12. Transformation

Zilong looked around at the mess created by these two beings as he pondered, 'Divine curse huh..', Zilong dismissed the thought, he walked aroud and grabed a stick, "..at least let me give them a proper burial..".

He went over to the executioners body, and started digging..

This was just a normal earth custom, bit however leaving these two bodies didn't seem right, especially these ones, "even in death the aura of these beings hasn't dissipated.

....

A few minutes passed and the hole was already considerably deep enough to lay these beings to rest.

He grabbed the first body, which was the body of the executioner, the metallic body was as heavy as a boulder but Zilong managed to dragg it nearing the pit.

"Ahh.." he grimaced as he felt a burning sensation in his chest, he dropped the body in a hurried motion and brought something out of his cloth, it was a crystal, shining with intricate weave and an ethereal light, it was the emalix stone.

Because of the sudden heat, Zilong dropped the stone, clutching his palm and blowing on it, the stone fell directly on the corpse, and then...

*Whoom*

A bright light enveloped the entire area, making Zilong cover his face with his palm, then the light dimmed down, and the corpse was no longer there.

[Emalix stone has absorbed the corpse of a nerphon]

[Do you want to absorb the emalix stone?]

[Yes] [No]

The system like screen appeared in front of Zilong then curiously Zilong walked over to the deity.

After the deity succumbed to its wounds and the consuming black flames, its once formidable and majestic body was reduced to a tragic, almost unrecognizable state. The aftermath of the battle and the curse had left it a grim testament to its immense but ultimately mortal power.

The body lay still, partially engulfed in the remnants of the black flames that had ravaged it. The iridescent scales, once a symbol of its strength and majesty, were charred and cracked, their vibrant hues dulled to an ashen gray. The wings, once powerful and capable of lifting the deity into the skies, were torn and twisted, their feathers scattered like burnt embers across the ground.

Three gaping holes in its chest marked the fatal wounds inflicted by the executioner. These wounds were surrounded by the blackened tissue from the curse's flames, the dark edges still smoldering faintly. Dark blood, thick and almost tar-like, had seeped from the wounds, creating a stark contrast against the deity's damaged form.

The deity's eyes, which had once glowed with a fierce purple light, were now closed, their inner light extinguished. The expression on its face, frozen in its final moments, was a mixture of pain, shock, and a profound realization of its own end. The features that once exuded an aura of otherworldly beauty and power now looked haunted and defeated.

The metallic claws and the sharp, deadly tail, once symbols of its lethal prowess, lay limp and lifeless. The energy that had coursed through them, allowing the deity to unleash devastating attacks, was gone, leaving them as mere remnants of their former glory.

The ground around the deity's body was scorched and cracked, bearing the marks of the intense heat and energy that had been unleashed during its final moments. The area where it lay was a somber scene of destruction, the air heavy with the lingering scent of burnt flesh and the faint echoes of its last struggle.

The deity's death was a poignant reminder of the impermanence of even the most formidable forces. Its legacy, however, lived on within Zilong, who now bore the combined strength and knowledge of both the deity and the executioner. The battlefield, now quiet and still, was a place of profound transformation, marking the end of one era and the beginning of another.

Then he place the stone on the body and then the same thing happened, it absorbed it in a bright light.

The message came up again...

[Do you want to absorb the race stone]

[Yes] [No]

Then Zilong curiosity soared through the roof, enough for him to say, 'Yes', suddenly, As the energies of the deity and the executioner began to merge with Zilong, an overwhelming surge of pain erupted through his body. It was a transformation unlike any he had ever experienced, a profound and agonizing metamorphosis that pushed the limits of his endurance.

The process started with a searing heat that radiated from deep within his heart, spreading outwards like wildfire. Zilong's skin felt as though it were being scorched from the inside, every nerve ending alight with excruciating intensity. His muscles convulsed and spasmed uncontrollably, the pain rippling through his body in relentless waves.

His bones began to elongate and reshape, the sensation akin to being stretched and compressed simultaneously. Each crack and shift felt like his skeleton was being torn apart and rebuilt, the agony magnified by the sheer force of the transformation. Zilong's jaw clenched so tightly he feared his teeth might shatter, but he could do nothing to alleviate the torment.

As his muscles expanded and his limbs grew more powerful, the pain only intensified. It was as if his entire body was being ripped apart and reforged, the essence of the deity and the executioner battling for dominance within him. The metallic sheen of his new skin was a reminder of the executioner's advanced design, but the process of adopting it was unbearably painful. His flesh seemed to tear and meld with the metallic elements, every moment a new trial of endurance.

Zilong's eyes burned with an intense purple light as they transformed, his vision blurring and sharpening in chaotic bursts. The influx of the deity's wisdom and the executioner's precision flooded his mind, threatening to overwhelm his consciousness. The duality of their combined power created a mental strain that mirrored the physical torment, his thoughts a maelstrom of ancient knowledge and cold, calculated efficiency.

His back arched as his wings unfurled, the new appendages tearing through his skin with an agonizing force. The metallic feathers were sharp and rigid, each one a blade that seemed to slice through him as they emerged. The tail, ending in a sharp blade-like structure, grew out from his spine, the pain searing through his lower back and hips.

Throughout the transformation, Zilong felt as if he were being torn apart on a molecular level, his entire being deconstructed and then painstakingly rebuilt. The agony was so intense that he could barely draw breath, each inhalation a struggle against the searing pain that engulfed him.

As the final stages of the transformation took hold, Zilong's consciousness wavered on the edge of collapse. The combined essences of the deity and the executioner settled within him, their powers merging and stabilizing. The pain, though still intense, began to subside, replaced by a profound sense of strength and newfound abilities.

When the transformation was complete, Zilong stood as a mixture of the deity and the executioner, his body a testament to the immense power he now possessed. The pain had left him exhausted and shaken, but it had also forged him into something far greater than he had ever been. His new form was a symbol of resilience and power, a blend of ancient wisdom and advanced precision that would shape his destiny in ways he had yet to fully understand.