Ch 1: Newborn King of Monsters

Darkness. Silence. Yet something stirred within him. He wasn't floating, nor was he breathing—instead, he was confined, encased in something smooth and solid. An unseen pressure enveloped him, heavy and relentless, but it wasn't water; it was warmth—a steady pulse, like the heartbeat of an ancient, vast entity.

Then, suddenly, cracks erupted. An overwhelming surge of energy flooded his senses, and instinct took command. He pushed against the resistance. The substance fought back, but he pushed harder. With a sharp, clawed limb—his own—he pierced the barrier, fracturing its surface. In one final, desperate lunge, the egg shattered.

He collapsed forward, drawing in his first breath. Air? No—it was water. Panic surged as he thrashed in reflex, his eyes darting wildly while his hands clutched his throat, gasping for life-giving air, until he suddenly realized that he could breathe.

But wasn't I drowning? he wondered as memories crashed over him—memories too familiar to ignore. Every moment of his life flashed before his eyes: every decision, every lie, every argument.

He recalled the crushing sensation of drowning in the cold, dark vastness of an ocean—the salty taste overwhelming his mouth, the choking burn in his lungs, the relentless pull of the depths. Then came an all-encompassing weakness, and his body surrendered to numbness as his eyes closed, yielding to the void.

And then, he was here.

His gaze dropped, locking onto limbs that vaguely resembled arms. He flexed his fingers, then raked his claws over his scaled skin. It didn't take a genius to realize—he was no longer human. He was something else entirely.

What am I? The thought echoed in his mind. His body was encased in hardened scales, his fingers tipped with demonic claws. He opened his mouth, instinctively drawing in large gulps of water—yet the suffocating sensation he expected never came. He wasn't drowning. He was breathing. I've changed.

He turned his attention to his surroundings. Water stretched endlessly in every direction, broken only by jagged rock formations jutting from the depths. An underwater cave—unfamiliar, yet strangely inviting. A sense of belonging settled over him, though he couldn't explain why.

Where am I? he wondered. Why am I here? And… what am I?

His mind was a haze, memories barely intact. He grasped at the fragments, trying to piece together an identity. But one crucial thing was missing—his name.

Then, just as a sense of isolation crept in, a voice resonated within his mind.

[» Whereabouts: Unknown «]

[» Reason for Reincarnation: Unknown «]

[» Race: Tethyolacerta «]

His eyes widened. The voice was clear, its words undeniable. Yet rather than panic, he found himself strangely composed. Filtering out the unnecessary details, he focused on what had been weighing on him the most.

"Reincarnation? A second life… as a monster?"

The thought should have been terrifying. Instead, he took it in stride. The idea wasn't foreign to him—after all, reincarnation had become one of the most popular tropes in modern novels and fanfiction. He'd read plenty of them. Now, he was living it.

But the joy and excitement he expected never came.

Yes, he had a second chance—but the life he had left behind weighed heavily on him. He had a home. Friends. A family he was meant to build. And in an instant, it was all gone. A simple snap, a life snuffed out, everything unraveling before he could even comprehend it.

If he could cry, he would have. But no matter how much he tried to muster, not a single tear fell. Not that it would matter—he was still submerged in what he assumed was the ocean's depths.

There's no use crying over spilled milk, he told himself, clinging to the phrase in an attempt to quell his sorrow. Moments passed as he remained still, letting the weight of his death settle in. Slowly, acceptance took hold. It was over. That life was gone.

But this one… this one was just beginning. He had another chance. A chance to improve, to be better, to live fully. He wouldn't waste it.

With newfound resolve, his rational side took over. His eyes scanned his surroundings, taking in every detail. But just standing there wouldn't give him any answers. He needed to move.

As he did, something felt off—an unfamiliar weight shifting behind him. He turned his head and was met with the sight of a long, sinuous tail trailing in the water.

"I'm reptilian," he realized. He tried to speak, but no words formed. His throat refused to cooperate. Yet the absence of speech didn't bother him. After all, there was no one here to talk to.

