WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ME?

Yusko wakes up again, but this time, something feels different. In front of him stand two figures, each gripping red guns in their hands. They stare at him with piercing eyes and say in unison, "Welcome! Welcome to the Soul World."

Confusion floods Yusko's mind. Soul World? What did that even mean? And now that he thinks about it—was he even alive? Or... was he dead? His memories blur, chaotic and fragmented. First, his uncle had tried to kill him. Then something happened—something he couldn't recall—and suddenly, he was in another world. He had believed it was a fanfiction-like scenario, where he would become an overpowered character, but he was wrong. Hikaru had been the true regressor, and Yusko had simply been swept along by fate. Just when he thought things were finally stabilizing, he had learned about the meteoroid. But that wasn't the end. His life had reset once again, spiraling into another mystery he could not comprehend. He had been thrown into an old world—one where Hikaru, Aoi, and Rin did not exist. He had thought he was free from the anime world, that he could finally live a normal life. Yet even in this world, power lurked in the shadows. He had tried to avoid it, to carve out a peaceful existence. But no—nothing in this cursed reality ever went according to his plan.

If only he could control his destiny. If only he could alter his fate...

Yusko clenched his fists in frustration, his voice erupting into the silence. "If I could change fate, the first thing I'd do is make myself immortal!"

The two men exchanged glances before one of them chuckled.

"Lad, what are you talking about? You're already immortal."

Yusko's eyes widened. "Huh? What do you mean?"

The second man stepped forward. "You can only enter this world when you're caught between life and death. Right now, your soul is here, but your body isn't. The Council decides whether you return to the living or not."

The first man nodded. "And since you're a soul now, technically, that makes you immortal—at least for the time being."

Yusko's heart pounded. "So you're saying... I haven't died yet? That means I still have a chance to live, right?"

The first man shrugged. "Maybe. That depends on whether you pass the exam given by the Council. Fail, and well... you'll find out what happens."

The second man clapped his hands. "Alright, no more questions. We're running late. Let's go."

Before Yusko could react, the first man grabbed him by the collar and leaped into the air. They soared above the vast landscape, passing over a dense jungle.

Screeech!

A piercing cry jolted Yusko out of his thoughts. His eyes darted forward—there, looming in front of them, was a massive red bird with glowing eyes. Its wings stretched wide, casting a menacing shadow over them. Before Yusko could even process what was happening, the first man aimed his gun at the creature and barked, "TROWSER!"

The weapon shifted into a sleek, white handgun. With a single shot, a glowing bullet streaked through the air, striking the bird dead-center. The creature let out a final screech before plummeting to the ground.

Yusko gaped. "What was that?!"

"A monster," the first man replied. "A Soul Monster."

"And what exactly is that?"

The second man sighed impatiently. "We don't have time for explanations. If you pass the exam, you'll learn everything you need to know."

Before they could move forward, another screech echoed through the air—then another, and another. The sky darkened as thousands of winged beasts emerged from the jungle, their eyes gleaming with predatory hunger.

Yusko's stomach twisted. "What's going on?!"

The second man hissed. "Tsk! A Seed Eater swarm!"

Yusko wanted to ask more, but he instinctively knew this was not the time.

Suddenly, one of the creatures swooped down, claws extended. Yusko barely had time to react before he felt the grip on his collar loosen.

He was falling.

"AHHHHHH!"

Wind roared past his ears. His heart pounded against his ribs as he spiraled downward. Just as he braced for impact, something snatched him mid-air. Talons dug into his clothes, lifting him swiftly away.

It was one of the birds.

Yusko struggled, but its grip was too strong. Within minutes, he found himself deposited in a massive nest, surrounded by five large eggs, each trembling as if about to hatch.

Realization dawned on him.

This bird had brought him here—to feed him to its young.

Anger flared in Yusko's chest. Was he seriously about to become a meal for a bunch of baby birds? Of all the ways to die in this insane world.

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."