Garrick struggled to his feet, his body aching and his vision blurred. He focused on the dark figure looming just a few meters away. The golem’s red glow flickered ominously, but Garrick couldn’t tell if it was from the torchlight or something burning within the creature itself. Its shadowy form was hard to make out, but he could see the faint blue glow pulsing from its chest, casting eerie highlights on its hunched posture, its massive head, and its glowing red eyes that seemed to pierce through the darkness.

  The golem stood motionless, its presence overwhelming. Garrick’s heart pounded as he tried to steady himself, his mind racing for a plan. The creature’s sheer size and power were intimidating, but Garrick knew he couldn’t afford to falter. He tightened his grip on his sword, ready to face whatever came next. The battle was far from over, and he was determined to see it through.

  Garrick’s eyes locked onto the glowing white shape behind the golem, a stark contrast to the darkness surrounding them. The golem took another step forward, its massive form towering over him. It raised its arms slowly, stretching them out as if preparing to engulf him completely. Garrick’s body froze, his instincts screaming at him to move, but he couldn’t. The golem’s presence was overwhelming, its sheer size and power paralyzing him.

  The creature’s hands reached out, closing around Garrick’s body with terrifying ease. Its massive fingers wrapped around his neck, the warmth of its grip almost mocking in its gentleness before it tightened. Garrick’s hands trembled as he clawed at the golem’s fingers, but it was no use. He tried to scream, to cry out, but no sound came. The pressure on his windpipe was unbearable, crushing his ability to breathe or speak. His vision blurred, and his mind raced with panic.

  In that moment, Garrick felt utterly powerless, the golem’s grip a reminder of how small he was in the face of such raw, elemental force. But even as darkness crept into the edges of his vision, a spark of defiance flickered within him. He couldn’t give up—not yet. He had to find a way to fight back, to survive. The golem’s glowing red eyes bore into him, unyielding, but Garrick’s will to live burned just as fiercely.

  In that desperate moment, Garrick’s life flashed before his eyes. He saw his family—their laughter, their smiles, the warmth of their love. But then the images shifted, turning darker. He saw himself lying on the ground, broken and bleeding, his family’s faces twisted in disappointment. His mother’s tearful eyes, his father’s shaking head, and the words, “You can’t do this to us, Garrick. You can’t.” He saw himself standing alone by the lake, staring at the ground in shock, his mother’s tears falling as she watched him walk away.

  Garrick clenched his eyes shut, hoping the visions would disappear, but they only grew more vivid. His breath hitched as another memory surfaced—one he hadn’t thought of in years. His mother, crying into his shoulder, her voice trembling. “It wasn’t fair, Garrick. How could they do that? Why can’t they leave me alone?” Her words were muffled by his coat, but the pain in her voice was unmistakable. He had held his breath, fighting back his own tears, hoping she wouldn’t notice how much her pain affected him. But she always knew. She always saw through him.

  In that moment, Garrick realized something he had buried deep inside: he was the only one who could save her. He was the only one with the strength to hold their family together, to prevent their world from falling apart. The weight of that responsibility surged through him, cutting through the fear and despair.

  The golem’s grip tightened, but Garrick’s resolve hardened. He couldn’t die here. He couldn’t let his family down. Not again. With a surge of determination, he channeled every ounce of strength he had left, his mind racing for a way to break free. The golem’s glowing red eyes bore into him, but Garrick’s spirit burned brighter. He would fight. He would survive. For his family. For himself.

  The dark golem hurled Garrick against the stone wall with brutal force. He hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the air from his lungs and sending waves of pain through his body. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, lying motionless on the cold, unforgiving floor. The golem loomed over him, its mouth stretching wide to reveal rows of razor-sharp teeth that glinted menacingly in the dim light. The creature’s guttural growl echoed through the cave, a sound that sent chills down Garrick’s spine.

