Ubuntu stood amidst the jagged stones of the unfamiliar landscape, the storm crackling in the dark sky above him like the universe was whispering in warning. Yet, he didn't feel fear. Not anymore. The boy who had once been Lumumba, the boy who had cowered in the shadows of his school, his town, his very existence—that boy was dead.
What remained was something different. Something reborn.
He clenched his fists, feeling the power coursing through his veins—like a slow-burning fire, simmering just beneath his skin. It was exhilarating, intoxicating even. Every breath he took felt lighter, sharper, as if the very air was feeding him energy. He looked down at his hands again, the same hands that had once been powerless, weak, useless. Now they felt unstoppable. He flexed his fingers, and with each motion, he could sense the raw strength contained within him.
I'm different now. The realization hit him like a jolt. I'm not trapped anymore. I'm not their victim. I can... do anything.
But what exactly was this place? The eerie, purple-streaked sky above gave off an unnatural glow, casting long shadows across the jagged terrain. In the distance, a towering fortress rose from the horizon, its silhouette black against the swirling clouds, spires twisting into impossible angles.
Looks like something straight out of a bad fantasy novel, Ubuntu thought, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smirk. He started walking, his footsteps echoing against the stone, the terrain crunching beneath his boots.
Wait.
Boots?
Ubuntu looked down at his feet, realizing that the tattered school uniform and sneakers he had been wearing moments ago were gone. In their place, a sleek, dark outfit clung to his body—some kind of form-fitting combat gear, a cross between tactical armor and something out of a video game. A pair of black, armored boots completed the look, each one glinting faintly in the dim light. He took a moment to admire it.
"Huh," he muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Guess this world has a fashion sense."
His voice echoed back at him, carried by the wind. For the first time in a long while, he felt a strange sense of freedom—not just from the chains of his old life, but from something deeper. I'm not playing by their rules anymore.
Suddenly, a deep, resonant chuckle echoed through his mind again. You catch on fast.
Ubuntu's smirk widened. "Yeah, well, I've had enough time to figure out the game."
Indeed, the voice replied, its tone almost...amused. You are no longer bound by the limitations of your old world. Here, you can rewrite the script as you see fit.
Ubuntu took in his surroundings again, eyes scanning the strange landscape. The towering fortress in the distance was the most noticeable landmark, but around him, small creatures scuttled in the shadows—watching him. He could feel their eyes on him, hungry, waiting for something. The place was alive with a dangerous energy, as if every inch of it was waiting to test him, to challenge his newfound strength.
He sighed, rolling his shoulders and loosening his neck with a slow crack. "Alright. I get it. New world, new rules. But let me guess—there's a catch."
There always is, the voice purred. You have power, yes. But power alone is never enough. Not here. You'll need to survive, to adapt. And most importantly... The voice paused, as if savoring the moment. You'll need to conquer.
Ubuntu's eyes narrowed, the storm above reflecting in the dark irises. "Conquer, huh? So, what? I just go around beating the crap out of whatever gets in my way?"
If that's how you wish to play it. This world, like your old one, is full of rules. But unlike there... here, you get to decide which rules to follow. And which to break.
He felt a ripple of excitement run through him at the thought. No boundaries. No limits. The weak would cower. The strong would fall. He could reshape this place—bend it to his will. He could be anything here. A king. A god. But first…
He cracked his knuckles. "First, let's see what this body can do."
As if in response, the ground trembled beneath him. From the shadows, the creatures lurking in the distance finally made their move. A low growl echoed through the air, followed by the unmistakable sound of claws scraping against stone. From the edges of his vision, dark, spindly figures emerged—twisted, nightmarish beasts with sharp, glistening fangs and glowing red eyes. Their skin was a grotesque blend of scales and fur, their bodies rippling with sinewy muscle.
"Ah, there it is," Ubuntu muttered with a grin. "The welcoming committee."
The largest of the creatures let out a bloodcurdling screech and charged at him, its massive claws raised, ready to tear him apart.
Without thinking, Ubuntu's body moved. His instincts kicked in, faster than his mind could process. In one fluid motion, he sidestepped the creature's attack, spinning around with precision. Before the beast could recover, Ubuntu's fist collided with its ribcage, sending a shockwave of force through its body. The sound of bone crunching echoed through the air, and the creature was launched backward, slamming into the jagged rocks with a sickening thud.
It didn't get back up.
Ubuntu blinked, flexing his hand. No pain. No strain. Just raw, untamed power.
"Well, damn," he muttered. "That's new."
The other creatures hesitated, snarling and snapping their jaws, but there was a flicker of something else in their red eyes now. Caution. Fear.
Ubuntu took a step forward, rolling his shoulders. "Come on, then. Let's make this interesting."
They attacked all at once—a mass of claws, teeth, and furious howls. But to Ubuntu, it was almost too easy. His body moved like a well-oiled machine, dodging, countering, and striking with lethal efficiency. Every hit was precise, every movement fluid, as if he'd been training for this his whole life. In moments, the ground was littered with the twitching bodies of the beasts, their blood pooling at his feet.
He stood in the center of the carnage, his breathing steady, not a single scratch on him.
"Well, that was...disappointing," he said, wiping his hands on his pants. "Is this all this world's got?"
You're just getting started, the voice purred in his mind, almost playful. The real challenges are still ahead.
Ubuntu's eyes drifted back to the towering fortress in the distance. "I'm guessing they're in there?"
Perhaps. Or perhaps they're already on their way to meet you.
As if on cue, the sky above crackled with a loud burst of energy. Ubuntu looked up, narrowing his eyes as a dark figure descended from the clouds, hovering in mid-air. The figure was cloaked in shadow, its features obscured by a black, flowing robe. But its eyes—glowing a pale, sickly green—were unmistakable. They were locked onto Ubuntu with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine.
"Let me guess," Ubuntu said, his grin returning. "You're the first boss?"
The figure didn't respond. It simply raised one hand, and in an instant, the ground beneath Ubuntu's feet shattered. Dark tendrils of energy shot up from the earth, wrapping around his legs and pulling him down with the force of a tidal wave.
For a split second, pain flared through his body as the tendrils tightened, threatening to crush him. But then—nothing. His body healed. Instantly.
Ubuntu smirked, his teeth flashing in the eerie light. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."
He broke free from the tendrils with a burst of raw strength, launching himself into the air toward the hovering figure. His fist glowed with a dark, fiery energy, the sheer force of his momentum creating a sonic boom in his wake.
The figure raised its hand again, but it was too late. Ubuntu's fist collided with the figure's chest, and the air exploded with a deafening roar.
"Is that the best this world has to offer?" he muttered, his voice filled with exhilaration. But as he looked up, the storm clouds swirled ominously, and from the darkness, dozens of figures began to emerge, each more terrifying than the last.
Ubuntu's grin widened.
"Alright then...let's play."