The last thing I remember was the pain. The searing agony of my body being torn apart in an instant. Then, the darkness. Silence. Peace.
I thought it was the end.
But somehow, I wasn't dead. Not completely. The void swallowed me whole, and when I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a world completely unlike the one I knew.
"Where... am I?"
I didn't recognize the sky above me—an unfamiliar shade of purple, dotted with several floating islands. The air was thick with a strange energy. This wasn't Earth. It didn't look like anything I'd ever seen in my life, but I could feel it in my bones. The power... it was everywhere.
It didn't take long before I realized I wasn't alone. Figures appeared from the haze, humanoid shapes with fierce expressions. They moved with purpose, each one radiating an aura that could only be described as overwhelming. A battle-hardened race, no doubt.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. But it didn't feel like it was coming from me. It felt... different. Stronger. Sharper.
One of the figures, a towering, muscular man with spiked hair and a glowing aura, turned toward me. His eyes narrowed, as if studying me. "Another one?" he muttered under his breath.
The figure lifted his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, the air itself seemed to crackle with energy. A blast of power, intense and blinding, shot straight at me.
I didn't flinch.
Instead, my instincts kicked in, and before I even realized it, my body moved on its own. I reached out, and the attack stopped mid-air, frozen as if time itself had been halted.
"Huh?" The man's voice was filled with surprise, but I could hardly hear him over the roaring sensation in my mind. My senses were overwhelming. I could feel everything—every detail of the energy around me, the subtle tremors in the air, the hidden intentions of those watching from the shadows.
What is happening to me?
I could sense everything. It was as if the universe itself had opened up to me. My body felt like it was humming with power, something beyond anything I had ever experienced.
The voice in my mind—calm, yet powerful—spoke to me.
Welcome, Host. You are now the Reincarnation of Rimuru Tempest, a being of unimaginable power. The world you have entered is a dangerous one, but with your new abilities, you will survive. And thrive.
I blinked, the voice echoing in my thoughts. Reincarnation? Rimuru Tempest? I'd heard of him—that Rimuru. The one who had become a god in another world.
"Impossible!" the muscular figure shouted, stepping forward, eyes widening with disbelief. "You—what are you?!"
"Rimuru Tempest," I muttered to myself, trying to piece together the strange voice in my mind. It was as though someone else's memories were merging with mine, filling in gaps, showing me how to use the vast powers I now held.
I reached out again, feeling the flow of energy around me, and suddenly, the blast the man had sent toward me reformed—gathering itself in my hand. It was mine now. I controlled it. I could manipulate it however I wanted.
Without warning, I sent the energy flying back at him with a simple flick of my wrist.
The blast exploded on impact, sending shockwaves through the air. The figure was sent crashing into the ground, his aura flickering as his body struggled to rise.
"W-What... the hell are you?" His voice was shaking now. "No... This is impossible. You should be dead. You should be powerless!"
I smiled—not out of arrogance, but because it felt natural. I felt calm. Controlled. Powerful. It was as if I had been born to stand in this moment. This world.
The voice in my head continued, its tone matter-of-fact. Rimuru's abilities have granted you limitless potential. You are now the Master of Predator, capable of absorbing and adapting to any energy, ability, or life form. Your journey has just begun.
A thought crossed my mind. I can absorb it? It wasn't a question. I knew the answer already.
The figure from before had gotten back to his feet, but he was hesitant now, clearly assessing me with a mixture of fear and confusion. There was something familiar about him, though... something deep down telling me that he wasn't just a random threat.
That's... Vegeta, Prince of the Saiyans, the voice in my mind informed me. He's one of the strongest warriors in this world.
I wasn't sure what a Saiyan was, but based on the power he'd just released, I could tell he wasn't weak. In fact, he was a formidable fighter—but not enough.
Vegeta shot a glare in my direction. "You... What the hell is this?" he demanded again. "No one in this universe has that kind of power. No one should have that kind of power!"
"I'm not from here," I said, my voice more confident now. "But I'm not some random guy. I'm... not even human anymore. Not really."
As the words left my mouth, I felt the weight of them. I had been reincarnated into this world with the abilities of a being far greater than anything I had ever imagined. I was no longer just me—I was Rimuru Tempest, a being capable of unimaginable feats.
The power coursing through my veins felt endless, like I could do anything. Everything I had ever dreamed of was now within my reach.
But that wasn't enough.
I wasn't here just to survive. I wasn't here just to dominate.
No, there was something else I had to do. A greater purpose awaited.
I had been given a second chance at life. And this time, I wasn't going to waste it.
The voice in my head gave a small, approving hum. Your instincts are already adjusting. This is only the beginning, Host. You are about to change this world...
And I had only just begun.