January 10th ?:

Countless shadows stretched out across every nook and cranny of an isolated cave located in the Great-Jura-Forest. Diamonds of various worth twinkled a brilliant light amidst the total darkness of the cavern.

Small particles of cold water slid off the ends of numerous stalactites above an unconscious body. Four vermillion eyes wrenched themselves open in an instant once touched by the particles of water.

Ryomen Sukuna had been awakened by the cold sensation upon his tattooed face. A mere moment later, a multitude of endless memories and unforgettable experiences deluged his dazed head.

Memories about a mundane teenage boy filled his befuddled mind. Sukuna groaned to himself in avid annoyance, grabbed his head, fell onto the uncomfortable surface of the cave, and rubbed his forehead.

What had happened to him? Sukuna repositioned himself to his feet, sitting down on a small boulder close to him. The last memory his mind could recall was him being stuck in some type of hospital bed.

Chin cupped in one of his hands, Sukuna thought. "What the hell happened to me? I was supposed to be in the hospital for surgery…"

Hopping off of the boulder he was sat on, Sukuna landed on the cold terrain of the sequestered cavern around him. Another detail about this entire situation had confused him—why was he so calm about it?

[Notice.] Sukuna jolted at the foreign voice in his mind. [Individual called Ryomen Sukuna is under the effect of Extra-Skill: Emotion-Control.]

Teeth clicked together in confusion, Sukuna sucked in a small breath. "Would you mind telling me who the hell you are, voice?"

[Answer.] The foreign voice responded. [I am Unique-Skill: Kamutoke. I named myself after one of the weapons owned by Ryomen Sukuna.]

Deciding to make himself comfortable on the ground, Sukuna asked. "Would you mind telling me what the fuck happened in that surgery?"

Kamutoke paused for a brief second. [Complications during surgery for your brain had arisen. Death was the only outcome for you.]

Having crossed his legs, Sukuna nodded in response. "That's cool and all. But why the hell am I in the body of Ryomen Sukuna, huh?!"

[Your mind had an innate desire to survive.] Kamutoke said. [Your soul called out to the powers of the world to have a second chance at life.]

Sukuna was confused. "I can understand my mind wanting to survive. But that doesn't explain why I had to reincarnate into Sukuna's body."

[I looked into your memories to pick a new form for you.] Kamutoke's voice was emotionless. [I deemed this form the most suitable for you.]

Sukuna sighed. "Yeah, I'm a fan of Jujutsu-Kaisen and Sukuna. But, tell me, what possessed you to give me Sukuna's body of all bodies?"

Silence was Kamutoke's answer. It then spoke. [Correction. You have been reborn into Yuji Itadori's body when Ryomen Sukuna controls it.]

Sukuna sighed for the second time. "Whatever. Can you at least tell me what these skills you mentioned are and where the heck I am?"

[Of course.] Kamutoke buzzed in Sukuna's mind. [Skills are a special ability each lifeform has—they come in different shapes and forms.]

[For your second question.] Kamutoke trailed off. [You have been reborn into the world of 'That-Time-I-Got-Reincarnated-As-A-Slime.']

A low breath of frustration was Sukuna's response. "Tensura? Isn't that the light novel series Robert recommended for me to read?"

"Fuck." Sukuna's clawed fingers tapped the ground in annoyance. "I never got around to reading Tensura because of procrastination…"

[Notice.] Kamutoke's impassive voice said. [Do you want me to tell you what skills you have been given upon your rebirth into this realm?]

Slouching his shoulders in some irritation, Sukuna inclined his head. "Sure. I still can't believe how calm I am about this entire situation."

[Extra-Skill: Emotion-Control.] Kamutoke spoke. [Emotion-Control regulates the emotions of the user to ensure they remain calm.]

[Intrinsic-Skill: Cursed-Magicules.] Kamutoke announced. [Instead of usual magicules, your magicules have a cursed attribute to them.]

