MTLNOVEL Chapter 8: 008
Note: Sorry for the rewrite, but I needed to clarify some points. I originally planned to explain this in future chapters, but without context, I think it might be confusing for some readers.
...
...
...
At the top of a mountain, surrounded by a sea of clouds, stood an ancient dojo. Its wooden structure had withstood the passage of time, imposing and solitary. A long stone staircase snaked up to the entrance, a path few dared to tread.
Suddenly, the air in front of the dojo's door distorted. In the blink of an eye, a figure appeared out of nowhere. Yuto lay on the ground, asleep. His breathing was calm, oblivious to his sudden arrival. The morning sun peeked through the clouds and shone directly on his face, warming his skin.
His eyebrow twitched.
"Mmmh…"
With a lazy groan, Yuto turned his body and raised a hand to his face, trying to block the light. But something didn't feel right. His other hand touched the wooden surface beneath him.
"…Huh?"
He blinked a couple of times before fully opening his eyes. The first thing he saw was the blue sky and the wooden beams of a building he didn't recognize. His expression shifted from sleepiness to utter confusion.
"…Where the hell am I?!"
Yuto jumped up suddenly, his heart racing. His eyes frantically scanned the area, searching for something familiar, but all he found was the vast dojo structure and the endless sea of clouds surrounding the mountain.
"Am I… dead and these are the gates to heaven?" he murmured, still trying to process the situation. To confirm his theory, he pinched his arm hard.
"Ah!" He winced as the pain shot through his skin. "I feel very much alive…" he muttered, rubbing the sore spot.
He stood up somewhat awkwardly and resumed inspecting his surroundings. There was no one else at the entrance of the dojo, only him and the quiet mountain breeze. He swallowed hard.
"If this isn't heaven… then where the hell am I?"
Before he could continue questioning himself, a deep voice interrupted the silence.
"Who's making all this noise?"
The sound of a sliding door echoed, and Yuto felt a chill run down his spine. His body instinctively froze, his breath shallow. Slowly, with his heart pounding, he turned his head to see the owner of the voice.
When his eyes landed on the figure emerging from the dojo, his mind went blank.
Gray, messy hair, a calm but sharp gaze like a blade.
Yuto felt as if he were suffocating.
"…It can't be."
It was a face he knew all too well, even though he shouldn't be seeing it in this world.
"Silver Fang…?" he thought, a lump forming in his throat.
But that was impossible. The elderly man raised an eyebrow when he noticed Yuto's reaction.
"Did the mice eat your tongue?" he asked calmly, crossing his arms.
Yuto swallowed hard and took a step back without realizing it. His mind was struggling to find a logical explanation for what he was seeing, but all it could come up with was an absurd conclusion.
"This is a dream… yeah, it must be. There's no other way I'd be standing in front of him."
But everything felt too real: the cool mountain breeze, the warmth of the sun on his skin, everything pointed to the fact that it wasn't a dream. But why was he here? How had he appeared in front of Silver Fang, a character who only existed in the world of One Punch Man, not in My Hero Academia?
Silver Fang sighed, breaking Yuto's stupor.
"If you've climbed all the way up here, at least introduce yourself properly."
Yuto opened his mouth to respond, but his words got stuck in his throat.
"This doesn't make sense…" he thought, looking at the elderly man with a mix of awe and confusion.
But if this was real, then… What was he doing here?
Yuto looked around, trying to find a clue, something that could explain how he had ended up in this place. But there was nothing that suggested this was an illusion or a dream. Everything felt too solid, too real.
"Come on, kid. I don't have all day." Silver Fang's voice snapped Yuto out of his thoughts.
Yuto took a deep breath and decided to get straight to the point.
"This may sound like a strange question, but... do you know Z City?"
Bang, who had been calm up until now, slightly furrowed his brow. His gaze became sharp and inquisitive.
"Z City... of course, I know it."
Yuto's heart stopped for a moment.
Bang continued speaking, but his words turned into background noise. With that simple answer, everything fell into place.
A chill ran down Yuto's spine. Was it true? Was he really in the world of One Punch Man?
