Similarity

Anthropos felt like he was in a dream, lost in a faraway jungle. 

Lush and flourishing, the forest brimmed with wonders—plants shaped like dragons, their scales shimmering like embers, and towering trees painted in deep purples. Giant, exotic creatures, both awe-inspiring and terrifying, roamed peacefully in this untouched paradise. 

Time passed in the blink of an eye, the sun and moon chasing each other through endless cycles. 

Then, without warning, a monstrous wave crashed onto the plains, shattering the serenity. 

The once-thriving land was swallowed whole, its beauty erased as water devoured everything in its path. In mere moments, the paradise was reduced to a barren wasteland. 

Anthropos stood frozen, his mind reeling as the lush jungle withered away. 

Before he could comprehend, the earth beneath him shifted—vibrant greens fading into golden desolation. Sand stretched endlessly in all directions, and he found himself alone in an ocean of dunes.

After parting ways with the Eternal Rune, his mind was finally clear. No longer trapped in a haze of confusion, memories surged back, sending a chill down his spine. That being—seemingly omniscient and omnipotent—filled his heart with dread, yet an undeniable thrill coursed through his veins. 

"Could I attain such power one day?" 

Just then, the distant sound of hooves echoed across the dunes. 

The shifting sands parted, revealing a caravan—a procession of strange, purple-skinned camels and beings with human fingers but adorned with horns and tails. 

Among them, figures resembling him were bound in chains, their bodies lashed by merciless whips. 

Anthropos buried himself beneath the sand, his breath shallow as he observed the unsettling scene.

Curiosity burned in his gaze as he followed, keeping to the shadows. The caravan led him to a city—an infernal place where devils roamed freely, and those like him suffered in endless torment, reduced to mere slaves beneath their masters' feet.

As he lay low, a flicker of black light appeared before him, twisting and writhing like a living shadow. 

"Oh, human," a voice slithered through the air, silky and insidious. "Do you feel anger toward the one who sent you here? Your fate will be no different from theirs… unless you accept me. With my power, you can change your destiny." 

Anthropos's eyes narrowed. "Power? Can I become as strong as that being?" 

"Yes." 

A fire ignited in his chest, the hunger for strength drowning out hesitation. "Then I accept." 

A low, eerie chuckle echoed in his mind. 

"Jie Jie Jie… Enjoy your power, human."

***

"Hmm?" Leon reached the last page of the book, a frown settling on his face. "That's it?" 

The black flicker of light—it could be related to him. Not to mention, the vision of the Primordial Anthropos was eerily similar to the one he had seen during that strange stage, as if from a third man's perspective. Questions swirled in his mind. 

"Am I really a reincarnation of some being… or am I something else?" 

He shook his head. He was certain he wasn't a reincarnation—after all, he had come from the modern world. Yet, the pieces didn't add up. 

"Sigh… so many questions and no answers." 

With a tired sigh, he lay down on his bed, pushing the thoughts aside. Sleep claimed him swiftly, and for once, he rested peacefully. 

The next morning, he woke early, dressed, and went straight to his training. The crisp air and rhythmic movements cleared his mind. 

When he was done, he wiped his sweat and headed toward his father, a smile on his face.

"What is it?" Alex spoke sternly. 

"Father, can I also hunt animals in the jungle?" 

"Oh?" Alex raised a brow. He had already personally assessed his son's strength, and with Leon's enhanced senses, he was more than qualified to hunt. 

"Alright," Alex said after a moment, "but don't go too deep. You might encounter demons." 

"Yes." 

Leon nodded seriously. His current strength was roughly half that of a ten-strong warrior, even without the aid of natural energy. Of course, this was due to the runes within his body, which had been subtly influencing him since birth.

Soon, father and son stepped out of their home. Alex greeted the villagers stiffly, receiving mixed reactions—some nodded in return, while others merely avoided him. 

At the village gate, an old man sat with a serene expression, his presence calm. 

"Oh, Alex, going hunting again?" 

"Yeah." Alex shrugged casually. "I'm training my son this time, Victor."

"Oh?" Victor's gaze shifted to Leon, and his eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "What a strong young man! You'll surpass your father one day." 

"Haha, enough of that. Let's go, Leon."

"Hmm." 

Leon spared the old man a glance and immediately sensed something unusual. A strange power radiated from Victor, though it wasn't overwhelming. Instead, it was focused—accumulated entirely in his eyes.

As they walked through the forest, Alex suddenly paused. 

"Are you curious about Victor?" 

"Yeah." Leon nodded. It was his first time seeing the old man. When they first arrived in the village, the guard had been a young man in his prime. 

"That guy is a special Ten-Strong Warrior," Alex explained. "But instead of establishing his strength normally by forming a Warrior Heart, he relied on a technique." He shook his head. 

"Anyone can use it, and there's no requirement, but once they do, they can no longer absorb natural energy. Their lifespan drains much faster." 

"I see… wait—" Leon's eyes widened. 

"Hmm." 

Alex simply gave a nod before crouching low, motioning for Leon to follow. They quietly hid in the bushes. 

"I won't help you," Alex said, his tone firm. "Go hunt."

Leon gripped his spear and moved with practiced ease, his breathing steady, his body loose yet ready to strike. 

He stepped forward without a sound. 

What made the Tyrant Emperor Technique so special? Was it simply because it could incorporate other techniques, making it so powerful? 

That was only half true. Its true strength lay in its "adaptability"—it could be applied to anything and everything. 

It was like starting with a blank canvas, a single dot in the center, allowing the artist's creativity to shape the masterpiece. 

Other techniques, in contrast, were like pre-drawn outlines—structured, rigid, requiring only a steady hand to fill them in.

Leon took a few steps forward and casually stabbed into the bush. A sharp squeal followed as a rabbit fell lifelessly to the ground. Without hesitation, he moved like a lizard, scaling a nearby tree with fluid ease. 

From his vantage point, his gaze locked onto a towering cheetah nearly **three meters** tall. 

Even the ordinary beasts of this world were far larger and more muscular than those of his previous life. 

He adjusted his grip on the spear, inhaled steadily, and took another controlled breath. A faint blue vein pulsed from his neck to his face as power surged through his body. 

Swish!

The spear tore through the air in a deadly spiral, the sheer force generating a piercing gust. It struck the cheetah squarely before the beast could even react. 

Thud! 

Blood splattered as the massive creature crashed onto the ground, wailing in agony, its cries echoing through the jungle.