Ethan looked at Yassmin and Yassir with seriousness. There were too many unknowns, and the risks were high.
"If I merge my soul with Apophis's, can we separate again?" he asked, the doubt clear in his voice.
Yassmin exchanged a glance with her brother before responding.
"In theory, yes. But it must be done quickly and with the help of someone very skilled in soul separation magic," she replied. "The problem is that we don't have time to find that person, and it's possible we might not find someone skilled enough. Don't get your hopes up too high."
Ethan found himself at a crossroads. He could continue strengthening himself quietly, but it was complicated to survive without allies. Moreover, even if he refused, Yassmin and Yassir would simply attack him again. Although the previous fight seemed to show positive results for him, Yassmin's confidence that she would win made him doubt.
He spent several minutes evaluating his options, weighing the pros and cons, and finally arrived at the only alternative that seemed viable, though dangerous. He made a decision.
"Alright, I agree to merge with Apophis," he said firmly, ignoring that voice telling him it was a bad idea.
Yassmin and Yassir nodded, respecting and appreciating his bravery.
"Prepare yourself, Ethan. If you lose control, we won't hesitate to attack. I wish you the best of luck for the sake of both of us," Yassmin warned.
Ethan closed his eyes, feeling Apophis's power stirring within him. The demon's essence began to flow, enveloping his being with a dark, fiery energy. The fusion was almost instant and violent. Pain coursed through his body like an electric shock, every fiber of his being twisting as the demonic energy fused with his own essence.
He screamed, his voice transforming into a guttural roar that echoed in the space isolated by the Veil of Discretion. As the fusion progressed, his body began to change. His skin darkened, taking on an ash-gray hue. Two sharp horns emerged from his forehead, and black angel wings sprouted from his back. His eyes, once human, now glowed with an infernal red light.
Ethan transformed into something more than human, an amalgam of demonic power and humanity. His mind, however, remained clear. It was a different clarity from his normal self; even his way of perceiving the world changed. Yassmin and Yassir watched him in awe and with a hint of fear. Ethan's transformation had exceeded their expectations.
"Incredible and beautiful..." Yassmin murmured, barely audible.
Ethan flexed his new wings, adapting to the sensation of his new body. Power flowed through his veins, an unstoppable torrent of strength and energy. Despite the fear he had felt, he now experienced immense pleasure.
"M-Mr. Blackwood? Are you still in there?" Yassir asked, somewhat fearful.
"Not entirely, but I can say I'm still me. My ideas, my plans, even my motivations remain the same. The only downside I can feel from this fusion is that now I have some trouble containing my impulses, though it's not too severe."
Ethan continued to analyze his new body, moving his fingers, his feet, or touching his horns and wings. Only when he finished getting comfortable with himself did he continue:
"Very well, I've fulfilled my part of the deal. Now it's your turn, Yassmin. Do you want to do it now?" he asked, his voice resonating with a supernatural echo.
"The sooner, the better!" Yassmin said, full of determination.
Upon hearing Yassmin's consent, Ethan transformed his body back to how it looked before, although his eyes had lost their previous calm and blue color, replaced by the infernal red he had obtained.
"It feels strange to return to this form," he reflected to himself. "Alright, follow me. I'll tell Sara to take care of everything here. What do you plan to do?" he asked, looking at Yassir.
He, clearly very uncomfortable with this part of the deal, knew he couldn't influence his sister in any way, so he remained silent. When Ethan asked him, he simply showed his clear rejection and indicated that he would wait in a quiet place.
After leaving everything in the hands of his assistant, Ethan left with Yassmin to his house. He lived quite nearby, and since he spent most of his time at his business or traveling, he didn't have a large house; he didn't consider it necessary. Even so, it was an extremely modern and comfortable place.
Once there, Yassmin, though determined, began to feel nervous. On the contrary, Ethan had not a shred of doubt; he even seemed to enjoy the situation. As someone who had experienced this situation many times, he did not try to go straight to the act; instead, he invited her to shower and have a light meal and drink. The best thing was for both of them to enjoy it; if she was too nervous, it might not be a pleasant experience.
As the atmosphere grew more romantic, Ethan stopped holding back. The initial goal no longer mattered, leading the two to simply enjoy themselves without thinking about anything other than their own pleasure.
It wasn't until the next day that they both returned to meet Yassir, who looked at them with a complicated expression. Even so, he made the effort and asked:
"Did it work? Were you able to remove the mark? If it wasn't possible, then we're almost out of options..."
"Oops... I forgot about that."
"Are you serious—?!" Yassir was about to shout, but his sister stopped him halfway.
"Calm down, it was a joke. You can relax, it worked perfectly. From today on, I'm finally free."