You are in the tundra woodlands of Europe, 2 million years ago.

The morning mist hung thick over the Italian peninsula. You stopped near the edge of the Pleistocene woodland, listening. Through the trees, you caught a glimpse of movement—not the quick dash of a small deer, but a slow, heavy swaying motion.

You froze behind a cluster of oaks.

Emerging from the brush was an Eucladoceros—the bush-antlered deer. It was massive, far larger than a modern red deer, with a reddish-brown coat glistening with dew. But it was the head that truly stunned you. Its antlers were immense, reaching up like a surreal, branching bush—a comb-like structure with countless points that seemed too heavy for its neck.

The Eucladoceros stopped to browse, using its formidable head to strip leaves from a bush. It was a picture of early Pleistocene serenity, yet those tangled antlers spoke of intense competition within its species. You felt a profound sense of awe, looking upon this "well-branched" giant, a true master of its Eurasian home.

Just then, it lifted its head, turning its gaze toward your hiding spot…