Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2058: Stronger connection

The elder gazed at me with a look of utter surprise mixed with bewilderment.

Yet despite the elder's stare, I still had no clue about their words.

A hush hung in the atmosphere for a moment until the elder spoke up at last, "You truly know nothing whatsoever?"

A bitter grin crossed my lips as I replied, "I honestly have zero understanding of the situation. I'm clueless about rock elementals or this location. I merely obeyed a divine oracle from the gods, instructed to aid somebody here, yet I'm totally lost on what's happening."

A peculiar expression surfaced not only on the elder's features but also among the other rock elementals accompanying us.

Their stares suggested they assumed I'd grasp every detail about this realm already.

However, no matter how they eyed me, I wouldn't suddenly comprehend what they wished I'd understand.

Ultimately, the elder took it upon themselves to clarify the circumstances.

"This realm is a sacred domain forged by the gods for our rock elemental clan once the war of the gods concluded. It served as our reward for aiding the gods throughout that conflict."

This revelation left me utterly stunned. Once I regained my composure, I squinted my eyes toward the elder.

I'd never imagined encountering anyone who survived that era. But ultimately, such hopes proved futile.

"Though our rock elemental tribe boasts extended lifespans, we don't endure long enough to witness that war firsthand."

The elder appeared to sense my thoughts from my gaze, leaving me somewhat uneasy.

Ignoring my discomfort, the elder pressed on, "Still, nothing endures eternally in this world, and even divine might diminishes over time."

Shifting their gaze to the rock pillar, the elder explained, "This structure embodied the god's essence here. It revitalized the area and sustained its vitality for us, yet it's dwindled to this extent now..."

As the elder's words faded, a odd expression crept onto my face.

My eyes avoided the elder, fixing instead on the central rock pillar in the village.

Quickly, I grasped the true problem and turned to the evident sign of the transformation in this domain.

That sign was the encircling space around the rock pillar.

The barren ring surrounding the rock pillar didn't mark a forbidden area; instead, it showed the former vastness of the pillar.

Examining the soil intently, I spotted traces of erosion and scuffing. It resembled marks from something hauled over the surface.

It felt like some covering had once blanketed that earth and was now gone.

Such traces aligned perfectly if the rock pillar had receded.

But precisely what role did they envision for me with this rock pillar?

Divine energy emanated from it, detectable to me, yet that by itself wouldn't uphold the pillar. Divine energy alone couldn't spawn vitality.

Maybe if sourced from Vivrum... though it didn't seem like that's what they sought from me.

Following a brief pause, the elder went on, "Regarding our nature as rock elementals, we're merely beings shaped from refined elemental essence gathered into form."

The elder phrased it as common knowledge, yet I struggled to fully comprehend it right away.

This account resembled that of spirits, but I recognized the distinction.

Spirits lacked substance and didn't qualify as solidified elemental essence.

Spirits directed the elemental forces present in the world, enabling those who bonded with them to wield elemental magic.

Upon reflection, I saw that these rock elementals truly differed.

Rather than merely directing elemental forces, they embodied the essence itself.

I hadn't witnessed their abilities in action, but I figured they'd impose permanent changes on the world, unlike spirits. Spirits merely shaped elemental forces to their will.

Without direction, that force wouldn't persist indefinitely, as elemental essence would revert to the natural order.

Only exceptionally powerful spirits, like the Spirit Kings, could alter the world enduringly.

For these rock elementals, the thriving village stood as clear evidence.

After pondering briefly, I directed my focus once more to the village's central rock pillar.

Precisely defining rock elementals could wait; ample time existed for that later. The priority was my purpose here, which likely tied to the rock pillar that summoned me.

Gazing at the rock pillar, an unusual sensation stirred within me.

The familiar bond I shared with all divine energy constructs lingered, yet another element was present.

A deeper link appeared to bind me specifically to this rock pillar...