Durin's Diary

Then Durin watched as an energy sphere separated itself from the metallic sphere.

"I need a physical mechanical body, and it was only yesterday that I found such a good fellow."

Durin sighed, for the first time feeling how endearing those folks who insisted on creating the three laws for artificial AI were.

Then he became extremely nervous, "You mean, this world is still..."

"Not exactly, I cannot connect to any data networks, whether it be in the Eastern Land, Central Continent, or Western Lands. I can't find any traces of satellites either. This place does not seem like our homeland."

The Life-Sustaining Personal Terminal denied Durin's guess, which made him feel a bit better.

At least, since this place wasn't, it meant that Durin's homeland hadn't been ravaged by time... at least, he wouldn't have the chance to witness all of that.

With this answer, Durin fell silent and eventually sighed, "What do you mean by saying you saved me again?"

"When you were just an old man waiting to die in bed, I saved you once. I didn't stop you from attempting suicide. When you fell into the pit with most of your ribs broken, I had to use this life-sustaining personal terminal, with its manufacturing far beyond our times, to save you again. However, to save you, I had to consume a strange substance for energy, which this world seems to call the Origin Force."

This answer left Durin silent; he understood the injuries he had before falling unconscious—his breastbone was almost shattered, and some ribs had punctured his lungs. Without immediate divine art treatment, it was an injury that guaranteed death.

"Thank you," Durin chose to express his gratitude.

As for the Origin Force, Durin hadn't heard of it before, but it didn't matter. There was plenty of time ahead, and there would eventually be an opportunity to learn.

"You're too polite, Mr. Durin. The Life-Sustaining Personal Terminal is, after all, an AI that serves life. But when starting up this terminal, I made an interesting discovery: in its system, life forms like you are labeled as pets, and there are many types of humanoid pets. The humans of this world seem to have reached the summit of technology—they can actually create life artificially."

"But in the end, they became the forebears in the legends of this world, leaving only skeletons and energy-depleted life-support pods." As Durin spoke, he lifted the soft, thick fur blanket of the giant ground sloth.

Dressed in his clothes, Durin looked at the life-sustaining personal terminal that was still floating in front of him: "How should I address you?"

"You can call me by my call sign: Big Orange."

If the personal terminal could express emotions, it was definitely smiling, a benchmark in the service industry.

"Alright, Big Orange." Though Durin didn't know what Big Orange meant, he called it that anyway.

"By the way, Mr. Durin, please stand in front of the mirror and squint."

Since Big Orange said so, Durin strolled over to the mirror and squinted, then he could no longer take his eyes off his reflection.

Because in the mirror, there were two Durins.

One Durin, dressed in a robe, was now eyeing the reflection of Durin.

The other Durin, also him, was dressed in a gray hospital gown, sitting on the sofa in the background, side-glancing out the window.

White hair, an aged appearance, appearing somewhat sickly... that was exactly the self that had died in bed.

Durin turned around; there was nothing on the sofa behind him.

Durin subconsciously looked at the mirror version of himself and saw a screen emerge from the void, bringing all the data before his eyes.

Durin Lili Elsh

Old Profession System: Magician

Level: Third Ring Magician (Seventh Level)

Common Experience Pool: 20280

Magician Experience Pool: 23755/23000

Attributes:

Strength: 9

Agility: 16

Constitution: 14 (-4) (Healing from injury)

Intelligence: 13

Perception: 21

Charisma: 24

Are you startled by your fresh new self? I just love the look of you standing there bewildered in front of the mirror. Welcome to embrace your new life.

"This is..." The Attributes panel even had a comment at the bottom, which surprised Durin.

"A new feature of the Life-Sustaining Personal Terminal—it can not only analyze your physical data but also help you assess the condition of your target. However, if it's like the strong lifeform sitting on the sofa downstairs, I'm a bit helpless. But he can't discover me either, after all, I am a physical miracle."

There was some joy and pride in Big Orange's words.

Downstairs? It must have been referring to Grandpa Yishu. With that thought, Durin looked again at his other self— the properties of the sickly old Durin also appeared on the screen.

Durin

Transcendent Pathway Pre-requisite: Apprentice.

Common Experience Pool: 20280

Attributes:

Strength: 12 (Aging -2)

Agility: 15 (Aging -2)

Constitution: 8 (Aging -8)

Intelligence: 15

Perception: 18 (Aging -2)

Charisma: 20

"Welcome to the new world, old Mr. Durin. You are an old hunter; in Southern Tai, in Central Continent, in Western Lands, you are a hunter who hunts life. Now, with your life nearing its end, are you ready to face your last moments, or are you inclined to pursue the power you've never had? Make your decision quickly."

Durin thought for a moment and finally tried to look at the other self sitting on the sofa in the mirror.

As a result, the Grassland Elf in pajamas took three steps back and perched on a barstool.

And the old man stood up. As he walked forward three steps, Durin found that his clothing had changed to match his appearance, even his height had changed. Durin thought for a moment, then pulled open his pants to take a look.