"Oh?" Sukuna scratched his head, contemplative. "Are Cursed-Magicules a replacement of cursed-energy for this body?"

[Indeed.] Kamutoke responded. [Cursed-energy does not exist in this world. To make up for it, your magicules gained a cursed attribute.]

[Unique-Skill: Laceration.] Sukuna felt a mental smirk from the voice. [Laceration is split into two types of slashes—Cleave and Dismantle.]

Sukuna lurched from his position in the cavern. "Cleave and Dismantle? Wait, does that mean I can also use Malevolent-Shrine?"

[Yes.] Kamutoke kept its tone unemotional. [Malevolent-Shrine is one of the features of the Unique-Skill: Laceration. You must train for it.]

[Unique-Skill: Ten-Shadows.] Kamutoke declared. [Ten-Shadows gives you the ability to summon ten powerful creatures called Shikigami.]

[Side effect of skill.] Kamutoke paused for what Sukuna assumed was dramatic effect. [You must tame these creatures in a taming ritual.]

Four vermillion eyes widened in shock. "How the hell do I have Ten-Shadows?! This body is Yuji's body when Sukuna is controlling it."

Maintaining its patience, Kamutoke said. [Unique-Skill: Ten-Shadows was born when your mind and soul both called out to this world.]

[Extra-Skill: Magic-Sense.]

[Common-Skill: Thought-Communication.] Kamutoke spoke. [Your soul's innate desire to have friends is what gave you this one skill.]

"You're pretty much telling me I have no friends." Sukuna's hand twitched in irritation. "Not like you have any friends either, Kamutoke."

[Extra-Skill: Soul-Perception.] Kamutoke ignored its vessel of sorts. [You are capable of perceiving the contour of the soul like Yuji Itadori.]

Eye-brow raised in fascination, Sukuna pondered aloud. "I doubt the ability to see the soul will be useful in this world. Or maybe it will?"

[Since you also have Yuji Itadori's body.] Kamutoke explained to him. [Yuji Itadori's abilities have been converted into skills for you to use.]

[Unique-Skill: Blood-Manipulation.] Kamutoke said. [Unique-Skill: Blood-Manipulation lets the user control their own blood to the limit.]

Sukuna touched his chin. "Blood-Manipulation, Ten-Shadows, and then Cleave and Dismantle? So many damn Cursed-Techniques."

"Why did you name yourself Kamutoke?" Sukuna asked the voice in his head. "What, can you turn into the weapon form of Kamutoke?"

[Affirmative.] Blue particles spun around Sukuna's hand, morphing into the form of a dagger-like weapon. [I can discharge electricity.]

The weapon in Sukuna's hand disappeared in a hurricane of blue particles. Sukuna blinked. "At least I have a weapon to fall back on."

Fascinated, Sukuna spoke into his mind. "Do I have any other skills? Most of these abilities are going to be useful if I get into any trouble."

[I have listed all of your skills.] Kamutoke responded. [However, the Intrinsic-Skill: Cursed-Magicules can be used in many unique ways.]

Realization graced Sukuna's tattooed features. "Of course. Since this skill replaces cursed-energy, I can learn Reverse-Cursed-Technique!"

[Affirmative.] Kamutoke said, tone blank. [Reverse-Cursed-Technique can be mastered because of your Intrinsic-Skill: Cursed-Magicules.]

"Thanks, Kamutoke." Sukuna positioned himself onto his feet. "No more moping around, I suppose. I should get used to these skills."

[Indeed, it is best to master your abilities.] Sukuna could feel Kamutoke nod somehow. [Soul-Perception has been activated.]

"Everything feels fine." Adjusting to his upgraded vision, Sukuna clenched his fists. "Kamutoke, do I have to worry about hunger?"

[No.] Kamutoke's response was simple, sweet, and short. [You are a member of a unique branch of humans called Demonic-Humans.]

