~ Omniscient Pov ~
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The darkness was oppressive, endless, and silent, save for the faint hum of an otherworldly presence. The soul drifted aimlessly, its formless consciousness caught between confusion and fear. Then, like a ripple through the void, a voice resonated—not from one direction, but from everywhere at once.
"Awaken, little soul."
The soul flinched, its essence pulsing faintly as if startled. "Who!?... who's there!!?"
"I am a guide," the voice replied, calm yet immeasurable. "You have perished, and your mortal existence has ended. Now, you are here, in the void between life and the beyond..."
The soul flickered. "The void? Beyond? I don't understand. Why am I here? What is this place?"
"You are where all souls linger after their end," the voice explained, resonating with patience. "A liminal space between creation and oblivion. For some, it is a gateway to reincarnation. For others, a resting place before eternal slumber. But you are not here by accident."
"Not by accident?" the soul echoed, its confusion giving way to suspicion... "Wh-What do you even mean? I don't remember dying. What happened to me?"
The voice paused, as if weighing the soul's words. "The memory of your death is a kindness I have spared you. It would serve no purpose here, in this void where all that was fades into what might be. What matters now is your choice."
"My... choice?"
"Yes," the voice affirmed, its tone growing more direct. "Though your life has ended, you are offered a rare opportunity: to be reborn. As any being. In any universe. Few souls receive such a gift."
The soul pulsed brighter. "Why me? Why do I get this... this 'gift'?"
The voice rumbled like distant thunder. "Because your soul is untethered yet strong. It resisted oblivion, refusing to fade into nothingness. That strength has drawn my attention, and I offer you this chance. Do you wish to accept it?"
The soul hesitated, overwhelmed. "I don't know... This is all happening so fast... I don't even know who I am anymore."
"You are more than what you were," the voice replied gently. "The past is gone, but the future is yours to shape. Tell me, soul—if you could live again, who would you be? And where would you go?"
The soul felt a flicker of memory, fragmented images of worlds it had once known—vivid and boundless worlds filled with power and adventure. One stood out above the rest.
"I want to live in the Dragon Ball universe," the soul declared, its voice firm despite its uncertainty.
The voice hummed approvingly. "A universe of warriors and gods, of challenges and limitless potential. A fitting choice. And who will you become in this world of strength and chaos?"
The soul considered this carefully, its thoughts swirling with the possibilities. It could be a Saiyan, born with power and pride. Or a Namekian, wise and resilient. But something darker, something ambitious, called to it.
"I want to be reborn as Baby," the soul said at last, its tone absolutely resolute.
The voice paused, its resonance shifting slightly. "Baby. A Tuffle's vengeance incarnate—a bio-mechanical being driven by hatred and intellect. An unusual choice, but not without potential. Why him?"
"Because Baby was more than just a villain for me..." the soul replied. "As a concept on paper, he was brilliant, calculated. He had the strength to challenge the strongest easily, and the mind to out-think them if needed. But he was consumed by revenge. Maybe... maybe I can do it differently. Maybe I can do it better."
"Interesting," the voice mused. "Then so it shall be. But understand this, soul: you will inherit Baby's power and his legacy, but you must shape your own path... Will you rise above his hatred, or will you succumb to it as he did?"
"I'll figure that out as I go along," the soul said, a faint edge of determination in its voice. "But I'm as ready as I can be... Oh, and could you give me the system I envisioned in my mind by any chance?"
"Very well," the voice rumbled, growing louder and more encompassing. "Prepare yourself, for your rebirth will not be gentle. You shall awaken in the ruins of the Tuffle civilization, the embodiment of intellect and vengeance. From there, your destiny begins... Also, I will give you your, system..."
The void trembled, and a blinding light enveloped the soul. It felt its essence stretch and shift, merging with something cold and mechanical yet alive. As consciousness faded, the soul heard the voice one last time.
"Go forth. The Dragon Ball universe awaits."
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"Hopefully that mortal realized this whole scenario was real... Anyway, more me things to do."
~ A few moments Later, First Person Pov ~
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"Urgh…" I groaned, my voice raspy and unfamiliar to me... "I feel like crap…"
I pushed myself up, my arms trembling as if they were unaccustomed to motion itself. That's when I realized it. My arms were... smaller. My whole body felt different—lighter, but weaker.
"What the...?" I muttered, my voice trailing off as I looked down at myself. My hands—no, they weren't my hands—were sleek and pale, with sharp, claw-like fingers. My legs were shorter, the proportions all wrong compared to what I was used to...
