You know, reincarnation stories usually start off with some sort of blurb about how dark and depressing or how empty death is. That wasn't the case with me, which is kind of a relief, I don't like pain. Also, how the heck did those stupid fanfic writers know what death felt like? Were they just trying to set the tone of the story as being super serious at first by going on for a couple sentences about how death is a lonely empty void? I'm honestly surprised that no one has called them out on that. Maybe they were just taking creative liberties and trying to set up some simple worldbuilding?
My apologies, I seem to have gotten off track. Let me start over. One moment, I was cruising along in my car, going to go get some dinner, the next…
Well, I'll let you see what exactly happened.
I awoke all of a sudden, which didn't really make that much sense since I didn't remember falling asleep, but all I know is that I awoke all of a sudden, and immediately started to panic. I couldn't breathe, couldn't see, could barely feel, and my limbs felt like noodles. I couldn't do anything and that scared me. I was surviving, somehow, but it could clearly tell that I wasn't capable of doing anything, so something else must be keeping me alive. I could feel, but the most I could do was feebly kick my feet a little. It was nightmarish.
Don't even get me started on the noise. There was some massive booming sound that thankfully was quite consistent. Have you heard of Chinese water torture. It's when an individual has drops of cold water dropped on your head/face irregularly. It doesn't sound that harmful, but it was said to inflict a massive amount of psychological damage on those that experienced it. The theory behind it is that since the sensation is irregular, the brain doesn't know when to expect it and begins to irrationally fear the next water drop. I didn't know the exact theory behind it, but I had a bad feeling of what would happen if that booming sound suddenly became irregular.
There were some other muffled sounds, but thankfully I didn't ever hear anything distinct, so it was all white noise.
Thankfully, I didn't spend that long like that. One day, I was minding my own business, when suddenly everything shook. This repeated over and over again, and I noticed that I had begun to move.
I saw a light in front of me, and I knew that I had to go to it. I don't know exactly if I did anything, but I struggled as best I could.
The moment I reached the like, all of the sensations that I hadn't experienced in that dark place rushed back, it was cold, all around me, it was pretty loud too, all I could see was light, and IwasactuallystartingtopanicbecauseeverythingwasgettingheavyandIfeltlikeeverythingwasshuttingdownwhattheheckwasgoingon. AH. I can breathe now. That was a relief. I had to focus on my breathing, at first, making sure that my body knew how to, cutting my focus away from everything else. Next, I tried to look around only to realize that I couldn't actually see. All I could see was light with a faint red tint. I began to panic until I realized that my eyelids were shut. After mentally facepalming at the two acts of stupidity that I had just committed I opened my eyes for the first time.
And what a sight I saw.
People in medical clothing rushing around, though not really around me. Some random guy holding me up like I was Simba, which I suppose I was in that moment of time. A woman with darker hair slowly collapsing into a hospital bed. I couldn't see much else due to my head being unmoving.
The random guy looked rather solemn as he placed me in the woman's arms. She began to weakly speak. I didn't understand a single word. It was spoken in Japanese, and
even though I (was?) a weeb, I didn't understand her at all.
But
I remembered the last word she uttered
"竜" (Ryuu)
In that instance I knew that that was my name. I didn't remember who I was before, nor what I did. I had some faint memories, but nothing distinct. I had been completely overwritten as an individual, and I didn't really care.
I was more worried about the woman who had gone limp as she uttered my name, her grip relaxing almost to the point where I fell.
Immediately the random guy, (who I now knew was a doctor) started shouting, probably for some nurses to help him, but I didn't care. I was unable to focus on him because…
Ping*
That fucking screen showed up.
Welcome filthy monkey,
You have been chosen
Rejoice, for all your wishes will
be fulfilled.
...
What?
What was this?
I knew that I had just been born, apparently again, though I didn't remember the first time, and I had just watched my mother die right after giving me a name. And apparently I was being given a gamer system?
Wrong
Huh?
What do you mean,
Wrong?
I am merely a messenger
Sent to tell you your purpose
Ah
That was disappointing
I had some idea, for whatever reason, what a gamer system was. While it wasn't the most creative power, I knew that everyone who received one was blessed to live a powerful life, with all of their most depraved desires being granted.
While I was disappointed at not being given a gamer system, I knew that reincarnation usually involved some sort of OP power being given to the reincarnator. That would make my new life as an apparent orphan a lot easier.
So, what's my cool power that I get?
Ha
Truly, you mortals are rather greedy
You have been given the opportunity
to become a greater race than you own
?
What do you mean, "opportunity?"
Due to my benefactor being…
Bored
At the idea of a story where the protagonist
becomes too powerful too early on in the story
We have given you the opportunity to "evolve"
to a more powerful race through your hard work
What exactly do you mean by hard work?
Do I have to exercise a lot, gather stat point or something?
