"He didn't even finish his words…"
Amon lay sprawled at the threshold of the hut. His body was half-folded, one arm limp against the mossy ground, and his breath—if any remained—was like the final whisper of a soul on the verge of surrender.
Brama froze for several seconds. His eyes scanned the man's body—tattered clothes soaked in blood, a large gash on his right shoulder, and his left leg bent unnaturally. But the wounds weren't what disturbed him most. Not the blood. Not the near-death state. No—
It was the absence of a system message.
No danger warning.
No quest notification.
No info on a new challenge.
"System," Brama muttered flatly. "Is this part of the trial?"
> "No event or mission detected. Subject is not listed as an enemy."
Brama frowned. Eyes narrowed. His body tense.
"...Not an enemy. He's… human."
His body moved on reflex. Knees bent. He crouched beside Amon. His expression was razor-sharp—but his actions, deeply human: he moved to save a life.
Years of experience as a battlefield general had not only taught him how to kill, but—more importantly—how to prevent death from arriving too soon.
Step one: stabilize the victim.
1. Brama snapped a thorny shrub, stripped the spikes, and fashioned a makeshift splint using a long root he'd found nearby. Amon's swollen left leg was bound swiftly, precisely, and firmly.
2. He gathered large shield-leaves—often used to fend off tropical forest rains—and created a breath-layer, gently placing it over Amon's face to allow airflow while warding off insects and airborne contaminants.
3. He dug up deep-rooted herbs, squeezed their sap, and applied it to open wounds. The liquid released a pungent scent—like vinegar and iron. Natural antiseptic. It would sting viciously, but Amon was unconscious. Perhaps a blessing.
4. Major wounds were wrapped using fibers from the kabuh tree—a tough plant similar to reeds, with strong adhesion and no skin irritation. Brama tore strips from the inner bark and wrapped them like a field medic.
5. He gathered rocks from the highlands nearby, heated them over a quickly-made fire outside the hut, and placed them near Amon's body to regulate his core temperature.
6. Lastly, he hung black marak leaves above the door and windows. These plants were known to repel flesh-eating insects capable of detecting human blood from dozens of meters away.
The entire process took nearly an hour.
No words.
No interruptions.
Only movement. Instinct. And the belief that a life in front of him was worth saving—no matter who the man was.
Once it was done, Brama carefully lifted Amon's body—like a brother carrying a wounded sibling from the battlefield—and laid him inside the hut.
Brama sat cross-legged in the corner of the room. Moonlight crept in through the gaps in the roof. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting his thoughts sink.
Then he asked:
"System. How much EXP do I need to level up?"
> Displaying Symbiotic Path – Initial Stage:
Stage: Initial Symbiosis
Current Level: 1 – Spiritual Binding
Total EXP: 1,520
Next Level: 2 – Breath Synchronization
EXP Required: 10,000
Remaining: 8,480 EXP
Brama opened his eyes and stared at the broken ceiling. The night wind slipped in, teasing.
Ding
Level-up Progression:
1 – Initial Symbiosis Stage
Lv 0 to Spiritual Binding: 1,000 EXP
Spiritual Binding to Breath Synchronization: 10,000 EXP
Breath Synchronization to Energy Adjustment: 20,000 EXP
Energy Adjustment to Soul Resonance Stage: 50,000 EXP
2 – Soul Resonance Stage
Lv 0 to Aura Spark: 20,000 EXP
Aura Spark to Harmonized Wave: 40,000 EXP
Harmonized Wave to Vibration Unity: 80,000 EXP
Vibration Unity to Soul Merge Stage: 200,000 EXP
3 – Soul Merge Stage
Lv 0 to Partial Manifestation: 200,000 EXP
Partial Manifestation to Duality Link: 400,000 EXP
Duality Link to Soul Shadow: 800,000 EXP
Soul Shadow to Energy Evolution Stage: 2,000,000 EXP
4 – Energy Evolution Stage
Lv 0 to Instinctive Regeneration: 1,000,000 EXP
Instinctive Regeneration to Blood Adjustment: 10,000,000 EXP
Blood Adjustment to Biological Enhancement: 20,000,000 EXP
Biological Enhancement to True Union Stage: 50,000,000 EXP
5 – True Union Stage
Lv 0 to Twin Souls: 20,000,000 EXP
Twin Souls to Perfect Symbiosis: 40,000,000 EXP
Perfect Symbiosis to Soul Transcendence: 80,000,000 EXP
"Three thousand more… and that's just for one level. This road is long."
