Yusko, who had just arrived in the Soul World, quickly realized that he was suspended between life and death. A trial awaited him—a test set by the mysterious Council of Souls. If he passed, he could return to the world of the living. However, he had no idea what would happen if he failed.
For now, those concerns were meaningless. He had a more immediate problem. A massive bird stood before him, its predatory gaze locked onto him. It was only a matter of time before he was torn apart and fed to its offspring.
Suddenly, the bird's demeanor changed. Its head jerked upward, scanning the sky, as if it sensed an intruder within its territory. A powerful force had entered the area, something strong enough to make even this colossal beast wary. Without warning, the bird spread its vast wings and took to the sky. Then, in an instant, it multiplied—one became a thousand, filling the air like a living storm.
A shiver ran down Yusko's spine. A dangerous presence had emerged nearby. He turned his gaze toward another towering tree, where an enormous python coiled around a thick branch, its unblinking eyes fixed not on him, but on the three eggs nestled in the bird's nest.
The standoff lasted only a moment before the battle began.
With a screech, the mother bird lunged, talons extended. The python struck just as fast, launching itself at the avian giant. Claws met fangs in a clash of survival and desperation.
Yusko knew this was his chance to escape. As he calculated his options, an unexpected sound halted him in his tracks.
Crack.
His eyes darted toward the nest. The eggs were hatching.
The two warring predators also noticed. The mother bird's eyes glistened with raw emotion—joy at her children's birth. But the snake was cunning. It took advantage of her distraction and sank its fangs deep into her throat.
SCREEEEECHHH!
The bird's agonized cry echoed through the forest, but she did not retreat. Summoning the last of her strength, she latched onto the python's neck and, with a final, desperate motion, snapped it in two.
The python fell limp, its lifeless body dangling from the tree. The battle was won—but the victory came at a price. The venom had done its work. The mother bird's strength waned, her massive form trembling as she collapsed into the nest.
The newly hatched chicks chirped weakly, unaware of the tragedy unfolding around them. Yusko stood frozen, his mind racing. He needed to find something—anything—to ensure his own survival. His hands frantically searched the nest, seeking a weapon, a tool, anything to aid him.
Then a dark thought surfaced in his mind.
Why hadn't he considered this before?
His heart pounded as he moved. He raised his foot and kicked one of the eggs out of the nest. It tumbled through the air and shattered upon the ground below, its blood spreading across the forest floor.
SCREEEEECHHH!
The dying mother's final scream pierced his soul.
For a mother, there is no greater agony than watching her children die while being powerless to stop it. But for Yusko, there was no other choice. His will to survive outweighed his conscience.
A second egg followed. Tears blurred his vision, but he did not stop. He knew the pain she felt. He understood it. And yet, he continued.
He kicked the third egg. This time, his footing failed him. The edge of the nest was unstable, and he slipped.
He plummeted from the nest, hitting the ground below with a sickening thud. The mother bird took her final breath as darkness consumed Yusko's vision.
Then, something strange happened.
From the corpses of the python, the mother bird, and the shattered eggs, small orbs of light emerged. The python's orb was medium-sized, the mother bird's was significantly larger, and the eggs each produced smaller ones. The glowing spheres drifted toward Yusko, merging with his unconscious body. His wounds began to close, his broken bones mending as a mysterious force rejuvenated him.
Two figures materialized beside him, observing him with satisfied expressions.
The first man smirked. "You passed the test, brat. Now you can be one of us."
With that, he hoisted Yusko onto his shoulder and vanished.
When Yusko woke, he found himself in a place resembling an infirmary. The soft scent of herbal medicine lingered in the air. As he sat up, he noticed a woman standing nearby. She was stunning, her long hair cascading down her shoulders, and she wore a black uniform similar to the others but draped with a flowing blue robe.
The moment she saw him awake, she clapped her hands. Almost immediately, the two men from before entered the room and motioned for him to follow.
They led him to a vast, coliseum-like chamber, where hundreds of people gathered, watching him with interest. Yusko swallowed hard. This was no ordinary place.
Then, a deep, resonant voice filled the stadium.
"Yusko, a normal human, suspended between life and death. The Council of Souls has reached a decision: you shall return to your world."
Yusko exhaled in relief.
"But there is a condition."
His body tensed. "And what is that?"
The voice reverberated through the chamber, carrying a weight of finality.
"You must be chosen by a Prime Seed."