It was late evening, night was slowly creeping across the sky as it ate away the light, little stars begging to twinkle up high. Trudging over a dune a distance from the village Kyle and Splinter slowly set out, a distance ahead they could see some dust clouds being sent into the air by something thrashing around.
Creeping steadily and carefully closer the pair saw the cause. Ahead a pair of beasts, one a lizard with wings, a long neck seemingly mid-way into becoming a dragon was covered in scratches and shattered scales with what they could faintly make out to be blood that constantly seeped out from its wounds, a very faint, almost imperceptible purple tint seemed to be mixed in with it as the beast struggled to stay standing.
The other seemed to be some kind of chimera, it's body was that of a lion except with 8 legs, 3 of which having been turned into stumps, where it's head should be was a human like body but seem to have been stretched out and upwards like a deformed centaur, it was missing an arm and the other was something that resembled a snake with horns who's fangs dripped a nasty purple liquid, similar in color to what they could faintly see tainting the dragon creatures blood. The human body didn't have a human head though, rather that of an angry bull with one eye, the other having a scale digging into it and a slow but steady flow of blood dripping across it.
The 2 beasts seemed to be in a battle to the death, the chimera seemingly the Victor but the glint of intelligence in the half dragon showed it wasn't out of the fight just yet.
The 2 clashed once more, causing strong winds to blow and casting up far larger dust clouds as the snake arm bit into the half dragon, poisoning it further as it ripped through the chimera's legs in kind, it's scales breaking loose and shattering the snake arm with a fierce bite, and slamming its body into the chimera, both disarming it and knocking it over before falling backwards and collapsing.
Both seemed at their limits, each one glaring at the other, refusing to die.
"Splinter show me your might, fire everything you have at that that creature over there and let's see how strong you really are. Take it down however you can but no matter what do not sacrifice yourself. Understand?" Kyle's order, even though he spoke softly seemed to break the tense standoff, both turning to look at the bug who dares to intrude on their battle.
Splinter, listening to his command launched itself forward, both arms firing off sticks, stones, splinters of wood and surprisingly even the random nail at times. Each one hitting the chimera but doing almost nothing. Splinter seemingly noticing the lack of harm changed its aim to its face and managed to hit it in the eye. It's roar of anger and pain a clear sign it hurt the monstrosity. But Splinter wasn't done just yet, it clearly wasn't doing much other than annoying it and got lucky with the eye shot. It needed a way to take it down but still remembered its order to not sacrifice itself, it thought for a few moments before realizing exactly what to do.
It ran directly at it, climbed its far larger body before plunging its arm through the eye the scale was stuck in, forcing it deeper before once more firing off its sticks and stones deep into the wound.
The beast tried shaking them off but Splinter firmly rooted itself onto its head, gripping its eye as it kept firing.
Slowly the chimera's struggling began to lessen then finally stop, its body slumping forward but Splinter still didn't stop. It kept firing more and more into its head before its weapon ran dry.
Checking it over and making sure it was dead it signaled to Kyle to come over. Reluctantly at first he slowly approached. His focus shifting slowly between it and the half dragon who's gaze never left them, turning its head constantly to look between him and the downed chimera with a cautious gaze.
Before he could ask if it was really dead the same voice from before rang out in his mind.
Congratulations on having your golem defeat an impossible enemy. As a reward your golems grade shall be increased and the skills: basic material transmutation and harvesting will be rewarded to you along with an upgrade of your choice for your golem! Please select one from the below to decide the direction its future upgrades and form shall take.
1. Combat golem: its weapons increase in both damage and accuracy. Able to use more diverse materials for its ammunition and even manage to craft basic bolts.
2. Harvester golem: it's shape and form will change to better match its role as a harvester. Able to create farmland even in the harshest of terrains, cut through the toughest skin or scale and know exactly what parts are meant to be taken from the beast, plant or even a mine.
3. Defensive golem: its arms change from weapons to shields, its body grows and bulks up becoming the ultimate guardian. Taking blows meant for its creator and sending some force back at whatever hits it.
4. Universal utility golem: its form becomes smoother, hands more dexterous. Able to perform many tasks but holding no real specialty. It will be able to learn and adapt, to gain its own skills and have the ability to grow on its own. Over time and with practice it will be able to get better at tasks given to it. Please not this choice carries the risk of outgrowing and abandoning its master along with the risk of killing them, at the same time it is also capable of being the most capable of all companions and presented options. (recommended)
"Option 4. Give it a universal utility upgrade." He eventually said after Splinter climbed down from the beast to stand next to him. He knew the damn woman was trying to help him even now by showing him the best options and had no reason to reject her just yet.
Level up.
Level up.
Level up.
Level up. Influence increased by 0.02%
Level up. Influence increased by 0.02%
Further experience due to choice and contribution shall be given to the created golem 'Splinter' to facilitate and improve transformation. Please keep your distance till transformation is completed to avoid injury or harm. It is recommended to have a power source ready to help power their new form and ensure continued operation. Note: the better the power source the better 'Splinter' shall preform along with varying degrees of favorability. Note: Should favorability drop below a certain threshold due to the supplied power source not meeting their standards 'Splinter' may choose to leave, breaking their bond with you and becoming a future world boss.