  But Garrick refused to give up. The thought of Seren—whether she was still alive or lost to him—ignited a fire within him. He couldn’t let this be the end. Not here. Not like this. Summoning every ounce of strength he had left, Garrick channeled his magic, focusing it into a powerful Thunderwave spell.

  “Not today!” he roared, his voice cutting through the darkness.

  The spell erupted from him in a deafening surge of energy, a wave of thunderous force that swept through the cave in a 15-foot cube. The air crackled with electricity as the spell enveloped the dark golem and anything else in its path. The golem staggered, its massive form rocked by the sheer power of the blast. The force of the spell pushed it back, giving Garrick a precious moment to recover.

  The cave trembled from the spell’s impact, dust and debris raining down from the ceiling. Garrick struggled to his feet, his body aching but his spirit unbroken. He glared at the golem, his hands crackling with residual magic. The fight wasn’t over yet, and Garrick was ready to see it through to the end. For Seren. For himself. For the chance to reclaim what he had lost.

  The Thunderwave spell roared to life, its force slamming into the dark golem with a thunderous crack. The spell dealt 2d8 thunder damage, the energy rippling through the creature’s shadowy form and sending it stumbling back 10 feet. The deafening boom echoed through the cave, shaking the walls and filling the air with the scent of ozone. Garrick felt the rush of magic surge through him, leaving him momentarily breathless but alive.

  The golem staggered, its glowing red eyes flickering as it struggled to regain its footing. Garrick knew this was his chance. He couldn’t afford to waste it. His gaze darted to the tunnel, then back to the golem, searching for any sign of Seren or an opening to escape. The golem seemed disoriented, its massive form swaying as it turned away from Garrick for the first time.

  Seizing the opportunity, Garrick charged forward, his body fueled by adrenaline and determination. Before the golem could react, he tackled it with all his strength, slamming it to the ground. The creature roared in fury, but Garrick didn’t hesitate. He pressed the heel of his palm against the golem’s exposed throat, channeling his magic directly into its core. The golem convulsed violently, its dark form flickering as the magic overwhelmed it. The shadows that made up its body began to fade, dissolving into nothingness.

  With a final shudder, the golem went limp, its glowing eyes dimming as the life drained from it. Garrick released his hold, collapsing to his knees beside the now-motionless creature. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, his body trembling from the exertion. The cave fell silent, the only sound the faint echo of his ragged breathing.

  Garrick stared at the golem’s lifeless form, a mix of relief and exhaustion washing over him. He had done it. He had defeated the creature. But the fight wasn’t over yet. Seren was still out there, and he couldn’t rest until he found her. Pushing himself to his feet, Garrick turned toward the tunnel, his resolve stronger than ever. He would find her. No matter what it took.

  With one final surge of adrenaline, Garrick gathered his remaining energy and unleashed another Thunderwave, this time focusing the spell directly on the dark golem. The thunderous blast struck the creature with devastating force, dealing 2d8 thunder damage and causing its shadowy form to crumble and weaken. The golem let out a guttural grunt, its massive body faltering as the magic tore through it. Garrick seized the moment, rolling away from the creature and putting distance between them.

  He jumped to his feet, his fists clenched and his body trembling with anger and exhaustion. The golem lay before him, its form flickering and unstable, but Garrick wasn’t done yet. He prepared to cast another spell, determined to finish the fight once and for all. But before he could act, something unexpected happened.

  The golem let out a strange, gurgling noise, breaking the eerie silence of the cave. From its throat, thousands of small black beetles erupted, spilling out like a dark, writhing flood. The beetles swarmed over the golem’s body, clinging to its flesh and crawling across its surface. In seconds, the creature was completely engulfed, its form twitching weakly as the beetles consumed it. The sight was horrifying, the air filled with the sound of skittering legs and the faint hum of the swarm.

  Garrick stood frozen, his breath caught in his throat. He watched in stunned silence as the beetles devoured the golem, their movements almost mechanical in their precision. The creature’s body twitched a few more times before falling still, the beetles continuing their work until nothing remained but a hollow shell.

