After everything that happened, Shiva was sent to the so-called "Paradise", a place inhabited only by the undead. Will Shiva be able to survive?
"An organization honestly demands a lot of effort and obedience... those boring rules... But at least I can train alone in this paradise. And indeed... it's a beautiful place," said Shiva with a smile in his eyes.
"I'll start by looking for a place to shelter in the middle of this forest, hunt for edible fruits, and stock up in case of scarcity," thought Shiva.
But before he could continue his thoughts, something immediately broke his line of reasoning...
— What was that sound? — asked Shiva.
RRUUUAAAAHH!!
— I have no idea what's happening in this place... but these sounds are a clear sign that I shouldn't stay near this area, — said Shiva, worried.
So Shiva entered the forest, searching for a place to shelter. Along the way, he grabbed some fruits that seemed edible.
— These fruits look safe... I remember seeing them back at the organization... Wait... the sun is already setting... I think I'll take shelter in that cave over there.
Shiva found a cave and decided to spend the night there.
"I have no idea how to light a campfire... and I need something to keep me warm... It's not that cold here, but this place gives me chills," he thought.
— Argh... I can't sleep... Something feels wrong... I'll go out and look for a lake... in case I get thirsty, — said Shiva.
Stepping out into the darkness, Shiva noticed something moving in the bushes outside the cave. Curious, he decided to get closer.
— AAAHH! What? Wait... It's just you... What are you doing here? — asked Shiva, confused.
"I don't know how you ended up here... but I think you'll be a great help in my training... From now on, I'll call you Snow... Welcome to my group, my chosen snake."
— I was going to look for a place to drink water... but it's so dark, it's hard to see anything... — said Shiva.
Snow looked at Shiva and...
— What?? You can use your abilities on me? I thought only you had access to them... But apparently, I can use them too... Thank you, Snow, you're a great help! — said Shiva, excited.
Leaving the area, Shiva and Snow went to look for water to recharge their energy. After a long walk, they found a lake and then...
— Snow... What's that? Looks like a bear... but it's all wounded... bleeding... its bones showing... — said Shiva.
After a brief wait, the bear moved away from the river. Shiva and Snow approached the shore to drink some water.
— Argh... I was really thirsty, Snow... It feels so good to drink water after such a long walk through the forest, — said Shiva.
Snow nodded as if saying "yes."
— Snow, let's head back to the cave... Staying out here seems dangerous... and I need to start training my fists, — said Shiva.
On the way back, Shiva stepped on a dry branch. Before he could react, a sharp sound like an arrow cutting through the air shot past him—luckily, it missed.
Shiva ran towards the cave, scared of what it could be.
— RUN, SNOW! THIS IS BAD! HE SHOT TO KILL... MY EYES TELL ME THAT! — yelled Shiva.
During the run, several sharp sounds sliced through the air towards Shiva and Snow. Whatever it was... it wasn't just trying to hurt them... it was ready to kill.
— KEEP RUNNING, SNOW! DON'T STOP!! — yelled Shiva.
PLOFT!
— OUCH!! KEEP RUNNING, SNOW! — Shiva shouted again.
Then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the trees... BOOM... BOOM... BOOM... Something big jumped over Shiva and started attacking between the trees.
— What?? That bear from the lake... it saved me...? Argh... I need to get back to the cave... — said Shiva.
Due to extreme exhaustion, Shiva took longer to reach the cave.
— Argh... Argh... Argh... I'm scared... But for some reason, I feel like I should go back there... My heart is racing like I'm about to die... But my eyes... they want to see what that bear had on its body... Why? — Shiva wondered.
Shiva then stopped and rested in the cave... Even with something strange bothering him, he laid down among the rocks and closed his eyes.
— Urgh... Did I fall asleep? — Shiva asked upon waking.
— Hey, kid... Too bad you didn't die fighting those undead in the forest... — said a calm, soothing voice, but one that carried hatred and bloodlust.
— W-who are you? Where am I? — asked Shiva, afraid.
— This... is just your mind... Specifically... I'm the will to see through others... I am your eyes. Nice to meet you... I'm Camilla.
— Camilla? My eyes? My mind? What? — asked Shiva, confused.
— Let me explain, you idiot kid... Since it seems like you've never even touched a book... Argh... I'm Camilla... One of the Seven Sacred Senses... Representing Vision... I'm a soul that begged for mercy... Not to vanish from this world... In exchange... I wander... Helping others... Unfortunately... — said Camilla.
— What do you mean? Why did you beg for mercy? And... Why me? — asked Shiva.
— For a 6-year-old... You seem smart... But only seem... — said Camilla.
— Answer me already! Why did you beg for your life? What did they do to you? — asked Shiva, now serious.
— You're so rude... Argh... I was a great fighter... In a time I barely remember... My clan was called "The Enlightened Fists"... I had great rivalry with almost everyone... I was a prodigy... And everyone envied me... Years later... They killed my mother and sister right in front of me... They said... If I was really that good... I would've saved them... But... I couldn't... After that... They humiliated me... And killed me... In front of everyone... But... I didn't accept it... I didn't accept the shame... I swore revenge... But... I was so close... So close... — Camilla started crying.
— Don't worry, Camilla... You did your best... I don't know how long you've been like this... But... I promise to become someone you can be proud of... From today... I'll be your best friend... After all these years... Someone you can trust... And... Through my eyes... You'll see peace... — said Shiva.
