Johamma's face suddenly paled, seeing the patterns on the body of Lodawg. She was sure now; he was using the dark magic of Rax'ashs. Those patterns belonged to them. It was forbidden in the midlands centuries ago because of its nature.
"A gluttonous golem!" Johamma answered grimly. "He is turning himself into a living golem."
"The forbidden alchemy of those cult bastards. He has sacrificed his humanity for power. He grows stronger by consuming power as much as he wants."
The transformation reached its peak.
Where Lodawg had lain, a monstrous figure now rose—eight feet tall, body like living metal, veins pulsing with crimson energy. Blood seeped from between the bronze plates of his skin, running in rivulets down his massive form only to be reabsorbed moments later in an endless cycle.
The golem that had been Lodawg turned toward them, movement jerky and uncoordinated. Its eyes were pools of liquid crimson, unfocused and bestial.
Whatever consciousness had been Lodawg seemed submerged beneath primal hunger.
The creature lurched forward—not toward them, but toward the dragon's corpse.
They were confused, but it soon dawned on Johamma. Lodawg was trying to increase his power even more. It seemed like he still retained his consciousness as he moved with inhumane speed.
"The dragon!!" Johamma gasped.
The golem, Lodawg, fell upon the dragon's carcass with savage intensity. Bronze talons tore through scales that would have shattered his human hands before. With inhuman strength, it ripped open the dragon's chest cavity, exposing still-warm organs within.
Steam rose from the gaping wound, carrying the scent of copper and ancient magic into the air.
Jolthar channelled his telekinesis, green energy forming a battering ram of pure force. He hurled it at the golem, striking it squarely between its broad shoulders.
The impact would have shattered ordinary stone, but the golem barely staggered. It turned, crimson eyes finding Jolthar, a sound like grinding metal emanating from what had been its throat.
Then, with clear purpose, it returned to its grisly task.
"Why the heart?" Jolthar asked, preparing another telekinetic strike.
"Dragon hearts contain pure magical essence," Johamma explained rapidly. "If he consumes it—"
The golem's talons closed around a massive organ within the dragon's chest—a heart larger than Jolthar's torso, still faintly pulsing with lingering magic. The creature tore it free with a shower of dark blood.
Jolthar released his telekinetic power again, stronger this time. Green energy slammed into the golem's arm, disrupting its grip. The heart tumbled from bronze fingers, landing heavily upon blood-soaked stone.
The golem roared—a sound like metal tearing—and charged Jolthar with unexpected speed.
Johamma moved ahead to meet the golem.
Jolthar summoned the silver energy of his voidwrath, drawing upon his power. Silver light coalesced around his left hand as he thrust it toward the charging golem.
A lance of void energy struck the creature mid-stride. Unlike the telekinetic blast, this power found purchase. Where the silver energy touched bronze skin, the metal blackened and cracked, void energy seeping into the unnatural form and disrupting the magic that sustained it.
The golem faltered, one leg buckling as void energy spread through its left side. But its momentum carried it forward, its massive right arm swinging toward Jolthar's head with lethal force.
Jolthar dropped beneath the blow, the wind of its passing ruffling his hair.
He pivoted, Knashii slicing across the back of the golem's legs. The blade sparked against metal flesh, leaving a shallow groove where it passed.
The creature stumbled but did not fall. It rounded on Jolthar, movements becoming more fluid, more deliberate with each passing moment—as if it were learning to control its new form.
"It's adapting," Johamma warned.
But the golem had already turned away from them, lurching back toward the dragon heart that lay glistening on the ground.
Before Jolthar could react, it had scooped up the massive organ.
And then it began to feed.
Bronze jaws distended impossibly as the golem shoved the heart into its maw. Blood—both its own and the dragon's—flowed freely as it tore into the magical organ. The sight was obscene, primal—a violation of natural law that made Jolthar's stomach clench.
He was channelling both telekinesis and voidwrath simultaneously.
The combined powers—green and silver intertwined—struck the feeding golem with devastating force. The creature staggered backward, chunks of dragon heart still clutched in its talons. But it did not release its prize. Instead, it continued to feed even as void energy cracked its bronze skin and telekinetic force battered its massive frame.
"Too late," Johamma whispered.
The golem swallowed the last visible piece of dragon heart, blood cascading down its bronze chest. For a moment, it stood motionless, crimson eyes dimming.
Then, it began to change once more.
The random veins of crimson energy flowing beneath its bronze skin organised themselves into intricate patterns—magic sigils and forgotten runes appearing and disappearing across its surface.
The cracks from Jolthar's voidwrath sealed themselves, the metal becoming smoother, more refined. Thıs content belongs to novel⸺fire.net
Most disturbing, however, was the change in its eyes. The bestial crimson pools receded, revealing irises of molten gold—the same colour as the dragon's had been. But behind those eyes now burned intelligence, calculation... consciousness.
The massive frame straightened, movements no longer jerky but graceful despite its size. When it spoke, the voice was Lodawg's, yet resonant with newfound power.
"Ah," it said, examining one bronze hand with evident satisfaction. "Much better."
Jolthar raised Knashii, the blue aura intensifying. "What the fuck did you do, Lodawg?"
The transformed mage smiled—a horrific sight on its metallic face. "What was necessary, young Jolthar, What was necessary."
"You've violated the empire's law," Johamma said, disgust evident in her voice. "Even the Old Empire knew better than to combine golem alchemy with draconic essence."
The empire had banned the use of dark magic.
The Rax'ashs are the exact opposite of deities, and just like Illumarhen, they also have a place called Asaeraluka. They were worshipped by the dark races and beings of forgotten realms.