  The cave fell silent once more, the beetles scattering into the shadows and disappearing as quickly as they had come. Garrick stared at the empty space where the golem had been, his mind struggling to process what he had just witnessed. He had defeated the creature, but at what cost? The sight of the beetles and the golem’s gruesome end left him shaken, a deep sense of unease settling in his chest.

  But there was no time to dwell on it. Seren was still out there, and Garrick couldn’t afford to waste another moment. He took a deep breath, steadying himself, and turned toward the tunnel. The fight had taken everything he had, but he wasn’t done yet. He would find Seren, no matter what.

  As the darkness finally consumed the golem, Garrick felt the oppressive grip on his mind begin to fade. His eyes snapped open, refocusing on the cave around him. The buzzing of beetles filled the air, pulling him out of his daze. He shook his head sharply, clearing his vision as the swarm of beetles scattered into the shadows, leaving the cave eerily quiet once more.

  Garrick gasped for air, his heart pounding wildly in his chest as he struggled to steady his breathing. For a moment, everything else faded away—his only thought was Seren. He had to find her. But just as he began to move, a high-pitched whirring sound pierced the silence, coming from directly behind him. The noise was deafening, ringing in his ears and making it hard to focus. It was unlike anything he’d ever heard before, a strange, mechanical hum that sent a chill down his spine.

  Garrick froze, his senses on high alert. There was something else there, something he couldn’t quite identify. He strained to see through the dim light of the cave, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. The whirring grew louder, more intense, vibrating through the air and resonating in his chest. He could feel its presence, ancient and powerful, lurking in the darkness.

  As he listened, the sound became almost familiar, though he couldn’t place it. It grew louder and louder, until he was certain that if he focused hard enough, he would find its source. His gaze shifted to the stone walls of the cave, where a colossal statue of a golem stood—an ancient, powerful guardian, dormant and waiting. Many had tried to awaken it, to claim its strength, but none had succeeded.

  Garrick felt a surge of energy rush through him, the same energy he had felt when he first entered the cave with Seren. He approached the statue, his fingers tracing the intricate carvings etched into its stone surface. Memories flooded his mind—his true name, whispered only by a few. He remembered the Council of Elders, their wary glances, their hushed tones. “The Lost One,” they had called him, an exile from a world that had once embraced him.

  Kneeling before the golem, Garrick felt a connection, a spark of recognition. This was no ordinary golem. It was a being of immense power, waiting for the right master to awaken it. Garrick closed his eyes, focusing on the energy coursing through him. He knew what he had to do. He had been called here for a reason. This was his chance to reclaim his place, to prove himself worthy.

  As he placed his hand on the golem’s stone surface, the whirring sound grew louder, almost deafening. The air around him crackled with energy, and the cave seemed to hold its breath. Garrick’s heart raced, but he didn’t falter. He was ready. The golem’s eyes flickered to life, a faint glow beginning to emanate from within. Garrick’s true name echoed in his mind, a reminder of who he was and what he had lost.

  This was his moment. The Lost One was about to rise again. He closed his eyes, grounding himself in the ancient magic surrounding him. He whispered incantations from forgotten tomes, his voice steady and clear:

  “__Awaken, spirit of stone,

  Elemental force, hear my call.

  With earth and sky, I seek to bind,

  Together as one, let our strengths combine.

  From the depths of the earth, rise with might,

  Guardian of the valley, join me in this fight.

  Let our spirits intertwine, as the winds entwine the trees,

  I pledge my heart and soul, so come forth and seize.__”

  As Garrick spoke the ancient incantation, he felt a powerful connection spark between him and the golem. A flicker of awareness ignited in the golem’s eyes, glowing faintly at first, then brighter as it responded to his words. The air around them pulsed with a deep, resonant energy, and Garrick’s heart raced as he watched the light grow stronger. The golem’s massive stone figure began to shift, its form melting and reshaping, becoming smaller and more refined until it was no longer a towering statue but a sleek, powerful being of stone and magic.

