The dim, featureless void stretched endlessly in all directions, an oppressive silence hanging over the nothingness. A place where it is impossible to live in peace.
But...
"I understand about being reincarnated, I understand about going to another world, but you really brought me here to basically babysit?!"
The voice echoed through the emptiness, frustration laced in every word. He stood alone, fists clenched, glaring at the vague shimmer that represented the God of Potential.
The bastard didn't even give me his name.
A soft, amused chuckle drifted from the formless entity. "Oh, come now. 'Babysitting' is such a... mundane term. Think of it as a noble quest. A mission to guide the future of potential itself."
His eye twitched. "You dragged me from my world, tossed me into this void, and expected me to buy that nonsense? What's next? Diapers and bedtime stories?"
The shimmer pulsed, as if laughing silently. "Well, if you're offering, I'm sure we can add a few diaper emergencies just for fun."
"Why should I accept this?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the void like a blade. "What do I get out of this?"
The God's glow dimmed for a moment, then flared again with playful brilliance. "Ah, the eternal question. What's in it for you? Well… aside from not being trapped in this delightful void forever—" the glow pulsed mockingly, "—I'll throw in a little something special. Powers. Abilities. A chance to be more than just ordinary in worlds far beyond your own."
His jaw clenched. "So, I get dragged into babysitting, and the grand reward is… not dying of boredom and a participation trophy?"
"Think of it as an adventure," the God replied cheerfully. "A chaotic, unpredictable, life-threatening adventure. With kids."
The shimmer pulsed slightly as if entertained. "But really, it's more of an adventure. You get to travel, meet interesting individuals, face challenges..." The entity paused dramatically, "...and maybe even survive."
"Survive?!"
"Details, details. The important part is you'll grow, learn valuable lessons, and perhaps even find your true purpose. Doesn't that sound thrilling?"
He groaned, rubbing his temples. "You mean I'll be unpaid childcare with a side of existential crisis. Great. Just great."
"Oh, but there are rewards!" the God of Potential chimed, sounding far too cheerful. "You'll gain abilities, powers tailored to the worlds you visit. Consider it... a compensation package."
"Compensation?" His glare intensified. "You mean I get to risk my life and sanity for pocket change in the form of 'powers'?"
"Exactly!" The entity seemed delighted by his sarcasm.
He sighed deeply, staring into the endless void. "I can't believe this is my life now."
"Technically, it's your new life," the God of Potential corrected, laughing softly. "And trust me, it's going to be so much fun. For me, at least."
He muttered under his breath, "I hate you already."
The God of Potential's laughter faded into an exaggerated sigh. "Oh, don't be so dramatic. Besides, you're clearly the best candidate for the job. Strong, adaptable, and with just the right amount of snark to keep things interesting."
"Oh, great. I was chosen because I'm entertaining," he snapped back.
"Precisely!" the God agreed without a hint of shame. "But think about it this way—wouldn't your existence be boring without me giving you this opportunity? I'm doing you a favor."
"Some favor." He replied, "Can I at least know what world you are pushing me into?"
"That's something that we are going to discover right now... With this!"
A sudden, dramatic flash erupted from the shimmer, blinding him momentarily. When his vision cleared, he found himself staring at a spinning, oversized wheel floating in the void, covered in bizarre symbols and names he couldn't recognize.
"A... wheel of fortune? Seriously?" he deadpanned.
"Not just any wheel! This is the Wheel of Destinies!" the God of Potential announced with exaggerated grandeur. "Each spin determines the world you'll be sent to, full of surprises, dangers, and... babysitting duties."
He rubbed his temples again. "Why does this feel like a cosmic joke?"
"Because it is!" the God replied cheerfully. "Now, give it a spin!"
With a reluctant sigh, he reached out and spun the wheel. Colors blurred together as it spun rapidly, the void echoing with the faint sound of ticking.
Finally, the wheel slowed, clicking with exaggerated drama until it landed on a symbol he didn't recognize.
"Congratulations! Your first destination is... the world of Naruto! Specifically, the Hidden Stone Village!" the God of Potential announced gleefully.