He swam through the depths, the water parting effortlessly around him. With each movement, his strokes became smoother, more controlled. It didn't take long for him to get the hang of it—perhaps it was instinct. He didn't dwell on it. Instead, he pushed himself forward, gradually increasing his speed, propelling himself higher.

Then, suddenly, his head broke through the surface, piercing the body of water.

His gaze shot upward, expecting to see the vast blue sky or the twinkling stars of the night.

But instead, jagged rocks loomed above him, encircling a massive opening. The cavern stretched far wider than he had anticipated, with a solid expanse of land just ahead. He hadn't expected to find dry ground, but fortune seemed to favor him.

"I feel… tired," he thought, exhaustion creeping into his limbs. He had just hatched—his body was still weak, still adjusting. Though he could have rested in the water, the idea felt unnatural. This newfound refuge would have to do.

Dragging himself forward, he clawed into the earth, pulling his body onto solid ground. He took a few tentative steps, attempting to rise onto his hind legs—but the moment he tried, his balance wavered, and he collapsed onto the rocky floor.

Frustration flickered within him. He could walk on two legs—he could feel it—but his juvenile body simply wasn't ready.

Reluctantly, he resigned himself to using all fours. Even then, weakness plagued his limbs, each step unsteady. His feet trembled with every movement.

He pressed on regardless, his sharp eyes scanning for any form of cover. He felt too exposed, too vulnerable, to simply lie out in the open.

Time blurred as he trudged forward, exhaustion weighing him down. Just as his body threatened to give out, he finally spotted a small opening—a shallow cave nestled within the rock.

With the last of his strength, he dragged himself inside. His vision swam as he took in his surroundings, but his body had reached its limit.

He collapsed onto the cool stone. His breath slowed. His eyelids grew heavy. And then, darkness.

An unknown amount of time passed before the small giant lying within the cave stirred. His eyelids fluttered slightly before fully opening, revealing his green-hued pupils.

"Where… am I?"

He pushed himself to his feet, his gaze sweeping the cave with an unfamiliar sense of detachment. The surroundings felt foreign, yet something about them grounded him. Then, like a wave crashing over his mind, the memories returned—his death, his rebirth, his transformation.

So I wasn't dreaming, he thought, his claws digging into the earth in frustration.

Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself. There was no point in dwelling on what was lost. He shifted his focus to his body, his reptilian arms now appearing slightly thicker than before.

Have I gotten bigger? He flexed his limbs, rolling his shoulders as his tail swayed behind him.

[» Positive «]

His expression sharpened. That voice—it had returned. Cold, emotionless, almost mechanical.

What is this thing? he wondered. A thought struck him. Remembering the countless reincarnation stories he had read, he instinctively tested the most well-known command.

"System!"

Silence. No response. No interface. Nothing. He frowned. So it's not a system?

[» Positive «]

He let out a small snort. The voice only responded to direct questions, and though its replies were frustratingly minimal, they were still answers. Instead of speculating, why not just ask outright?

"Alright, voice. What are you?"

[» Origin: Will of the Monster King «]

His thoughts spiraled. "Monster King?" He mulled over the words for a few moments before a realization struck him. "So… am I the next Monster King?"

[» Positive «]

He wasn't sure how to feel about that. A title like Monster King carried weight—weight he wasn't sure he wanted. Letting out another quiet snort, he pushed the thought aside for now.

"What's your purpose?"

[» Guide «]

Guide, huh? He nodded to himself. At least that gave him something to work with.

His gaze shifted toward the cave's entrance. Sitting around all day wasn't an option. He needed to move. With a light push, he began walking forward—and to his surprise, his legs no longer felt weak. However, he still had to move on all fours.

As he neared the cave's mouth, a soft glow caught his attention. A faint blueish light pulsed nearby, sending a ripple of unease through him. Instinct took over, and he slowed his pace, moving with deliberate silence. Peeking out cautiously, his eyes locked onto the source.

A cluster of glowing figures. They looked like rats—but much larger, their bodies covered in luminescent fur that shimmered in the dim cavern. There were many of them. At least twenty.

He remained still, concealed in the shadows, watching. And then, something stirred deep within him.

A primal instinct.

A hunger.

The craving to hunt, to spill blood, to tear into flesh. Bloodlust.