A dazzling golden sun hung high in the clear blue sky. Aside from a single white cloud drifting lazily like a lone sail on a vast ocean, the heavens were spotless.
At this moment…
Deep within a secluded canyon, a mysterious mountain mist slowly rose, draping the surroundings in a mystical haze. Gracefully, it blended with the landscape, creating a scene so beautiful it felt like a painting. A faint primal aura lingered within it, carrying the raw, untamed spirit of the ancient wilderness.
No—not faintly.
Towering trees stretched toward the heavens, their crowns forming a canopy that completely blocked out the sunlight. From time to time, distant howls and guttural growls rumbled through the canyon, as if echoing from a forgotten prehistoric age.
One might even believe this canyon had stepped back into the era of primordial beasts.
Screech—!A sudden, ear-piercing cry shattered the stillness, rattling the clouds and nearly splitting the rocks apart. Shockingly, the sound belonged to a Golden Eagle streaking across the sky.
And this was not the frightening part.
The truly terrifying thing… was its wingspan.
Ordinary Golden Eagles reached about two to three meters.But this one's wings stretched nearly five full meters—a monstrous span. Its feathers, shining like pure molten gold, glistened brilliantly in the sunlight, as though each one had been carved from actual metal.
It was a sight that could shake anyone to the core.
Could a creature like this really exist?
"It's coming again…"
Amid the tense stillness, a massive Willow Tree—towering about thirty meters tall—swayed with a low rustling sound. Its long cascading branches resembled flowing waterfalls of verdant green.
Race: Mutant Golden Eagle
Life: 2/60 YearsRank: Tier-0 Level 7
Innate Skill: Piercing Cry –A roar so sharp it can rupture eardrums and intimidate prey.(Terrifying, but practically useless against you. After all—you're a Willow Tree.)
Unique Abilities:• Sharp Claws – Capable of tearing through a 10 cm steel plate.• Golden Wings – Hardened by evolution, as tough as refined alloy.
It was a detailed introduction—so detailed that even after reading it several times, Yu Zi Yu still felt shaken.
When it came to combat strength alone, this Golden Eagle was undoubtedly terrifying. Had Yu Zi Yu not been present here, this canyon would have birthed a true apex predator.
Golden Eagles were already known as the Kings of Raptors. A trained Golden Eagle could even chase wolves across grasslands.
There was even a recorded case of one hunting fourteen wolves in a row.
If that was an ordinary Golden Eagle…Then what of this one—this beast that had already undergone multiple evolutions?
According to Yu Zi Yu's estimation, if not for the oppressive aura he released, this Golden Eagle might have attacked long ago.
…
In truth, Yu Zi Yu's guess was completely correct.
As the canyon's rightful overlord, the Golden Eagle had long dominated this place. After gaining a faint trace of intelligence, it became even more cautious and perceptive. But when it laid its golden eyes on the strange Willow Tree below, even with its immense power, it couldn't help feeling a hint of fear.
To the Golden Eagle, Yu Zi Yu was unlike anything else.
Aura—also known as pressure or presence—was something all beings possessed, whether plant or animal.
But since the recovery of Spiritual Energy, creatures evolved rapidly, and the invisible aura they released became even stronger.
Some creatures could extend their aura a full meter outward. A rare few could reach two or three meters.
But Yu Zi Yu… was different.
His monstrous aura spread out more than ten whole meters.
Everything within that range was blanketed in his oppressive presence.
This was why the Golden Eagle had hovered in the sky for half a month, circling and observing.
It did not understand what the strange tree was—but instinct told it one thing:
Danger.
Even so, the faint, enticing fragrance radiating from Yu Zi Yu kept the Golden Eagle from leaving. It continued to watch patiently.
As an apex predator, patience was its second nature. It was waiting for the perfect moment—a single opening—to strike down what it believed could become its greatest prey.
[Not coming down yet?]Yu Zi Yu muttered inwardly as he gazed calmly at the circling shadow in the sky.
There was no denying it: being watched nonstop by a top-tier predator was incredibly uncomfortable. Every time he sensed the Golden Eagle, Yu Zi Yu instinctively tensed, his branches ready to lash out at a moment's notice.
He wasn't the only one.
From the nest nestled beneath his canopy—
Screech! Screech! Screech!Sharp cries rang out continuously, tightening Yu Zi Yu's nerves.
The Peregrine Falcons.
They, too, were formidable raptors.
But now, in the basin-sized nest he'd woven for them, the young falcons were screeching madly, pacing and flapping in panic. Nervousness radiated off their bodies.
After all, compared to the Golden Eagle… they were several ranks inferior.
They were only Tier-0 Level 3—a full four levels lower.
Perhaps they could make up for the gap against land beasts. But against the sky's absolute sovereign—The Golden Eagle—they stood no chance.
Even their incredible speed meant nothing before the king of the skies.
As for the Red Fox… it wasn't even worth mentioning.
It had crawled out of its den, trembling violently as it stared at the Golden Eagle above.
To the Golden Eagle, the fox was simply prey.