Tommy Reid walked through the busy streets of the city, his hands stuffed into his hoodie pockets. His black hair swayed slightly with the breeze, and his sharp blue eyes gleamed with excitement. Today was the day—a new shipment of isekai manga and overpowered protagonist stories had just arrived at his favorite comic book store.

"Man, I can't wait to see what new stuff they got," Tommy mused to himself. "Isekai stories are the best. Overpowered demon kings, ultimate magic users, chosen heroes… Imagine if I were the son of a demon king. I'd be unstoppable. I'd travel the world, build an amazing harem, and show everyone who's boss."

A grin spread across his face as he imagined himself wielding immeasurable power, crushing armies with a wave of his hand. The thought alone made him even more eager to reach the store. Lost in his daydream, he barely noticed the crowded street bustling around him.

Around him, the city was alive with activity. A street vendor was shouting about his hot dog stand, a group of teenagers was arguing over the latest superhero movie, and an elderly woman was grumbling about how everything was more expensive nowadays.

"I'm telling you, superhero movies are going downhill. They need better writing," one teenager argued.

"Are you crazy? The last one was amazing! You just don't get it," another retorted.

Tommy chuckled to himself. "Man, people are so passionate about their fandoms. If only they put that energy into something like… I don't know, real-life skills. Then again, I've spent my entire life training in martial arts and swordplay while still being an otaku, so I guess I can't judge."

As he walked, he thought about his ideal isekai world. "If I got transported, I'd want to be a demon king's son. Born with insane power, feared by all, yet somehow still able to attract an amazing harem. That'd be the dream. Imagine walking into a kingdom and everyone just knowing you're the strongest. No one questions you, no one doubts you. That's peak power fantasy right there."

His thoughts were interrupted by a distant scream.

"What the—?"

Up ahead, a man sprinted through the crowd, his face twisted in rage and desperation. In his right hand, a knife gleamed under the city lights.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" the maniac screamed, his voice filled with fury. He let out a menacing laugh, eyes wild with madness. "You think you can just do this to me?! I'LL SHOW YOU! YOU'RE DEAD!"

People gasped and shouted in panic, scrambling to get out of the way.

"Oh my god, he's got a knife!" a woman shrieked.

"Somebody call the cops!" a man yelled, pulling his child behind him.

"Why is this happening?!" another person wailed.

Tommy's heart pounded. Thoughts raced through his mind. "What the hell is this guy's problem? Is he really about to stab someone in broad daylight?"

The maniac continued running, his knife raised high. He bared his teeth, laughing like a lunatic. "You think you can escape me? You think you can betray me?! I'LL END YOU!"

The crowd was in full panic mode now. People shoved each other, desperately trying to flee. A mother grabbed her son and ran into a nearby store. A man dropped his phone in the chaos, cursing as he stumbled away.

A young couple stood frozen in terror just a few steps away from Tommy. The woman clung to her husband, her eyes wide with fear, while the man instinctively stepped in front of her, trying to protect her.

"No, no, no, please!" the woman cried.

"Stay back!" her husband shouted, shielding her. "I won't let you hurt her!"

The maniac sneered. "You really think you can stop me?" He lunged forward.

Tommy's body moved on its own. He dashed forward, instincts kicking in.

"This is so stupid," he thought, "but I can't just stand here and do nothing."

Just as the knife-wielding man lunged at the couple, Tommy shoved them aside.

Pain.

A sharp, searing agony pierced his stomach. Tommy's eyes widened as he looked down. The knife was embedded deep in his torso, crimson staining his hoodie.

The maniac's eyes went wide with shock. "I-I didn't mean—" he stammered before turning and bolting away, muttering apologies as he disappeared into the crowd.

Tommy clutched his wound, his hands trembling. The couple rushed to his side.

"Mr.! Are you okay? Please, hold on!" the woman cried, her voice desperate.

"Someone call 911!" a bystander yelled.

The world around Tommy blurred. He fell to his knees, his vision darkening. He could hear the panicked voices of the crowd, but they felt distant.

"Well… this sucks," he thought, chuckling weakly. "Guess I'm not making it to the comic store today."

A cold numbness spread through his body, and a wry smile crossed his lips. "Wouldn't it be hilarious if I got reincarnated like in those stories?"

Darkness.

For a moment, there was nothing. No pain. No sound. Just an endless void.

Then—

Light. A blinding, overwhelming light consumed him, forcing him to shield his eyes. A strange sensation coursed through his body, a power unlike anything he had ever known.

When the light faded, he opened his eyes to find himself lying in a massive, luxurious bed. The ceiling above him was adorned with intricate golden designs. The very air felt rich with energy, humming with something… magical.

His body felt different—strong, unnatural, as if he could crush mountains with a mere thought. He could hear everything: the whispers of people beyond the walls, the faint crackle of magic in the air. His vision was sharper, more vivid, as if time itself had slowed down for him.

"This… isn't my body."

A pause. Then, realization.

"Wait… am I still dreaming, or did I just hit the isekai jackpot?"

He clenched his fist, feeling raw power coursing through his veins.

"No way. This strength… this mana… this is insane."

For a brief moment, shock filled him. But then, amusement took over. A smirk crept across his lips.

"Looks like I got the ultimate gift."

He stretched out his arms, letting the sheer power sink in.

"If I really am in another world… then it's time to make this life legendary."

