Almighty

On an extremely normal day, a young man strolled down the sidewalk, hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie. The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting warm light over the bustling city, but he paid little attention to it. His mind was elsewhere—on the inevitable doom awaiting him at school.

Travis, a 16-year-old student, was about to take his final-year math exam. A deep sigh left his lips as he approached a traffic light, stopping with the rest of the pedestrians.

'Man, I can't believe I'm writing math today. Damn, I hate school so fucking much!' he thought bitterly.

Math had never been his strong suit. Not because he was dumb—far from it—but because numbers just didn't stick in his brain the way they did for others. He'd tried, really, but formulas, equations, and problem-solving strategies all felt like a foreign language he wasn't meant to understand. Now, with the exam looming over him, his stomach twisted in knots, a clear sign of his nerves.

A deep grumble from his gut snapped him from his thoughts. ' Great. As if I need hunger on top of stress.'

He shifted his weight impatiently, watching the red pedestrian light. The moment it turned green, he stepped forward onto the crosswalk.

He didn't notice the semi-truck barreling toward him.

Lost in his own head, he barely registered the sudden shouts of alarm from bystanders. Some pointed, others waved their arms frantically, trying to snap him out of his daze. But all their voices were drowned out by the noise in his own mind.

Then—

A deafening horn.

His head snapped up.

Blinding headlights.

The world slowed.

His breath caught in his throat, heart slamming against his ribs as his body instinctively tensed. But there was no time. No time to react, no time to jump back.

The truck hit him at full speed.

A sickening crunch. A flash of pain. Then—nothing.

Travis was gone.

[ GOD Realm]

Travis's eyes fluttered open.

The last thing he remembered was the truck—bright headlights, a deafening horn, and then... nothing. But now, he stood in an unfamiliar place, facing a grand throne. A towering old man sat upon it, draped in pristine white robes that shimmered faintly in the ethereal glow surrounding him. His presence radiated wisdom, power, and an undeniable sense of righteousness, as if he were some kind of divine being.

The old man regarded Travis with a calm, knowing gaze before speaking, his deep voice echoing through the vast chamber.

"Welcome, young one. It seems your time has come to an end. Do not fret, for I shall grant you wishes. I have nothing better to do, after all."

Travis blinked.

Then, as the words sank in, a grin crept onto his face. Wait a minute... He'd seen this setup before. He'd watched enough anime and read enough novels to know exactly what was happening. This is it—a reincarnation scenario!

His excitement barely contained, he asked, "How many wishes are we talking about here?"

The old man silently raised four fingers. "I will grant you four wishes. Do not worry—there are no limits."

Travis's mind raced. He'd thought about this kind of thing before, imagining what he'd wish for if he ever found himself in this kind of situation. He already had a standard list, but… Why not have some fun with it?

"Alright, for my first wish—I want all of Yhwach's abilities, including the ones he gained after absorbing the Soul King."

The old man nodded. "Granted. What is your second wish?"

Travis's grin widened. "I wish for infinite potential."

He knew there were worlds far more dangerous than anything Yhwach had ever faced—universes where beings could destroy planets with a flick of their wrist. If he wanted to survive in places like Dragon Ball, he needed the ability to surpass even the strongest beings.

"A wise choice," the old man said. "It is as if you have planned for this moment."

Travis chuckled. "Maybe."

The old man gestured for him to continue. "You now have two wishes left."

Travis tapped his chin in thought. Alright, I need mobility. There's no point in having power if I can't go anywhere.

"For my third wish, I want the ability to travel to different worlds—fictional worlds, specifically. That includes anime, manga, comics, and manhwa. Oh, and manhua too, though I probably won't visit those since their main characters are kinda weird."

The old man chuckled at that but made a simple gesture. "Granted. You now have one wish left. Use it wisely—I do not make favors."

Travis exhaled. My last wish… Normally, he'd just pick another overpowered ability, but something told him he could be smarter about this. Then, an idea struck him—one that made his excitement soar.

"I want you to create a special plane of existence—a realm I can travel to whenever I want. This place will grant me any wish I desire, with absolutely no limits."

He could barely contain his grin. This was the ultimate cheat. Even if he didn't need any more abilities now, he could get them later. Infinite possibilities, endless power.

The old man raised an eyebrow but eventually nodded. "Hmm… I'll allow it. Why not?"

Travis clenched his fists in excitement. ' This is perfect. '

The old man leaned back in his throne, studying him. "Now then, what do you wish to do? You may stay here and master your abilities, or you can leave immediately and wreak havoc without even knowing the extent of your power. The choice is yours."

Travis thought about it. Sure, he was eager to explore different worlds, but jumping in blindly wasn't the smartest move. Yhwach's abilities were complex—he needed time to understand them.

"Personally, I'd like to stay and train first," he said. "Luckily, Yhwach was already immortal, so I won't have to worry about dying of old age."