  The cave trembled as the golem awakened fully. The stone walls around them groaned and cracked, collapsing in an avalanche of rubble that blocked the entrance and filled the air with thick dust. Garrick shielded his face, coughing as the debris settled. When the dust cleared, he found himself standing in a newly formed chamber, the remnants of the battle obscured by the fallen stones.

  The golem stirred, its immense form rising from its centuries-long slumber. Garrick could feel its power radiating through the air, a deep bond forming between them as the creature took its first steps. Its stone features softened, and it moved toward him with a deliberate grace that belied its size. Each step echoed through the chamber, the ground trembling beneath its weight. The golem’s energy enveloped Garrick, a fusion of earth and magic that filled him with warmth and strength.

  The golem’s orange eyes locked onto Garrick, glowing with a fiery intensity that slowly shifted to a warm, golden hue. Its body shimmered, the stone surface reflecting light like water. In the center of its chest, a large white gem appeared, glowing brightly and casting a soft light that illuminated the chamber. Garrick felt a surge of power as the bond between them solidified, the golem recognizing him not just as a master, but as a partner in a shared destiny.

  “Rise, spirit of earth,” Garrick said, his voice steady and commanding. “Let us bring our forces together.”

  A blinding flash of light erupted from the golem, engulfing both of them in its brilliance. When the light faded, Garrick stood before the golem, his arms crossed as he gazed up at the imposing figure. The golem’s form now bore a striking resemblance to his own, as if it had been shaped by his will and spirit. Garrick smiled, a sense of pride and accomplishment swelling within him. He glanced at his system dashboard, feeling the surge of power as his abilities were enhanced by the bond.

  Character Sheet:

  [Armor Class: 20 Ultra Armor]

  [Weapon(s): Sword 1d10 slashing damage]

  [Hit Points: 80]

  [Speed: 30 feet]

  Attributes:

  - [Strength (STR): 16 (+3)]

  - [Dexterity (DEX): 16 (+3)]

  - [Constitution (CON): 16 (+3)]

  - [Intelligence (INT): 12 (+1]

  - [Wisdom (WIS): 14 (+2)]

  - [Charisma (CHA): 10 (+0)]

  Skills:

  - [Acrobatics: +6]

  - [Stealth: +6]

  - [Persuasion: +0]

  - [Insight: +5]

  Progression Stats:

  [Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, passive Perception 14]

  [Languages: Common, and ancient language of the golem]

  [Damage Vulnerabilities: Fire damage]

  [Condition Immunities: Charmed, Frightened]

  [Challenge (s): 7 + 2,800 XP]

  Nimble Escape:

  [The Golem Hunter can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on each of its turns]

  Golem's Resilience:

  [The Hunter gains temporary hit points equal to the golem's level at the start of each turn]

  Actions:

  Thunder Magic:

  1. Thunderbolt

  - [Range: 60 feet]

  - [Target: One creature]

  - [Damage: 4d6 thunder damage]

  - [Casting Time: 1 action ]

  - [Duration: Instantaneous]

  - [Description: A powerful bolt of thunder strikes the target, creating a loud noise that can be heard up to 500 feet away.]

  2. Thunderwave

  - [Range: Self 15-foot cube]

  - [Target: Creatures in range]

  - [Damage: 4d8 thunder damage, and pushed 15 feet away]

  - [Casting Time: 1 action]

  - [Duration: Instantaneous]

  - [Description: A wave of thunderous force sweeps out from the Hunter, dealing damage and pushing enemies back, potentially knocking them prone.]

  3. Golem Command

  - [Range: 60 feet]

  - [Target: Golem ally]

  - [Effect: Allows the Golem Hunter to issue one command to the golem, which can be executed immediately on the golem's next turn.]

  - [Casting Time: 1 action]

  - [Duration: Instantaneous]

  - [Description: The Hunter can command the golem to attack, defend, or use a special ability, enhancing teamwork in battle.]

