I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

As time passed, dozens of small animals gathered around and settled on his body. The grass around him was also filled with movement, ants, beetles, crickets, and other insects crawling through the vegetation. It was as if the forest itself had gathered around him, curious and trusting.

Lukas closed his eyes.

This time, he didn’t try to force anything. He didn’t search for mana. He didn’t focus on ”feeling.” He simply let his mind wander, empty, open, and receptive.

The sounds of the forest flowed in, the birdsong, the rustling leaves, the buzzing insects, and the distant murmur of a stream. The warmth of the sun. The lightweight of the insects on his skin. The scent of earth, leaves, and flowers. His calm, rhythmic, steady breathing.

At first, nothing happened.

But as the minutes stretched on and more creatures drew near, something began to change.

A subtle perception, like the first hint of dawn on the horizon. Something he couldn’t describe with words, yet felt in every fiber of his being.

Suddenly, Lukas felt it.

It wasn’t a snap, nor was it an explosion. It was a gentle opening, as though an invisible door had been cracked open, revealing a world that had always been there, yet one he had never been able to see. His entire body seemed to expand, his senses reaching beyond their normal limits.

He felt connected to nature in a way he had never experienced before.

He could perceive every animal near him, not with his eyes, but with a new awareness, a perception that transcended physical senses.

The butterfly on his stomach, its wings opening and closing in a gentle rhythm. The ants on his sleeve, their tiny bodies moving in an organized choreography.

The beetle on his shoulder, its glowing antennae pulsing softly. The caterpillar on his leg, its body contracting in waves. The dragonfly on his knee, its wings vibrating. The cricket on his chest, perfectly still.

Each one was a distinct presence, alive, pulsing. Like little stars in a night sky, each one unique, each one contributing to the whole.

And then came everything else.

Particles. Countless invisible particles filling the air, the earth, the leaves, even his own body. They were everywhere, an invisible web of energy connecting all things.

Especially around the animals, they were like beacons within that energetic landscape, glowing with the mana they carried inside themselves.

It was as if the life of the forest was saturated with that subtle energy, and now he could finally perceive it.

Mana.

The current Clavor had described. The presence he had searched for through an entire week of frustration, doubt, and discouragement. It had been there all along, as natural and abundant as the air he breathed.

Lukas remained perfectly still, his eyes still closed, absorbing the sensation. He didn’t want to lose it. He didn’t want it to disappear like a dream upon waking. His breathing became even calmer, his mind even quieter.

Then, a thought surfaced in his consciousness, clear and undeniable.

’I only managed to feel it because of my ability...’

The realization came like a ray of light, illuminating a truth he had never considered before. Affinity with Beasts, the ability that had always seemed passive, almost secondary, had been the key. It didn’t merely make him attractive to creatures, it connected him to the very essence of the life surrounding him.

The animals approaching him weren’t merely curious, they were, somehow, amplifying his perception, creating a bridge between him and the mana flowing through every living being.

The mana he sensed now wasn’t merely the world’s energy, it was the energy of life, the force pulsing within every creature, every plant, every living being that breathed. His ability allowed him to attune himself to that energy in a way others could not.

He remained there for nearly an entire hour, simply feeling it. Mana flowed around him like a gentle, steady current, real and constant. It wasn’t overwhelming or crushing, it was subtle, like the flow of a calm river. The animals remained close, as though they, too, were part of that connection, as if their presence was necessary to maintain that state.

When he finally opened his eyes, dozens of insects were still on and around his body. He didn’t mind. A huge smile, the biggest he had worn in months, perhaps in his entire life, spread across his face, brightening his features.

”I... I managed to feel it.” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. Then he laughed quietly, almost in disbelief, a laugh that was more liberation than joy.

”Hahaha... I actually felt mana.”

He stood up slowly, carefully so as not to frighten the creatures still resting on him. Many flew away or calmly moved aside, as though they had fulfilled their purpose. Others simply continued on their way, indifferent to his departure.

Lukas stood in the middle of the clearing, his heart pounding, his hands trembling slightly with excitement. Mana was still there. Faint, subtle, but present. He could sense it in the air, in the earth, in the trees... and within himself, a tiny spark responding, a little ember glowing at his core.

”I... I have to tell Father.”

The decision came immediately, as naturally as breathing. Without waiting any longer, he called for his companions with a soft whistle, a sound that had become familiar over the past weeks.

Astra descended within seconds, her wings slicing through the air with precision. Rourke ran to him, his tiny body darting swiftly through the grass, and climbed up his leg with agile movements.

Tilbo and Prata emerged from the vegetation as though they had never wandered far, their forms appearing between the trees.

Lukas picked up Rourke, carefully settled him into the pocket of his tunic, feeling the little rat’s warm weight against his body, and quickly started walking toward the mansion. His steps were firm, full of purpose, each one bringing him closer to the moment he had been waiting for.

The smile never left his face. The frustration of the entire week had dissolved in a single moment of connection, like ice melting beneath the spring sun. He had finally felt mana, and now he knew that his journey was only just beginning.

The forest seemed more alive around him, every leaf, every flower, every creature vibrating with the energy he could now perceive. The wind brushing against his face carried not only scents but also that subtle current of mana, a constant presence that had once been invisible to him.

And now he needed to tell Clavor. He needed to share that joy, that discovery, that new understanding of the world.

His pace quickened, and the smile on his face shone as brightly as the sun above him.