The abandoned planet part two:the bone melting training

Theodore Robertson and his younger brother, Mateo, stood side by side on the barren surface of the Abandoned Planet, their breath misting in the frozen air. The land stretched endlessly before them, a desolate place forsaken by both gods and demons, where nothing lived and no deity dared to tread. The air was thick with a quiet menace, as if the planet itself resented intruders.

Just days before, they had struck down Zeus, the god of thunder, and Poseidon, the lord of the seas. It had been a brutal battle that left them both battered, but victorious. Their newfound powers had proven to be both a blessing and a curse, and now they were on this forsaken rock to push themselves even further—to transform their bodies and souls into the ultimate vessels of power.

Theodore tightened his grip on his twin swords, feeling the pulse of power from each one. In his right hand was the Sword of Destruction, an obsidian blade that emanated darkness and had been granted to him by Artorius, the demon fused within him. In his left hand was the God-Killer, a blade he had retrieved from this very planet, infused with energies potent enough to end the lives of gods. Beside him, Mateo held his own twin weapons—a godly trident that shimmered with a cold, ethereal light, and the Sword of Extinction, gifted by the demon Lucius, whose silent presence he felt within him.

"Theodore," Mateo said, glancing over, his voice reverberating with a mixture of excitement and fear. "Do you think we're ready for what's about to come?"

Theodore nodded, his gaze steady. "We've defeated gods. Now we conquer ourselves."

Artorius's voice echoed within Theodore's mind, a deep, rumbling tone that was as much a part of him as his own thoughts. You know the cost of true power, Theodore. Are you prepared to endure it?

"Yes," Theodore answered aloud, his voice barely a whisper, the sound swallowed by the planet's dead atmosphere. He glanced at Mateo, who gave a determined nod in return, his own gaze flaring with resolve.

Lucius's voice stirred within Mateo, colder and more calculated. This training will tear apart your body, but it will also forge your spirit. You must embrace the pain to harness the full potential of my power.

Without another word, the two brothers set off across the desolate wasteland, moving towards a colossal structure in the distance—the Temple of Trials. It was a ruin, half-buried under layers of sand and bones, a relic from an era when gods and demons still dared to walk this planet. The temple was said to contain the secrets of ancient power, forged through suffering and sacrifice. Those who could endure it would emerge as living embodiments of their weapons' might.

The entrance to the temple loomed ahead, an archway that seemed to swallow all light. Theodore stepped forward, feeling a wave of energy radiating from the structure. A faint crimson glow illuminated the symbols etched into the walls, a language older than time itself, warning intruders of the agonizing trials within.

As they crossed the threshold, the temperature dropped suddenly, and the air grew heavy. With each step, Theodore felt his body begin to respond to the latent power in the atmosphere. His skin prickled, the edges of his form shimmering with a molten hue as the power of lava stirred within him.

Mateo, too, felt the change. Water condensed around him, forming droplets on his skin as his trident glowed with a soft, blue light. The bond with Lucius deepened, and a sense of deadly calm settled over him. The gods may have abandoned this place, but in doing so, they had left it as the perfect ground for honing god-slaying power.

Artorius's voice whispered to Theodore, a grim instruction. To master the Sword of Destruction, you must let go of your mortal self. You must let the lava consume you, feel it melt you down to your bones, and rebuild you anew. Only then will the sword's power flow through you without resistance.

With a glance at Mateo, Theodore nodded, ready to begin the brutal process.

Theodore stepped into the center of the room and closed his eyes, feeling the heat intensify around him. His skin began to bubble, his flesh melting like wax, searing pain coursing through his veins. The molten lava that was his power started to consume him, reducing him to nothing but raw energy. But through the pain, he held on, surrendering himself to the force that could destroy him if he faltered even for a moment.

Theodore's body finally succumbed to the lava, and he became a figure of liquid fire, a living embodiment of destruction. His black blade pulsed with anticipation, eager to channel this unbridled power. As he swung the sword, arcs of lava shot out, carving deep trenches into the walls of the temple, the stone sizzling and melting under its heat.

Mateo watched, awe and dread mixing in his heart. Theodore's transformation was terrifying, and Mateo knew his own trial would be no less grueling.

Lucius spoke to Mateo, his voice low and commanding. To master the power of extinction, you must be willing to drown in it, to embrace the stillness and silence of the depths. Only then will you wield the trident and sword as true extensions of your will.

Gritting his teeth, Mateo lifted his trident, letting its icy aura spread over him. The temperature around him plummeted, until even his breath turned to mist, and he felt his own flesh and blood begin to freeze, as though he was descending into the depths of a boundless ocean. Every nerve in his body screamed in protest, his mind teetering on the edge of oblivion. But he stayed firm, allowing himself to be engulfed by the chilling void that sought to consume him.

With a sudden motion, Mateo thrust his trident forward. Waves of water exploded from it, each surge colder than the last, strong enough to turn anything in its path to solid ice. The entire room filled with freezing mist, drops crystallizing mid-air, caught between the scorching heat of Theodore's lava and the glacial power Mateo wielded. In the midst of it all, Mateo drew his black sword, the Sword of Extinction, feeling its dark energy seep into his bones. The sword resonated with him, a tool that could bring even gods to their knees.

After what felt like an eternity, Theodore and Mateo slowly brought their powers to a halt, their bodies returning to normal. They both dropped to one knee, gasping, their bodies shivering from the intensity of the ordeal. But the change within them was undeniable—they were no longer the same as before.

"Artorius, Lucius…" Theodore said, his voice barely a whisper, "what's next?"

This was only the beginning, Artorius answered, his voice layered with a hint of approval. Your bones have felt the fire, and your spirits have touched the void, but to truly master these weapons, you must learn control. Otherwise, the powers you hold will consume you as easily as they consume your enemies.

Lucius's voice followed, firm and unyielding. When we face the remaining gods, they will not be as easily defeated as Zeus and Poseidon. You must be prepared for battles that test not only your power but your resolve.

Theodore and Mateo rose slowly, the weight of their purpose settling over them once more. They had entered this temple as mortals wielding the power of demons. Now, they emerged from it something more—something the gods themselves would soon learn to fear.

Theodore sheathed his twin swords, feeling their weight settle comfortably on his back, while Mateo did the same with his trident and the Sword of Extinction. With one last glance at the temple that had nearly destroyed them, they turned and walked back toward the open wasteland, feeling the silent challenge of the universe pressing upon them.

In the distance, thunder rumbled across the Abandoned Planet, and they knew—this was only the beginning of a long, perilous journey. But now, there was no going back. They were ready to take their revenge on the gods who had forsaken them, to prove that power abandoned by the divine could still bring divine destruction.