"True," the old man agreed. "But you should also know—you cannot die here. This place is where certain souls arrive after death, but it exists outside of time itself. Stay as long as you wish."

Travis smirked. "Then I guess I'll be here for a while."

Travis nodded in acknowledgment before decisively turning on his heel, his cloak billowing slightly as he strode toward the castle's grand entrance. The moment he crossed its threshold, an overwhelming wave of energy surged through him, sending a shiver down his spine. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before—an ethereal, almost divine presence that seemed to embrace him. The air was thick with the scent of blooming flora, and the soft hum of unseen forces resonated in his ears, as though the very essence of the world had been amplified.

Before him stretched a vast, breathtaking expanse—an otherworldly forest brimming with vibrant life. Towering trees with luminescent leaves shimmered under an unseen light, their roots pulsating with an energy that felt almost sentient. The ground was blanketed with soft, silver-green grass that glowed faintly underfoot, and in the distance, crystalline rivers wove through the landscape, reflecting the heavens above. It was a realm where nature and magic coexisted in perfect harmony, untouched by time or decay.

"He lives in a pretty cool place," Travis murmured, taking in his surroundings. Then, exhaling deeply, he steeled himself. "Okay, time to begin my training. For now, let's deal with my abilities since I think they'll be the hardest to control and understand."

And so, the years passed.

Travis immersed himself in relentless training, testing the very limits of his newfound power. With each strike, devastating energy tore through the land, splitting the earth, toppling trees, and sending shockwaves that could have erased entire landscapes. Yet, each time, the forest responded with eerie resilience. The very moment destruction was wrought, nature wove itself back together, as if time itself was reversing his havoc. It was mesmerizing, almost hypnotic—a never-ending cycle of ruin and renewal.

Unbeknownst to him, this ceaseless battle against himself pushed him beyond mortal constraints. Every movement became sharper, every thought more calculated. His instincts honed to perfection, and his power flourished, expanding into something beyond comprehension. He had transcended the boundaries of his former self, evolving into something greater than even he had imagined.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, he emerged.

Travis stepped beyond the forest's borders, the weight of his journey etched into every fiber of his being. His once neatly trimmed hair had grown long and unruly, cascading over his shoulders like a shadowy mane. A rough beard lined his jaw, giving him an almost primal appearance. His attire, once regal and clean, had been weathered by the elements, torn and stained with the marks of his trials. His presence alone exuded an aura of untamed power, and yet, his eyes held a clarity that hadn't been there before.

He re-entered the throne room, the contrast between the two worlds stark and almost disorienting. Yet as he stepped forward, his form shifted—his once-wild appearance refining itself in mere moments. His hair shortened, his beard vanished, and his garments repaired themselves, as if the passage of time had never touched him. However, subtle changes lingered. He stood taller, his frame carrying an effortless strength. His black hair had darkened further, absorbing the very essence of the void itself. His crimson eyes burned with an intensity that hinted at something far deeper—a reservoir of knowledge, power, and untold experiences.

'Spending so much time in that forest turned me into a new person,' Travis mused, flexing his fingers as he gazed at his own form. 'Though I'm still the same as before… I just see things differently now.'

A deep chuckle echoed through the hall, drawing his gaze toward the throne. The man seated there regarded him with keen interest, his golden eyes gleaming with approval.

"Travis, you've returned," he said, his voice laced with satisfaction. "And your strength… it is remarkable. I can feel it—the divinity within you resonates much like my own. It seems your body could not withstand the sheer magnitude of energy, so it adapted, absorbing and merging with it. What a fascinating power you've chosen." He leaned forward slightly, his expression contemplative. "Now that you are bound to this realm in ways you may not yet fully understand… why not consider becoming my successor?"

Travis smirked, rolling his shoulders as if testing his own body. "It would be an honor," he admitted. "But for now… I think I want to have a little fun first." His grin widened slightly, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Yet when I am done, I shall return and take your throne."

The man on the throne chuckled, shaking his head. "Your character has changed in ways even I did not expect… and yet, you still maintain your foolish nature."

Travis simply raised his hand in farewell and turned away. Then, in an instant, he was gone—vanishing so seamlessly that it was as if he had never been there at all.

A silence settled over the throne room, broken only by the amused sigh of the man still seated upon his gilded seat. A slow, knowing smile spread across his lips.

"Among all those to whom I have granted wishes, he alone has taken the time to truly understand the gifts bestowed upon him," he mused, resting his chin against his palm. "Most others rushed headfirst into their desired worlds, only to meet their demise—either their power was too weak or too unstable. The irony is that despite granting them all equal wishes, none of them took a moment to reflect upon their choices." He exhaled, a mixture of amusement and admiration in his gaze. "Yet, I dare not compare him to them… for he has long since surpassed the realm of mere mortals. He has become something else entirely."

And with that, he leaned back into his throne, anticipation glimmering in his eyes.

The world had yet to see what Travis would become.

TO BE CONTINUED