Dawn broke with golden light touching the treetops. While the world seemed to have just woken up, I had passed a night without sleep.
I sat, leaning against a large boulder, my body smeared in dried blood and shards of mutant beast flesh. The ground around me was scarred wounded from an endless battle.
All the creatures that took part in that insane "selection"... were dead and I don't know how much it is.
But because I knew no fatigue. I didn't need sleep. I had no stamina to run out. That was the advantage of being undead. I could keep fighting until the whole world ran out of enemies.
"Ugh... finally some silence." I rested my head on the rock, letting the morning wind sweep across my cold face.
But that peace didn't last long.
The sound of giant wings tore through the sky, creating air pressure that made the leaves tremble. I looked up—and just as I thought, the eagle had returned.
With a body roughly five meters tall and a wingspan possibly over ten meters, it landed without a sound. The aura flowing from its body was so intense, it sent a chill down my spine—despite me no longer having a human nervous system.
It stared at me for a moment... then smiled.
Its voice was deep and heavy, yet oddly calming. As if it wasn't a beast speaking to me... but something far older and wiser.
Before I could ask what it meant, its massive claw reached out and gently lifted me.
"...Huh? Wait... don't just lift me up again like that!" I protested, but as always, no one listened because all that came out was a growl.
All I could do was surrender as my body was carried back into the sky.
But this time, I didn't just stay quiet.
"Since I've got the Appraisal skill now, it's time to use it."
My eyes glowed faintly. A transparent status screen appeared before me—its soft glow freezing me in place as I read what it showed.
Race: Ancient Avian (Rank 7 – Mythical Beast)
Element: Light, Wind, Life
~ Heaven's Feather: Heals and grants holy protection over a wide area.
~ Wind Rend: Wing attack imbued with destructive wind.
~ Soul Gaze: Reads the soul's intent and potential.
~ Divine Teleport: Teleports itself and one target to a known location.
~ Judgement Storm: Massive light attack against "dark" entities.
~ Regenerative Essence
~ Guardian of the Ancient Sky
~ Seeker of the Worthy
"...HOLY—" I nearly dropped my jaw.
Rank 7?! I literally just evolved to Rank 2! The gap in power was like a human versus a god. And that LUK stat 7777?! What are those "???" stats? Are they so powerful the system can't display them?
And those skills—area healing, teleportation, soul reading, massive divine attacks... this was no ordinary bird.
"Simurgh... Isn't that... the legendary bird from Persian?" I muttered, staring at its shimmering feathers bathed in morning light.
In mythology, Simurgh was a symbol of wisdom, healing, and divine power. A bird that lived for thousands of years, transcending time itself, appearing only when the world was in crisis.
And now I... was being carried by it. No wonder it didn't quite look like an eagle—it was far beyond that.
"So... legendary creatures really do exist too" I thought to myself.
I wanted to laugh, but didn't have the time.
Simurgh glanced at me almost as if it knew I was appraising it. Its eyes narrowed, as if contemplating something. But it didn't stop me. Didn't get angry. Didn't attack.
And somehow, that was scarier than any threat.
We flew over mountains, forests, even wide rivers glittering under the morning sun. I had no idea where we were going until finally, after several minutes of silent flight, I saw something in the distance.
An ancient structure.
Hidden behind fog and thick trees, stood a massive stone building with towering pillars, its walls covered in moss and roots. But despite its aged appearance, the aura it radiated... was anything but normal.
Simurgh flapped gently and landed in front of its gate, then carefully set me down. The stone beneath my feet felt warm oddly not damp, despite the structure's abandoned look.
I stared at the large, closed gate.
"...What is this place?"
Simurgh stood beside me, then spoke in a voice both gentle and commanding:
"A place for the chosen, Those who survive the selection, Those who are worthy."
"You know what I'm thinking?" I asked in surprise, though all that came out was a growl.
It didn't answer. But its eyes said enough.
And as I looked at the great doors they began to open on their own.
The sound of grinding stone, rumbling from deep within the earth, and a faint light started to pour out from the building's depths.