Now, brothers!

As soon as Shiva exits the cave, Loki interrupts him, saying:

— Shiva... I forgot to tell you something — said Loki.

— What? — asked Shiva.

— The only way to escape this forest is by killing that bloody dragon — said Loki.

— What the hell? And now? What are we going to do? — asked Shiva.

— The forest knows I escaped that prison. There's probably no way to get out just by stepping outside... As you can see in my memories — said Loki.

— Seriously, man? You were insane for a strategist — said Shiva, observing Loki's memories.

— Yeah... Let's just say I wasn't your usual strategist. So... Since the forest is like the sin of gluttony, we have no choice but to fight it... — said Loki.

— What do you mean? Sin of gluttony? — asked Shiva.

— It lets everything in, but nothing comes out... And everything that enters, it devours without hesitation. It's like it's always hungry. It tried to devour me but couldn't. That's why I was trapped in that filthy cave — said Loki, smiling.

— I get it... Since it couldn't kill you, the only way was to imprison you somewhere you couldn't use your powers. Got it — said Shiva, analyzing Loki's memories even deeper.

— Exactly. So... It's not hard to find her. We just need to wait for her next transformation. She'll return to that stage where the leaves fall and the dragon appears again — said Loki.

— Yeah... That dragon took away people I once knew. It killed my best friend... And took my gift from me... — said Shiva, sorrowful, remembering his memories.

— Don't feel like that, little brother. We all go through loss at some point in life... Though yours was... unusual. But what matters is that you're here now, alive, and can start over — said Loki.

— True... — remembering Camilla's words — Yeah, Camilla seemed to care about me — said Shiva, looking down.

— So... While the forest isn't transforming, I want to train you. I want you to adapt to my mind and use everything I learned 5,000 years ago — said Loki, hopeful. — Of course, you won't learn everything, but I believe you can become who I once was... only better! — Loki said.

— Alright, so what do you want me to do? — asked Shiva.

— I want you to imagine yourself dying, over and over again if necessary. Now, I want you to imagine killing yourself using all the spells present in my memories. Don't aim at external targets — use them only on yourself, whether offensive or defensive — said Loki.

— Ruff... — Shiva breathes calmly and begins visualizing what Loki requested.

— Good. Now visualize them all at once running through your entire body. Techniques or spells, whatever they may be — said Loki.

— AAAAARGH, bluahh!!

— It's okay, Shiva. That's just a side effect of adaptation... (I didn't expect him to stay this calm... Maybe because he's not human? I'm not sure...)

— You're telling me vomiting blood and almost having my organs explode are just side effects? Hahaha, amazing! — said Shiva with a sarcastic look and excruciating pain coursing through his body.

— Honestly... You vomited way less blood than I expected. You're really strong, Shiva. Maybe it's because you've got your body back — said Loki.

— Maybe... Actually, I don't feel like this body belongs to me, I can't explain it — said Shiva.

— About that... It's because our souls are intertwined now. After the pact, I bonded with your body, mind, and soul, making us two souls in one body. It's like a human having two brains, you get it? — said Loki.

— I get it. So this body, which is technically mine, belongs to both of us... Interesting, but also weird to feel like I don't belong in it — said Shiva.

— It's alright, you'll get used to it — said Loki. — Now let's continue. I want you to learn as many skills as possible to deal with that dragon...

Days later

After days of training, Shiva ends up learning new abilities thanks to the access to Loki's memories.

— These last four days, you've learned so many skills and bled less and less... Your development is insane, Shiva... Congratulations! — said Loki, joyful.

...

— I think it's time, Loki. The leaves are starting to fall, and the sky is turning red... It's time for a rematch.

— Alright. I'll let you fight. Good luck, brother! — said Loki before falling silent.

Shiva looks up at the sky, remembering his conversations with Camilla and Snow. Then, he clenches his fists tightly and runs through the forest!

