The Cocoon

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, Glint's understanding of the spiritual stones deepened. He discovered that the white stones, rich with aura, were far more valuable than he had initially realized. These stones allowed him to absorb their aura and integrate it into his reserves, though the process was painstakingly slow. The energy he absorbed could not be permanently stored yet, as his body needed to strengthen to contain such vast amounts of aura.

Determined to expedite his growth, Glint embarked on a rigorous training regimen. He aggressively channeled his aura through his muscles and bones, deliberately breaking and healing them repeatedly. Each cycle of injury and recovery fortified his physical form, though the process was excruciating. Despite the pain, his body became more robust and resilient.

With the spiritual stones supplementing his diet, Glint no longer needed to forage for food. These stones were nutrient-rich, and their aura-enhancing properties sustained him. However, his attempts to absorb natural aura continued to clash with his own, creating a frustrating barrier. One day, after absorbing yet another spirit stone, he observed an unusual phenomenon: the stone began to absorb and refine the natural aura around it, akin to a battery replenishing its charge. This discovery intrigued Glint; if he could replicate this process, he might learn to absorb natural aura directly in the future.

Other ores he encountered remained a mystery, as he had yet to decipher their uses. Confined to his cave for an extended period, Glint honed his mastery of aura manipulation. He learned to use his aura to fly, encasing his body in a protective aura shield to achieve lift and maneuver through the air. However, his attempts at conjuration—creating objects or beings with his aura—had yielded no success.

As the months stretched into years, Glint's physique evolved further. He had grown by an additional 15 centimeters, and his human features had become more pronounced. The monotony of his routine and the isolation began to weigh on him. Seeking a new approach, he conceived an idea to accelerate his progress: why not use the spiritual stones in the cave to enter a state of hibernation, allowing his body to absorb the energy passively until the stones were depleted?

Understanding that aura responded to his will, Glint spent weeks experimenting with this concept. He eventually crafted a cocoon around his body, floating in the air. Aura-like threads expanded from the cocoon, connecting to every spiritual stone within a 500-meter radius. The connection was weak at first, given the limited amount of aura he had and the extensive area he covered, but he knew that as his aura grew, the link would strengthen.

Glint estimated there were thousands of stones—perhaps even tens of thousands. Absorbing each stone took several days, but with this new method, the process would be vastly different. The energy from the stones would enhance his body, increase his aura reserves, and potentially lead to further evolution. He calculated that it could take years, maybe even decades, to fully absorb all the aura, but he was determined to see it through.

Years turned into decades, and Glint remained in his hibernation state, unconsciously absorbing the aura from the stones. His body's transformation continued slowly but steadily. The passage of time was marked by the gradual depletion of the stones, and the cocoon around him began to show signs of strain.

After 84 years, the cocoon started to crack, revealing glimpses of the new Glint. As the cracks widened, a hand emerged, shattering the edge of the cocoon and signaling the end of his extended hibernation. The transformation was complete, unveiling a new form.

The figure that emerged was lithe and muscular, with a physique that allowed for incredible acrobatics. His fur was a vibrant mix of deep orange and golden hues, contrasting with his human-like facial structure. He had a broad forehead, expressive almond-shaped eyes that glimmered with intelligence, and a playful grin that revealed sharp, monkey-like teeth. A long, bushy tail and a pair of small, pointy ears completed his distinctive appearance.

As Glint took in his surroundings, a thought echoed in his mind: "Finally, you're out. I have been waiting for years." He glanced around, searching for the source of the voice. His eyes fell upon a figure that, though human-like in shape, was unmistakably not human.

The creature stood nearly two meters tall, exuding an air of silent authority. Her multifaceted, blood-red eyes held an intensity that was both captivating and unnerving. Her form was almost perfect, yet distinctly alien. Glint noted with concern that he couldn't sense her aura at all, a curious anomaly since all living beings typically emitted some form of aura. She must have mastered the art of concealing it. "What does she want?" Glint wondered, his mind racing as he tried to assess the situation.

The chapter ended with the new Glint standing amidst the remnants of his cocoon, his transformation complete but his future uncertain. The enigmatic presence of the evolved spider-like figure left him with more questions than answers.