When I died, I didn't see the "light."
I saw the Title Screen of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 flicker before my eyes. Figures, right? The franchise that shaped my childhood became the last thing my brain clung to before the truck turned me into a road ornament.
I remembered one thing as everything went dark:
> "If I could live in that world… I'd train until I could slap Beerus himself."
Apparently, the universe took that literally.
---
When I woke up, I wasn't in Heaven.
I was lying in the middle of a wasteland, surrounded by craters. The sky burned orange, two suns hovering in the distance.
The air felt heavy — not like Earth's atmosphere, but like pure pressure pushing down on me. My body screamed for air until—
> [SYSTEM BOOTING...]
[Welcome, Host. Initializing Rebirth Protocol.]
My heart froze. "Oh… oh, you've got to be kidding me."
> [New Identity Generated: Tomokoshi.]
[Race: Saiyan (Low-Class).]
[Timeline: Divergent Z-Arc — Pre-Vegeta Invasion.]
[Objective: Survive the Saiyan Extinction Event.]
"Pre… Vegeta invasion?" I croaked. "That's— that's when Frieza nukes Planet Vegeta!"
I looked down. My arms were smaller — maybe eight years old, tail twitching behind me. Scouter? None. Armor? None. Just ragged combat gear and a tail that wouldn't stop flicking.
> [System Tutorial Active.]
[Power Level: 42]
[Hidden Trait: Rebirth Potential — Power increases exponentially after near-death experiences.]
"Power Level 42?" I groaned. "I'm weaker than a farmer."
The system pinged again:
> [Mission: Survive for 24 hours.]
Reward: +100 EXP | +1 Random Skill.
---
The ground trembled — I turned just in time to see a giant shadow move.
A hulking Oozaru — a Great Ape — was smashing through the canyon walls, roaring loud enough to shake my bones.
"...You've got to be f—"
> [Mission Started.]
I bolted.
The first few minutes were chaos — trees exploding behind me, rock dust choking my lungs. I didn't have Ki sense, but every time that thing roared, my instincts screamed louder.
> [Tip: Saiyan Instinct Activated — Minor stat boost under life-threatening danger.]
My steps got lighter. My breathing steadied. I jumped a cliff that should've broken my legs — and didn't. For the first time, I felt it — energy, raw and alive, flowing through me.
When the Oozaru caught sight again, I did the stupidest thing possible.
I turned to face it.
> "Fine," I said, breathing hard. "If this is the Saiyan life… let's start early."
I gathered every ounce of strength, cupped my hands the way every DBZ kid does in the mirror, and screamed:
> "KAAAA—"
The System chimed.
> [Basic Ki Control Unlocked.]
[Skill Generated: Kiai Blast (Lv.1)]
> "—ME—HA—ME—HA!!!"
A tiny blue orb shot out — barely a flashlight in the night — but it hit. The shockwave cracked the ape's eye open, making it stumble back.
The system blinked again:
> [Damage Dealt: 1%]
[Critical Survival Chance Increased.]
[New Trait Unlocked: Zenkai Surge.]
Pain exploded through my body as debris crushed me, everything going dark — but through the ringing in my ears, I heard one last chime:
> [Survival Successful. Rebirth Potential Activated.]
[Power Level: 42 → 187.]
[Skill Upgrade: Ki Control (Lv.2)]
When I opened my eyes again, dawn had broken. The Oozaru was gone — maybe it wandered off — but I could feel something new burning in my chest.
Not fear. Not pain.
Power.
I grinned to myself. "So that's how this world works. Almost die… get stronger."
The System hummed again, words appearing like a promise:
> [Next Quest: Leave Planet Vegeta before Extinction.]
[Time Limit: 72 Hours.]
My grin widened. "Alright, Frieza. Let's see if I can outlive your fireworks."
To be continued