The world did not return to normal after Andres fell from the Tree of Power.
It returned… different.
His body lay on the ground beneath the ancient tree, shaking lightly.
Not from cold.
Not from fear.
From rewriting.
Inside him, something fundamental was breaking apart and rebuilding at the same time.
His heartbeat was no longer consistent.
His breathing no longer fully under his control.
Even his thoughts felt like they were being "sorted" by something external.
Then the voice came again.
But clearer this time.
[System Synchronization Initiated.]
Andres' eyes snapped open.
"…System?"
The air around him felt heavier.
Like reality itself was paying attention.
[Host anomaly confirmed.]
[Energy intake exceeds biological limit.]
[Reconstruction required.]
Andres tried to move—but his body resisted him.
Not paralysis.
Something worse.
Adjustment.
"…What did I just eat?"
he whispered.
A pause.
Then—
[Tree of Power: Mythical World Core Organism.]
[Function: Reality-stabilized evolution catalyst.]
His eyes widened slightly.
"…Core organism?"
He looked at the glowing fruits still hanging above him.
Eighteen empty spaces now.
Eighteen irreversible choices.
[Standard rule: One fruit per lifetime.]
[Host consumed: 18.]
Silence followed.
Even the forest felt like it stopped breathing.
Then the system continued.
[Outcome: System override triggered.]
[New classification assigned: ANOMALY HOST.]
Andres slowly sat up.
"…Anomaly?"
A new screen appeared in his mind—not visual like a game.
More like instinctual knowledge.
Skills.
18 of them.
Existing inside him like locked instincts waiting to wake up.
But before he could process more—
Something moved in the forest.
Not nearby.
Not far.
Everywhere.
The forest that had been silent before…
was no longer silent.
Low growls echoed between trees.
Eyes began appearing in the darkness.
Green.
Amber.
Red.
Andres slowly stood.
His body still unstable—but functional.
"…So this is the real world."
A creature stepped forward.
Then another.
Then another.
Not random.
Not chaotic.
Territorial convergence.
They had sensed the Tree's energy spike.
And now they were investigating the source.
[Environmental Adaptation Skill Activating…]
Andres blinked.
His breathing slowed slightly.
His senses sharpened.
He could see it now.
Not just monsters.
But patterns.
Movement intent.
Muscle tension.
Attack probability.
"…I can see it…"
he whispered.
The first creature lunged.
Andres didn't think.
He stepped sideways.
Barely avoiding impact.
His body moved smoother than before.
Not trained.
But assisted.
Mind's Eye flickered.
A brief image:
Left attack.
Follow-up bite.
"…Left."
He muttered.
And moved exactly as predicted.
The creature missed.
For the first time—
It hesitated.
That hesitation was all Andres needed.
He grabbed a stone.
And struck.
Not powerful.
Not elegant.
But precise.
The creature collapsed.
Silence returned again.
But not peace.
Understanding.
Andres exhaled.
"…So I survive like this."
Then another system message appeared.
[XP gained.]
[Skill synchronization increasing.]
Andres frowned slightly.
"…XP?"
The system did not answer.
But something inside him clicked.
This world had rules.
And he was now part of them.