[Demonic-Humans' bodies ignore the less convenient traits a normal human has.] Kamutoke said. [You will never feel hungry or thirsty.]

[Your body retains its taste-buds if you want to sample food.] Kamutoke elaborated. [But you will not die from hunger or thirst at all.]

Smirking to himself, Sukuna laughed a little. "That's a relief. I guess there's no point in wasting any more time. Let's practice these skills."

(-)

January 20th ?:

Chunks of scattered stone and rock were strewn across the cold surface of an enormous cave. Sukuna was seated on some kind of ledge, legs crossed in boredom and eyes closed in concentration.

Sukuna had been training his utilization over his cursed magicules for the last ten days in this enormous cavern. One of the abilities he had mastered was Divergent-Fist.

To ensure he would reach a suitable level of power, Sukuna had also practised his basic manipulation of his cursed magicules. Sukuna had been satisfied by these two decent developments in his power.

The area he was in was covered in these herbs called Hipokute-Grass—a rare type of herb found in places filled by a dense concentration of normal magicules. Sukuna opened his four eyes.

From what Kamutoke had told him, Sukuna deduced members of the Demonic-Human species leaked out a strange type of sensation—a sensation that had most monsters keeping their distance from him.

Flipping off of the ledge he was on, Sukuna dove into a deeper section of the cavern he had awakened in. An abundance of magic ores surrounded Sukuna within the new area of the cave he had landed in.

Despite his lineage as a Demonic-Human, Sukuna had been ambushed by a few powerful monsters. Since he had the Extra-Skill: Emotion-Control, killing these monsters was no burden to his mind.

Sukuna ventured into the absolute darkness ahead of him, footfalls somewhat composed and silent. Halting in his tracks, Sukuna heard Kamutoke's voice ring in his ears. [I detect two entities close to us.]

Hands slid into his pockets, Sukuna snorted in surprise. "That's a shocker. I thought most of these monsters would steer clear of me."

[Notice.] Kamutoke said. [These two entities I have detected have powerful reserves of magicules. I advise you to be vigilant of them.]

Trekking onwards on the path he stood on, Sukuna replied. "Understood. Though, I am curious about who those two could be."

Sukuna reached the sector of the cavern where Kamutoke had sensed the presence of two anomalous creatures. Shocked by the sight in front of him, Sukuna kept himself hidden. "Who are they…?"

Without even waiting for Sukuna's permission, Kamutoke announced. [Common-Skill: Thought-Communication has now been activated.]

[Link between Ryomen Sukuna and two unknown individuals has been established.] Kamutoke said. [Good luck, Ryomen Sukuna.]

Kamutoke faded into silence while Sukuna's thoughts were broadcasted to the enormous dragon and the small slime. Jolting a little, the dragon yelled into his mind. "Oh?! Another person is here!"

Sukuna remained hidden. The dragon huffed. "There is no point in trying to conceal yourself from me—I'm Veldora, the storm dragon!"

"Just what the hell is this situation?" Sukuna groused, walking out from behind an average boulder. "So, are you gonna eat me or something?"

Offended by this accusation, Veldora bellowed out. "Of course not! Why would you think that?!"

"Give me a damn break." Sukuna crossed his arms. "I just got reincarnated into this body—so cut me a little slack, would you?"

A third voice interrupted the conversation. "Wait! Wait! Wait!" The slime shook his body. "You also got reincarnated into this world?!"

"No point in hiding it, I guess." Sukuna murmured to himself. "Yep, I died during some stupid brain surgery. I should sue that hospital…"

The slime deflated a little. "That's a bummer. I got stabbed to death. How old were you? I was your everyday thirty-seven year old man!"

Slapping the temple of his head to remember, Sukuna hummed. "I think I was either fifteen or sixteen around the time of my death."

To lighten up the mood more, the slime inflated his body to increase his height. "Fifteen? That makes me your senior by twenty-two years!"

"That also makes you a geezer, you old man." Sukuna smirked down at the slime. "What country were you from? I was from the United-Kingdom."

