Before Jacob could even blink, a glowing golden prompt unfurled right in front of them, stark and sharper than any of the usual system notifications.
[QUEST TRIGGERED: The Guardian's Challenge]Objective: Survive the Trial of the Guardian.Failure: Immediate termination.Time Limit: 5 Minutes.
Jacob's breath caught in his throat. He could feel Connor tense beside him—closer than anyone else could ever imagine, because they were literally connected.
"…Did you see that?" Jacob whispered, voice tight.
Connor, sharing the same field of view, gave a small nod. "Yeah. I saw it."
"What the hell?" Rowan muttered, catching Jacob's sharp inhale and darting a glance at them.
Before either twin could answer, the ground trembled—not like a mere aftershock, but something deeper, alive, and angry.
Connor's hand twitched—he could feel the vibration running through both of them. "Jacob… that's not normal."
Then, as if to confirm it, the corpse of the Azurefang Strifelion—the beast they thought was finally dead—twitched.
Jacob felt Connor's heart pound against his side. "No way..."
With a grotesque crack, the creature's broken limbs snapped back into place. Thick coils of dark energy wrapped around it, sealing wounds that should've been fatal. Its eyes, once dull, reignited with an eerie blue flame.
[Guardian Trial Phase 1: Revenant Rebirth Initiated.]
"It's coming back," Jacob muttered, voice dry.
Connor swallowed hard. "And it's worse than before..."
The air thickened—ozone and raw mana filled their lungs, sharp enough to sting. Muscles swelled beneath the Strifelion's matted fur, and thick veins pulsed with corrupted energy.
Rowan took a step back, clutching his axe tighter. "I really hate this place."
Connor shifted, glancing sideways at Jacob. "Formation?"
It was like a slap to the face—Jacob forced himself to focus. "Same as before," he rasped. "But this time—no mistakes."
The Revenant threw its head back and let out a roar so loud it rattled the bones in their chest. A shockwave of energy blasted out from its body, hurling wind and force in every direction.
Jacob braced himself, feeling Connor's shoulder press harder against his.
The fight wasn't over.
It was just beginning.
Connor's Revelation
Connor tried to summon a skill—anything—but nothing happened.
[Error: Insufficient Mana.]
His stomach dropped. No mana? Now?
Panic prickled the edges of his mind. But then, a memory surfaced—clear as day. Their first battle together, barely surviving, their legs torn to shreds… and back then, when all seemed lost—they had shared mana.
"Jacob..." Connor whispered, realization dawning.
Jacob, gasping for air, blinked at him.
Connor's voice sharpened. "Remember that skill? The one that linked us—Ethereal Soul Flame Link. You used my mana when you couldn't fight—maybe we can do that again. But this time—link to the beasts!"
Jacob's eyes widened. His hands trembled slightly, but Connor could feel the moment the fear gave way to determination.
"Alright," Jacob breathed. "Here goes nothing."
[Skill Activation: Ethereal Soul Flame Link.]
Jacob reached out and laid a hand on his three beasts. A pulse of warmth and light surged between them.
Connor felt the shift immediately—like a door opening between their souls.
Then the system chimed.
Ding! Skill Unlocked.Ding! Your beasts have leveled up.Ding! Your beasts have leveled up.Ding! Your beasts have leveled up.Ding! Your beasts have leveled up.
Jacob's eyes flicked through the flood of notifications as each beast shot up in power, growing stronger in seconds.
And then—
[Soul Bond Established: Feaquill, Basilisk, Dotilda.]
Something new appeared in Jacob's menu—a section with four names. Three beasts. And a fourth name flickering in and out like a heartbeat.
Connor's name.
"Jacob…"
"I see it," Jacob whispered back, chest rising and falling quickly. "You're in there."
There wasn't time to make sense of it. But something deep down told both of them—they had changed.
Together.
Meanwhile, Rowan watched them both, sweat beading at his temple. His hands gripped his axe so tightly his knuckles went white.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," he muttered to himself.
He cursed under his breath, glancing at the conjoined twins.
Could he run? Could he drag them away?
No. He couldn't leave. He felt it—whatever this "Soul Drift" system had done to bind them, it wasn't just magical—it was personal.
So he stayed.
"…Guess we're in this together," he muttered, planting his feet.
Or were they?
Back at camp, the others stirred as the sound of the beast's roar tore through the night.
Markus' head snapped up.
Jacob.
Lyle was already on his feet, eyes scanning the woods. He hadn't forgotten the last time they rushed in to save those twins. Nate had died that day.
But this time?
Markus's jaw clenched. "Damn it."
"Let's go," Markus barked, grabbing his sword. "He's one of us now."
Lyle hesitated for only a second, then followed, his hand on his bow.
Around them, the camp burst into action—steel flashing in the moonlight, shadows darting between tents as they gathered their gear.
Tension hung thick in the air, like lightning before a storm.
Markus's eyes stayed sharp on the tree line.
"Jacob, Connor... you'd better hold out."
Then—another roar, closer this time.
Crashing through the forest, a figure appeared—a woman with long crimson hair, dancing wildly as she charged straight at the beast, a fury in her eyes that made even the night hold its breath.
Her red hair whipped like fire as she faced down the monster.
And in the distance—Jacob and Connor stood, side by side, fused in body and soul.
Ready to fight.