I scrambled to my feet, or at least tried to. I barely managed to stand before stumbling forward, catching myself against the rough bark of a nearby tree. My breath came in sharp gasps as I took in the strange yet oddly familiar sight of my reflection in a nearby pool of water, albeit dirty.
A face stared back at me—one I recognized from countless memories of watching Dragon Ball GT.
"...Baby," I whispered, the name slipping out like a long-lost secret.
The silvery sheen of my skin, the alien ridges along my face, and the glowing crimson eyes—it was all there. I was Baby.
"This... this can't be real," I said, gripping the sides of my head as a dull ache spread through my mind. Memories flooded in—fragments of my old life, fragmented images of Earth, and the faintest whispers of this body's past. It was disorienting, like trying to focus on two different screens at once.
My reflection stared back at me with an expression that didn't match how I felt—calm, cold, and calculating. But inside, I was anything but calm... "This isn't happening..." I whispered, my voice cracking. "That scenario earlier... It was real, wasn't it?"
The memory hit me like a truck. That void. That... deity. The overwhelming presence, the voice that pierced my very soul. At the time, I thought it was some hyper-realistic dream, the kind people talk about when they wake up drenched in sweat, swearing it felt real. So I played along. I'd humor the dream, make the choices, and wake up laughing about how absurd it all was.
Except I didn't wake up.
I'm still here.
My fingers curled into fists, clawed tips digging into my palms. The sting reminded me that this was real—tangible, inescapable reality. The jungle around me was alive in ways I couldn't ignore: the oppressive heat, the buzzing insects, the distant growls of creatures I didn't dare imagine.
I glanced down at my reflection again, at the gleaming silver skin and the faint crimson glow of my eyes. "Baby," I said aloud, testing the name like it might break apart in my mouth. "I actually... became him."
A sharp pang of regret coursed through me. Why Baby? Why didn't I pick someone simpler? Someone less... complicated? I groaned and sank to my knees, the soft earth giving way beneath me.
"Okay, okay," I muttered, running a hand over my face. "Think. I'm in a jungle. I'm in Baby's body. The deity said this was a second chance, but—why here? Why like this?"
I scanned the dense undergrowth, my eyes darting from tree to tree. No signs of civilization, no immediate threats. Just endless green and red.
And yet, something nagged at me—an itch in the back of my mind.
"Wait," I freezing. My breath caught as the realization dawned on me... "The system! Does that mean I have it?"
If this was real, it HAD to be real as well.
"Uh… Menu? Status? System, are you there?" I called out hesitantly, my voice trembling slightly.
Nothing. Just the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds.
"Come on," I pleaded, closing my eyes. I focused all my will on summoning it, the same way I always had. "Don't do this to me now. Open up!"
For a moment, there was silence. Then—
Ding!
A faint chime echoed in my mind, followed by a translucent screen flickering in front of me. My breath hitched as I read the text:
__________________
Name: Michael Murphey | Baby
Height: 72.34 cm
Power-Level: 1.1
Potential: 1
Latent Potential: 1
Abilities;
Abilities;
Possession (Active): Allows the user to possess hosts, permanently stealing their power level, memories, and potential. There's a chance to gain a bloodline-specific trait after possessing a host for at least 10 seconds. The user can also select one ability at a time to acquire from the host. (Note: Possession fails if the target's power level exceeds the user's by 1,000,000-fold.)
Bio-Fusion (Passive): Exponentially increases the host's power by fusing with/possessing them. The increase varies based on the user's and host's power levels.
Physiology Manipulation: Grants the ability to alter the user's body within reasonable limits.
Hive-Mind (Active/Passive): Enables the user to split into possessed bodies, leaving a fragment of their consciousness in each and forming a hive-mind network.
Perfect Mind (Passive): Grants flawless memory, analysis, strategy, and understanding...
Statistic Reader (Active/Passive): Allows the user to view the stats of others, though stats may be obscured if the power gap is too large.
Unreadable Mind (Passive): Prevents any being from reading the user's mind.
Calculating Mind (Passive): Keeps the user's thoughts calm and precise.
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"It's, really here." I was more than surprised to say the least. I don't know what to even do either.
I needed to figure things out... I... I still can't believe all this.
I didn't even know where I was either... But strangely... I feel somewhat calm... Is it because of that ability I have?
Rustle~
"Huh?" I turned around...
"Oh... Crap..."
Emerging from the thick undergrowth was a creature unlike anything I had seen before, yet strangely fitting for this bizarre world. It was roughly humanoid but hunched over, its mottled blue skin glistening under the filtered light of the jungle. Its head was disproportionately large, with two bulbous eyes and a mouth filled with uneven teeth.