The euphoric feeling of leveling up and growing stronger was abruptly cut off with that message. Kyle couldn't help but feel as if he just got screwed over. "What the hell do you mean I must make a plan for a power source? You made no mention of that when you told me to choose an upgrade! And where the hell am I supposed to get something like that? What the hell kind of standards could it have? It was literally created earlier today from sticks and stones!" He yelled in frustration as he knew he couldn't lose Splinter; he had no way currently to make another golem, even if he managed to somehow do it he didn't have a way to power it like he did splinter, and with the levels that it no doubt got Splinter was definitely his best chances right now to keep surviving.
His gaze swept over the dead beast, hoping it had a magic stone in side of it that he could use.
Ripping his shirt apart he quickly wrapped it around a large scale at his side to make a rough knife before climbing the chimera, stabbing the scale knife into its chest and cutting a hole big enough for his hand before plunging his arm as deep into it as he could as he began feeling around.
"Come on, come on, it's got to be in this thing somewhere, this is always where the cores are! I refuse to let some mistake of nature ruin the life I've only just gotten back!" He muttered to himself angrily.
Splinter a little bit away had already begun glowing and changing, it's rocks and wood smoothening out and taking on an almost metallic sheen, its form shifting slightly more humanoid, its height increasing as its chest developed a seem showing it could now open and close. One hand cycling between 5 newly formed fingers and a round cannon like muzzle resembling its previous barrels but much smoother, larger, singular and clearly much stronger. It's other arm a small round shield formed on the back of her arm well the hand shifted between a blade and five fingers. Its head was shifting to become slightly more human with a ridge for a nose and a thin slant for a mouth.
"Got you!" Kyle yelled as he ripped out a magic stone half the size of his head before quickly making his way down the corps as the glow and changes seemed to slowly and stop.
"Splinter? Here, I hope this helps you. If you decide you want to leave because it's not good enough just kill me since I won't manage without you around. I need you…" He told them well presenting the blood covered magic stone to them.
Confused at first Splinter tried to process what it was just told before taking the magic stone, its chest opening wide before placing it between what looked like a set of roots that dug through its body.
With a surge of energy from the stone its intelligence began to grow and evolve, as if connecting deeper to the world it was brought into, becoming more aware of itself and surroundings. It began to think more, it's former spark of simple sentience exploding as it developed a mind that processed far faster than any human.
Kyle's words slowly began to sinking in and linger, feelings began to form as it played his words over and over well its mind began to recall its entire short existence it had with its creator, trying to understand everything all at once, from the dreams he shared with it to the praise it received. Even now his words about how he couldn't exist without it seemed to spark something deep within its mind that it just couldn't process or understand. If it was an organic it was sure it would be blushing as its mind whirled through every possibly till settling on one that seemed to make the most sense when factoring in what it knew of its creator. Could it be its creator, in the short time since its creation had begun to develop feelings for it? If so, it would need to make some changes to itself to accommodate it. Changing its identification from 'he' or 'it' to 'she' and focusing its future upgrades and changes to a more female form to better suit the preferences he had expressed.
Reaching out Splinter placed her hand on his shoulder in an attempt to reassure him. It's voice coming out neutral and genderless as it told him it would remain by his side.
The sigh of relief and look of gratitude in his eyes all but reaffirmed her thoughts. Her creator had created her not just to be a servant like she had first come to believe upon gaining true sentience but rather to be his equal and partner. And thus as his equal and partner it would be her job to protect him and help him in every way she could. Along with eliminating any who tried to take her place or failed to prove themselves as being good enough to be in his presence. Her creator only deserved the best, not just in his future but in his other future mates. She would make sure for it.
The change in Splinters blue eyes happened extremely fast, flashing a deep blood red for a second as it made its personal declaration, something that went unnoticed by Kyle who was far too happy and glad his first creation and means of survival wasn't going to leave him.
If it had chosen to do so he would be dead anyway, so he decided he would much prefer going out on his own terms, by the hands of his creation. If Splinter had left, he wouldn't manage to butcher this creature, bring back usable parts or materials and if he took it to the trading town somehow he knew he would be questioned before even getting close, most likely having it taken from under the suspension of it being stolen.
"Thank you Splinter, now I think we should get to work. I'm not sure if you also got it or not but are you able to help harvest this thing?"
Her gaze lingering on him for a few moments before her hand changed into a blade. "Yes, such knowledge was gifted to me." She replied as she begun to skin the lion part of the beast.
Well she skinned and harvested the main body Kyle walked over to the paws and began declawing them. It was an hour later and a bunch of claws and scales had been taken from what remained of its snake limb and paws, it's horns, pelt and some of its meat was also stacked together and was being carried by Splinter.
"What of the half dragon? Do you wish for me to kill it so we may harvest it as well?" She asked.
Looking at it Kyle slowly shook his head no, during the entire time they were harvesting it had remained still, only watching them intently, he instead instead pointed to the remains of the beast well looking at the half dragon, a lot of meat was still left behind that they couldn't harvest before pointing towards the half dragon, it's gaze confused at first before growing watery as it slowly seemed to understand his meaning, slowly it pulled itself towards the remains of the corpse, the poison haven been slowly working out its system as it recovered, its gaze looking towards Kyle as he walked away.
Unbeknownst to him though Splinter already made the choice to return later, having disliked the look in the half dragons' eyes when it looked at her creator. She would return later once her creator was asleep and should the half dragon still be there it would make sure to understand things HER way. And if it didn't? Then her creator would find himself in possession of the body of a half dragon that had died mysteriously just outside his village.