Mathew writhed in the moonlit clearing, the power surging through him like molten fire. His mind struggled to hold on to what was left of his humanity, but every pulse of energy, every shift of his body, pulled him deeper into something *other*. Something greater.
The transformation wasn’t done.
As his tail coiled tighter, instinctively seeking to anchor him against the overwhelming waves of bliss, a sharp pressure built in his shoulders. It was not pain—it was ecstasy, pure and unfiltered. He groaned, his voice guttural, as the flesh there rippled and tore. From his back erupted a second pair of arms, massive and muscular, their new claws flexing as they stretched into being. His body thrummed with power as the arms synced to his mind instantly, moving with predatory grace.
The surge didn’t stop there. His upper body swelled further, his chest broadening like a living mountain, each breath expanding his ribcage until it felt limitless. His already massive arms thickened with new muscle, veins snaking under his obsidian scales as they pulsed with raw strength.
“Yessss…” The hiss escaped his lips as he arched his long, muscular body toward the sky. Every change was a symphony of pleasure, each shift sending waves of euphoria cascading through his senses.
His tail, already massive, grew longer and thicker, its scales shimmering with a dark, iridescent sheen. It stretched impossibly, adding dozens of feet to his length, until he could wrap around the entire clearing with ease. The sheer power in his coils made the ground tremble as he moved.
Then came his venom.
His fangs ached as they grew even larger, sharp and gleaming in the moonlight. He could feel something stirring within the glands at the base of each tooth—a heat, a pressure. He flicked his forked tongue, and thick, black venom dripped onto the altar’s stone surface. It hissed and bubbled, eating away at the rock with ease. But that wasn’t all.
The venom wasn’t just acidic; it was alive. He could *feel* its potential, the way it could twist and reshape anything it touched, turning flesh into something new, something stronger. He grinned, his monstrous face splitting in a euphoric hiss.
He felt… unstoppable.
---
The altar glowed again, pulsing in time with the rhythm of his transformation. Mathew—no, that name no longer fit—slithered closer, his immense form dwarfing the ancient structure. The carvings of snakes on its surface seemed to shimmer, almost alive, as the light intensified.
A voice—ancient and commanding—echoed in his mind.
**"You have been chosen. The guardian is reborn."**
The glow shifted, coalescing into two distinct shapes. First, an amulet rose from the altar, suspended in the air. It was a brilliant golden serpent coiled around a blood-red gem, its eyes glinting with intelligence. Without hesitation, the amulet flew toward him, wrapping itself around his thick neck like it had always belonged there.
As it settled, a rush of knowledge flooded his mind—visions of guardians before him, of ancient battles fought to protect this sacred ground. He hissed in delight as the power coursing through him redoubled, his scales shimmering brighter, his muscles swelling with newfound strength.
Next came the armor.
It emerged from the altar in pieces, each forged from a black, iridescent metal that seemed alive, rippling with dark energy. The pieces flew to him, attaching themselves to his body with perfect precision. A massive chest plate adorned with serpent motifs wrapped around his mountainous torso, its surface engraved with glowing runes. Bracers snapped onto each of his four arms, enhancing his already formidable strength. Finally, a crown-like helm formed around his cobra hood, its sharp spines adding an aura of terrifying majesty.
He flexed his massive body, feeling the armor move with him, light as air yet indestructible.
---
The transformation was complete, but Mathew—no, Nakaras—wanted more.
He tilted his monstrous head back, letting out a roar that shook the forest. The vibrations sent animals fleeing, their instincts screaming to avoid the apex predator that now dominated the land.
“I am Nakaras,” he hissed, his voice resonant and filled with power. “Guardian of the altar. Master of this form.”
His tail uncoiled, smashing into the ground and uprooting trees as he tested his strength. The venom dripping from his fangs sizzled against the earth, leaving a blackened, smoking trail wherever it fell.
As Nakaras surveyed his surroundings, he felt a new sense of purpose settling into his mind. He wasn’t just a monster—he was a protector. A weapon forged by the altar to guard its secrets and its power.
The forest was his domain now, and he would ensure that no one dared to challenge him.