章 1: Chapter 1: Reborn as King in One Punch Man
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Chapter 1: Reborn as King in One Punch Man
-X-
[Congratulations! You have been selected for reincarnation!]
The message flashed across my field of vision, bright and obnoxious, refusing to be ignored. Congratulations for dying? That's a new one. But I suppose getting a message like this is the kind of thing that happens only once in a lifetime—by definition.
Even so, I still couldn't believe the absurdity of my death. Instead of being run over by a truck, which seems to be the go-to in Japan, I got mowed down by one of South Africa's infamous taxis on that deathtrap of a road outside my workplace. I grimaced, thinking about all the unfinished work I left behind. My colleagues were going to have a rough time completing it, especially since my laptop probably didn't survive the impact either. I felt a fleeting pang of pity for them, but it was a hollow emotion, more reflexive than real.
I tried thinking about my family, hoping to stir some genuine feeling, but nothing came. I guess Sir Pterry was right—no glands, no emotions. Still, that doesn't explain how I'm able to think without a brain. It had been a few minutes since I'd been waiting for the crushing weight of loss to hit me, and it was a relief to find that I wouldn't have to deal with it anytime soon.
What I did have to deal with was the floating list beneath the congratulations message—a list of worlds I could choose to be reincarnated in.
The list was extensive, containing familiar franchises, though it leaned heavily toward anime. Or maybe I've just been watching too much anime lately. I flicked my finger upward, revealing even more worlds. The list seemed endless.
"Let me see," I muttered to the empty white void surrounding me. "Naruto, ugh, no thank you."
The idea of reincarnating in a feudal society full of child soldiers didn't sit well with me, especially one plagued by murky morality when not viewed through the lens of an idiot. Maybe I was being too harsh, but the thought of becoming an assassin for something as nebulous as patriotism made my skin crawl.
High School DXD was next, offering the classic harem option, and I had to suppress a derisive laugh. I despise harems and the concept of servitude. Though the series had beautiful world-building, it was also a world that seriously needed to learn some self-control. Still, the idea of going up against overpowered characters like Issei, Sirzechs, and Ophis had its appeal.
One Piece was amazing, but I'd rather drive nails into my fingers than alter that canon in any way.
Then there was Akame ga Kill. I hesitated over it for a moment before moving on. The problem of being a paid murderer reared its head again, although it was more black and white than Naruto, given the presence of monsters like Esdeath and Honest. Still, Esdeath will forever be best waifu, if I'm honest.
Bleach was next, and while it would always hold a special place in my heart, the world-building was mediocre at best. The promise of near-immortality wasn't enough to make me dive into a place where you had to pick a faction or die. Even if it does have some of the most attractive women in any anime series, in my humble opinion.
Ranma ½? No way in hell. I'd rather reincarnate as a root vegetable than get involved in that mess.
Fairy Tail tempted me with its friendship, exciting magic, and adventures, but I hesitated. Then, something caught my eye—a small icon of a die in the top right corner that I had overlooked. The symbol was immediately recognizable, and its purpose intrigued me.
I usually hate gambling because I'm not good enough to make money off it, and I'm stingy enough to hate losing. But I also had a habit of making poor decisions—not the kind where you take heroin or sleep with your boss's wife, but the kind where you order the fish, and it turns out to be awful, or you pick a movie, and it sucks. I regretted a lot of my choices once I saw the results of the other options, so maybe it was time to leave my fate in the hands of the divine being who brought me here.
With a force of will, I closed my eyes and hit my fist against the dice symbol.
The moment I did, the world spun around me. The list of worlds blurred as it whirred downward, faster and faster. Panic and nausea hit me like a freight train, and I fought to stay conscious, to keep my eyes open against the overwhelming exhaustion that washed over me. Darkness encroached on my vision, and just before I blacked out, I caught a glimpse of the name the list had settled on.
Welcome xxxx xxxxxxx to the One Punch Man Universe.
xxx
When I regained consciousness, I could barely move my limbs. My head felt heavy, and the light was blinding. Discordant noises assaulted my ears, and I felt myself held aloft by a man I could barely see.
My first thought was, I've become a baby, a realization that was confirmed moments later when I heard someone announce, "Congratulations, it's a boy." Relief washed over me—I was immensely thankful for that fact.
My thoughts were fuzzy and sluggish, and I wondered if it was because I had been reduced to a baby's brain. But that explanation didn't feel right. My thoughts were slow, but not that slow. My body felt weak, and I knew I would need time to evaluate my current status.
Suddenly, a blue window popped up in front of my face, startling me. I jerked my head back sharply and was pulled closer into the arms of the one holding me. Ignoring the shock, I focused on the window in front of me.
-X-
King
The Gamer
Title - None
Species - Human
Health - 210/210
Mana - 330/330
Level - 1 EXP 0/200
STR - 1
VIT - 1
DEX - 1
INT - 13
WIS - 12
LUK - 25
Points - 0
Money - 0¥
-X-
King from the One Punch Man Universe, I thought. There was only one person named King in that universe, and I knew exactly who that was. It seemed fitting that I'd been reborn with the Gamer ability. It's probably one of the most powerful abilities in all of fiction if used correctly.
I'd read countless Gamer fanfictions, ranging from mediocre to pretty damn sweet. I'd even toyed with the idea of writing one myself. And now here I was, living the concept out in real time—or as close to real time as a newborn could manage.
The realization began to sink in. I had been reborn as King, the so-called "strongest man on Earth," though anyone who knew the truth about him understood the irony of that title. But with the Gamer power, things could be different. I could actually become the hero everyone believed King to be.
First things first, though—I needed to survive infancy. And considering how exhausted I felt, that wasn't going to be as easy as it sounded. I'd have to wait and grow, biding my time until I could actually start using my abilities to their full potential.
But as I lay there, cradled in a stranger's arms, a new determination surged within me. This was a chance—an unprecedented opportunity to live a life far beyond the mundane existence I once had. With the Gamer's powers, I could become stronger, smarter, and more capable than I ever was before.
And in the world of One Punch Man, where monsters could appear at any moment and Saitama was always just one punch away from saving the day, I knew I'd need every bit of that power.
A slow smile formed in my infant mind. Maybe this reincarnation thing wasn't so bad after all. I just had to play my cards right and see where this new life would take me.
For now, though, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to drift off. The real journey was just beginning.
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