The moment the words left his lips, everything went dark.
Then, his perspective shifted.
'He' was now in a dim mountain crevice. As the prince of his pangolin clan, he was staring at a giant rock, questioning his very existence.
Blessed by the mountains, his intelligence far surpassed that of his kin. He had known from a young age that he was no ordinary pangolin. His body was blessed by bedrock, granting him claws that could rend any stone, allowing him to traverse the peaks with ease.
He had carved tunnels through mountains for his people, giving them escape routes from pursuing beasts. He had rescued Cuihua from a neighboring peak from the clutches of a monster, winning the beauty's admiration. He had even helped wild boars and squirrels escape hunters' traps.
Yet this illustrious being, adorned with countless titles, had been stumped by a perfectly ordinary rock!
Shame. Utter shame.
He was furious.
'Very well, you rock. You have successfully captured my attention.'
'I grant you 29 more seconds of existence, because on the 30th second, you will be shattered by my claws.'
The 30th second arrived. He charged, furiously clawing and biting at the stone. Sparks flew where his claws met the rock's surface, leaving deep gouges.
'Excellent. This assault seems effective. Prepare to meet your end.'
He declared happily.
Just then, the rock began to tremble, emitting a sound as fearsome as thunder.
Caught off guard, he stumbled and fell on his backside.
'T-The rock… made a noise? Y-You live another day! But I shall return!'
He spat the threat and fled without looking back.
Three days later, his initial fright had subsided, replaced by simmering resentment.
'It's just a noisy rock.'
'Why should I fear it?'
'I must cleanse the shame it brought upon me!'
Thus, he returned to the crevice.
'Hey, big rock! I'm back for revenge!'
'You can scream all you want. I'm not scared!'
Baring his teeth, he pounced fiercely upon it. Another fierce battle ensued, ending once more in a stalemate. The rock's surface was covered in fresh scratches. The pangolin collapsed, exhausted, leaning against the stone.
'Truce.'
'Next time.'
After that, at regular intervals, he would return to the crevice to wage his fruitless war against the strange stone. One year passed, then two.
...Forty-nine years.
In that span, both long and fleeting, he witnessed his blood kin pass on and his clan renew itself generation after generation. Blessed by the mountains, he showed no sign of aging.
His initial hatred for the big rock gradually faded, replaced by a sense of camaraderie. After all these years, only it had remained by his side.
He could foresee that he still possessed a vast stretch of life ahead. He carried within him all the affection of the bedrock of a thousand peaks. He slowly began to understand the meaning of his own birth.
'Hey, big rock. I hear many powerful beings have appeared in this land lately.'
'They're called... gods, I think?'
'Sounds impressive, right?'
'They're fighting wars now, all vying to become the one true deity.'
'The rock mothers told me I'm the mountains' most beloved child. If I wished, I too could become such a being in the not-too-distant future.'
Leaning against the rock, the pangolin chattered on. The big rock responded with a sound like the clashing of metal and stone—a great, resonant noise. He was now utterly familiar with it and no longer startled into a tumble. He knew the sound expressed the rock's happiness.
Just like in the old days. The big rock was a creation of Geo, dwelling deep within the earth, sightless, bearing the loneliness of centuries flowing by. Until one day, a pangolin had stumbled into that crevice. Though the pangolin had clawed and scratched at it, the rock had interpreted it as play, responding with ever-more joyful peals of thunderous, metallic sound.
'What? You want me to give you eyes after I become a god?'
'Of course I will! I always thought it was so sad you've never seen the blue sky, the white clouds, or the beautiful mountains.'
'I promise I'll help you.'
He happily agreed to the big rock's request.
To understand the gap between himself and those mighty beings, he secretly left the safety of the mountains and ventured into the chaotic, war-torn land beyond.
There, he witnessed: Spears of rock plummeting from the heavens,impaling the earth. Tidal waves roaring in furious seas, sweeping away all life. Terrifying colossal beasts circling among the clouds,their forms flickering in and out of sight.
Soon after, he fled back in disgrace.
'I can't do it.'
'I can never reach the level of beings that powerful.'
The rock mothers sensed his fear and comforted him: It's alright. Even if you don't become a god, you will be the king of these mountains. You have an immensely long life ahead. The will of the bedrock will make you stronger with time. My child, all you need to do is stay within the embrace of the peaks and grow slowly.
'But if I don't become a god, how can I give the big rock its eyes?'
To this question, the rock mothers could only offer consolation: Forget it, my child.
What you promised is beyond your power.
Even if it were possible, the price would be far too heavy for you to bear.
'But I already promised.'
'It's been sightless since its birth, for thousands of years.'
'What is the price? How can I know if you won't tell me?'
'My courage failed me; I cannot become a god. But can I not even keep a promise to a friend?'
Finally, worn down by his pleas, the rock mothers revealed the method to him.
The scene shifted once more.
Back in the dim crevice, the strange rock, having not seen him for a long while, had been emitting a continuous, mournful, song-like sound.
'Stop crying.'
'I'm back now.'
He descended into the crevice and approached the big rock.
'It's difficult. So difficult I almost wanted to break my promise.'
'But I will do what I said I would.'
His claws, which had never before pierced the stone's surface, now carved intricate patterns upon it. With each mark, his life force drained away at a terrifying rate.
Finally, utterly spent, he slumped beside the rock. He wanted to say...
At that moment, the vision shook, and he was ejected from the immersive mode.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on achieving the accomplishment: 'What Did the Pangolin Say?' ]
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[Lifespan: 54 Years]
[This simulation is not concluded. Cooldown: 5 minutes. You may re-enter after the cooldown.]
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