The Gorilla Monster and Ziva were the two dominant rulers of the Forbidden Forest. Their battles for control had raged countless times over the years.
Both colossal beasts lived atop the Twin Mountains so named because the peaks were perfectly identical and stood face to face. The location made an ideal territory for two powerful monsters vying for dominion.
Yet no matter how often they fought, the outcome was always the same either a stalemate or a marginal edge that never lasted long. That is, until Aaron arrived and everything changed.
"I must thank you… ugh… You avenged me before I even died," Ziva said, struggling to speak.
"As for your question, I don't expect anything more from you—just end my suffering. If you do that, I'll be truly grateful, human."
"What?! There's no other way I can save you?" Aaron asked, unable to accept that he still couldn't do anything to help her, even after gaining the power he had been so proud of.
"There is… If you were an Alchemist, you could share your energy with me—at least enough to keep me alive today," Ziva replied, clearly doubtful of Aaron's capabilities.
"I… I'm not an Alchemist, but I might be able to share my energy with you!" Aaron said, remembering the new skill he had recently obtained.
"No! That would only make things worse," Ziva snapped, her voice heavy with certainty and resignation. Yet, she continued to explain:
"Alchemists have a unique way of transferring energy. They don't just pass along natural energy—they blend it with soul energy they've trained and refined over the years.
If you transfer only natural energy without soul energy, the result is agonizing. The patient would suffer terribly before dying."
That, Ziva added, was the exact reason she hadn't tried to help Aaron in her cave, even when he was gravely injured. Injecting natural energy into someone else's body could turn catastrophic when the two energy types clash internally.
Such clashes caused unbearable pain—unless mitigated by soul energy, something only trained Alchemists or legendary monsters could manage.
"So... can you do it?" she asked. "It's okay if you can't. I can't either. Only legendary monsters or those with healing abilities can."
"But you can still help me—just end it. I'll be thankful all the same."
Flooded with information and faced with Ziva's request for mercy, Aaron hesitated to try his new skill.
In the end, caught between doubt and desperation, Aaron chose to end her suffering rather than risk putting her through more pain with a power he didn't even understand.
The decision weighed heavily on him. He felt like he'd failed the one creature who had helped him recover and grow stronger, however indirectly.
He drew a short sword from his dimensional ring and gently stroked the head of the massive tiger. Black energy began to seep from his body, slowly spreading until it covered him and coated the blade in his hand.
But as soon as the energy reached the hand resting on Ziva's head, the system notification reappeared.
"Skill: Energy Share"
"ACTIVATED!"
"No, no… cancel it! The system, cancel it now!" Aaron shouted in a panic, his voice cracking with fear.
Upgrade the system for deeper synchronization with user intent.
But it was too late. He couldn't stop the skill. He backed away from Ziva's body, but the black energy continued to flow from him into her.
This time, though, it wasn't purely black—white energy shimmered within it, glowing brightly.
Aaron could feel his strength draining fast. His natural energy was being depleted rapidly, and even his soul energy began to trickle away, though far more slowly.
Moments later, the energy stream stopped, and another notification appeared.
Not enough energy to maintain active skills.
"Skill: Energy Share – DEACTIVATED!"
With the flow of power halted, Aaron collapsed, gasping for breath. Sweat soaked his body. His lungs burned.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry. I couldn't control it. I hope… I hope you find peace in the Spirit Realm," he whispered, full of guilt. He assumed she had died in agony, unable even to scream.
But then—unexpectedly...
"What are you rambling about, human? You pulled me back from the brink," Ziva said, her voice weak but alive. "Thanks to you, I won't be dying anytime soon. I should be able to heal the rest on my own."
Relief flooded Aaron's body.
"Thank goodness… Lady Monster," he said as he collapsed onto the ground, exhausted.
"Call me Ziva. Friend," she replied warmly.
She had grown certain of Aaron's loyalty just as she had admired how fiercely he had protected his dog. That faith moved her to offer him something in return.
Though his help hadn't been much, it was enough. Ziva had escaped the edge of death thanks to his new skill, even if it had activated accidentally.
"You're the first real friend I've had in decades. As a token of that friendship—and my gratitude…" she trailed off, struggling to produce something from her mouth.
When she finally coughed it up, Aaron immediately felt its heat radiating through the air. It looked like it was encased in a glass-like orb.
"I want you to have this. It's a Fire Mushroom, a very rare plant. It can increase your strength, even your body's resilience."
But Ziva paused, her gaze narrowing. Something felt strange.
"...Your body… It's different. What happened?"
It was a fair question. When she first met him, Aaron's condition had been poor. His presence hadn't radiated any strength. But now, she could sense that he was far more powerful than before.
"I can't take that. It's way too hot. If I eat it, I'll probably die on the spot," Aaron replied honestly. His refusal wasn't out of politeness, it was fear.
"Oh, don't worry about that."
Ziva let a drop of her saliva fall onto the Fire Mushroom. The thick, glowing droplet carried her pure energy and dissolved the mushroom instantly, turning it into a crimson liquid, almost like blood, though it radiated no heat.
"There. Now, drink it," Ziva said gently, her tone more relaxed than it had been back in the cave.