Darkness surrounded him, a suffocating void broken only by the faint hum of machinery. Ren's consciousness stirred sluggishly, as though pulled from the depths of a deep sleep. A strange warmth enveloped him, and he became acutely aware of the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, muffled yet resonant in the silence.
His last memory felt distant, as if it belonged to another lifetime. He had lived a mundane existence, one filled with the daily grind of an unremarkable life. A flicker of regret bubbled up—so many things left undone. Yet, as he grasped at the remnants of those memories, they slipped through his mental fingers like grains of sand.
Then, he felt it. A weightlessness.
Opening his eyes for the first time, Ren was greeted by the sight of clear, curved glass. Beyond it, hazy shapes moved, distorted by the fluid encasing him. He tried to move but found his limbs were small—tiny hands floated before him in the viscous liquid, their size confirming a startling truth. He wasn't just confined—he was a baby.
Panic set in briefly, but it was quickly overshadowed by something even more unsettling.
A glowing interface materialized in his mind. Words and symbols, crisp and clear, appeared before him as though projected onto the inside of his skull.
[System Activated]
Welcome, User Ren. Daily Sign-In Bonus Available: +100 Points.
Ren blinked. The words didn't fade. They hovered, unwavering and intrusive, yet oddly familiar. It resembled the interface of a video game, but it felt too real, too invasive.
"What the hell is this?" he thought. He tried to speak, but no sound came out.
A soft, neutral voice spoke in his mind, calm and robotic.
[System Guide]: This is a Gotcha/Gamer System designed to assist you in adapting to and thriving in your new environment. Points can be used for Gotcha Spins or directly applied to your stats. Spin results may include items, skills, or other enhancements. Stats directly affect your abilities as a Saiyan. Good luck, User Ren.
Ren's mind reeled. Saiyan?
He turned his gaze beyond the glass of his pod. The shapes became clearer as his eyes adjusted. He saw rows upon rows of identical pods, each glowing faintly in the dimly lit chamber. Inside, he caught glimpses of other infants, all suspended in the same liquid. Outside the pods, alien figures in armor moved purposefully.
Then, he saw it—the insignia etched onto the walls and the soldiers' uniforms. A bold crest, unmistakable in its simplicity. His heart sank and raced simultaneously.
The Saiyan race.
Memories of old stories and media from his past life flooded back. Brutal warriors, conquerors of worlds, and harbingers of destruction. And now, he was one of them.
"Alright," he thought, swallowing his initial panic. "If I'm here, I need to survive. Let's see what this system can do."
The glowing interface shifted as he focused on it.
[Daily Sign-In Available: Claim 100 Points?]
He mentally selected "Yes."
[Daily Sign-In Complete: +100 Points]
Current Points: 100
As the notification faded, a new option appeared.
[Gotcha Menu Unlocked]
Curious, Ren navigated to the menu. It explained that each Gotcha Spin cost 10 points and offered random rewards. Every tenth spin promised a higher chance of rare items or skills.
"Ten spins it is," he thought, bracing himself.
[Spins Initiated: 10]
One by one, the results flashed before him, accompanied by a chime:
Spin 1: +3 Strength
Spin 2: Saiyan Boots (Basic; agility bonus)
Spin 3: +5 Endurance
Spin 4: Basic Healing Capsule
Spin 5: Energy Lens (Improves energy sensing)
Spin 6: Skill Scroll: Minor Meditation (Improves focus and recovery)
Spin 7: +2 Agility
Spin 8: Energy Capsule (Restores reserves)
Spin 9: +1 Intelligence
Spin 10: Mutant Gene: Wolverine (Bone claws, enhanced regeneration)
Ren's excitement over his haul was short-lived as a sharp, searing pain coursed through his body. His muscles tensed, and he bit back a mental scream.
The Mutant Gene was integrating into his Saiyan DNA, and the process was anything but gentle. He felt his skeleton shift, as though reshaping itself to accommodate the new trait. Beneath his tiny hands, he sensed something forming—bone claws, sharp and primal.
As the pain subsided, the system chimed again.
[Stats Updated:]
Strength: 3 → 6
Endurance: 3 → 8
Agility: 3 → 5
Intelligence: 3 → 4
Energy: 3
Power level: 50 → 150
Ren took a moment to process the changes. The Saiyan blood running through his veins was already formidable, but this? Enhanced healing, natural weapons, and a body that could endure even more punishment. The combination was potent.
Through the glass, Ren noticed movement—a caretaker inspecting the pods. It wouldn't be long before they opened his and thrust him into the chaos of Saiyan life.
A smirk formed on his tiny face, his resolve solidifying. With the system at his side, he wouldn't just survive—he'd thrive.