— I need to find that dragon as fast as possible... I'll use the speed enhancement techniques — said Shiva, serious.

Activated techniques:

Level 1 Technique: Enhanced Speed — Max Level

This technique temporarily boosts the user's speed. Techniques consume physical energy.

Running through the forest, Shiva once again encounters the squirrel monsters — but this time, he wasn't the same.

Level 1 Spell: Piercing Flames

Magic that shoots fast fireballs. Spells consume the user's mana.

— Sigh

— DIE! — Shiva shouted.

After a short battle with the squirrels, Shiva defeats them quickly using only fire magic. He then runs toward the place his instincts were calling to, and on the way...

PLOFT — A deafening sound.

— Look who it is — the guardian of paradise — says Shiva, staring at him.

RRUUUAAAAHH

The battle begins.

— I won't hold back against you, you bastard.

Activating Style: Bare Hands — Damage Boosted

The Bare Hands style functions like a combat stance. Unlike techniques, it has no active skills, but it enhances damage dealt through physical strikes.

Level 1 Physical Enhancement Technique — Enhances human muscles, increasing physical attack power.

BOOM BOOM

Shiva charges at the paradise dragon. The dragon spits its blood onto the ground to defend itself, but Shiva leaps over the blood and strikes its head, forcing the dragon to reconsider its tactics.

A fierce battle follows — punches flying, dodging, a true brawl. Gradually, we see who's gaining the upper hand.

— You're pretty strong, you damn dragon. But I won't let you stay alive another second! — shouted Shiva.

Right after speaking, the dragon strikes Shiva with such force that he's left paralyzed.

— Yo-you... are weak, boy — the dragon whispered, loud enough to be heard.

— Wh-what did you say? Weak... Weak, huh? Hahaha, I'll show you what I'm capable of, you pathetic lizard — whispered Shiva, still feeling the impact.

In a whisper that echoed through the air, Shiva spoke:

— My soul merged with another being, two souls reveal how things should truly be... The real and only will you chose me for is so our souls unite like two brothers born together, sharing not only the soul but also the body, unleashing a potential that's doubled!

SPECTRAL FUSION — TWIN SOULS

This ability requires a spoken activation phrase, making it special. It temporarily fuses two souls into one, combining their strengths. The potential released depends on the stronger of the two souls.

— Now I can see. I can see everything Loki learned throughout his life... This guy was truly crazy, hahaha — said Shiva, rising again, unafraid of the dragon before him.

The dragon charges Shiva, but before it can land a blow, Shiva decapitates it.

— You were really strong, Loki — said Shiva.

— Who said it's over? — the dragon roared.

— Wait, how is he still alive? — asked Shiva, now frightened.

— I only die if I choose to die. I won't lose to a boy like you! RUUUAAHHHH

The dragon resurrects, now even stronger. Its once-rotten body is fully restored, and its scales become as hard as diamonds.

Shiva rushes at the dragon again, but the beast dodges. Another exchange of punches begins. As the dragon prepares an attack, Shiva counters.

The dragon regenerates every time Shiva lands a blow. Then Shiva has an idea...

— All you do is regenerate? I'll end this now... — said Shiva.

With a barrage of punches, Shiva explodes the dragon into pieces... Though its skin was impenetrable, it didn't matter to Shiva...

— It's taking longer to regenerate this time...

TOON TOON — ARGH... WHAT WAS THAT???

TOON TOON

— What's happening to me?... — PLOFT

— Argh... Argh... Was that a dream? What the hell just happened? — asked Shiva.

— Shiva... That wasn't a dream. You... lost control — said Loki.

— What do you mean? — asked Shiva.

— In case you didn't notice, you don't feel hunger around vegetables, rotten meat or anything like that... But... When you come into contact with living flesh... As soon as the dragon regenerated its body, you had an uncontrollable urge to devour it... And in the end... You did devour it — Loki replied.

— Are you telling me that I... I'm a monster?

To be continued...