Naruto. That was not a world he was happy to be part of.
He groaned again. "Fantastic. Ninjas. Just what I needed."
"Oh, and as a bonus, you'll receive a special ability: enhanced potential in your natural affinity. Think of it as an upgrade to your babysitting toolkit. You're welcome!"
"Wait—I don't get to choose?!"
"Nope," the shimmer said, voice smug without even having a face. "Because if I left it up to you, you'd probably pick something cliché and overpowered. Kamui, Infinity, Some Comic-style garbage, Ugh."
His rage spiked. Skyrocketed. He wanted to tear this glowing imbecile to pieces. He was about to try, too—about to rush at the arrogant shimmer and swing even if it killed him—
But then something clicked.
"Hang on," he snapped, pausing mid-outburst. "Before you send me off to play babysitter in ninja land, can you at least tell me who the kid—?"
Before he could protest futher, a strange, wet sound echoed through the void. A low, unsettling ripple, like liquid shifting in ways it shouldn't. He turned slowly.
A dark mass hovered a short distance away, its form shifting erratically. A single, piercing red eye blinked open from its swirling abyss of shadows.
"...What the hell is that?" he asked, stepping back on instinct.
The God of Potential practically radiated amusement. "Oh, don't be rude. This little one will be your first charge."
The dark entity tilted slightly, as if observing him in return.
His stomach dropped. "You're telling me... I have to babysit that?!"
"Correct! Congratulations on becoming the proud guardian of a Dark Matter!" The God's voice was positively gleeful.
He stared at the shifting, alien being. The Dark Matter blinked again, a strange curiosity in its gaze.
His headache intensified.
"You know what? No. Nope. I refuse."
"Too late!" The God of Potential snapped its metaphorical fingers, and a book materialized in front of him. The cover read: 'Caring for Your Eldritch Baby: A Beginner's Guide.'
His eye twitched violently. "I swear, I hate you so much."
"Oh, you'll grow to love it! Probably. No guarantees." The void around him twisted, pulling him into a swirling vortex of light and shadow.
His last words echoed faintly, "I really hate you!"
The God of Potential's laughter followed him as he vanished into the unknown.
.
.
.
He woke up, gasping for breath, the cold air sharp against his lungs. Blinking rapidly, he found himself staring at a wooden ceiling, unfamiliar and crude. The floor beneath him was hard, covered only by a thin, scratchy blanket.
Sitting up, his body felt strange—sluggish, Lighter than he remembered. His hands were different, smaller and softer he didn't recognize.
Panic flickered for a moment, but he forced it down, scanning the room. It was small, bare except for a rickety table, a cracked mirror leaning against the wall, and an old wooden chest in the corner.
He stumbled to his feet, unsteady, and caught his reflection in the mirror. A face stared back—young, with silver hair, and completely unfamiliar.
"What the hell…" he muttered, touching his face as if that would change it.
Then he noticed the book on the table. Its cover was worn, the title scrawled in messy handwriting: "Caring for Your Eldritch Baby: A Beginner's Guide."
His brow furrowed. Beside the book was a neat stack of… baby diapers.
A sinking feeling settled in his gut.
Opening the book, he found a note scribbled on the first page:
"Consider this your starter kit. Good luck! —The God of Potential."
His eye twitched violently.
Before he could unleash the string of curses building in his throat, a faint shifting sound cut through the silence.
He turned slowly, dread pooling in his chest.
In the corner of the room, a floating black mass hovered just above the ground. The dim light reflected off its oily, amorphous form, its single red eye blinking slowly as it stared at him.
His mind went blank.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
The Dark Matter blinked.
He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "I hate my life."
The Dark Matter wobbled slightly, then drifted closer.
His gaze drifted back to the table.
"…Why the hell would I need baby diapers for that?"
The Dark Matter blinked again, unreadable as ever.
Defeated, he slumped onto the floor. "I survived worse," he muttered. "I can handle this. It's just a floating mass of malevolent energy."
He glanced at the useless pile of diapers.
"…I'm going to kill that god."