The sun was rising slowly.
Soft light came through the trees.
The village was quiet, but there was something in the air—something big.
The lizardmen stood in a line.
They looked nervous but excited.
Their long tails moved slowly.
Their claws held together in front of their chests.
Their eyes all looked at one person.
Jin Haru.
He stood tall in the center of the village.
His rocky body felt heavy, but his heart was awake.
Last night, he had given names to a few.
It was only the beginning.
Now, the rest of the village waited.
The lizardman chieftain walked forward and bowed deeply.
"Stone Lord," he said.
"We are ready."
Jin nodded.
"Come," he said, voice deep and quiet.
"Step forward."
The first in line was a young lizardman.
His scales were brown.
His eyes full of hope.
"What is my name, my lord?" the lizardman asked.
Jin placed a heavy stone hand on the lizardman's shoulder.
"You will be... Daro."
Suddenly, a bright light flashed from Jin's chest.
A strong heat moved through his body.
It went from his core, through his arm, and into Daro.
The lizardman's body shook.
Golden lines of light ran over his skin.
His muscles grew stronger.
His eyes changed—they looked more human, more intelligent.
The village gasped.
Jin stepped back.
He looked at his hand.
It was shaking a little.
"What... was that?" he said.
The system voice echoed in his mind:
> [Naming successful. Life energy transferred. Subject Daro: Awakened.]
Jin frowned.
"Life energy… from me?"
Daro was breathing hard.
Then he smiled—a big, proud smile.
"Thank you… Stone Lord."
Jin nodded again.
"Next."
Another lizardman stepped forward.
This one had dark green scales.
"You will be... Luma," Jin said.
Again, a flash.
Energy poured from Jin's chest into the lizardman.
Her body glowed.
Her eyes shone like emeralds.
More gasps.
More change.
Jin started to understand.
His names were not just words.
They were power.
Power from his soul.
Each name was a gift.
A piece of him.
Still… he didn't stop.
One by one, he gave names.
"Goro."
"Vika."
"Sarn."
"Eli."
Each time, energy flowed.
Each time, he felt a little more tired.
But he kept going.
The lizardmen smiled, bowed, and stepped aside.
He was giving them something they had never had before.
Not just power.
But identity.
Hope.
Belonging.
By the time he reached the sixth name, Jin's body felt heavy.
He sat down slowly on a large stone.
His arms were shaking.
His chest was dim.
Still… he whispered,
"Next."
And the next lizardman stepped forward, eyes shining with excitement.
Jin sat on the stone.
His body was big and strong, but now it felt weak.
Still, he looked up.
Another lizardman stepped forward.
This one was tall.
His eyes were sharp, and he looked serious.
Jin raised his stone hand slowly.
He touched the lizardman's shoulder.
"You… will be… Karo," Jin said, his voice softer now.
Just like before, a warm light came from Jin's chest.
The energy moved into Karo's body.
His scales shone like polished jade.
His muscles grew stronger.
A strange symbol appeared on his forehead—glowing, then fading.
The other lizardmen watched with wide eyes.
They could feel the change.
It was not just the body.
Something deeper was happening.
Karo stood taller.
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he looked… different.
Smarter.
Brighter.
"I feel it," he whispered.
"My soul… is alive."
Jin blinked.
He looked at his own hand.
The glowing was fading.
He felt tired, like after working all day without rest.
But he smiled.
"It's working," he said softly.
"They're becoming… more."
The other lizardmen began to cheer.
They clapped their claws.
They raised their tails.
They stomped the ground in joy.
"Stone Lord! Stone Lord!" they shouted.
Jin stood up slowly.
He waved his hand, and the next one came forward.
She was small, with light blue scales.
"Liri," Jin said.
Flash.
Glow.
The same change.
Liri looked at her hands in shock.
"I feel… warm," she said.
"I feel like I can do more!"
Jin nodded.
Yes.
Each name was not only giving them power.
It was changing their minds.
Their hearts.
No longer just lizardmen.
They were something more.
People.
---
Jin turned his head slowly.
The line of lizardmen was still long.
But now, they were excited.
They smiled.
They whispered to each other.
"I hope I get a strong name."
"What if I get tall like Karo?"
"I wonder what I'll feel…"
Their voices were full of joy.
But Jin's chest felt heavy.
