Kouh Town, A Hospital.
The sterile scent of disinfectant lingered in the air, mixed with the faint hum of fluorescent lights. A young man slowly opened his eyes, greeted by the sight of a plain white ceiling.
"...An unfamiliar ceiling."
His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken in days. Propping himself up, the boy swept his gaze across the quiet hospital ward—pale walls, medical equipment lined neatly by his bedside, and the faint sunlight slipping in through half-drawn curtains.
Satoru Mikami sat there in silence, a frown tugging at his lips as he tried to grasp the situation.
Who am I? Where am I? And... what exactly happened?
The last memory he could recall was staying up all night playing games, celebrating the rare luxury of a short vacation after working himself half to death. But waking up in a hospital bed in a place he didn't recognize? That wasn't part of the plan.
Before he could piece things together, a torrent of unfamiliar memories surged into his mind like a tidal wave. His body stiffened, his breathing ragged, as images and feelings not his own replayed in rapid succession.
When the storm finally calmed, Satoru clutched his head, gasping for air.
"So... I've transmigrated."
The truth became clear. The original owner of this body had the same name as him—Satoru Mikami, a student who had recently come to Japan because of his father's job transfer. Life had been ordinary enough—until tragedy struck.
His father had been promoted, and to celebrate, the family went out for dinner. On the way, their car was caught in an unexpected explosion. His parents died instantly. The only survivor was Satoru, who was left gravely injured and traumatized.
The boy had lingered in pain and despair until his fragile spirit finally broke. And that was when this Satoru—transmigrator, outsider—took over the vessel.
"What is this cliché... parents sacrificed right at the start?"
Although he felt a pang of guilt, Satoru's emotions were detached. These weren't his parents. What unsettled him more was the truth hidden in those borrowed memories: the explosion hadn't been an accident.
He remembered vividly—the cause was a pitch-black monster, towering two meters tall, with a twisted body and malevolent eyes. And yet... nobody else saw it.
The world had monsters.
And ordinary people couldn't perceive them.
Satoru's fists clenched. No wonder the original was labeled 'traumatized.' No one would ever believe that kind of story.
Before dread could fully take root, a crisp chime echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Traits System successfully loaded. Please click to view specific functions.]
His heart skipped a beat.
"The golden finger... it's finally here."
Suppressing his rising excitement, Satoru willed the panel to appear. A translucent blue screen unfolded before his eyes like a holographic window.
---
[Name: Satoru Mikami]
[Race: Human]
[Strength: Level 1]
[Traits: Spiritual Vision (white), Spiritual Healing Bracelet (blue)]
[Spiritual Vision (white): Allows the user to perceive abnormal existences invisible to ordinary people.]
[Spiritual Healing Bracelet (blue): When activated, it rapidly heals physical injuries, but drains the user's stamina.]
---
Satoru's gaze lingered on the shimmering bracelet now encircling his wrist, faintly glowing with divine energy.
"So that's why I recovered from the explosion... this artifact must've saved me."
He activated it out of curiosity. A soft radiance enveloped his body, knitting together the remnants of his wounds at astonishing speed.
"Ugh..." The warmth was quickly replaced by dizziness. His strength drained like water through a sieve, forcing him to deactivate the bracelet at once.
"It works, but the cost is brutal."
Before he could dwell on it, the System chimed again.
[Host has activated a trait for the first time. Reward: Newbie Pack]
"A freebie too? Not bad."
Satoru didn't hesitate.
[Opening Newbie Pack... Congratulations! You have obtained the Rainbow Trait: "Limitless Potential."]
He froze.
"A Rainbow trait... that's the highest tier!"
Heart pounding, Satoru immediately pulled up the new description.
---
[Limitless Potential (Rainbow): Your potential has no upper boundary.Your growth is infinite.]
---
His breath caught. The words etched themselves into his mind, filling him with both awe and determination.
"No limit... huh? Then I just have to keep moving forward."
The memory of that black monster's blazing eyes resurfaced in his mind, fueling his resolve. Now that he had a chance to grow stronger, he would never be powerless again.
Pulling himself from the hospital bed, Satoru signed the discharge papers with steady hands and returned home.
That very night, he ordered fitness equipment online.
From then on, his days were filled with sweat and strain. Push-ups until his arms trembled, squats until his legs gave out, endless drills in swordsmanship and martial arts learned from online tutorials. Each time his body broke down, he healed with the bracelet and pushed harder.
Day after day, his body transformed. In just one week, his frame sharpened like steel, muscles defined, his abdomen carved into a perfect set of eight-pack abs. His movements grew swifter, his reflexes sharper. His mind absorbed knowledge with uncanny speed, each practice session yielding insights far beyond what a normal human could achieve.
"This... this is the effect of Limitless Potential."
A grin tugged at his lips as he stood before the mirror, sweat dripping from his chiseled form. For the first time, he felt in control of his destiny.
But just as he prepared to continue his relentless training, the phone rang.
An unknown number.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Mikami" a formal voice intoned. "This is the administration from Kuoh Academy. We'vc rcccived notice of your discharge but haven't seen you on campus. Are you considering an extended leave?"
"I appreciate the concern" he replied. "Tll resume classes immediately!"
After ending the call, he pondered.
Kuoh Academy... That namne sounded awfully familiar.
Satoru almost agreed just then, flashes of memory surfaced. The prestigious institution which was attended by notable individuals: Rias Gremory, a senior with an enigmatic aura; Yuji Itadori, his classmate; and Natsuki Minamiya, the petite yet formidable teacher known for her gothic lolita attire and commanding presence.
His eyes widened.
"Wait a second... isn't this lineup way too familiar?"
Piece by piece, the realization struck.
He wasn't just in another world.
He was in a mashup world of anime characters.
And in this chaotic blend, Satoru Mikami had just taken his first step.
....
The following morning, Satoru donned his uniform and made his way to Kuoh Academy. The campus buzzed with energy, students bustling about, each seemingly harboring their own secrets.
Entering the faculty office, he was met with a familiar figure.
"Mikami?" Natsuki Minamiya looked up from her paperwork, her piercing gaze scrutinizing him. "You've... changed.!"
Satoru offered a respectful nod. "Ms. Minamiya. After the accident, I realized the fragility of life. I dedicated myself to self-improvement."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "A little exercise doesn't usually result in such a drastic transformation."
He met her gaze steadily. "When faced with death, one's priorities shift."
A beat of silence passed before she sighed, sliding a stack of papers toward him.
"These are the assignments you missed. Catch up."
Satoru accepted them gratefully. "Thank you, Ms. Minamiya."
As he turned to leave, her voice halted him.
"If you encounter... anything unusual, my door is always open."
Satoru glanced back, noting the seriousness in her expression.
"I'll keep that in mind."