Jin's body did not move.
He lay flat on the ground, heavy and still.
Like a statue.
Like a broken mountain.
But deep inside him, something was alive.
A soft blue light pulsed in the middle of his chest.
It was his core—the source of his new life.
The source of his power.
The core was tired.
Very tired.
"I gave too much," the core seemed to say.
"Too many names… too much magic…"
But it did not stop.
It worked.
Slowly.
Carefully.
The core sent little waves of energy through his stone body.
Not strong like lightning.
Not fast like wind.
But steady.
Like a heartbeat.
Thump… thump… thump…
The cracks in his rocky arms began to close.
The heavy dust on his chest faded.
The glow in his eyes flickered—just once.
His core was healing him.
Not because Jin told it to.
But because the core cared for its master.
He was not just a stone.
He was the heart of this new world.
Inside his mind, there were no dreams now.
Only silence.
Deep and warm.
Like sleep after a long day.
But the healing continued.
Minute by minute.
Hour by hour.
The magic that left his body during the Naming Ceremony slowly came back.
Bit by bit.
Drop by drop.
He was not ready to wake up.
Not yet.
But he would.
Soon.
For now, his job was simple:
Rest.
Recover.
Survive.
And deep inside the quiet dark…
His core continued to glow.
The Stone Lord had fallen.
Jin, the great golem who saved them, was now sleeping.
No. Not sleeping.
He was not moving. His body was still like a mountain.
The lizardmen were scared.
"He gave us names," said one young lizardman, his voice shaking.
"He gave us power," said another, touching his chest.
"And now… he is hurt."
The chieftain stepped forward. He was the oldest among them.
His scales were thick and dark green.
He looked at Jin's body with serious eyes.
"We must protect him," the chieftain said.
"He protected us. Now it is our turn."
The lizardmen nodded.
They made a circle around Jin.
Some held spears.
Some held shields made of bark and bone.
Some just sat and watched with quiet eyes.
They did not leave him alone.
Not even for a second.
They brought fresh leaves to make a soft bed.
They wiped the dust from his body.
They lit a small fire near his feet.
"He is warm," said a small lizard child.
"He is alive."
They took turns guarding the area.
Two stood by the north side.
Two on the south.
Others went to gather food and water, but always came back quickly.
No one wanted to be far from the Stone Lord.
As night came, stars filled the sky above the forest.
It was quiet.
Only the wind and the crackle of the fire could be heard.
Some lizardmen prayed.
They had never done this before.
But now they whispered to the stars, to the wind, to the earth.
"Please… let him wake up."
They did not know what else to do.
But they did not stop guarding.
Not once.
They waited.
Because Jin had given them something special.
A name.
A place.
A reason to live.
So now, they gave him what they could.
Their time.
Their hearts.
Their loyalty.
And in the center of the village, the Stone Lord lay still.
But never alone.
The sun rose slowly over the forest.
The sky turned from dark blue to soft orange.
Birds began to sing.
Leaves danced in the wind.
But Jin did not wake up.
The lizardmen were still watching him.
Their eyes were tired, but they stayed close.
They did not move far. They did not speak loud.
Then, something strange began to happen.
A young lizardman was sitting near Jin's left arm.
He touched the stone body gently.
"Stone Lord," he whispered.
"Please be okay."
At that moment, his arm glowed.
A soft blue light shone under his scales.
It looked like light moving through his veins.
"W-What is this?" he said, pulling back his hand.
Another lizardman looked at his own hand.
"I feel warm," he said.
He held out his palm.
Tiny sparks of blue mana floated above his skin.
One by one, more lizardmen felt it.
Their bodies began to change.
Their scales shimmered.
Their eyes grew brighter.
Their muscles felt stronger.
Some could feel the earth with their feet.
Others could hear mana in the wind.
"What is happening?" asked one.
The chieftain stepped forward again.
He was silent for a moment.
Then he said, "This is his gift."
They all turned to look at Jin.
"His names… they were not just words," the chieftain said.
"They were magic. A deep magic. It lives inside us now."
The lizardmen touched their chests.
They felt something new.
Something strong.
Something alive.
They had power now.
Not just the power to fight.
But the power to grow.
One lizardman pointed at a tree.
"I… I can feel the tree's life," he said.
Another picked up a rock.
"I can move it with just my mind!" he shouted.
It was true.
They were changing.
They were evolving.
And it all started with a name.
A name given by Jin.
The lizardmen looked at each other with wide eyes.
They were scared… but also happy.
"He is more than a protector," said the chieftain.
"He is a guide. A creator."
Then they all looked back at Jin.
Still sleeping.
Still unmoving.
But around him, the world was changing.
And the lizardmen were changing too.
They stayed near him.
They waited.
And now, they believed more than ever—
He was no normal golem.
He was their Stone Lord.
And his power was still working, even as he slept.
Time moved slowly in the village.
The sun rose high.
Then it began to fall.
Night came again.
But Jin did not wake up.
He was still lying on the soft grass, near the center of the village.
The lizardmen had placed cloth under his body.
They used leaves and fur to keep him warm.
They placed stones around him in a circle, like a wall of honor.
Some lizardmen stood close, holding wooden spears.
Others sat and watched in silence.
They did not talk much.
They did not laugh.
Their hearts were heavy, but full of respect.
The little ones brought food and water.
Even though Jin could not eat, they placed fruits beside him.
"We want him to have it when he wakes," said one small lizardgirl.
The chieftain sat nearby with closed eyes.
He was praying, not to a god, but to Jin.
To the Stone Lord who saved them.
To the protector who gave them names.
To the one who gave them power.
"Rest well," he whispered.
"Your people are safe. We will guard you now."
Above the forest, the moon appeared.
Stars filled the sky.
Cool wind blew through the trees.
Crickets began to sing.
Still, Jin did not open his eyes.
But inside his body, something was happening.
His core—deep in the center of his chest—was glowing softly.
Like a slow heartbeat.
It pulsed blue, then gold, then white.
This energy was healing him.
Fixing his body.
Filling his strength again.
Preparing him for what would come next.
The night passed slowly.
The lizardmen stayed awake in turns.
They shared stories of the battle.
They remembered the giant spider.
And they remembered the moment Jin crushed it with one strike.
"He is not just strong," said one.
"He is kind."
"Yes," said another. "He gave me a name. That name gives me hope."
Morning came again.
Sunlight touched Jin's body.
His stone arms warmed.
His chest glowed slightly brighter.
A little lizardboy walked over and sat beside him.
"Good morning, Stone Lord," the boy whispered.
"We are waiting for you."
And so, the day continued.
Jin still slept.
But the village was alive.
Stronger.
Brighter.
Changed.
They waited.
Not in fear.
But in hope.
Because now… they had Jin.
Their Stone Lord.
Their king.