Rio returned to the massive tree, intending to climb back to the apex. But before he could reach the top, his eyes caught something bizarre resting upon one of the broad leaves.
It was a lingering soul.
"What in the world is that?!"
Rio couldn't understand it. Overcome by bewilderment, he drew closer to investigate.
Upon closer inspection, he noticed a newborn infant resting on the surface of the leaf. It was as if the leaf itself was projecting the child's entire life from the exact moment of its birth. Not wanting to dwell on it, Rio shook his head and continued his ascent.
But as he climbed higher, he noticed that almost every single leaf on the giant tree was displaying the life of a human, a monster, or some other living creature from inception. Out of sheer curiosity, he plucked one of the leaves. Instantly, a person somewhere far away dropped dead, as if their very existence had been fundamentally tied to that single leaf.
Astonished, Rio pressed forward. He caught a falling leaf mid-air and looked closely. Inside it, he saw a man dying, followed by a cinematic reel of his entire life flashing across the surface—every skill he had mastered, every memory, and everything he had ever known.
"Seriously... what is happening here?!" Rio muttered, millions of questions racing through his mind. "These things were definitely not here before!"
Using his flight, he soared straight to the top of the canopy and finally reached the dragon hatchling. He immediately recounted the strange events to the creature.
Then, looking down at the small dragon, he gave it a proper name: "Rin... that will be your name from this day onward."
The small dragon began to happily circle around Rio, flying in joyful loops. Rio smiled back at him, but his mind remained heavily preoccupied with the bizarre anomalies below.
Night fell, and Rin eventually drifted off to sleep.
Unlike the dragon, Rio found himself completely unable to rest, his mind spinning with unanswered questions.
"I can't sleep... I really need to know what those things are. I'm going back down right now."
Driven by curiosity, he descended back into the lower branches.
Stopping before one of the glowing leaves, he commanded his system to analyze and explain the phenomenon. The System responded promptly:
[Analysis Complete: The leaves of this tree have begun to embody the lives of all living creation from birth until death. These leaves are intrinsically linked to the life force of every creature on this planet. If a leaf falls, that person perishes. You may consider them the physical manifestation of their souls.]
Rio stood frozen, entirely unable to comprehend the sheer scale of it.
He approached another leaf and gently brushed it with his fingertips. It felt cold to the touch, yet it radiated a strange, comforting warmth beneath the frost. The whispers of countless souls filled the heavy air, turning the canopy into a forest of echoing voices. The wind blew softly, rustling the leaves in a gentle melody. It was a beautiful yet haunting harmony, accompanied by the overwhelming sensation that millions of invisible eyes were watching his every move.
Reaching out, he took a small petal and tore it apart.
The moment he did, the petal began to bleed, dripping crimson as if it could feel physical pain. A distant, agonizing shriek echoed through the silence. The petal he had severed belonged to a living soul, and by tearing it, he had simultaneously ripped both their spirit and physical body apart.
A heavy wave of regret and guilt washed over Rio. He wanted to undo the damage, but...
The System violently interrupted his thoughts:
[WARNING!! An anomalous presence detected. A highly dangerous entity that cannot be defeated is approaching. User is advised to exercise extreme caution.]
[WARNING!!!!!]
In a single fraction of a second, the system fired off dozens of red hazard alerts and danger notifications, fully operational and frantic, as if an absolute catastrophe was about to unfold.
Rio wanted to speak, but the words caught in his throat.
Turning with absolute caution, he gripped his sword tightly and assumed a defensive stance. A violent shudder ran down his spine. The sheer weight of the entity's presence was so suffocating that it felt as though darkness itself had suddenly swallowed the world.
In that terrifying moment, he completely forgot about the soul he had just inadvertently destroyed. The overwhelming pressure radiating from one specific leaf was so clear and heavy that it felt as if it was pushing directly against his chest.
Driven by instinct, he moved toward it and peered inside. There, he saw a man.
"This person... he must be monstrously powerful." Sweat dripped down Rio's face from the sheer terror of the man's aura.