He inhaled deeply, trying to collect his thoughts. Not long ago, he had wished to find a master who could guide him, someone who would teach him what he never had the chance to learn. And now, out of nowhere, he was standing in front of Silver Fang.
Wasn't this too convenient?
Yuto narrowed his eyes, his mind sharpening. If this was a dream or an illusion, he would find out sooner or later. But if it was real... he had to make a good impression.
Without hesitation, he activated his ability.
Time rewound by just one second.
He was back just before he asked the question.
"Come on, kid. I don't have all day."
Yuto heard those words again.
This time, he didn't hesitate.
"My name is Yuto. It's an honor to meet you."
He didn't know what else to say. He was never good with manners, but he made an effort.
Silver Fang stared at him with sharp eyes, silently analyzing him.
"Yuto, huh? My name is Bang, but from your expression, it seems you already knew that."
The air thickened between them until the old man let out a small sigh, as if he'd seen this kind of scene before.
"Listen, Yuto-kun. You didn't come here by accident."
He turned around and pointed to the long stone staircase that descended down the mountain.
"This dojo isn't a place for just anyone. If you managed to make it up here, you must have had a reason."
Yuto swallowed.
That was the worst part. He couldn't remember how he had arrived. But that didn't matter. He wasn't going to waste this opportunity.
He closed his eyes for a moment and let out a sigh.
When he opened them again, his gaze was firm.
"Bang-san... you're right. I didn't come here by accident."
To his surprise, he felt the weight of those words in his chest.
The old man raised an eyebrow.
Yuto clenched his fists tightly. His heart was pounding with fury in his chest. Then, without hesitation, he bent his body at a 90-degree angle.
His voice resonated with urgency, but also with unwavering determination.
"Please, make me stronger!"
Bang watched him in silence. He had heard those words many times before, spoken by disciples hungry for power—some with conviction, others with fear. But in Yuto's eyes, he saw something different.
He didn't respond immediately. He simply turned around and began walking toward the dojo's interior with a calm pace.
"Follow me," he said in a serene voice. "Let's talk inside. After all, you've come a long way to get here."
Yuto quickly straightened up and followed Bang with hurried steps, still unable to believe this was happening.
As Yuto followed Bang through the dojo, he passed by a group of disciples training in the courtyard. They were all shirtless, moving in perfect synchronization, executing punches and blocks with precision.
Instinctively, Yuto searched the area for two particular figures: Garou and Charanko. However, he didn't see anyone that matched his memories.
He furrowed his brow. Had he arrived at a point in the story where they weren't here yet?
But what truly unsettled him was something else.
His eyes were fixed on Bang's back as he moved forward. The color of his hair.
From a distance, he could notice that the back of Bang's hair wasn't entirely white. There were darker patches, almost as if the white was starting to appear, not like it had been his natural color.
Yuto's heart raced.
Wasn't Bang older?
As far as he remembered, the old man had completely gray hair, and his face showed clear signs of age. But this Bang... didn't look that old.
Before he could fully process it, Bang stopped in front of a sliding wooden door and calmly slid it open.
"Come in," he said without turning around.
Yuto took a deep breath before crossing the threshold.
Inside, he found himself in a spacious yet simple room, with polished wooden floors. The soft light filtering through the paper windows gave the place a solemn, almost untouchable air.
Bang sat cross-legged on a cushion and gestured for Yuto to do the same. The young man obeyed without a word, feeling how the silence settling between them was heavier than he had expected.
Finally, the old man's deep voice broke the stillness.
"Tell me, Yuto-kun." His tone was calm but firm. "Why do you want to become stronger?"
The question caught him off guard.
What should he say?
"I need to be strong to save the world."
No. Bang would surely ask him to elaborate, and he didn't want to get into details.
Maybe something typical of a shonen protagonist would work better.
He clenched his fists on his knees and, with the best performance he could muster, responded:
"I want to be strong enough to protect what matters to me."
Bang watched him in silence. His sharp eyes studied him, searching for something in his expression.
"And what is it that matters to you?"