"Japan!" The slime was enthusiastic in his answer. "I'm just glad I met someone else from earth! Good to have you here!"

Veldora turned his back on them, sulking. "You two should talk some more. Not like the powerful storm dragon is here or anything, hmph…"

Returning to his usual demeanour, Veldora said. "I do find it strange the two of you reincarnated in this world, that's not the normal way."

"Huh." Sukuna glanced at the ginormous dragon, interested. "You're telling me there's a normal way for people to come to this world?"

"Of course!" Veldora was happy to share this information. "Those people are called Otherworlders—their desires give them abilities."

"I guess that's where my skills come from." The slime listened in on their discussion. "What about you? Did you get any special skills?"

Nodding at the slime, Sukuna said into his mind. "I got this weird voice in my head who listed down all of these so-called 'skills' I've received."

"Same." The slime corrected himself a moment later. "No! I wasn't trying to call you weird, Great-Sage! I was making conversation!"

Cutting off the rambling slime, Sukuna told the dragon. "I'm kind of curious about why the 'storm dragon' is hiding out in this cavern."

The slime reoriented himself and nodded. "Same! You mentioned earlier you had been sealed before our friend over here arrived."

"Sealed?" Sukuna lifted his eye-brows in mild astonishment. "Who the hell would have enough power to seal a damn dragon into a cave?"

Excited to share his tale, Veldora puffed his chest out. "It was three hundred years ago! And, by accident, I burned down an entire town!"

"Two questions." Sukuna raised his hand up like he was in school. "How old are you? And how do you burn an entire town by accident?"

Annoyed, Veldora ignored the reincarnated child. "No interruptions! So, of course, someone approached me to slay me for my actions!"

"Halfway into the battle, I used my full strength." Veldora paused to create a semblance of dramatic tension. "But I still lost somehow!"

Whispering to the slime in his mind, Sukuna snorted. "Why the hell did I expect him to tell us how he defeated his opponent without trouble?"

"Same." The slime's body moved around a little in agreement. "I was thinking that he was going to say it took the entire planet to beat him."

"But whoever beat you sounds powerful." The slime said. "I mean, you look like you're pretty strong. So beating you must be impressive."

"Indeed!" Veldora chuckled at the two of them. "The humans called her a hero—blessed by divine protection. Her Unique-Skill defeated me!"

Eager to tell them more, Veldora shouted out into his head. "She then sealed me away by using Unlimited-Imprisonment! It was glorious!"

"So." The slime slithered across the area in a circle. "Is that shiny stuff around you this Unlimited-Imprisonment? That's what sealed you?"

Curious, Sukuna planted his palm onto the barricade that trapped the dragon. "Kamutoke—help me out here and activate Cleave on this."

[Notice.] Kamutoke buzzed in Sukuna's mind. [Your Unique-Skill: Laceration is not strong enough to disrupt Unlimited-Imprisonment.]

Unknowing of Sukuna's intentions, Veldora said. "The hero called herself a Summon—something rather different from Otherworlders."

"Different from Otherworlders?" The slime created a question mark from the top of his body. "How is a Summon different from them?"

"It takes more than thirty mages to perform a ritual that lasts several days to bring a Summon here from whatever world they're from."

Both the slime and Sukuna paused at the mention of magicians. The slime was excited. "Sweet! You're telling me this place has mages?!"

Despite the interruption in his explanation, Veldora forged on. "These Summons are supposed to be a weapon for those that they serve."

"A curse is carved into the Summon's soul." Veldora lowered his head. "This stops the Summon from ever defying the one they call master."

"I should be able to perceive this curse." Sukuna scratched his chin. "My Extra-Skill: Soul-Perception lets me see the contours of the soul."

"Whoa, that sounds useful." The slime looked over at the dragon. "But that sounds really messed up, man! Don't they lose their free will?!"