But a slight smile formed on his lips. Not of triumph. But resolve. The same kind he wore on the last day of Fort Meleter—when all others had given up.
The sky wasn't yet fully lit when a soft cough broke the silence.
Brama immediately perked up but didn't move rashly. He turned slowly. Amon—the man who had nearly died at his doorstep—was now half-sitting. His face pale. Eyes red. But alive.
"Don't force yourself," Brama said, his voice low but firm. "Let your body heal on its own."
Amon forced a thin smile and laid back down. His hands trembled, but they were not weak.
"Thank you… brother. I'm sorry… I lack the strength… to repay your kindness."
Brama shook his head. "No need for formality. My name is Brama."
A moment of silence passed. Amon stared at the dilapidated ceiling of the hut, then said, more calmly:
"I'm Amon. We were… attacked. Someone we trusted slaughtered all my companions. I… I don't know why I was left alive. But when I awoke… I was already in this forest…"
His sentence stopped short. The air grew heavier.
Brama simply looked at him.
"Betrayal from someone you trusted… that's a wound that never heals. Time won't save you from it. Trust me… I know how it feels."
Amon turned sharply. His eyes changed.
"Have you… been betrayed too?"
Brama didn't answer. But his gaze said enough.
Amon hadn't fully fallen asleep when Brama resumed his meditation, breath steady, diving deep into cultivation. Through nearly shut eyelids, he observed the man quietly.
Something bothered him. Not the wounds—they were treated with greater skill than expected from a stranger. Not the hut—too clean, too conveniently placed in the middle of the forest.
What unsettled him… was the aura.
Brama's aura wasn't like that of an average practitioner.
At times, it was barely there. Faint. As if he were still in Initial Symbiosis Level 1—or hadn't even started yet. But at other moments, it pulsed. Briefly massive, then vanished again. Like something inside him—something restrained not by limitation… but by deliberate force.
"That kind of energy… doesn't belong to an ordinary man." Amon murmured internally.
He looked away—only then noticing the bird.
Beside Brama sat a majestic creature. Its wings curled like calm fire. Feathers of crimson-gold shimmered softly in the dark. Its eyes were closed, breath matching Brama's—rhythmic, deep, almost perfect.
A Garuda. But not just any Garuda.
"A rare soul beast…" Amon whispered. Even in his sect—known for its exotic beasts and ancient techniques—he had never seen one like this. "It's not tame… and doesn't follow the usual fighter paths. This—this is a Sky Garuda."
His eyes narrowed.
"He… isn't a normal disciple. Maybe… he's not just a regular cultivator either."
Amon tried recalling the details. Brama's energy was too well-hidden. But somehow, this man knew advanced battlefield medical techniques—something few non-military men could replicate.
And the Garuda—it lacked the usual spiritual leash found in sect-trained beasts. No energy was flowing from Brama into the creature. Instead… they were one.
A complete symbiosis…? No. It's deeper…
Amon closed his eyes again. But his mind refused peace.
"If they're truly united like that… and their auras align naturally… then either their soul bond is unbelievably strong… or their cultivation technique is extraordinary."
He'd once overheard whispers among the elders—rumors of something called Primordial Symbiosis. A bond so rare it emerged once in a thousand years—where beast and human didn't just support each other… but became one.
"But if that's true… why is he here?"
He stared at the roof.
"Was he exiled? Hidden? Or… waiting for the right time to rise?"
In the other corner of the room, Brama sank deeper into reflection.
He let his body merge with his breath. Chest rising and falling. Slow. Deep. He felt the breath of the Garuda beside him. Ruda. Friend. Symbiosis. Weapon.
"This path isn't about becoming strong. It's about surviving… so you can continue to lead."
The night passed slowly. Wind slipped softly through broken thatch. In the distance, nocturnal creatures echoed faintly—but none dared approach.
Amon finally drifted to sleep—a restless sleep, but enough to survive.
Brama remained in seated meditation.
Until, at last, the sun rose.
The land of Arunika… had opened its eyes.