Zenith is the name humans gave to a strange phenomenon that began several hundred years ago—an event that forcibly transported people to an unknown world. This marked a turning point in human history and civilization, causing massive global changes. The Earth's landmass expanded, and foreign energy, purer and more potent than nuclear energy, spread throughout the planet, granting living beings supernatural powers or triggering mutations, even affecting plants.
Some individuals aged 12 and above, randomly selected by the Zenith System, experience a strange pull inside their heads. Some describe it as enlightenment, others call it a prophecy or something along those lines.
After receiving a strange notification in their minds, they are soon transported to a mysterious world called Arkais—a realm filled with civilizations reminiscent of history, mythology, and dungeons. A world so strange that it's unclear whether it's a real dimension or some elaborate illusion. But one thing is certain: if you enter and die there, you will never return.
Of those who were pulled into that world during the first wave, over 90% never came back. The result was widespread panic and chaos, exacerbated by the emergence of mutated animals and invaders from that foreign world.
To prevent humanity from going extinct due to rapid population decline, those who survived and returned from Arkais used their supernatural powers to restore peace on Earth. They established a new order, harnessed the use of foreign energy, and trained the population, especially attempting to awaken the powers of children under 12, in hopes of increasing their survival rate both on Earth and in Arkais.
Still, the best resources always go to those with money and power. They receive intensive training, knowledge, and access to the finest energy-condensed weapons, significantly boosting their chances of surviving—and even thriving—after returning from Arkais.
But for kids like Aaron, who had no wealth or status, being sent to Arkais by the Zenith System felt like a death sentence—or, at best, a lottery ticket with a slim chance to change their fate.
Even though the human population had grown substantially over the centuries, commoners like Aaron had little to no chance of surviving due to a lack of support and resources.
For that reason, many people in Aaron's position saw Zenith as the ultimate misfortune: succeed and gain power, or fail and die.
After spinning around and being violently thrown from the black hole, Aaron was tossed about inside a pitch-black place, sustaining serious injuries.
Somehow, a bolt of glowing lightning struck him, illuminating the darkness for a moment.
When the lightning hit him, he felt his body healing rapidly. A tingling sensation spread throughout his body as his internal injuries began to recover and his cuts dried quickly.
"Wow, buddy—you mutated. Congrats on your new power, Patrick!" Aaron said, assuming the only creature that could've helped him in such a dire moment was his dog.
The creature sat just a meter away from Aaron and responded:
"Buddy? Patrick? Since when were we friends? And I'm not Patrick!"
Aaron flinched. He couldn't believe the dog that had just been licking his face had mutated—and worse, the creature had approached from the direction of the blue light.
Still, Aaron desperately wanted to believe it was his dog. If it wasn't, his odds of surviving—especially in his current state—were nonexistent.
Mutated animals are high-tier beasts that have crossed a certain threshold, allowing them to gain human-like intelligence and even speech. That's why they're considered far more dangerous than typical wild animals.
Despite the creature's casual tone and posture, the fact that it wasn't Aaron's pet meant that their encounter could end with Aaron as a snack.
"Hey, what kind of rat are you?" the creature asked, snapping Aaron out of his daze.
"I... I'm not a rat," Aaron stammered, terrified.
"I know! I wasn't talking to you," the creature shot back, its gaze fixed on a large rock behind Aaron.
'Wait, who else is here? I'm the only one—... oh, that cowardly dog! So much for loyalty,' Aaron thought bitterly, finally understanding who the creature was talking to.
"Woof woof woof..."
The dog hiding behind the rock barked repeatedly as if responding to the question. Slowly, it emerged.
"Oh, so you're not a rat... then what are you? And why did you bring your prey into my den?" the creature asked, mistaking the injured Aaron for prey the dog had hunted, as if eating humans wasn't a big deal.
"Woof woof woof..."
The dog and the creature continued chatting while Aaron sat helplessly between them.
How did that feel? Honestly, like being the third wheel between a couple. He was completely ignored.
"Hmph... what a sad fate. Fine!" the creature said, concluding the conversation.
"Hey, you!"
Its booming voice startled Aaron, who was just a meter away.
"You humans... you're all the same! Invaders, cruel, slavers—you disgust me!" the creature growled, anger trembling beneath its words.
Yet its snarling expression betrayed its true nature—despite its calm demeanor, it was still a wild beast at heart.
Cold sweat soaked Aaron's thick fur-lined clothes.
'I will deliver justice for that poor dog-rat hybrid!' the beast thought.
"Any last words before my claw executes you in the name of justice?" it asked, raising one massive paw like an executioner ready to pass judgment.
"I-I know the guilty deserve punishment... but what did I do? I'm not like the humans you're talking about—I've never enslaved anyone!" Aaron cried out, trying to reason despite his creeping paranoia.
"Oh! Instead of apologizing for a painless death, you dare defend yourself?!" the creature roared, louder than ever.
Aaron trembled, unable to feel his legs.
"Fine," the creature said, presenting its "evidence."
It slammed its raised paw into the ground, shaking the cave and pulling Aaron's bag toward it. Lightning surged from its paw, destroying the bag but leaving its contents intact.
"See that meat? You and the rat hunted it together, right? Then why hoard it all for yourself? Why not leave a portion for your little buddy?"
"He tried to claim his share by biting your bag—and that's how both of you ended up here!"
The creature relayed everything it had learned from its conversation with Patrick, Aaron's dog.
'What?! So that's why he followed me? Not because of loyalty?! Damn it! I need to slap whoever said dogs are man's most loyal companion,' Aaron thought bitterly.
Cornered, Aaron's mind raced for a rational explanation—but was quickly interrupted again.
"Woof woof woof..."
"You sure? Maybe he just forgot?"
"Woof..."
"Good point. If not, he should've looked thinner than the human."
Listening to their exchange, Aaron pieced together the conversation through the creature's human-like speech. And the tiger's deduction wasn't wrong—Aaron did look skinnier than his dog, a result of his harsh, lonely life.
Eventually, the beast made its judgment like a courtroom judge.
"Very well! Based on this little rat's testimony, I'll spare you from execution."
"But... if you betray the compassion he's shown today—whether he's right or wrong—I'll hunt you to the ends of the world," the tiger warned, its voice low and threatening.
Weird? Of course. In the animal world, strength is everything. Kill or be killed. There's only one rule: the Law of the Jungle.
So how could this monster... seem more human than a human?