Yuto Akiyama's body felt like it had been torn apart and reassembled by a clumsy artisan. His head throbbed, his vision blurred, and when he finally opened his eyes, the scene before him was nothing short of alien. A red sky stretched endlessly above him, streaked with fiery clouds. Two suns blazed down on a barren expanse of cracked earth, making the air shimmer with heat.

He blinked, his hand instinctively rising to shield his eyes. That's when he noticed it—his arm. The limb wasn't the skinny, overworked appendage he'd grown accustomed to after years of paperwork and late nights in the office. It was thicker, more muscular, as if he'd spent his entire life in rigorous training.

"What the…?" His voice came out rough, unfamiliar. Panic surged through him as he looked down at himself. His body was massive, his chest adorned with strange armor that fit snugly around his torso. It was black with white accents, designed for combat, not comfort.

But the most shocking detail was the furry tail coiled tightly around his waist. He reached for it hesitantly, touching the soft fur. The moment his fingers made contact, a jolt of pain shot up his spine, making him wince.

"A tail? What the hell is going on?"

He took a shaky step forward, scanning the horizon for any signs of life. His memories were fragmented, like pieces of a shattered mirror. He remembered the screech of tires, the terrified face of a child, and the bright headlights of a truck. He'd died. He was sure of it. So how was he here?

The ground beneath him rumbled, pulling him out of his thoughts. In the distance, a massive figure emerged—a tiger-like beast as large as a small house. Its fur burned with flames, and its eyes glowed like molten lava.

"What kind of nightmare is this?" Yuto whispered, his legs trembling. The beast roared, its deafening cry echoing across the barren plain.

It charged, the ground shaking with each step. Yuto's instincts screamed at him to run, but his body refused to move. He clenched his fists, trying to summon courage from somewhere deep inside.

The tiger leaped into the air, its claws glinting menacingly in the sunlight. At that moment, something primal awakened within Yuto. His body moved on its own, sidestepping the attack with a speed that surprised even him. The tiger's claws struck the ground, sending debris flying.

"I'm faster?" Yuto muttered, staring at his hands. They didn't feel like his own, yet they responded perfectly to his commands.

The tiger roared again, swinging its tail like a whip. Yuto ducked, the movement fluid and instinctive. His mind raced. He had no idea how to fight this thing, but his body seemed to know what to do.

"Alright, let's see what you've got," he said, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through him.

The tiger lunged again, and this time, Yuto met it head-on. He swung his fist with all his might, aiming for the beast's jaw. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, and the tiger was thrown backward, crashing into a nearby rock formation.

Yuto stumbled back, staring at his trembling hand. "Did I… do that?"

The tiger wasn't done. It rose to its feet, growling lowly. Flames erupted from its body, intensifying with each passing second. Yuto's heart pounded as the beast prepared for another charge.

He felt a strange energy building within him, like a coiled spring ready to snap. His palms tingled, and when he looked down, he saw faint sparks of blue light dancing across his fingers.

"What is this?"

The tiger roared, charging with renewed fury. Yuto didn't think—he acted. He extended his hand, and a sphere of crackling energy formed in his palm. It felt natural, as if he'd done it a thousand times before.

With a shout, he hurled the energy at the tiger. The sphere struck its target, detonating on impact. The explosion was deafening, sending a plume of smoke and fire into the sky.

When the dust settled, the tiger lay motionless in a crater, its flames extinguished. Yuto stood frozen, his chest heaving.

"What am I?" he whispered, staring at his hands.

Before he could process what had happened, a voice echoed in his mind.

"System activated. Saiyan bloodline detected. Initializing."

Yuto froze. "Who's there?"

The voice didn't answer. Instead, a flood of information surged into his brain, making him clutch his head in pain. Words and phrases he didn't understand flashed through his mind—ki control, Zenkai Boost, Super Saiyan. It was overwhelming, but when the pain subsided, he felt… different. Stronger.

As he tried to make sense of the situation, the sound of approaching footsteps caught his attention. He turned to see a group of figures in ornate robes walking toward him. They carried weapons and radiated an aura of authority.

One of them, a tall man with a golden beard, stepped forward. "What manner of creature are you, to defeat a Flame Tiger so easily?"

Yuto blinked, unsure how to respond. "I… I don't know. I just woke up here."

The group exchanged suspicious glances. Another man, younger and wearing a smug expression, sneered. "He must be a demonic cultivator. No ordinary human could possess such strength."

"Demonic cultivator?" Yuto asked, confused. "What does that even mean?"

The young man didn't answer. Instead, he drew his sword and pointed it at Yuto. "It doesn't matter. I'll deal with you before you cause any more trouble."

Yuto raised his hands defensively. "Whoa, hold on! I'm not looking for a fight."

The man ignored him, charging forward with a yell. Yuto's instincts kicked in, and he sidestepped the attack with ease. The swordsman swung again, but Yuto caught the blade with his bare hand. The weapon shattered under the pressure, leaving the attacker stunned.

"Enough!" the bearded man barked, stepping between them. He studied Yuto carefully, his eyes narrowing. "You are not of this world, are you?"

Yuto hesitated, unsure how to answer. "I… don't think so."

The man nodded slowly. "Then perhaps you should come with us. The Golden Dragon Sect may have the answers you seek."

Yuto frowned. He didn't trust these people, but they were the only lead he had. "Fine. Lead the way."

As they began their journey, Yuto couldn't shake the feeling that his arrival in this strange world was no accident. Whatever had brought him here had a purpose, and he was determined to uncover it.