After recalling some of his memories, Zephyr's mind did not stop working, thinking of ways to survive.
He was still exhausted, but staying in one place was not wise. An ambush could happen at any moment—that was why moving was the best option.
Zephyr looked left and right, but all he could see was a raging hailstorm and mountainous surroundings in a frozen world.
Enormous trees towered over the land, reaching heights of over a hundred meters. Their deep bark seemed to absorb light itself, their massive leaves carried a deep blue hue, and dark branches extended endlessly in every direction.
Weeds defied logic in this freezing world. For unknown reasons, they thrived and endured in this depraved environment.
There were massive lakes—so vast one might mistake them for oceans. No one knew what lurked beneath their depths, but one thing was certain: any being that approached would die—whether by the strange fog, gargantuan tentacles, or the water itself.
Massive spires stretched as far as the eye could see.
Raging mountains held unexplainable mysteries.
This was a place where hope was nailed to death. Only death awaited the accursed and the unlucky—just like him.
With a bloodied and weakened body, Zephyr walked slowly, trying to avoid being killed outright. He searched for a place to rest and hide, even though he knew there was no such thing as safety here.
Zephyr realized that this trial was a turning point in his life—either he would die, or he would live to tell the tale.
He knew that dozens of trials occurred every day, and the one he was in was just one of many. From miscreants like him to scions of great clans—none could escape the inevitable.
Yet scions had a far greater chance of survival. From a young age, they were trained and polished to their limits.
They had access to knowledge and possessed the mental fortitude to withstand trials.
Someone like Zephyr, however, was destined to fail.
Luck was the only thin thread keeping him alive.
Zephyr could only grit his teeth and face reality.
As he walked, he saw someone dragging a mutilated body.
A being—just like him—who had been brought here for the trial.
Earth was not the only place facing trials. All known beings were undergoing them. Encountering other races was a normal occurrence.
The survival rate of humans was nearly zero. That was why those who survived were hailed as champions.
This also showed the dire situation Earth was facing—isolated and forced to endure the onslaught of beings that threatened humanity's survival.
'What should I do?' he thought.
He knew he couldn't defeat anyone.
Humans were categorized as a lower race—and the being dragging the mutilated body was…
Eight feet tall, with a hulking body and a massive axe strapped to its back.
A Minotaur.
They were known for their brutality and savagery, killing anyone who stood in their way.
Zephyr didn't know what he was supposed to do. A powerless human with no background was bound to die in this accursed land.
The Minotaur turned its head when it saw Zephyr—heavily wounded, an easy target that could be killed with a single strike.
"GROWWWLLL!!!"
The Minotaur growled like a mindless beast. It knew humans were weak and easy prey, so it ignored its own injuries from the previous fight and began charging wildly.
Zephyr forced his body to run. His battered, bloodied form screamed in pain. He knew just how terrible his condition was.
"I can't die here."With bloodshot eyes, Zephyr analyzed his surroundings. He had already noticed that the Minotaur was badly wounded from its previous battle—there was a massive chunk missing from its body.
And because he was human, the Minotaur underestimated him.
A plan quickly formed in his mind.
He may have been weak—but he was no fool. From the very beginning, he had been calculating countless scenarios.
Zephyr didn't realize it, but even as a child, his mind had been abnormal.
He could think faster, plan further, and devise strategies—even in the most unfavorable situations.
That was why he had survived alone for so long.
With his abnormal thinking and the surge of adrenaline from facing death, he began weaving a plan to overcome his first true challenge.
"I don't have any chance of winning this head-on…" Zephyr muttered.
He ran clumsily, stumbling as he moved. He headed toward the massive trees—those accursed trees were the only place where his plan might work.
He ran as fast as he could, but the Minotaur was far too fast.
"Stop your useless struggle, human! Now die!!"
The Minotaur swung its massive axe at Zephyr, intending to kill him instantly.
"Shit… I can't fully avoid this…' he cursed internally.
He barely dodged the strike that could have split him in two, but the force of it sent him stumbling.
'Argh!… I might really die today...'
Fatigue, severe injuries, and the harsh environment were all pushing him to his limits.
The Minotaur's missing chunk of flesh and the deep gashes across its thick skin made its movements sluggish.
That was his only chance.
Zephyr moved closer to the massive trees while being chased. But only God knew how long he could keep this up—he didn't know when his luck would run out.
I can't win through brute strength…
He grabbed a chunk of the withered tree—one of the accursed trees—but immediately regretted it.
The moment he touched it, his hand began turning black and freezing, as if the tree rejected his touch.
But he had no choice it was the only weapon he had.He planned to drive it into the Minotaur's abdomen.
Zephyr lunged forward, aiming to stab the creature—but he failed miserably.
He was thrown aside, coughing blood.
This wasn't some fantasy where the main character wins just because he's clever.
NO!!!
Absolute power ruled this vast and unforgiving world.
Still coughing, Zephyr gripped the chunk of wood and pointed it toward the Minotaur, who slowly approached him.
"Useless effort," the Minotaur hissed, before casually swinging its axe—
Severing Zephyr's arm.
"ARGHHHHHH!!"With bloodshot eyes, Zephyr wondered why his life had turned into hell.
As pain consumed him, memories began to surface—the most important ones he had left.