  Strategy:

  [With the awakening of his golem, the Golem Hunter's power surges significantly. He utilizes enhanced thunder magic to unleash devastating attacks, such as Thunderbolt and Thunderwave, capable of overwhelming multiple foes. This newfound strength, combined with the golem's resilience and his ability to command it strategically, makes him a formidable force in battle, able to dominate his enemies and protect the valley.]

  Garrick stood tall, no longer the Lost One. He was reborn, a master of the ancient golem, and the world would soon know his name. But he didn’t know that he had awakened the most powerful and ancient golem: Tharok.

  __ "When the echoes of the ancients stir and the shadows creep,

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  From the depths of the earth, the Harbinger will leap.

  In obsidian form, with fury untamed,

  He shall rise from his slumber, and all shall be blamed."

  "The balance disrupted, the stone hearts shall quake,

  As Tharok awakens, the very ground shall shake.

  Guardians of old must rise once more,

  To confront the darkness and close the door."

  "In the time of shadows, when hope seems but a wisp,

  The fate of the Realm hangs on a fragile tryst.

  Only the pure of heart, with memories entwined,

  Can face the Harbinger and the darkness behind."

  "So heed this warning, ye golems of stone,

  For the power of Tharok shall not be overthrown.

  Awaken your courage, let your purpose be clear,

  For the time draws near, and the Harbinger is here."__

  Tharok was a huge, giant golem made from a rare, dark obsidian stone. His body was covered with detailed runes that glowed with a strange power. He used to protect balance in the Realm of Stone, but after being taken over by an ancient evil, he became a dangerous force. Now, he was a demon with no god, and the last part of balance in the Realms—something that could have changed the world. Tharok’s past was a mystery, and no one knew how he was set free. The only way to learn about him was by studying old artifacts and writings related to the story.

  The artifacts and texts that held the history of the golems were destroyed long ago. The golems had originally been created during peaceful times, but most of them were lost in wars, and the knowledge about them was forgotten. These golems were protected by powerful magic that couldn't be defeated, and their existence was sacred to both mages and priests. However, because of their enormous size and strength, regular humans had a hard time controlling them. If used wrongly, they could easily kill someone.

  Many historians believed that Tharok’s destruction caused the curse that followed, thinking he was cursed because he had the dark power within him when he was freed.

  Despite this, there were many legends about these beings. Stories of great warriors, brave heroes, and evil wizards who faced their fears and tried to control their power. The legends said that Tharok's power could be used for good. They claimed the ancient ones had left behind a spell that could help the golem gain incredible strength and control, allowing it to create magical items like nothing seen before.

  The legend of Tharok came from a place called the Realm of Scales. Some people believed that the golem’s power came from this realm, while others thought he was freed by those trapped there. No matter which version was true, the legend said that Tharok held a hidden power known as the "Core of Elements." This power could control the forces of nature, either bringing balance or causing great destruction. But this power was locked inside him, sealed by ancient magic. To unlock it, one needed a pure heart and a deep understanding of the elements.

  To access the Core, someone had to break through his defenses and face the darkness within. It took many years for anyone to succeed, with only two mortals ever achieving this feat.

  Then, a mysterious system called the Garrick system appeared in the sky, giving instructions on how to control Tharok. To do so, he had to complete four trials: the Trial of Water, the Trial of Fire, the Trial of Earth, and the Trial of Air. For each trial, he had to complete seven quests.

  He was shocked when he saw the time frame on his system dashboard: 2 years to finish the trials and quests to fully awaken Tharok, the golem. The dashboard showed a countdown, with each trial being time-sensitive. As the elemental forces began to destabilize his realm, the urgency grew stronger. The system predicted that a convergence would happen in one year, and with each trial taking about six months to complete, Garrick realized he had no time to waste. The pressure on him increased as he understood that the fate of his realm rested on his ability to master the elements and awaken Tharok in time to stop the coming disaster.

  Progress – Level Up: 7