The ones on my arms have a harpoon style tip to latch onto an enemy or pierce them like a spear, in addition to the normal scourge. The ones on my back vary. The 2 tentacles closest to my shoulders have a spear tip, as if necessary they can also grab the enemy, whip them or be a spear. The two below have a cylindrical mace-like shape as a tip, and are the thickest. The next ones are 4 tentacles that can be consumed to generate more mass where needed or to whip, block attacks from multiple enemies and cast elemental magic like the rest.

Moving to my shoulders I decided to go with a simple style and not too bulky, as it would only hinder my attacks and an easier target to hit. My fists were now more defined and a little less big, but the weight was compensated by both tentacles rolled up like bands. For my head I ditched the common human skull style and decided to go with a dragon skull, as it suited the scaled style that all my stones now had, including the outside of my 6 main tentacles. Why scaled, simple, it gives me good protection against blows and cuts which are what I normally face with fire elementals. It won't prevent penetrating attacks very well, but so far I haven't had to deal with that and I don't think I'm going to for now, as Therazane and Ragnaros have been fighting this two sided war for 1000 years and I don't see them starting to stop anytime soon.

Now, I failed to explain my torso in general. My back has sections where the tentacles come out as holes and the rest follows the same scaly pattern. My chest is large and follows the same pattern of scales, only defining my "muscles" just like a fire elemental... Why, for vanity. I want to look more presentable for my enemies in the next battle that will start soon, and what better way than a lava elemental cosplaying as a dragon. Of course, this cosplay has a few more surprises. It's so realistic that even I was surprised at its conception.

With my gaze towards the volcanic wall that was now reflective, I watched in fascination as flames shot out of my eye sockets and covered my entire skull. 2 horns through which my lava flowed and which were obviously not simple horns. Watching myself in all the glory of my effort always brings me a sense of great happiness, accomplishment and self-improvement. I believe I have fulfilled one of my past life's wishes, "To have as realistic a dragon costume as possible"....

*SIGH*

I feel a weight leave my shoulders. From now on I am totally renewed, I am a new type of elemental, according to my own classification of course. From today I am a chimeric lava elemental, because as much as I want to say dragon, I can't. My tentacles are not wings and I almost look like an octopus with so many tentacles. My tentacles are not wings and I almost look like an octopus with so many tentacles coming out of my body. They are so useful that I can't really get rid of them. If my tentacles had skulls like mine at their tips, I'd probably be better classified as a Hydra, but I'm not. Although it wouldn't be a bad idea... I should rethink some things and create more "ObsidesPE1"... In fact, I'm going to do it right now.

...

After some time of creation and adjustments, later.

Now yes, 4 small segmented dragon skulls for the 4 lower tentacles. I do it this way because I want to keep the segments inside my body if I need their mass. My body is not hollow, but I can create a cavity if I need to.

Now that I remember, I don't have legs, but I prefer it that way. Humanoid legs are a disadvantage at the moment. Moreover, becoming more humanoid than I already am isn't a good idea. Leaving aside the obviousness of drawing even more attention to myself, only 2 of the elemental lords have legs and one of those is Therazane, who floats and doesn't use them, so they're too small... I don't even know why he has them in the first place. The other one is Ragnaros, who does use them, but as soon as he stagnates he changes his form back to a whirlpool... I guess he just wants speed of movement.

Not having legs makes me slow, it's true, but it gives me stability. My actual body "floats" on the ground and helps me move calmly no matter how the terrain is shaped. In short, it's better than an off-road 4x4.

I will soon test my new form on the battlefield. It's also likely that with my current form being rarer and larger than it was before, I'll attract the attention of someone powerful. I hope it will be the attention of my allies, because I have sincerely worked hard to change into my current body and will not back down from proving the lethality I currently possess.

Looking in the "mirror" again, I reflect.

I should go imagining new forms and cosplay to try, shouldn't I? I shouldn't waste the opportunity that my new body and powers allow me... For now I'll think about it.

Author's note: I wasn't planning on updating today after I felt a bit uninspired to write, but while I was thinking about what I would write for this chapter I suddenly got some inspiration, unfortunately very late at night (for me), so I just finished this chapter.

What did you think of the chapter? I invite you to comment, because every comment is a motivation to continue writing. ^^. Tomorrow I plan to release another chapter earlier and update the chapter of my original novel that I didn't release today as it should be. (for those who read it).

Also, I invite you to comment ideas of what kind of "cosplay" the main character could do. Of course they would be "extra" and shorter chapters, as they are just to add fun and not affect negatively the chapters that would be updated. Maybe 1k words at most. (The parts of the cosplay that I like the most and if they are useful could be used for their common form). Nothing more to say--- I remembered something. Tomorrow's chapter the main character will have a chat with someone, I mean, the main character in his current form draws a lot of attention, it's unavoidable. Now yeah, have a great day or a good night. ^^.