The smell of damp earth filled Itsuki's lungs as he stirred awake.
Sunlight pierced through the canopy above, warm against his face. For a long moment, he simply lay there, staring at the endless green stretching into the horizon.
So it wasn't a dream…
The memory of the afterlife god's words burned fresh in his mind. Creation. Adaptation. A second chance to live not as a nobody, but as someone who could shape his own world.
Itsuki slowly sat up. His clothes were no longer the tattered ones from Earth; he now wore a simple black tunic with leather straps, sturdy boots, and a cloak. On the ground beside him lay two objects:
A thick tome bound in silver chains, glowing faintly the Codex of Creation.
A sword in a plain sheath, its grip unfamiliar in his hands.
When his fingers brushed the cover of the codex, it pulsed like a heartbeat. Letters shimmered across the first page:
[Creation Authority recognized.]
State your design, and it shall be brought forth.
His heart skipped. "So… I just think of something and it appears?"
He glanced around. The forest was dense, shadows crawling between the trees. Already, faint growls echoed nearby.
"…A dagger. Something light."
The book's pages flipped on their own. Light swirled from the air, shaping into steel. In his hand appeared a perfectly balanced dagger.
Itsuki grinned. "This… this is insane."
But before he could admire it longer, a rustle broke his focus. From the undergrowth, glowing red eyes emerged. A wolf, twice the size of a normal one, bared its fangs and lunged.
Instinct screamed at him to run. But something inside him pulsed—the Mark of Adaptation burned on his chest. His grip tightened on the dagger.
"Fine. Let's test this power."
The wolf snapped its jaws, and Itsuki barely sidestepped, his body moving clumsily but faster than expected. His arm lashed out, striking the beast's shoulder. The blade grazed, not deep—but enough to draw blood.
A flood of information rushed through him: the weight of the wolf's body, its rhythm, the way its hind legs coiled before leaping.
I… understand it?
The wolf circled back, but this time, Itsuki was ready. He ducked low, pivoted, and drove the dagger into its side. The beast let out a final yelp before collapsing.
He stood over the body, panting, his hands trembling—not from fear, but exhilaration.
"…So this is Adaptation. Each fight makes me stronger."
He wiped the blade clean on the grass. Already, his movements felt sharper, more natural. His body was learning.
Just as he caught his breath, a voice rang out from the trees:
"Who… who are you?"
Itsuki turned sharply. From the shadows stepped a young woman—tall, slender, with long silver hair that shimmered like moonlight. A bow was slung across her back, and her emerald eyes locked onto him with wary suspicion.
An elf.
She raised an arrow, notching it in one smooth motion. "Humans do not belong this deep in the forest. Answer me, outsider—why are you here?"
Itsuki swallowed, raising his hands slowly. "Wait—I'm not your enemy. I'm… just trying to survive."
The elf's eyes narrowed. She glanced at the slain wolf, then back at him. Something flickered in her gaze—surprise, maybe even respect.
"You killed that beast… on your own?"
"…More like I got lucky," Arion admitted with a sheepish grin.
Her arrow lowered, though her stance remained guarded. "Few adventurers dare enter this place. Either you're a fool… or someone with hidden strength."
Itsuki's lips curled into a small smile. "Maybe a bit of both."
The girl studied him for a long moment, then sighed. "…Very well. My name is Lyra. If you wish to live here, you'd best learn quickly. This forest devours the weak." Itsuki's heart stirred at her words. Then I'll just build a place where the weak don't have to fear anymore.
As Lyra turned, beckoning him to follow, he clenched his fist.
The god had given him two powers. And now, in this strange world, he had already found his first ally.
The forest of beginnings… was where his kingdom would be born.