The moment he opened his eyes, the entire Demon Castle trembled.

A pulse of power erupted from his body, sending a shockwave through the massive fortress. Pillars cracked, chandeliers shattered, and the very foundation of the castle groaned under the pressure of his awakening. The once-stable structure trembled as if bowing to the overwhelming presence that had just been unleashed.

Throughout the castle, demons of all ranks—royal guards, maids, and courtiers—felt the force ripple through them. Gasps, cries, and shouts of confusion filled the air as they struggled to keep their balance.

"What is happening?!" a royal guard shouted, gripping his spear as the ground beneath him shook.

"I've never felt anything like this before!" a maid cried, holding onto a nearby column for support.

"This power… it's suffocating," a high-ranking demon muttered, sweat forming on his brow.

Beyond the castle walls, the effects of his awakening stretched further than anyone could have imagined. The sheer force of his presence sent a ripple through the very fabric of magic itself—an anomaly that could not be ignored. Even the gods and celestial beings, existing in realms beyond mortal comprehension, felt the disturbance.

The Divine Pantheon: Reactions of the Gods

In the celestial halls of the Divine Pantheon, a court of gods gathered in an eternal meeting, discussing the balance of the universe. But in an instant, all discussions ceased.

The Supreme God, Deus Solis, Lord of the Heavens, froze. His golden eyes widened in disbelief. He, who saw all, who dictated the flow of fate, had just sensed something that should not be.

A distortion. A power beyond his vision. Beyond his control.

His fingers clenched into a fist as, for the first time in eons, a flicker of fear passed through him.

"A new force has awakened," he declared, his deep voice echoing through the celestial halls. "One beyond our vision… beyond our control."

The gods murmured among themselves, uneasy.

"This cannot be allowed," Deus Solis added, his expression darkening.

Across the Pantheon, others felt the disturbance as well.

Seraphina Lightbringer, the First Archangel and Heaven's Spear, sensed the aura immediately. Her divine senses screamed warnings. Clutching her spear, her radiant wings shuddered as an unexplainable unease filled her heart.

"This… this can't be real," she whispered. "No demon should possess this kind of presence."

In another realm, Norn, the Goddess of Fate, gazed upon the threads of destiny. Her hands trembled as she stared at a void where a life path should be.

"Impossible…" she gasped. "No one escapes fate. No one."

Deep beneath the ocean's abyss, the slumbering Leviathan, Guardian of the Abyss, stirred. His glowing eyes flickered open, ancient and tired.

"Tch. I was having a good nap… who disturbed my waters?" he rumbled, annoyed.

In the shadows of the celestial sphere, Nyx, Goddess of Night and Darkness, smirked. Unlike the others, she was not afraid—she was intrigued. Leaning back into the void, she whispered with amusement:

"Finally… something interesting has entered the world."

And in a place where no god dared to look, where chains bound an existence long forgotten, The Nameless One, The Forgotten God, stirred within his divine prison. A faint glow returned to his long-sealed eyes, and for the first time in eternity, he smiled.

"So… the cycle is breaking."

Meanwhile, in the Demon Kingdom…

The aftershocks of his awakening rippled across the entire land of demons. Weaker demons collapsed to their knees, unable to bear the overwhelming force pressing down on them. Animals fled in terror, their primal instincts screaming at them to escape the presence that had suddenly appeared.

A chorus of fear spread throughout the demon capital.

"What in the abyss is this?! I-I can't move!" a lesser demon gasped, his body trembling.

"Run! Run! Something terrifying has awakened!" another shrieked as beasts stampeded away.

The Demon Queen, Lilith, stormed through the halls of the castle, her crimson eyes wide in disbelief.

"Impossible…!" she breathed, her pace quickening as she rushed toward the source of the power.

The Demon Generals, hardened warriors who had faced countless battles, were left shaken.

"W-What is this power?! Is the Demon King summoning a new calamity?!" one of them stammered.

Among his siblings, the reactions varied:

First Prince Bael, The Infernal Warlord, gripped his sword tightly as he felt a shudder in reality. His scowl deepened, but beneath it, fear took root.

"I should have killed him when he was weak," he muttered through clenched teeth. He knew one thing—he would test him in battle. If the boy was a threat, he would eliminate him.

First Princess Selene, The Moonshadow Reaper, stood in the shadows of her personal realm, feeling the shift in power. A rare smile crossed her lips.

"So… my little brother has finally awakened," she whispered. She did not see him as a threat. No, she was intrigued.

Second Prince Belphegor, The Arcane Sage, watched as books flew from his shelves, magic circles flickering wildly. His sharp eyes narrowed as he whispered, "This energy… it defies all known magical laws." He needed to understand it. He needed to study it.

Second Princess Lilithia, The Scarlet Empress, grinned wildly, her blood-infused sword trembling in her grip. "Finally! A real opponent!" she laughed, already seeking him out for a fight.

Third Prince Asmodeus, The Phantom Duke, sipped his wine as the room trembled around him. Amused, he chuckled. "Well, well… what a delightful surprise," he murmured. "A new player has entered the game. I must see how this unfolds."

And then, in the grand throne room of the Demon Castle, the Demon King himself, Azrael, paused. Sitting upon his dark throne, he felt the unmistakable energy coursing through the castle.

Slowly, he opened his eyes, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face.

"So… he has awakened."

To be continued…