Thrown Into the Wild

In a dim, cluttered office reeking of cigarette smoke, dampness, and old furniture, the air felt suffocating.

"Why did you bring me here? We should be looking for this body’s younger brother first." (Zoah)

Zeke only smiled, a cigarette between his fingers, smoke drifting lazily from his lips.

"Patience, kid. I know what you’re after. But first, you need to learn how to use your power and control it." (Zeke)

Zoah pulled on an oversized coat and plopped onto a dust-covered, messy old sofa scattered with unwashed clothes and leftover food containers. He grimaced at the filth, grumbling:

"Do I really need to know how to use my powers just to meet a kid?" (Zoah)

"You already know it. The memories are in your head now. This world runs on power. Without it, at the very least, you need strength to protect yourself from what’s out there." (Zeke)

From Zeke’s words, Zoah learned they were in the main base of the most powerful peaceful civilization currently remaining – Sky Striker. This civilization was divided into two areas: the residential zone – where non-powered people or those unwilling to fight lived under the protection of Operators (academy members), and the academy zone – where powered individuals were trained like soldiers to learn survival, combat, and teamwork to fight against the NG.

Zeke wanted Zoah to join the academy, not just for training but because without belonging to any civilization, Zoah would be cast out into the free zone – a place teeming with danger. So Zeke was preparing his enrollment documents.

"They call it an academy, but it sounds like it's all about killing each other." (Zoah)

"Exactly. Which is why I want you to survive. It's brutal in there." (Zeke)

"You said I was strong, didn’t you? What’s there to be afraid of?" (Zoah)

Zeke tapped his cigarette on a chipped ashtray. Through the hazy smoke, he looked at Zoah wearily:

"Don’t joke about survival, kid. Even humanity got kicked off the stage. Don’t expect anything to come easy." (Zeke)

Zoah said nothing. He tried to lie down and rest but quickly stood up upon spotting a cockroach crawling on the couch. He searched for a cleaner spot and eventually dozed off.

In his dream, he was once again immersed in the memories of this body. The setting was a castle-like mansion reminiscent of Hogwarts. A black-haired young man – Zoah himself – stood in the yard with a man who, though unfamiliar, radiated warmth and familiarity. In front of them were the man’s wife and a young boy – Zoah's little brother – gleefully playing on a swing. A peaceful, simple moment that tugged at Zoah’s heart.

After a while, Zeke finished the paperwork and gently shook Zoah awake. Zoah stirred, still exhausted:

"You just woke up and fell asleep again?" (Zeke)

"You done?" (Zoah) – he asked, subtly wiping away lingering tears.

"All done. Just follow my instructions now." (Zeke)

Following Zeke’s lead, Zoah exited the underground bunker. Before him stretched a small field of flowers, surrounded by towering trees forming a natural wall. In the distance stood crumbling buildings, overgrown with vines, creating a wild yet majestic sight. Though his body remembered them, seeing it all for the first time left him stunned.

Zeke no longer accompanied him. From this point on, Zoah had to go alone to the academy and submit his documents. Someone there would guide him further.

Scene shift – Zeke stood in a spacious room. Before him was a blonde woman with her hair neatly tied back, dressed in a sharp suit. On the table lay a stack of old documents, some pages stained with coffee. Her golden eyes scanned the entire experiment Zeke had carried out.

"We succeeded with this project. Please, allow me to retire." (Zeke)

The woman didn’t respond. She continued reading. Once finished, she tossed the files onto the table, her gaze cold but her voice calm:

"Well done, Zeke."

Back to Zoah – he had arrived at the academy, received a room, and settled in. The bulletin board outlined the next steps: document submission – confirmation – class placement exam – class assignment with other students. The exam’s content: survival in the ruins of Zerketz.

Even without ever using his power, Zoah had to take part in this brutal test. While other students might be accustomed to combat or power usage, Zoah remained clueless.

Theoretically, someone newly awakened would instinctively know how to activate and use their abilities. But Zoah was different. He couldn’t use his power, despite knowing how.

His ability allowed him to summon weapons from other people’s souls. Every individual had a unique soul, and Zoah could create a weapon based on the nature of that soul – unrelated to their actual abilities. However, Zoah could not summon a weapon from his own soul, requiring a companion with powers. Without someone nearby, he was utterly powerless.

The test, however, forced all examinees to start in random, scattered locations. The chance of Zoah dying before meeting anyone was dangerously high.

Zeke had said nothing about this. Only one sentence now echoed in Zoah's mind:

"When things get tough, improvise. Nothing’s easy in this era." (Zeke)

With no other option, Zoah could only wait and hope.

While waiting, he snuck a few books from Zeke and started reading.

Another interesting detail about this world: guns had long gone extinct. People now only used bows, swords, spears, and the like. Zeke was one of the few who knew about firearms. Zoah’s power was seen as the key to bringing guns back to this era. If successful, humanity would gain a massive advantage over the NG – beings who had no concept of guns, except for their Queen.

In one of the books Zoah read, there was a mysterious concept preserved through generations: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – omens of the end, representing four great calamities: Conquest – Famine – War – Death. The abilities of the Horsemen had not been revealed, but if they fell into the hands of the NG or humans, it would undoubtedly lead to a devastating war.

There was also mention of Witches – entities capable of interfering with the world’s order. Their powers could include manipulating time, space, or even resurrecting the dead. Currently, only one known witch existed. If their unique abilities reached their peak, no force could stand against them.

Both humanity and the NG were desperately seeking to either protect or control the Horsemen and Witches. Even a minor slip could plunge the world into another apocalypse. Gaia, the embodiment of the world’s life force, was in danger. Yet details about Gaia remained elusive.

As for Zoah’s ability, while not the most extraordinary, it was still one of the few successful experiment outcomes.

And then, the day of the test arrived.

When Zoah woke from his long sleep, he saw a clear blue sky, birds soaring past crumbling buildings. He jolted upright, lying on an old bed beneath a modest tree. The ground beneath was cracked cement, overgrown with grass and flowers. All around were ruins, tangled with vines.

Below the bed was a clear puddle of water, reflecting his face. Zoah understood – the entrance exam had officially begun.

"Damn it... They could’ve at least let me brush my teeth first." (Zoah)