I Built a Divine Zoo in Another World

Lukas gathered a precise amount of mana in his legs, feeling the flow leave the Lunar Source and travel through the channels with a fluidity that, a week ago, would have been completely impossible for him.

The energy descended through his hips, spread across his thighs, and reached his calves, enveloping each muscle in a thin and carefully controlled layer that felt like an invisible second skin.

There was no waste. No sudden explosion. No excessive amount that could escape his control. The mana was exactly where it needed to be, no more and no less, as if every particle had found its natural place.

Lukas bent his knees, feeling the tension build in his muscles. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with air. Then he propelled his body upward with a controlled movement.

The jump was clean, controlled, and practically perfect.

He reached the first thick branch of an ancient tree with ease, landing on the wood with both boots. The impact was so soft that it produced almost no sound, only a slight rustling of leaves that resembled a whisper.

Lukas smiled, a sense of accomplishment filling his chest.

The difference was absurd. Just one week earlier, his first test had ended with him being launched several meters into the air, unable to control his own body, spinning wildly through the air like a leaf carried by the wind. On that occasion, he had used an absurd amount of mana just to reinforce his legs and produced far more force than he intended, like a horse charging forward without reins.

Now it was different. He knew exactly how much mana he needed for each movement, knew when to increase the flow to gain momentum, knew when to reduce it to maintain control, and, most importantly, knew when to stop it completely to conserve energy.

Lukas wasted no time. He bent his knees again and jumped. The second branch quickly appeared beneath his feet, and he landed with the same precision. Another jump, third branch. Another, the fourth. With every movement, Lukas used only the amount of mana necessary during the leap, and as soon as he landed, he immediately reduced the flow, avoiding wasting precious energy.

His body felt light, as if gravity had lost part of its hold over him. Within a few minutes, he reached the highest branches, the forest stretching out beneath him like a green carpet.

The wind was stronger at that height, blowing against his face with a refreshing intensity. The leaves swayed around him, producing a constant sound, like a green ocean stretching to the horizon.

Lukas made another jump, feeling the mana flow through his legs with surgical precision. This time, he reached the top of the tree, his feet finding a sturdy branch that rose above the other treetops.

He stood there, his eyes sweeping across the landscape unfolding before him.

The cold wind struck his face and tousled his white hair, making it dance around his head like a crown of light. For a few moments, he simply contemplated the scenery, absorbing the beauty of the world around him.

From the top of that tree, the forest looked completely different. The trees stretched as far as his eyes could see, forming a gigantic green sea that rippled with the wind. Small gaps between the treetops revealed sections of the terrain below, clearings where moonlight filtered through, and streams that gleamed like threads of silver.

In the distance, some birds crossed the sky, their wings cutting through the blue with natural grace.

The moonlight bathed everything in a silver glow, transforming the nighttime forest into a dreamlike world.

Lukas breathed deeply, feeling the fresh air fill his lungs.

There was something extremely pleasant about that sensation, a freedom he had never experienced before. He could feel the mana circulating through his body, a gentle current running through every muscle, every tendon, every fiber.

He could feel the Lunar Source pulsing in his chest, a second heartbeat merging with the first in perfect harmony. He could feel his own strength, real and tangible, an extension of his will.

And, for the first time, that strength seemed to be completely under his control.

Then a mischievous thought arose in his mind, an idea that was both reckless and irresistible.

Lukas took a step backward, his eyes fixed on the emptiness below.

”Let’s try something different.”

Without warning, he launched himself forward.

His body left the branch, and the wind struck his face with force. For an instant, he simply fell, gravity pulling him downward in a free fall that was both terrifying and exhilarating.

Then he spun.

His body performed a complete somersault in the air, a rotation that defied gravity and logic. The forest spun around him, the sky, the trees, the ground, everything passing before his eyes in a rapid and disorienting sequence. The wind howled in his ears, a symphony of freedom.

That height would have been enough to cause serious injuries if he fell without protection, broken bones, perhaps something worse. But Lukas wasn’t worried. Not yet.

He waited, feeling the air pass over his body, adrenaline coursing through his veins like liquid fire. He waited until the last instant, until the ground was dangerously close.

Then he opened the Lunar Source.

Mana shot through the channels like a river breaking through a dam. This time, it was not an uncontrolled explosion nor a burst of energy that escaped his command. It was a precise, calculated, conscious application.

Most of the energy concentrated in his legs, preparing them for the impact. A smaller amount reinforced his torso, protecting his vital organs. The rest enveloped his bones and joints, creating a protective layer that would absorb the force of the fall.

Lukas completed the rotation, his eyes fixed on the approaching ground.

His feet touched the ground.

’Thump.’

The impact was almost insignificant, a muffled sound that barely disturbed the silence of the forest. His knees bent naturally, absorbing the force of the fall with a fluidity that could only come from training. The force of the fall traveled through his legs and was absorbed by the reinforcement, dissipating like a wave breaking upon the shore.

Lukas remained motionless for a few seconds, his eyes fixed on the ground before him. His heart was beating hard in his chest, but not from fear.

Then he raised his head, and a wide smile appeared on his face.

”I did it.”