"Is it really messed up?" Veldora raised an imaginary eye-brow. "In this world, all that matters for most creatures is survival of the fittest."

Heart pumping, Sukuna touched his chest. "Why the hell does that excite my body so much? My heart's beating faster than normal…"

"Moving on." The slime tilted his body to the left. "So you've been stuck in here since that hero sealed you three-hundred years ago?"

Sukuna cut into the chat to pitch in his opinion of the situation. "I would get bored in less than a week. There's nothing to do in this cavern."

"You understand!" Veldora pointed a claw down at the reincarnated child. "I've been so lonely and bored for the last hundreds of years!"

"Damn." The slime had somehow sweated. "And I thought I had been lonely because I never had even one girlfriend in my previous life."

Deciding to remind the slime, Sukuna laughed. "You do remember the two of us can still hear you? You're broadcasting that information out."

"Hey!" The slime shouted at Sukuna in response. "Ignoring what I said, how about the three of us become friends! Since we're all lonely!"

"Not like I had many friends in my previous life." Sukuna shrugged. "I'm down to become friends if the two of you want to be, sure."

"Are you two serious?!" Veldora roared out. "You think the storm dragon wants to befriend a mere slime and a mutated human?!"

The slime trembled at the volume of Veldora's voice. "My bad! My bad! That does sound stupid! I guess we'll leave you out of this, Veldora."

Having lurched forward, Veldora corrected himself. "Hold on! I never said I didn't want to befriend the two of you! Let's not get too hasty!"

Arms crossed in amusement, Sukuna snorted. "You're really bad at hiding your enthusiasm. Maybe we should just leave him, slime."

"Hold on!" Veldora said for the second time. "Didn't I just say I wasn't against befriending the two of you! The three of us can be friends!"

"I'll make an exception for the two of you!" Veldora chuckled, acting as though he had planned all of this. "Be honoured, strange human and slime!"

Rolling his non-existent eyes, the slime extended the side of his body out for a fist-bump of sorts. "Put it there, pals! We're all friends now!"

"Yes, pal." Veldora was awkward in his pronunciation of this terminology. "I suppose the three of us are friends from now on."

"Isn't this my lucky day?" Sukuna remained sarcastic—but stretched his muscled arm out for a fist-bump. "Pleasure to meet you two."

Retracting his left side from the fist-bump, the slime hummed. "What should we do about this Unlimited-Imprisonment, though?"

"Kamutoke." Sukuna severed the mental connection between him and his friends. "How can I remove this Unlimited-Imprisonment barrier?"

The slime consulted Great-Sage about methods to remove the Unlimited-Imprisonment used to trap Veldora. Annoyed by the silence, Veldora huffed at them, turned his head away from them, and waited.

[Method retrieved.] Kamutoke announced. [Mahoraga can adapt to the Unlimited-Imprisonment to break the storm dragon out of this prison.]

Sukuna was unimpressed. "You do realize I haven't tamed Mahoraga yet? So I can't use its adaptation-based ability on Veldora's seal."

Having re-established their mental connection, Sukuna heard the slime cheer. "Alright! Veldora, we have to scan the seal from both sides!"

"Once both sides have been scanned, we might be able to remove it." The slime glanced at Sukuna, smug. "Guess who figured it out first!"

"Shut up." Sukuna grunted at the slime—who maintained his smug demeanour. "I already had a method—but it wouldn't really work."

Interrupting them, Veldora said. "I can't analyze it from my side. The hero also sealed away my skills—so I won't be able to help much."

"Give me the data and I'll analyze it from my side." The slime replied. "Maybe the kid and I can split the data to analyze it faster."

"That would still take a while." Veldora moved his head to the right, whistling a sad tune. "I wouldn't want to keep you two here for long."

"True." The slime trailed off for a moment. "Besides him over here, I was hoping to find others from my world—maybe people from Japan."

"I guess your method wasn't the best one." Sukuna laughed. "Who's the smug one now? I'm sure Kamutoke can figure out another plan."

