Demonic Dragon: Harem System

The alchemy chamber was bathed in a flickering light, emanating from the mana crystals embedded in the walls.

The air, thick with arcane energy, reverberated in a rhythm almost alive, pulsing as if the very space was aware of the grandeur of the ritual about to unfold.

In the center of the room, two stone tables were positioned side by side, each supporting a gleaming metal skeleton, engraved with intricate runes and infused with Strax's magic.

Evelyn, with her long leather gloves and dark apron stained with remnants of past experiments, moved with almost surgical precision between the jars, scrolls, and alchemical reagents scattered across the workbench.

Her face displayed absolute concentration, and her eyes glimmered with the reflection of the ethereal flames burning in braziers around the room.

Strax watched closely, having already undone his transformation, now simply observing the process alongside the alchemist he so desperately needed. He had already done his part by preparing the skeletons' structures, but now the delicate work fell to Evelyn. She was the key to transforming these lifeless bodies into something that could truly live.

Taking a deep breath, the alchemist placed a small glass vial on the table. Inside, a silver liquid squirmed as if it had a will of its own. She took a crow's feather dipped in special ink and began to trace an arcane circle around the tables.

"This will be the first step," she murmured, more to herself than to Strax. "The bodies must be shaped with the Primordial Essence so they can respond to the life that will be bestowed upon them."

She opened the vial and poured the silver liquid over the skeletons. As soon as the fluid touched the metal bones, it spread as if it had its own mind, filling every crack, covering every rune etched into the structure. Small pops and high-pitched noises echoed as the material fused with the bones, strengthening the connection between the body and the magic.

Strax tilted his head, intrigued. "Is that enchanted mercury?"

Evelyn smiled sideways, without taking her eyes off the ritual. "Not just mercury. It's a transmuted alloy with ethereal silver and remnants of condensed mana from the World Tree. It allows the bodies to channel vital energy without dispersing it. Without this, the magic would dissipate before we could even animate them."

The man made a sound of approval, satisfied with the explanation. He needed the best possible materials; after all... these bodies were meant to contain the souls of two primordial dragons. Anything less than perfect would be a problem.

"Let's see..." Evelyn continued, pulling two glowing stones from a chest, one blue and the other red. She placed them over the chests of the skeletons, right at the center where hearts should be.

"Arcane Focusing Crystals, I traded them with someone," she explained. "They will be the energy cores for these bodies. Without them, they wouldn't be able to maintain the cohesion between body and soul. Let's say they're what keeps the body alive with the soul you want."

She made a gesture with her hand, and golden threads of energy emerged from her fingers, connecting to the crystals. The air around the skeletons began to vibrate, and the room was filled with a high-pitched hum. The crystals absorbed the energy, pulsing in response. For a moment, Strax saw the skeletons stiffen, almost as if they were about to move. But it wasn't time yet.

Evelyn took a small scroll from her bag. Unrolling it, it revealed a complex transmutation diagram, filled with ancient symbols and arcane equations. With a fine blade, she cut the tip of her finger and pressed it against the scroll, letting a drop of blood fall onto it.

"The final element to stabilize the physical form."

She did the same with a small vial she had already prepared, pouring a bit of blood over the skeletons. As the liquid touched the metal surfaces, the runes glowed intensely, as if activating in response.

Strax watched in fascination, noticing how each step of the ritual linked together in a meticulous and precise sequence. Evelyn truly mastered the art of creating artificial life.

Time passed almost immaterially within the chamber. Evelyn continued to chant incantations, adjusting the small details in the structure of the bodies. One by one, the layers of alchemy integrated into the skeletons, giving them form, stability, and a means to exist.

Finally, she stepped back, observing her work with an exhausted but satisfied gaze.

"Now... let's give them a more human touch," she said, wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. "The muscles and skin... well, I had to transform them into liquid to create all of this." Evelyn said, beginning with the dragon hearts.

She took both hearts and aligned them in the correct place within the bodies before starting.

Evelyn snapped her fingers and made a gesture in the air, summoning a translucent sphere that began to pulse with a crimson glow. The sphere floated to the center of the chamber, and with a movement of her hands, she split it into two equal parts, directing each one toward one of the metal skeletons.

The substance inside the sphere slowly trickled out, like a living liquid, and began to spread across the inert bodies. At first, fine and resilient muscles began to form, shaping themselves over the metal structures, wrapping the skeletons with anatomical precision. Evelyn murmured incantations as she guided the formation of the muscles, ensuring each fiber fit perfectly.

Strax crossed his arms, watching closely. He could feel the vibrant energy of creation unfolding, and even with his vast experience in draconic magic, Evelyn's process still fascinated him.

The muscles continued to grow around the dragon hearts, layer by layer, making the bodies more defined. It was as if they were sculpted from nothing, taking on an increasingly realistic appearance. Fine veins began to form, connecting through the newly created bodies, gently pulsing in response to the magical energy in the room.

Evelyn reached for a glass vial containing a thick ruby liquid. "This is the final catalyst before the skin," she explained, opening the vial with a small movement of her fingers. "It's Concentrated Blood, created from an infusion of mana and condensed vital essence from a Dragon. It will allow the bodies to function as living organisms."

Carefully, she poured the liquid into the mouths of the homunculi. As soon as the blood came into contact with the newly formed tissues, the bodies reacted immediately. A faint glow passed through the veins, confirming the acceptance of the infusion. Now, the bodies were one step closer to true life.

The next stage was the application of the skin. Evelyn raised her hands and conjured a transmutation circle directly over the bodies. The skin began to form gradually, starting from the extremities and spreading across the rest of the bodies. First, the fingers and hands were covered with a thin epidermis, which quickly thickened and took on a smooth, natural texture. Then came the arms, torsos, and finally, the faces, each detail meticulously shaped by the alchemist's magic.

Strax stepped forward and analyzed the progress. "Hmph. Impressive," he murmured, his eyes scanning the nearly complete bodies. "They're already practically indistinguishable from ordinary humans. But something is missing…"

Evelyn nodded, taking a deep breath. "The final touch…"

She withdrew two small vials from a leather pouch tied to her waist. Each vial contained a liquid of a distinct color—one a bright gold and the other a deep blue. "These elixirs will define the individual traits and characteristics of each. Skin, eyes, hair... everything will be finalized with this infusion."
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Opening the vials, Evelyn poured a few drops of each liquid onto the foreheads of the bodies. As the elixirs touched the flesh, a change began to occur. The hair began to grow rapidly, taking shape and color. One homunculus developed long, black hair like the night, while the other grew golden strands that shimmered under the light of the mana crystals. The facial features were also sculpted, making them beautiful and distinct, with serene expressions, as if they were merely sleeping.

Strax raised an eyebrow, satisfied. "Now, they truly look complete."

Evelyn sighed, relieved, but there was still one last obstacle. "The bodies are ready, but they're not alive yet. The most important part is still missing..." She looked at Strax with a meaningful glance. "The souls."

Strax smiled, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Ah, that won't be a problem." He grinned, pulling two swords from his spiritual ring...

Evelyn crossed her arms, watching the man with a skeptical look. "You think you'll be able to take the souls out of there?"

Strax chuckled softly. "They haven't left these swords because they can't use magic to do so, but that doesn't mean they don't know how to escape."

Evelyn sighed, nodding slowly. "Very well. But remember, Strax... This is an irreversible process. You must be careful."

"Don't worry, madame," Strax said with a demonic smile. "Let's give life to two Dragons."