Yuto felt a lump in his throat.
He didn't answer.
What did he really care about?
Since he arrived in the My Hero Academia universe, people treated him as if he didn't exist. He didn't care much about others' attention, but that constant indifference had done something to him inside.
He had no friends.He had no loved ones.He had no romantic interests.He had... nothing.
Bang sighed and shook his head. Yuto's silence had given him all the answers. The old man kept his gaze on Yuto for a few more seconds before calmly closing his eyes.
"I see..." he murmured. "So, for now, you don't know what you wish to protect."
He didn't say it with reproach or disappointment, but with a calm certainty, as if he had already expected that answer.
Yuto pressed his lips together. He wanted to argue, to say that it didn't matter, that he just needed to become strong, period. But the words got stuck in his throat.
Because, deep down, he knew Bang was right.
The old man placed his hands on his knees and looked at him seriously.
"Strength without direction only destroys. It can sweep everything in its path, but sooner or later, it collapses on its own."
Yuto lowered his gaze, unsure of what to respond.
Bang didn't press him further. Instead, he stood up with fluid movements and walked toward a wooden shelf in the corner of the room. From one of the compartments, he pulled out a teapot and began preparing tea with the patience of someone who had done this process thousands of times.
As the water bubbled softly, he spoke without looking at him.
"Many come here seeking strength. Some do it for revenge, others for ambition, and a few, out of a sense of duty. But those who truly become strong... are the ones who find their reason."
He placed a cup of tea in front of Yuto, then poured one for himself.
"Perhaps you don't have it yet. And that's okay. You don't need to answer me now."
Yuto wrapped his hands around the hot cup, watching the trembling reflection of the light on the amber liquid's surface.
"But if you truly want to learn," Bang continued, with a slight smile on his lips, "I'll train you. Not because you seek power, but because I want to see what kind of warrior you'll become once you find your way."
The young man lifted his gaze, meeting the old man's eyes and seeing something he hadn't seen in a long time:
Sincerity.
For the first time since arriving in this world... someone believed in him.
And without fully understanding why, that made him clench his fists tightly.
...
...
...
At the top of a building, beneath the cloak of night, a solitary figure watched the city, illuminated by artificial lights. The cool wind stirred his black hair, and his red eyes glowed with an inhuman gleam.
Sukuna.
Or rather, the one who had taken his name.
With his hands in his pockets, he let out a lazy yawn.
"I'm tired of gathering humans for today."
With a careless motion, he pulled out of his pocket a small, amorphous mass with a face. At first glance, anyone would mistake it for a lump of clay, but Sukuna knew exactly what he held in his hands.
He smiled, amused.
"They had interesting gifts..."
He returned the grotesque figures to his pocket. Mahito's technique was fascinating, and there was still much to discover.
His fingers played with the mass for a moment before putting it back.
From his vantage point, the urban landscape stretched as far as the eye could see. The city, with its chaos disguised as normalcy, seemed insignificant from up there.
Sukuna exhaled slowly.
It was incredible. All of this...
His mind involuntarily drifted to the day he had arrived in this world. That moment when everything changed, when he left behind his old identity and embraced his new destiny.
...
...
Three years ago...
A boy with silvery-blue hair and eyes of the same shade stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. His expression was a mix of disbelief and restrained excitement.
"So... I've really reincarnated, huh?"
His own lips spoke those words, but his mind was still processing the reality.
He wasn't just any ordinary boy. Inside, he carried the memories of his past life. He had woken up only a few hours ago, and though panic initially flooded him, he soon realized his situation. As a true otaku, he understood immediately.
"I've reincarnated into My Hero Academia..."
His reflection stared back at him as he analyzed the information he had gathered. His new name was Sora Arata, the son of a wealthy family. His parents seemed kind, his home was luxurious, and to his fortune... he had a powerful quirk.
He couldn't remember how he had died, but... what did it matter?
"Many would kill to be in my place."
He crossed his arms, letting out a chuckle.
It wasn't that he hated the series, but... there were better worlds. More exciting ones. He thought about High School DxD, One Piece, Tensura... worlds where power had no limits and the girls were on another level.
