Amidst the forest covered with colossal trees of unimaginable size, their massive branches stretching skyward like pillars holding up the heavens themselves, the human boy walked cautiously behind Bibo.
The massive gorilla carrying the sleeping Kath on his back walked steadily ahead. The air was saturated with the pure scent of nature, and the sounds of strange insects and birds added a mysterious ambiance to this unfamiliar world.
The human boy turned his head left and right, staring at the enormous trees, which were larger than anything he had ever seen. The peculiar plants, some faintly glowing and others moving slowly as if alive, filled him with awe at every step.
"What exactly is going on?" he murmured to himself, but Bibo turned his large head toward him with a light smile and asked, "What do you mean?"
The boy paused for a moment, then continued in a tone filled with wonder, "The trees here are massive, the plants are strange, and you... you talk like a human. And Kath too."
As the boy walked alongside Bibo through the forest of colossal trees, Bibo asked gently, "Does that bother you?"
The boy thought for a moment before replying, "No, it doesn't bother me, but... I don't understand any of these changes that happened to this world. I don't know when or how it happened."
He stopped for a moment, placing a hand on his head as though trying to recall something important, then added with a voice tinged with confusion and sadness, "And I can't remember anything about myself. Not my name, not my family."
Before Bibo could respond, the boy's eyes widened in astonishment as he spotted a large wooden house built atop a gigantic tree. He froze in his tracks, captivated by the sight.
When the young human saw the wooden house built atop the massive tree, his eyes widened in amazement.
The treehouse consisted of six floors, supported not only by the tree itself but also by additional wooden pillars. Ropes and wooden bridges connected it to neighboring trees, making it look like an integral part of the forest.
Beepo, walking with wide, enthusiastic strides toward the house, exclaimed excitedly:
"We've arrived!"
Then, with surprising agility that contradicted his large size, Beepo dashed forward and leaped gracefully, grabbing hold of a dangling rope that hoisted him up to the first floor.
The young human paused at the base of the tree, watching Beepo move like an excited child. His gaze shifted back to the treehouse.
He stared at the wooden structure in awe, then shouted loudly, his voice filled with excitement, a wide grin spreading across his face, and his eyes sparkling with wonder:
"This is incredible! You built this?!"
Beepo, his face beaming with pride, let out a hearty laugh that made his shoulders shake as he replied:
"Yes! Isn't it amazing? Ha ha ha!"
Unable to contain his excitement, the boy grabbed one of the ropes extending toward the treehouse and began climbing it himself.
Once he reached the first floor and stepped into the wooden house, the sight before him was a curious blend of simplicity and uniqueness. The furniture looked handmade, with a large sofa covered in animal hides, wooden tables, and chairs that seemed carved directly from tree trunks.
But what truly caught the young man's attention were the items that seemed to belong to a completely different era.
There was an old refrigerator with peeling white paint, a stove with round metallic knobs, and a dusty, square-faced television connected to a gaming console that looked like one of the earliest models ever made.
The young man approached the gaming console, running his fingers across its dusty surface, and exclaimed in astonishment:
"This... a gaming console? Does it still work?"
Beepo grinned widely as he gently placed the still-unconscious Kath onto the couch.
"Of course! Kath and I enjoy it whenever we take a break. It's old but still a lot of fun!"
The young man sat on the couch, trying to process everything around him. He looked curious and puzzled but decided to focus on getting some answers. Beepo sat cross-legged on the floor in front of him, chewing loudly on a large piece of lettuce, with a large platter of vegetables and fruits placed between them.
Speaking with his mouth half-full, Beepo asked:
"Alright, what do you want to know?"
The young man looked at Beepo, hesitating briefly before replying:
"I want to know... what happened to this world? How did it end up like this?"
Sitting on the couch, the young man watched Beepo attentively as the gorilla finished his bite of lettuce with a satisfied crunch, then began recounting the tale:
"A long time ago, Earth was attacked by strange creatures. Human armies were defeated bit by bit, and humanity's numbers started to dwindle drastically."
Beepo paused to swallow his food, then continued:
"But then, suddenly, all living creatures began to change. Humans and animals alike gained strange abilities and extraordinary strength. With these transformations, we managed to defeat the invaders. After many years, the world split into tribes and kingdoms—like the Kingdom of Lynos—where transformed humans and animals now live together. The end."
Beepo finished his explanation with an air of casual finality, then grabbed another piece of lettuce and popped it into his mouth, munching contentedly.
The young man blinked several times, his mouth partially open in shock at Beepo's story, while the latter continued chewing his piece of lettuce with serene nonchalance.
Beepo looked at the young man, puzzled by his reaction, and asked casually, "What?"
The young man stared at Beepo for a moment before raising his voice, flustered:
"What? What do you mean, what? That's it?"
He threw his hands into the air, exasperated, and exclaimed in a frustrated tone:
"You're telling me the planet was attacked, human armies were defeated, humanity almost disappeared, and then suddenly everything transformed and that's just the end of the story? That's your complete explanation?"
Beepo raised an eyebrow, tilted his head slightly, and replied coolly while still chewing, "Yep, that's all I know. The story's clear, and the result is we're here now."
The young man slapped his hands together and shook his head in clear frustration.
"This... this is unbelievable. Could you possibly be more vague than this?!"
Beepo grinned widely and said, "How about I tell you how Kath and I found you?"
The young man sighed and nodded, his curiosity piqued. Beepo started explaining, gesturing animatedly as though recreating the scene.
The young man's expression shifted to one of astonishment.
"So, you're saying you found me... underground? In a capsule?"
Beepo nodded in confirmation, while the young man fell silent, lost in thought.
"I need to go back there..." he murmured, before his tone grew firmer.
"There might be answers about me... and about what happened to this world."
******************************************
In the depths of the forest, beneath the towering shadows of colossal trees and the heavy silence, the young man with unnatural eyes stood still. His eyes bore three interlocking circles surrounded by three parallel lines on each side, glowing faintly. Around him lay the remains of monsters, some torn apart, others with shattered bones, as though a destructive storm had swept through.
In front of him floated a translucent energy screen, displaying glowing text: "Level Up Achieved." Next to it, the number 11 appeared beside his progress bar.
The young man studied the data on the screen with a cold and unflinching gaze:
Strength: 10
Speed: 5
Defense: 5
Energy: 10
Raising his steady hand, he tapped on the "Strength" attribute. The number flashed momentarily before shifting to 11. The screen then faded gradually, dissolving into the air like mist.
Without looking back or showing a hint of hesitation, the young man turned and began walking forward. His steps were firm and deliberate, radiating a sense of unwavering determination, as if he had a clear goal in mind—one he would not stop pursuing until he achieved it.