Shiv arrived at the Captain's quarters, his heart pounding with anticipation. He knocked on the door, and a familiar voice called out, "Enter."
Captain Thor was sitting at his desk, a thoughtful expression on his face. He looked up as Shiv entered the room.
"I was told that Shiv was here to visit," Thor said, his voice filled with disbelief. "Is that really you, Shiv? You look completely different," he exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise.Shiv replied, "It's me, Captain." He then recounted his dream, his newfound powers, and his encounter with the mysterious figure and the strange energy in the forest.Thor listened intently, his eyes filled with curiosity.Thor nodded thoughtfully. "That's quite a tale, Shiv," he said. "It sounds like you've stumbled upon something extraordinary.""I believe so, Captain," Shiv replied. "I feel that there's more to this than meets the eye."Thor leaned forward, his eyes filled with intrigue. "Tell me more about the mysterious figure you encountered. What did it look like? What did it say to you?"Shiv described the figure as tall and imposing, cloaked in shadow. He recalled the creature's otherworldly voice and the strange energy it emitted.Thor's eyes widened. "That sounds like a powerful being, Shiv. It's possible that you've awakened a dormant power within yourself, a power connected to this mysterious figure."Shiv felt a surge of excitement. The idea that he might be connected to a powerful being was both thrilling and daunting."I think we need to investigate further," Thor said. "We might be able to learn more about the nature of this power and its origins."Shiv agreed. He was eager to uncover the secrets that surrounded him and to understand the full extent of his abilities.As they continued their conversation, a sense of purpose filled Shiv. He knew that his journey had only just begun. The mysteries of the Rudra book, the mysterious figure, and the strange energy he had encountered were all pieces of a larger puzzle.With Captain Thor's guidance, Shiv was determined to unravel these mysteries and unlock the full potential of his newfound powers."Now that you've developed these skills, what are your plans?" Thor asked eagerly."I'm thinking of going on adventures and exploring the world, just like my father," Shiv replied.Thor nodded approvingly. "That sounds like a worthy goal, Shiv. Your father would be proud of you.""I hope so," Shiv replied, a hint of sadness in his voice. He missed his father dearly, and he was eager to make him proud."Well, I'm here to support you," Thor said. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."Shiv thanked Thor for his support. As he left the Captain's quarters, he felt a surge of excitement and determination. Shiv returned to the Adventurers' Guild to seek out a challenging quest. He wanted to improve his rank. As Shiv and Varun reviewed the quest board, they noticed a group of adventurers recruiting members for their party. Shiv approached them with a friendly smile and asked, "Would you mind if we joined your party temporarily?"The group gladly accepted his offer and introduced themselves.As Shiv and Varun joined the new party, they introduced themselves. The group consisted of a skilled archer named Maya, a cunning rogue named Rajeev, a powerful sorcerer named Arav, and a warrior named Ram.Arav initially objected to Shiv joining the party due to his low F-rank. However, the rest of the group was open to including him. After a brief discussion, they decided to embark on the quest together.The quest involved exploring a forgotten temple deep within the jungle. The temple was said to be guarded by ancient guardians.As they approached the temple, they realized they couldn't find it. Despite encountering no monsters, a sense of unease grew within them. They decided to be on guard.Unbeknownst to them, the monsters were intimidated by the aura emanating from Shiv. Shiv sensed this and concealed his aura, using his skills to locate the temple's exact position. He then took the lead, guiding the group towards their destination.With Shiv's guidance, they finally reached the temple. Everyone, except Arav, praised Shiv for his skills. Filled with confidence, the group entered the temple.Shiv was astonished to see familiar symbols on the walls, similar to those in the Rudra book. He believed he might find answers to his questions and continued exploring.The temple had five underground levels. The first floor was empty except for a strange statue in the center. The second floor was filled with a strange breeze, and they couldn't understand what was happening.They descended to the third floor, which was flooded with water. Arav used wind magic to create a path, and they continued to the fourth floor.The fourth floor was empty except for a strange pillar in the center. Ram, eager to know more, touched the pillar. Suddenly, a bright white light appeared, and all the party members were teleported back to the entrance of the temple, except for Shiv.Unable to understand what had happened to the others, Shiv used his skills to detect their presence. He sensed they were still at the entrance, which brought him relief.Shiv continued to the fifth floor, where he found a strange symbol at the center of the floor surrounded by a large group of serpents. As soon as the serpents sensed Shiv's presence, they lunged at him.Shiv swung his sword, killing half of the serpents. Suddenly, a massive serpent, twice the size of a building, appeared. "You have proven to be worthy of my lord's power," the serpent said. "As my lord commanded, I am sending my disciple, Manu, with you."Manu, a serpent who could transform into a young girl, appeared before Shiv. They were then teleported back to the entrance, and the temple vanished.Everyone at the entrance rushed towards Shiv, their faces filled with worry. "Are you okay? What happened on the fourth and fifth floors?" they asked.As Shiv was about to respond, he noticed Manu standing beside him. "Wow! Who is she? She's so beautiful," varun exclaimed. "Did you find her on the fifth floor of the temple?"Shiv smiled and introduced Manu, explaining that he had found her unconscious and used his healing skills to revive her."That's strange," Ram replied. "We were unable to enter the temple after teleporting here."Shiv telepathically communicated with Manu, instructing her to keep the events within the temple a secret.Suddenly, a stampede of orcs charged towards them. The party decided to flee, but Maya tripped and fell, unable to run.Shiv, determined to protect her, used his instant death skill, infusing his sword with powerful magic. The orcs were engulfed in a swirling cloud of smoke, and the sounds of pain, blood, and sword slashes filled the air. When the smoke cleared, all the orcs were dead, and the ground was covered in blood.The group members were stunned by Shiv's display of skill. He used his healing abilities to mend Maya's leg. Arav, realizing Shiv's true power, apologized for his previous doubts. Shiv accepted his apology.They returned to the guild to submit the temple exploration report. Shiv's exceptional performance earned him a promotion to D-rank.Afterward, they celebrated their victory. Maya confessed her feelings for Shiv, surprising everyone. The group was eager to hear Shiv's response, but he humbly declined, saying, "I'm flattered, but I can't reciprocate your feelings. I have more important things to do."Shiv then returned to his lodging, leaving the party members to ponder his words.The next day, Shiv and Varun left the kingdom without saying goodbye to the Wightwings party members. They were now heading into the Kali Forest, a region once rumored to be inhabited by beastmen.