Not sad.
Just… tired.
He took a deep breath.
"Next," he called.
---
One by one, they came.
One by one, Jin gave names.
And one by one, they changed.
Some grew stronger.
Some grew faster.
Some had glowing eyes.
Some had symbols.
Some just looked more alive.
The village was filled with shining lights.
Soft glows of magic danced through the air.
Jin smiled.
It was beautiful.
The sun was high in the sky.
The light came through the trees above the village.
It made the ground shine in gold and green.
Jin sat in the center of the village.
Lizardmen stood in a long line before him.
Their eyes were full of hope.
He had named half already.
Each one changed.
Each one became stronger, smarter, brighter.
Now, the others wanted the same.
A small lizardman ran up.
"Me next! Please, Stone Lord!"
Jin looked at him.
He was young.
His tail wagged with excitement.
Jin smiled weakly.
"Come here."
He raised his stone hand.
He touched the boy's head.
"You are… Mika."
The light flowed again.
Jin felt it leave his chest and go into the boy.
Mika's eyes went wide.
His body glowed.
Then he jumped up and shouted.
"I feel strong! I feel like fire!"
The crowd cheered.
The lizardmen clapped.
They laughed and danced.
Jin closed his eyes for a moment.
He was happy for them.
But… something felt off.
His chest was aching.
His arms were heavy.
Still, he opened his eyes again.
He waved to the next one.
"Come."
A tall female stepped forward.
Her eyes were calm.
"I am ready."
"You… are Tana," Jin said.
The glow came again.
Tana's scales shimmered like silver water.
She bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Stone Lord. I will protect this village with my life."
Jin nodded.
Next.
And next.
And next again.
He kept going.
One after another.
Names flowed from his lips like a river.
"Kura."
"Demos."
"Lia."
"Ren."
Each one brought light.
Each one brought cheers.
The line was still long.
The lizardmen were excited.
They whispered to each other.
"I want my name now!"
"Did you see Kura's new claws?"
"Stone Lord is giving us life!"
It was a festival.
But Jin's heart beat slower.
His breathing was heavy.
He felt like a fire burning low.
His magic… was running out.
Still, he smiled.
"I can give more," he whispered to himself.
"They believe in me. I won't stop."
He looked at the next one in line.
"Come here…"
The wind moved softly through the village.
The lizardmen stood in line.
Everyone was excited.
Everyone wanted a name.
Jin sat on the same stone.
He looked strong outside,
but inside, his body was heavy.
Very heavy.
He had named 90 percent of lizardmen now.
Each time, a light left his chest.
Each time, he felt a little more tired.
His arms felt like stone.
His breath was short.
His eyes were slow to blink.
Still, he did not stop.
He smiled at the next one.
"You… are Fero."
The light came again.
Bright. Warm. Powerful.
But this time, Jin felt something strange.
His vision turned a little dark.
His head began to spin.
He held his forehead.
Fero's body glowed.
He jumped and laughed.
"I feel like a warrior now!" he shouted.
The crowd cheered again.
But Jin didn't cheer.
He was quiet.
One of the lizardmen, Tana, stepped close.
"Stone Lord… are you well?"
Jin nodded slowly.
"I'm fine… just a little tired."
He waved to the next one.
"Come."
A small girl stepped forward.
Her eyes were big and full of trust.
"Please… give me a name too."
Jin touched her shoulder.
"You… are Ria."
The light came.
But this time, Jin's body shook.
He fell forward a little.
The ground moved under him.
He blinked fast.
His stone fingers trembled.
His thoughts were slow.
Why… is this… so hard?
Ria looked up, worried.
"Stone Lord? Are you okay?"
He smiled weakly.
"Yes. Just… give me a second."
He sat back, breathing heavy.
His heart felt deep inside the rock.
Beating slow.
Weak.
Tana stepped forward again.
"You need to rest. We can wait."
Jin looked at the long line.
So many eyes.
So much hope.
He wanted to help all of them.
But he finally nodded.
"Okay… Just a short rest."
He closed his eyes.
He leaned back.
And for the first time since coming to this world…
Jin Haru, the Stone Lord, felt his mind fade.
The light of the sun fell over him.
Warm.
Soft.
The lizardmen stood quietly.
They did not move.
They waited.
Their lord had given them names.
Now, they would give him peace.