The final strike from Hinata Sakaguchi's [Disintegration] hit Rimuru Tempest with such force that he felt his entire existence being torn apart. As his consciousness faded, a sense of loss and regret washed over him. He had come so far, achieved so much, and yet, in the end, it wasn’t enough.
The darkness enveloped him, and for a moment, there was nothing.
But then, a familiar voice echoed in the void.
*“You have died. Reincarnation in process…”*
Rimuru felt a sense of déjà vu as the voice of [Great Sage] announced his fate. He wondered what kind of world awaited him this time.
Rimuru opened his eyes to find himself in a small, dimly lit room. He was no longer a slime, nor a powerful monster. Instead, he felt the fragility and warmth of a human body. Memories of his past life were intact, but his skills and abilities, except for [Great Sage], were gone. He was a newborn, once again starting from scratch.
The years passed, and Rimuru, now named Yuji Itadori, grew up in a humble household in the outskirts of Tokyo. His family was poor, and life was tough, but he adapted quickly. The voice of [Great Sage] in his mind was his only link to his previous life, guiding him and providing knowledge when needed.
By the age of six, Yuji began noticing strange things. Dark, shadowy figures lurked in the corners of his vision, and he often felt an oppressive energy around certain places. One day, while exploring a nearby abandoned building, he encountered one of these dark figures—a curse.
Instinctively, he knew he had to defend himself. He raised his hand, and [Great Sage] activated, analyzing the curse.
*“Curse identified. Low-grade, weak to physical attacks.”*
Despite his small stature, Yuji managed to fend off the curse with surprising ease. [Great Sage] guided his movements, enhancing his reflexes and providing strategies to counter the creature's attacks. When the curse dissipated, he felt a strange sense of accomplishment.