That Time I Got Reincarnated as Optimus Prime

Prologue

(Y/N Ryder had always been a dreamer. Growing up, he spent countless hours immersed in worlds of fantasy and science fiction, where heroes fought against impossible odds to save the day. His love for these stories never waned, even as he transitioned into adulthood. By day, he was a software engineer, crafting code with the same meticulous care that he once applied to his childhood fantasies. By night, he indulged in his passion for gaming, comic books, and one franchise above all others: Transformers.)

(Optimus Prime was more than just a character to Y/N; he was a symbol of everything he aspired to be. The Autobot leader's unwavering sense of justice, his strength tempered with compassion, and his ability to inspire others resonated deeply with Y/N. He collected every action figure, watched every movie, and read every comic that featured the legendary Autobot. In many ways, Optimus Prime was the hero Y/N had always wanted to be—a guiding light in a world that often felt chaotic and uncertain.)

(But life, as it often does, had its own plans. Y/N's days were a blur of routine—work, eat, sleep, repeat. The monotony of his existence was only broken by the occasional gaming marathon or a trip to the local comic book store. He was content, if not entirely fulfilled. Deep down, he longed for something more, something that would give his life meaning beyond the daily grind.)

(One fateful day, that wish was granted in a way he could never have imagined.)

(It was a crisp autumn morning, the kind that heralded the arrival of winter with a chill in the air and leaves crunching underfoot. Y/N was on his way to a fan convention, one of the few events he looked forward to each year. His car was packed with collectibles, and he wore his favorite Optimus Prime t-shirt, the one with the Autobot insignia proudly displayed across the chest. As he drove through the winding roads that led to the convention center, his mind wandered, as it often did, to the possibilities that lay ahead—a day filled with meeting fellow fans, attending panels, and perhaps finding that one rare item to complete his collection.)

(But the universe had other plans.)

(The accident happened in the blink of an eye. One moment, Y/N was humming along to the soundtrack of the latest Transformers movie, and the next, a blinding light filled his vision. He barely had time to react before his car was struck by an oncoming truck that had swerved out of its lane. The impact was brutal, the sound of metal crunching against metal deafening. Pain shot through Y/N's body, sharp and searing, before everything went dark.)

(When he awoke, there was no pain, no noise, no chaos—just an overwhelming sense of calm. Y/N blinked, expecting to see the inside of a hospital room or perhaps the bright lights of an operating theater. Instead, he found himself standing in an endless expanse of white, a place that seemed to exist outside of time and space. He looked down at his hands, expecting to see the familiar sight of his own flesh and blood, but what he saw instead was metal—shiny, intricate, and impossibly complex.)

(Panic gripped him as he realized that he was no longer in his own body. He flexed his fingers, watching in stunned silence as the metallic joints moved with a fluidity that belied their rigid appearance. His mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening, but the more he tried to rationalize it, the less it made sense. He reached up to touch his face and felt the cold, hard surface of a metal faceplate.)

Y/N: (mutters) This can't be real.

(Y/N's breath caught in his throat as he stumbled backward, his mind reeling. How was this possible? How could he be standing here, in this body, as the very character he had idolized his entire life? Questions swirled in his mind, but before he could make sense of any of it, a voice echoed through the void.)

????: Welcome. Y/N Ryder.

(The voice was calm, authoritative, and seemed to come from everywhere at once. Y/N spun around, trying to locate its source, but there was nothing—only the endless white expanse.)

Y/N: Who are you?

????: I am a being beyond your comprehension, a force that governs the balance between worlds. You have been chosen, Y/N Ryder, for a purpose far greater than the life you once knew.

Y/N: Chosen? For what? And why me?

????: Your soul resonated with the ideals of leadership, justice, and compassion—qualities embodied by Optimus Prime, the guardian of Cybertron and protector of countless lives. When your life ended in your world, the energy of your soul sought a new purpose, and it found it here, in this form.

Y/N: But... this is impossible. I can't be Optimus Prime. I'm just... me.

????: You are more than meets the eye, Y/N. You have been given a second chance, a new life in a world where your actions will determine the fate of many. The form you now inhabit carries the legacy of a great leader, but it is your soul that will guide its actions.

(The weight of the situation began to settle on Y/N's shoulders. This wasn't a dream or a hallucination—it was real. Somehow, in the cosmic shuffle between life and death, he had been reborn as Optimus Prime, the very hero he had admired for so long. But with that realization came a flood of doubts. How could he, an ordinary man, live up to the legacy of such a legendary figure? How could he lead a group of warriors in a battle for survival when he had no experience in war, no knowledge of the struggles they faced?)

????: You are not alone, Y/N. The memories of Optimus Prime, his experiences, and his wisdom are now part of you. They will guide you, but it is your heart, your humanity, that will make you the leader you are meant to be.

(Y/N took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The idea of stepping into such a monumental role was daunting, but there was also a sense of destiny, a feeling that he was exactly where he needed to be. The uncertainty, the fear—they were still there, but beneath it all was a flicker of hope. If he had been given this chance, perhaps it was because he was meant to make a difference.)

Y/N: (determined) What's next?

????: (smiles) The world you are about to enter is a place where universes converge, where heroes and villains from across dimensions collide. It is a world in need of a leader, a protector. And that, Ethan Cross, is where your journey begins.

(With those words, the white expanse began to fade, replaced by a new world filled with color, life, and the sounds of a bustling cityscape. Y/N is now Optimus Prime, and his journey had just begun.)