Shaking his body at Sukuna, the slime responded. "Now! Now! I've already created another plan to free Veldora from this prison of his!"

"Veldora—how about you get in my stomach?"

"Huh?!" Sukuna blinked all four of his eyes at the slime, baffled. "Are you really hungry to the point where you'd eat this dragon?!"

"No!" The slime defended himself. "My two skills—Great-Sage and Predator—can be used to analyze the Unlimited-Imprisonment seal."

"Meanwhile." The slime said. "Veldora can try to destroy it from the inside! He'll be safe from the inside of my slime stomach, of course!"

The two reincarnated creatures waited for Veldora's response. All of a sudden, the surface beneath them shook from the intensity of Veldora's laughter as he shouted. "Yes! That could be interesting!"

Inclining his head at his two friends, Veldora somehow grinned. "Do it! I trust you, my two buddies and pals! This could cure my boredom!"

"Perfect!" The slime hopped onto Sukuna's shoulder. "I'll use Predator to take you into my stomach, then! I'll have Great-Sage analyze—!"

Veldora stopped the slime. "Wait a moment! Since I'll be stuck in your stomach for the foreseeable future, I'd like to give you two names."

"I think you should also give me one!" Veldora then elaborated. "By doing this, it engraves the fact that the three of us are all equals!"

"I think humans would call it a family name of sorts." Veldora stretched his wings out in excitement. "It shall be engraved into our three souls!"

Patting himself on the chest, Veldora said. "The name I offer the two of you will give my divine protection! You are still nameless right now!"

"Once I name you, you will be a monster who has a name." Veldora turned to Sukuna, unsure. "I'm not positive of how a name would work on you."

"Don't worry about naming me!" Sukuna pointed an index finger at his face. "I forgot to introduce myself—my name is Ryomen Sukuna."

"Good name." Veldora nodded, then told the slime. "Give me a good name! It should embody the strength of the storm dragon—Veldora!"

After some contemplation, the slime decided. "You are the storm dragon! So, I was thinking, how about we use the name Tempest for you?"

Sukuna stumbled a little once Veldora rose to his full height. "Tempest?! That's fantastic! From now on, I am Veldora Tempest!"

"And you!" Veldora leaned down towards the slime. "From here on out, you shall go by the name of Rimuru Tempest! One of my new friends!"

Rimuru Tempest's body glowed an aureate sheen. "Somehow—it feels like the name of Rimuru Tempest has been engraved upon my soul…"

Moving his bright gaze to Sukuna, Veldora chuckled. "Don't think I'll leave you out, my friend. You shall be Ryomen Tempest Sukuna!"

"A middle name, huh?" Sukuna scratched his chin, feeling the contours of his soul alter themselves a little. "Smart idea from you."

"Time to eat you!" Rimuru wasted no time, expanding his body to the limit and consuming the dragon in his entirety. "We'll meet again."

In the middle of being consumed, Veldora nodded. "Of course! You two better have some fun stories to tell me of your time in this realm!"

"Don't worry." Sukuna smirked at the dragon. "Rimuru and I will be sure to have some interesting shit to tell you once you're unsealed."

[Shall I analyze the Unique-Skill: Unlimited-Imprisonment?] Great-Sage asked the slime. [I recommend to begin the analysis now.]

Rimuru nodded. "Analyze away, Great-Sage. Things are gonna be a little quiet without Veldora roaring at us every three seconds, huh?"

"I'm gonna miss him." Sukuna felt Rimuru jump back onto his shoulder. "Let me guess, you're going to use me as transport?"

"Yep!" Rimuru manipulated his slime-constructed body to produce a hand to slap Sukuna on the back. "I'm counting on you, buddy!"

Sukuna had Rimuru hop off of his shoulder a second later. Fists clenched in excitement, Sukuna and his friend walked deeper into the cave to get to its entrance.

This was going to be fun.