You need to achieve the limits of
human capability
You will need to destroy yourself
To build yourself up again
That's rather cryptic…
A story of self discovery is only impactful
if you start out knowing nothing
I don't like the sound of that…
Good, you shouldn't
Now shut up and let me speak
.
.
.
The race that you will be given is from the media known as
shounen
It has been chosen to fit the bounds of this world you live in now
Now, as I said previously
You will only achieve this evolution through your own effort
There will be no outside interference
The harder you work, the stronger you will become
It's fairly simple, even for a monkey such as yourself
Finally, I am only going to appear three times
The first is now, when you are born
I am here to explain your purpose and give you meaning
To make it so that you have some worth
to your pathetic existence
.
.
.
It is entirely possible you shall not see me again.
My second appearance will be
when you have achieved your full evolution
Unlikely as that is
When you have fully transcended your human limits
I will appear to explain your limitations and abilities
and remind you of your goal
.
.
.
The third and final visitation is even more unlikely than the second
I shall appear to congratulate you for completing your goal
Once you have achieved the impossible
I shall appear, and congratulate you for your feat
Afterwards you are free to do as you wish
.
.
.
Any Questions?
Ok…
Firstly, why are you calling me monkey?
Humans are monkeys are they not?
Also, it's "thematically appropriate"
according to my superior
More than likely it is because you're less intelligent
than the average primate
Lovely,
Secondly, why me, and why this convoluted system
Because the deities that govern this realm demanded it
Oh, so God wanted me here, that's kinda cool I guess?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Don't ever call those overgrown children God again
Ok… seems a bit excessive
God is a being beyond your comprehension
You moronic mortals has dumbed him down so much
it's actually kind of insulting
What do you mean by that?
God, capital letter G, is literally beyond mortal comprehension
Think of Him like a lovecraft entity that
actually cares for humanity
That's the best way to describe Him in a way you understand
Ok, I'll keep that in mind.
What species am I supposed to become
That is for you to discover
I have been instructed to give you a few hints however
Cool, so what've you got for me?
I was just getting to that
First, you are humanoid
Second, You will be given access to all the abilities and possible
capabilities of your new species
Third, Your appearance will not change drastically
Fourth, You have the capability to become the Strongest
Fifth, You will be limited by the world in order to
"not break the narrative tension"
Lovely.
Finally, what's my goal? You know, the big reason you came here.
Oh, that?
It's fairly simple
Simply impose your will on the world
…
What does THAT mean?
Don't worry, you'll figure it out fairly quickly
Now, it's time for me to head out
Good luck boy, you'll need it
And remember, your life is unlike everyone else's
You actually are guaranteed a chance at a happy ending
Don't waste it
.
.
.
*Ping*
And just like that, the screen that single handedly would set me on my life's path left.
After it left, I finally started paying attention to the rest of the world. I noticed that had been placed in a bassinet in a room with a bunch of other babies
Had I been so out of it while conversing with the screen that I missed out on moving to the room along with all the tests that hospitals do to newborns?
Looks like it.
I stared up at the ceiling, finally able to take a breather. I had had a busy…day? Hour? Period of time that I couldn't measure? Whatever.
Not having much to do, I focused on the important events.
I had been (re?)born
I had some sort of mission to "impose my will on the world" or whatever that meant
My mother had di
My mother was dead
Did I have any family? A father? Siblings? Anyone?
Did I have anything at all?
I don't remember the next few hours, only that I bawled like the baby I was and didn't calm down until they had shoved a few bottles in my mouth. I was somewhat embarrassed that my emotions had gone out of control like that, but I rationalized it as to be expected.
Afterall, I had just lost my mother, the only one I ever knew. I didn't even have the memories of my previous life's mother to comfort me. All I had was the knowledge that I had lost something extremely valuable, and there was nothing that I could do about it. Arguably, this made it worse for me. The only thing that I had was my name, Ryuu, dragon, my memories supplied.
I was back in my bassinet.
I didn't have much to occupy my thoughts so I was staring brainlessly at the TV in the corner. I understood literally nothing that was being said, so all that I got were lots of pretty lights and colors. And lots of funny looking people.
I don't mean people that dress weird, or have a funny face. I mean people that had full on crocodile heads, and ridiculous facial proportions, like Buggy the clown levels of cartoonishness. Maybe I was watching some sort of show? It was kinda weird. Ah whatever….
I stared in shock at the television screen.
There, looking straight at me, was a man that I had seen only in fiction. (I think)
Tall, muscular to a ridiculous degree, a horrible blond hairdo, and a skintight bodysuit.
All Might
The number one hero
And absolutely rock solid evidence that I was in MHA.
….
AH COME ON
WHY DO I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE SHITTY BROCCOLI HEAD AND HIS HALF BAKED IDEAL OF HEROISM? FUCKING SERIOUSLY? IS THIS WHAT YOU MEANT BY "I'LL KNOW" YOU SHITTY SCREEN?!
FU…