Shiv, Varun, and Manu ventured deeper into the Kali Forest, the morning sun illuminating their path. As they journeyed, Varun expressed concern about leaving the Wightwings party without saying goodbye. Shiv assured him that Maya would understand."Why is she coming with us?" Varun asked, referring to Manu."She has nowhere else to go," Shiv replied. "It was her own decision to join us."As they delved further into the forest, a strange and unsettling atmosphere enveloped them. The trees seemed to twist and writhe, and the air was thick with an unnatural silence.Suddenly, a guttural growl echoed through the forest. A massive, hulking beastman emerged from the undergrowth, warning them not to enter. The beastman charged at them, its claws outstretched.Shiv drew his sword, his heart pounding with adrenaline. Varun prepared his magic, and Manu released a cloud of poisonous mist. The battle was fierce, the beastman's strength and agility a formidable challenge. However, Shiv's determination and the combined skills of the group ultimately prevailed. With a well-placed strike, Shiv critically wounded the beastman.The beastman let out a roar of pain and collapsed to the ground. Shiv noticed, with surprise, that he was not exhausted and that his stamina seemed to be increasing, likely due to his regular meditation.Suddenly, a magical barrier appeared around the fallen beastman, and a large group of other beastmen emerged from the undergrowth. Some of them rushed to heal the injured beastman, while the others prepared for battle.Shiv and his companions readied themselves for the impending fight.The battle was fierce, the beastmen charging with a feral fury. Shiv and his companions fought valiantly, their skills and determination a match for their monstrous foes.Manu used her warrior skills with magic, weakening the beastmen. Varun unleashed powerful spells, hurling bolts of energy at the attacking creatures. Shiv, with his enhanced strength and agility, fought with a ferocity that matched the beastmen's own.The ground was littered with the fallen bodies of beastmen, their roars of pain echoing through the forest.Finally, the tide turned. The beastmen, outnumbered and outmatched, began to retreat. Shiv and his companions pursued them.As the battle raged, Shiv noticed that Varun had sustained a serious injury, a gaping hole in his stomach inflicted by a beastman's punch. This ignited a fury within Shiv.His body began to darken, and the weather took a dramatic turn, as if a storm was brewing. The markings on his forehead glowed with an intense light, and he seemed to transform into a being of immense power.Manu was stunned by his appearance, which resembled the fearsome Ugra form of Lord Rudra. Sensing Rudra's presence, the king of the beastmen stepped forward, apologizing for his tribe's insolence.All the beastmen followed their king's example, seeking forgiveness. Manu pleaded with Shiv to calm down and dispel his transformed state.Shiv, his rage subsiding, returned to his normal form. The storm dissipated, and peace returned to the forest.Shiv used his healing abilities to mend Varun's wounds, his hands glowing with a soft, ethereal light. Varun groaned as the pain subsided, his eyes fluttering open."You're okay," Shiv said, relief washing over him. "You'll be fine."Varun nodded weakly, his body still aching.The king of the beastmen, Vali, introduced himself and offered to visit their kingdom as a gesture of apology. Shiv accepted the invitation and traveled to the beastmen's castle.Varun's injuries had healed completely, as if nothing had happened. The beastmen kingdom, along with other races, had isolated themselves from the outside world to avoid being drawn into the conflict between demons and humans."It's surprising to find one of the strongest races, the beastmen, here after so many decades," Varun exclaimed with enthusiasm."Manu, you're a serpent," Vali said in surprise. "I haven't seen your tribe in a long time. What are you doing with them?"Shiv explained the events at the temple, including Manu's role and their teleportation. Varun was shocked to learn that the cute and adorable girl was actually a serpent.Shiv requested that they keep Manu's identity a secret."I sensed an otherworldly presence within you when you became angry," Vali said with enthusiasm. "And there's a mark on your forehead that resembles the symbols which our ancestors used to worship Lord Rudra."Curious, Shiv asked, "What do you know about Rudra?"Vali led them to a secret underground room accessible only to the royal family of the beastmen. There, the Rudra symbol was engraved on a stone. Astonished to see the symbol, Shiv felt a surge of energy, recognizing the presence of Rudra."I believe you have been chosen by Lord Rudra to accomplish something significant in this world," Vali said. "If you want to learn more about Rudra, there's a person from our race who lived nearly a thousand years ago. You can find him on Mount Kai, south of the Kali Forest. However, you'll need to cross the Engulf Forest to reach him."Shiv expressed his gratitude for the information. "Thank you very much," he said.Shiv decided to meditate near the Rudra symbol. Vali agreed, raising his blade to create a protective barrier around Shiv.After dinner, Shiv went to the Rudra room to meditate. As he delved deeper into his meditation, he saw his magical potential increasing at a much faster rate than usual. Shiv continued to meditate until morning.When he broke his meditation, he saw Manu in her serpent form coiled around him, not disturbing his meditation."What are you doing here in this form?" Shiv asked Manu, confused by her appearance."When you started meditating, I heard a voice telling me to do this," Manu replied.Shiv realized that this was likely why his aura had increased so rapidly. He requested permission from King Vali to stay a few more days, wanting to gather more information.While in the kingdom, Shiv spent his time studying in the library, playing with the children who adored him, and meditating at night. He also dealt with the affections of the beastmen girls.Varun left the kingdom after two days due to urgent matters. Shiv continued his meditation for a month, and his growth became noticeable. He challenged ten captain guards to mock battles at a time, demonstrating his significantly increased power.Confident in his growth, Shiv left for Mount Kai, where the wise beastman Vali had mentioned Nandi resided. As a parting gift, Vali gave Shiv and Manu an Aksh, a sacred symbol found only in the beastmen kingdom."If you ever encounter problems with the beastmen, show them this," Vali said with a proud smile. "They will recognize that you are linked to Lord Rudra and treat you with respect."Shiv and Manu then set off on their journey to Mount Kai.