— Thank you, kid... I'll teach you everything I know... Tomorrow... When you wake up... You'll see the world... Like no one ever did... — said Camilla, with tears.
Camilla's voice echoed in Shiva's mind:
— THANK YOU... KID!!
— What a strange dream... And... Where's Snow? I'll look for him outside... He couldn't have gone far... — said Shiva.
But each step towards the light felt like a knife cutting through his eyes. As he stepped out of the cave... Shiva froze in fear.
— But... What... Is this...? — he asked, nervous.
Then Camilla's voice echoed:
— This... is what I used to see when I was alive... This is my gift... The one that got me killed by my own organization... I called it... "The Only Sight"... — said Camilla, proudly.
— Wait... That was real? Those thoughts... That dream? — asked Shiva.
— Of course it was real... Silly! — answered Camilla.
— Argh... This is so confusing... But... I need to do what the HH told me... — said Shiva.
— HH... Head Hunting? That organization didn't exist in my time... — said Camilla.
— Yeah... I don't mean to be rude... But... Could you explain more about this gift? I need to find Snow... He disappeared after last night... — said Shiva.
— Fine, fine... Let's go... "The Only Sight" enhances your perception... To a certain point... I never found its limit... But... I could see vital points... React faster... See the world slower... But I only started developing it at 19... When... I died... So I never truly mastered it... Barely used it properly... — said Camilla.
— That sounds... Amazing... So... Camilla... I need to find Snow... And start my fist training... Today! — said Shiva.
— This kid... — thought Camilla.
A few minutes later...
— SNOW?? Where are you? Did you get lost? — yelled Shiva.
A sound from the bushes... Then... BOOM! Snow jumped on Shiva... But... Something was different...
— What... is this? — asked Shiva.
— Interesting... Seems like you weren't the only one who got a gift... — said Camilla.
— W-what? Wait... Snow... Can you... talk??? Haha... That's awesome! Where were you, Snow? You disappeared after those strange sounds... and the bear... What happened? — asked Shiva.
— I-I... got tired after crawling for so long... Then... I found a bird's nest... Ate the eggs because I was starving... Then... I woke up... Feeling... Strange... There's something in my head... Feels like magic... Strange signals... I don't know... — said Snow, confused.
— That's clearly the Gift of Speech... Not one of the Seven Senses... But something extremely rare in nature... Lucky you, kid... So, Snow... That thing in your head... Feels like magic... But humans call it... Thought... Or reasoning... You'll get used to it... — said Camilla.
— Now that I found you, Snow... Let's drink some water... Then start our training! — said Shiva.
Returning to the lake, Shiva bent down to drink.
— What... is this?! My eyes... They're yellow... And with strange markings... Just like Falyin... The guild leader... — said Shiva, shocked.
— Your eyes look like mine did... Back then... It's a mark that you're a bearer of one of the Seven Senses... It's really flashy... We'll need to hide it later... — said Camilla.
After eating some fruits to regain energy, Shiva returned to the cave.
— We're back... So, Camilla... How should I start my fist training? — asked Shiva.
— I don't know... Punch a tree until your arms almost break... Do push-ups until your muscles tear... That's how you get strong... Isn't it? — said Camilla.
— If I do it like that, I'll just die... But your ideas aren't bad... I'll use them as a start... I'll train like this for 30 days... — said Shiva.
— During this time... I want you to train "The Only Sight" too... It hurts at first... I know... Your eyes hurt now... Your vision blurs... But... If you do what I say... You'll get used to it... — said Camilla.
— I even tried hiding it... But there's no way to hide this from you... Feels like swords stabbing my eyes... — said Shiva.
— It won't last long... Not if you follow my lead... — said Camilla.
— Then let's stop wasting time... LET'S START!
— "The Only Sight" demands a lot from your mind... Especially for a 6-year-old... It'll be hard to fully control it for now... — said Camilla.
— What should I do to control it? — asked Shiva.
— Close your eyes... — whispered Camilla.
Shiva obeyed.
— I want you to focus on the pain... Feel it... — said Camilla.
— Urgh... It hurts too much... — groaned Shiva.
— Don't stop... Keep feeling it... Now... Try to move that pain... Out of your body... It's like expelling magic... — said Camilla.
— Impossible... I've never used magic... — said Shiva.
— Don't say a word... Just keep trying... Control the pain... Push it out... Then... Get used to it... Until it doesn't hurt anymore... — said Camilla.
— Alright... — replied Shiva.
The training lasted 15 days. Shiva trained "The Only Sight" every day... And with each day... The pain lessened.
— Shiva? — called Camilla.
— Yes? — replied Shiva.
— How are your eyes? — asked Camilla.
— Better... Each day hurts less... I'm adapting... — said Shiva.
— Perfect... Now... You're ready to push harder with your fist training... The sooner you start... The sooner you'll feel the true power of "The Only Sight"... — said Camilla.
— Alright, Camilla... I'll do i—
Before Shiva could finish... A huge aura filled the cave.
— What... is this...? — asked Shiva.
A rotten smell filled the air... Something... Awoke inside the cave...
— What's this aura...? — asked Shiva.
Then... A grotesque roar echoed through the surroundings...
RRRUUUUAAAAAHHH!!!