Eren sat by the fire, listening to Korran talk about the Syntharae.
Machines that think like gods... silver skin, glowing eyes, wires, and cold logic.
It reminded him of Earth — back in 2025. Humans made AI—artificial intelligence—years ago. It started with simple things like chatbots and image makers. But now, they'd built AGI—Artificial General Intelligence—machines that think like humans, maybe even smarter.
Companies like OpenAI and Google were close to it.
Did AGI become the Syntharae?
Did it turn against us?
The thought hit him hard. These Syntharae sounded like the worst fears about AI coming true—super-smart machines ruling with no mercy.
Eren glanced at Korran, who was poking the fire with a stick, his golden eyes glowing in the flames. His curiosity grew.
"Hey," Eren said quietly, "can you tell me about the parasites? What are they?"
Korran stared at him, black ears twitching.
"You forgot about your parasite too?"
Eren nodded, keeping his face blank even though a knot of unease twisted in his gut.
"Yeah, please tell me. If you don't help, I might die out here. More information helps, right?"
Korran sighed, rubbing his head like he was already tired of talking.
He really doesn't remember anything, Korran thought. It's tough for him to survive without knowing anything.
"Fine," he said at last. "The parasite saved us all from the Syntharae. Some humans worship it like a god. Others think it's an alien from another planet. No one knows the truth—it happened too long ago, centuries back."
He stared into the fire. "Many believe the parasite was always on Earth, waiting. The Syntharae destroyed half of all life in the Seventh World War, and the parasite saved what was left. In short, Syntharae are evil, and the parasite is like a god that helps us or keeps the world's power balanced."
Eren's eyes widened, his mind racing.
The parasite was always on Earth?
So… he was still on Earth. But far in the future.
That slimy thing that went into his mouth when he jumped… that was the parasite. It saved him—or cursed him to live forever.
He felt both amazed and scared.
"How did the parasite save us?" he asked.
Korran's tail flicked, annoyed. "My mouth hurts from all this talking. I'm not a history teacher."
Eren didn't push. He leaned back against a tree, the fire crackling softly.
No need to ask more, he thought. I can see it around me.
The massive trees. The colossal beasts. The talking wolf-man beside him.
The parasite changed life—gave powers, made things bigger, even woke up animals' minds. There had to be more like Korran out there.
A spark of curiosity cut through his usual numbness.
Korran glanced at the darkening sky. "It's getting dark. We need to sleep."
Eren looked around the clearing. "Where are we sleeping?"
"Right here, by the fire," Korran replied.
Eren frowned, eyeing the shadows. "We need to keep watch. I'll go first—you sleep."
Korran gave a small, sharp-toothed smile. "You don't need to when I'm here."
He slashed down huge leaves with his claws—each leaf as big as a blanket. He tossed one to Eren for the ground and another to cover himself.
Eren set up his bed, the leaf soft beneath him. They lay near each other, the fire holding the cold at bay. Through the gaps in the trees, a few stars peeked down.
Mosquitoes buzzed around, biting his skin. He swatted at them, annoyed.
What should I do in this weird world?
It's like fate won't let me die.
Ahh… it's so boring.
The thought weighed on him as his eyes grew heavy. Eventually, exhaustion pulled him into sleep.
---
The next morning, Eren woke to Korran's sharp golden eyes staring at him.
"We need to move early to reach Havenbrook City," Korran said.
Eren rubbed his eyes. "Okay."
They walked through the twisting jungle path, moving deeper into the wild. Eren's mind wandered back to the parasite. It had changed animals, made some into demi-beasts like Korran—half-human, half-animal, gifted with powers.
But it didn't touch insects.
That's why there were no birds to eat them. No natural pest control. No farming as he knew it. A piece of this strange world clicked into place.
Then a roar shattered the quiet.
A massive bear, its fur matted and claws gleaming, was locked in combat with a giant snake as thick as a tree. Their bodies crashed together—teeth against scales, fur against muscle.
Eren and Korran hid behind vines, watching as the bear crushed the snake's skull with a single bite.
Before Eren could blink, Korran dashed forward like a streak of lightning.
"Be careful, cat!" Eren yelled.
The bear swung its paw—Korran dodged easily, claws sparking with electricity. In one swift motion, he snapped the bear's neck. It was over in a heartbeat.
Korran turned back, eyes burning with anger. "You think I'm weak? Why call me a cat?"
Eren froze. "Oh—I'm sorry. I didn't know your name. I was worried about you, so I called you cat."
Korran's tail lashed once, pride wounded. "My name is Korran, and I'm from the Wolf Tribe. You think I'm a weakling, calling me a cat?"
Eren raised his hands quickly. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."
He could feel it—wolves had pride. Loyal, strong, protective. Cats were seen as sneaky, solitary… a direct insult. He couldn't afford to lose Korran's trust.
Korran exhaled, his tail relaxing.
Eren glanced at the sky. "Oh, it's already afternoon. Why don't we eat that snake?"
The bear might be poisoned by the snake's venom, he reasoned. But the snake itself should be edible.
Korran nodded, impressed. "You're not as dumb as you look."
They roasted the snake's meat over a quick fire. It was tough but rich, filling them with strength for the road ahead.
As they walked toward Havenbrook City, Eren's mind spun.
I'll try to enjoy this.
It's hard, but this is my new life. I'll make it work.
But then, boredom and emptiness crept back in.
Ahh, it's so hard to care about anything.
---