I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

Lukas woke up long before sunrise. Darkness still enveloped the room like a thick cloak, and the silence of the early morning was broken only by the soft sound of his own breathing and the occasional rustling of leaves beyond the window.

His heart was already beating rapidly before he even opened his eyes, each heartbeat echoing in his ears like distant drums.

Today. The day had finally arrived.

For entire weeks, he had trained until his muscles burned and his lungs felt as though they would burst. He had run countless kilometers while carrying a wooden sword, his feet meeting the ground with a confidence that had not existed before.

He had repeated the same strikes thousands of times. He had endured the burning sensation of the Physical Enhancement Lotion every single day, his body rebuilding itself each night. All of it had been for a single goal, a single purpose that guided every one of his steps, to forge his Mana Source.

He slowly opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling of the room, still immersed in the bluish darkness of dawn. The wooden beams above him were familiar, every knot and every mark telling a story he already knew by heart.

A nervous smile appeared on his lips, trembling with anxiety and excitement.

"Today..."

He sat up quickly and slowly ran a hand through his white hair, trying to calm the anxiety stirring inside his chest like waves in a storm. His fingers brushed through the unruly strands, smoothing them without success.

Beside the bed, his wooden sword remained exactly where he had left it the night before, leaning against the wall like a silent sentinel.

His eyes rested upon it for several seconds, tracing its smooth surface, its marks of use, and the hilt that had molded itself to his hand over the past weeks.

Instinctively, he reached out toward it, his fingers opening to grasp the familiar handle.

But he stopped before touching it.

He thought for a few moments, his mind processing the decision.

"Today... I don’t think you’ll need to come."

He smiled to himself, a smile carrying the strangeness of the situation. For nearly five weeks, that sword had almost never left his hand.

He had slept with it, his fingers wrapped around its hilt even in his sleep. He had walked with it, its presence as natural as his own arm. He had trained with it, every strike an extension of his will.

But today would be different. Today’s training would not depend on muscles, brute strength, or refined technique. Today would be a battle fought on an entirely different battlefield.

He quickly put on his training clothes, his movements economical and precise, and carefully left the sword leaning beside the bed. The piece of wood seemed to watch him leave, a silent companion that understood the importance of that moment.

As he stood up, Rourke opened only one eye from inside the small improvised burrow, his snout emerging from between the dry leaves. The rat let out a sleepy little squeak, a sound of recognition, before curling back into a tiny ball, his body rising and falling with his steady breathing.

Lukas smiled, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Sleep a little longer."

On top of the wardrobe, Astra was already awake, her golden eyes fixed on the boy, following his every movement with the vigilance of a sentinel.

Prata remained motionless in her web near the window, her dark body almost invisible within the dim light.

Tilbo was still resting in his usual corner, his enormous form completely still, with only his antennae moving slowly in acknowledgment of Lukas’s presence.

Without making a sound, stepping with the lightness his training had taught him, Lukas left the room.

...

As soon as he walked downstairs, the familiar aroma of freshly baked bread and herbal tea enveloped him like a warm embrace. The kitchen was alive, filled with warmth and activity, the candles flickering softly.

That scent usually calmed him, bringing a feeling of safety and comfort. Today, however, it only seemed to increase his anxiety, every fragrant note reminding him of what was about to come.

In the dining room, Aurora arranged the plates with calm, precise movements, her presence serene and comforting. Clavor silently drank his first cup of coffee, his eyes scanning a small book opened on the table. Judith yawned so widely that she seemed to be fighting against sleep itself, her head gently bobbing.

As soon as Lukas entered, the little girl raised her eyes, which were still half-closed. She blinked several times, processing the sight of her brother. Then she tilted her head, curiosity written across her face.

"You look strange."

Lukas stopped, surprised.

"I do?"

"You do." She pointed directly at his face, her little finger extended.

"You look like you’re about to explode. Like you ate something you shouldn’t have."

Aurora let out a soft laugh as she placed another piece of bread on the table.

"I think I’d look the same if I were in his place."

Lukas quickly sat down, his hands finding the edge of the table.

"Today I’m going to try to form my Mana Source." The words came out faster than he intended, carrying all the anticipation he had kept bottled up throughout the night.

The kitchen fell silent for a few moments, the weight of those words lingering in the air.

Aurora looked at her son, her smile becoming even gentler.

"Then eat plenty." She slid a plate of scrambled eggs and freshly baked bread toward him, still warm from the oven.

"Your body will need energy for what’s to come."

Lukas nodded, picking up his fork with slightly trembling hands.

Although he was anxious, almost unable to contain his excitement, he forced himself to eat slowly, chewing each bite carefully. He knew his body needed fuel, that this moment required complete preparation.

Clavor remained silent throughout breakfast. He merely observed his son discreetly, his analytical eyes catching every detail.

The anxiety was evident in every one of the boy’s movements. Lukas’s fingers tapped lightly against the table in a nervous, unconscious rhythm.

His foot bounced without him realizing it, a constant motion that revealed the restlessness within him. His gaze seemed distant, as though his mind was already in the clearing, approaching the moment itself.

The warrior simply continued drinking his coffee, his lips touching the rim of the cup. He knew exactly how the boy was feeling. He understood that mixture of excitement and fear, of hope and doubt.

He himself had felt all of it decades ago, in a moment he remembered as though it had happened yesterday.

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