Unable to look away, Rio began to watch the man's every move. The stranger was forging a sword, but it was no ordinary weapon. The blade emitted a hidden, terrifying power; its steel was pitch-black, and its razor-sharp edges possessed a hauntingly beautiful aesthetic—as if it had been meticulously crafted from the fangs of a vampire, stained with dried blood.
Fascinated, Rio spent the entire week observing the man without a single moment of boredom. As the weeks passed, Rio managed to learn several profound techniques just by watching his craftsmanship.
"Thank you, stranger," Rio muttered quietly, feeling genuinely grateful to the unknown swordsman.
A sudden idea struck Rio. He realized that if he spent his time observing all kinds of people through these leaves, he could easily acquire an infinite amount of knowledge, abilities, and advanced sciences.
He began to vividly imagine it: what if a fruit grew from the branches of this very tree, representing the collective knowledge, skills, and histories of all creation from birth to death? If someone were to consume that fruit, they would instantly inherit immeasurable wisdom, unique abilities, immense power, and raw energy.
Rio was merely visualizing the concept as a passing joke, completely forgetting that he possessed a literal system capable of altering reality.
In an entirely different realm, a young woman sat quietly on the edge of a shoreline. Her golden hair cascaded down her back like a shimmering curtain of light. Nothing of her face was visible save for her mouth and her striking silhouette.
She gazed up toward the heavens and whispered softly:
"The request has been granted."
The next morning, Rio woke up feeling unusually refreshed and energized.
He stretched his limbs on his bed and rubbed his eyes, only to find Rin casually munching on an apple nearby.
"Rin, what are you eating? Is that an apple?"
Rio looked at him in confusion, knowing perfectly well that there were no apple trees anywhere near their immediate surroundings. But true to his usual nature, he didn't dwell on it, assuming the small dragon had simply found it while wandering around.
Suddenly, his stomach growled loudly, a sharp pang of hunger hitting him.
"I haven't eaten anything since yesterday. I need to go find some food."
Slipped into his coat, he turned to the dragon before leaving: "I'm heading out, Rin. Watch over the place."
He set off toward one of the nearby human cities. Before entering the perimeter, he altered his physical appearance completely to ensure that no one would recognize him as the prince of the kingdom.
When Rio stepped into the city, he found it bustling with life, packed with people and vibrant markets stretching in every direction. Amazed by the sheer energy of the place, he decided to explore the area first before finding a place to eat.
As he strolled through the crowded streets, a blacksmith's weapon shop caught his attention. Intrigued, he didn't hesitate and pushed the door open.
The shop door creaked as he entered.
"Welcome... how may I assist you today, sir?" a young store clerk greeted him warmly.
"Show me the absolute best sword you have."
The clerk looked at him in surprise, instantly assuming Rio was a wealthy nobleman. In reality, Rio didn't have a single coin to his name.
The blacksmith proudly presented their finest, highest-grade blade, but Rio found it completely lacking. Disappointed, he left the shop. After a moment of thought, he decided it was time to head back home.
But before making his return journey, he stealthily stole some food to satisfy his hunger.
Flying back into the dense forest, Rio finally arrived at the massive tree. But to his absolute shock, a human figure was sitting calmly on his branch. Stranger still, the person possessed majestic wings that perfectly mirrored Rin's own wings.
Rio's mind reeled in confusion. He stepped forward slowly, making his footsteps entirely silent.
"Who's there?" Rio demanded.
The figure didn't offer a single word in response.
Taking a few more cautious steps forward, Rio noticed that the stranger's skin was covered in the exact same dark scales as Rin.
Instantly, Rio's eyes went completely dark with rage. He launched himself forward in a furious attack, entirely convinced that this intruder had slaughtered Rin, harvesting his scales and wings to wear them as a grotesque twisted trophy.
Yet, the figure remained perfectly still and calm, exuding the serene composure of an ancient sword master.
He casually cast a neutral glance over his shoulder toward the oncoming strike. With absolute ease, he caught Rio's descending blade using nothing more than two fingers.
"What!!!??"
Shocked to his absolute core, Rio executed a swift backflip, retreating several paces to create some distance.
The figure finally spoke, his voice calm and familiar: "Rio, what is wrong with you? It's me, Rin."
Rio stared at him, his jaw dropping: "Rin???!! What? What in the world happened to you?"
To be continued...