The alien sniffed the air, its gaze locking onto me. It didn't look particularly threatening, but I tensed regardless. It let out a guttural growl, more inquisitive than aggressive, and took a cautious step forward.
Without thinking, I concentrated, willing the Statistic Reader to activate. A translucent screen flickered into view, detailing its information:
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Name: Plontar
Height: 122.11 cm
Power-Level: 2.5
Potential: 2.2
Latent Potential: 2
Abilities;
Burrow (Active): Allows the user to quickly dig and move through the ground for surprise attacks or evasion.
Adhesive Skin (Passive): Grants the ability to cling to most surfaces.
Enhanced Senses (Passive): The user's senses are enhanced by 10 fold.
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I froze. Its power level was higher than mine—not by much, but enough to make me wary.
"It's really here," I whispered, my voice barely audible. The screen disappeared as I tried to process the situation...
The alien cocked its head, its bulbous eyes narrowing at me. It crouched slightly, as if preparing to spring forward.
"Oh... crap," I muttered under my breath, taking a step back.
I didn't know what it wanted, but I couldn't afford to take chances. My body still felt alien to me, shorter and weaker than I was used to, which makes this situation worse...
"If it attacks, could I even take it down?" I wondered aloud, my voice trembling despite my composure. My mind raced through scenarios, analyzing the limited information I had.
But then another thought surfaced—a dangerous, enticing thought.
"What if I used Possession?"
The alien took another step closer, its movements deliberate but cautious. It didn't seem hostile yet, but the tension in the air was palpable.
"Okay,", I clenching my tiny fists. "If it attacks, I'll test this ability. If I can take it... I'll grow a bit stronger. But if I can't..." I couldn't think that way, I just got here, and I won't pass up this opportunity to get powerful.
"GRARGHH!!!"
The alien growled at me again, its eyes glowing faintly. It sure as hell wasn't waiting for me to decide...
"If it attacks, could I even take it down?" I muttered under my breath, my voice trembling despite my new calm. My mind raced, but this time the thought that surged forward was clearer. Possession.
I didn't know exactly how it would work on an alien like this, but I couldn't waste time thinking about it. My tiny fists clenched. I braced myself for impact. I reached out, preparing to activate the ability, and then I let the power surge through me.
The moment I focused, the world around me seemed to blur, my senses stretching and bending as if I were reaching into another realm. My vision wavered, and suddenly I felt an intense, foreign pull—a sensation like gravity, except it wasn't dragging me downward. Instead, it was pulling me into the alien's body.
The alien's growl turned into a strangled noise, as though it were suddenly aware of something—something far more dangerous.
I could feel the shifting of my form as I forced myself into its body. My own physical body was no longer in control; instead, I inhabited this hulking creature, my mind tethered to its instincts.
The alien froze in place, its once aggressive stance faltering as I gained control. Its eyes widened, but I could feel its confusion and fear mingling with my own thoughts. The power I absorbed wasn't just physical—it was like I could see through its eyes, feel its emotions, and understand the world through its primitive senses.
But this wasn't just about feeling stronger...
The fusion wasn't seamless. My tiny body—now trapped within the alien's larger form—felt a mix of overwhelming strength and awkwardness. I had the power to move, but the body didn't quite fit yet. I could hear my own thoughts, but they were muffled by the alien's base instincts...
Still, let's see my status...
________________
Name: Michael Murphey | Baby
Host: Plontar
Height: 134.2 cm
Power-Level: 4.3 (Alien Body)
Potential: 3
Latent Potential: 3.2
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I felt a new surge of energy radiated through me as I adjusted to the alien's form. The alien's body was bulkier now too, but I was still in total control—it felt like I was both a passenger and a driver at the same time. Not to mention my senses... They felt, super-charged...
Still, possession was easy... Ridiculously easy, to the point that I'm wondering if it's an ability a being should even have in the first place.
Wait... What should I even test first, maybe... Burrow?... that sounds like an interesting one... I wanted to test the alien's ability to dig into the earth. It felt surprisingly natural, even though I wasn't accustomed to moving through the ground.
But I couldn't lose focus. I had taken its power, but the price of possession was that I was momentarily lost within it. My tiny body—now inside the hulking alien's form—could still feel the tension from the previous encounter... I needed time to test this power properly, and to see how far I could go with it...
I looked around a little, the jungle around me felt both alien yet, familiar to me. Taking their memories was really a perk I can get used to.
For now, I need to gain more power...
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