"Well, I guess I'll have to settle for the girls in My Hero Academia."
His smile turned perverted as he imagined everything that could happen in the future.
Beautiful girls, powerful abilities, fame, and glory.
Ding.
A translucent screen appeared in front of his eyes.
[Loading Reincarnation System...]
Sora's eyes widened.
A system?
First a rich family, then a powerful quirk...
And now a system?
A thrilled smile spread across his face.
"Today is my lucky day."
Sora Arata walked out of the bathroom, a mix of excitement and anticipation on his face, never taking his eyes off the translucent panel floating in front of him.
[Welcome to the Reincarnation System!] Congratulations! As a new user, you've been selected to receive a Starter Kit.
Please choose an option:
Kit 1. Kit 2. Kit 3.
Sora narrowed his eyes. "Seriously? They don't even tell me what each one has?"
The system was cruel, but by choosing randomly, he still had a chance of getting something incredible.
"Let's go with... number two."
The screen glowed, and a new window emerged.
[Starter Kit: Jujutsu Kaisen]
You've obtained:
Mahito's Technique - Idle TransfigurationRyomen Sukuna's Cursed Energy ReservesSukuna's Cursed Technique - Cleave and DismantleSatoru Gojo's Infinity Technique
Sora felt his breath catch. His eyes scanned the screen over and over, making sure he wasn't seeing things wrong.
His jaw dropped.
"W-What...?!"
He almost screamed from excitement, but quickly covered his mouth to avoid alerting his parents. "Are you telling me I just got the most broken abilities from Jujutsu Kaisen all at once?!"
He wanted to shout, jump, and run around in excitement. He had Mahito's technique, Sukuna's energy, Sukuna's cursed technique, and on top of that, Gojo's Infinity!
"I'm invincible!"
He took a deep breath to calm himself. He knew that the world of My Hero Academia was dangerous, but with this power... no one could stop him.
At that moment, another notification appeared.
System Explanation:
This system works under a gacha mechanic. You can acquire new abilities from different worlds, techniques, and upgrades by spending XP.
Normal Gacha: 200 XP.Legendary Gacha: 500 XP.Mythical Gacha: 1000 XP.
XP is earned through training, battles, and achievements.
Sora felt a chill of excitement. If he was already broken with just one kit, what kind of abilities could he get from the gacha?
—If this keeps up... I'll become a monster.
But just when he thought things couldn't get better, he noticed something in the corner of the panel.
[Worlds]
His eyes lit up. World travel?
Without thinking twice, he tried to tap the option, but an alert popped up.
[Restricted Access]To unlock world travel, you must reach Level 100.
Sora's eyes gleamed.
"W-So I can travel to other worlds?!"
A thrill ran down his spine. This wasn't just an upgrade system! It was a pass to travel to any world!
"If I reach level 100... I can leave this world of losers and jump to a more exciting one."
One Piece, Tensura, High School DxD... he could choose his next destination and take all the power he gained here with him.
But of course, before leaving, he'd have to take a few girls from My Hero Academia with him.
A sly smile spread across his face.
"My rise starts now."
...
...
Sukuna's eyes snapped open, ending the memory. His red pupils scanned the city one last time before his hand moved toward his inventory. With a fluid motion, he pulled out a uniquely designed kunai.
The weapon had a sharp, sturdy blade, with a hilt wrapped in black bandages. Along the metal, small inscriptions glowed faintly under the moonlight.
In the blink of an eye, Sukuna vanished.
The air hummed with his departure, and in the next moment, he reappeared in a dark room.
"Hiraishin no Jutsu is really useful," he murmured with a satisfied smile.
He moved calmly until he stopped in front of a mirror. He stared at his reflection for a few seconds... and then, his appearance began to change.
His black hair turned a grayish-blue, his red eyes lightened to a piercing blue. His skin took on a youthful glow, and the sharp features of his face softened, transforming into a more attractive, younger appearance.
From the dangerous Sukuna... he became Sora Arata again.