All was silent.

  In the distance stretched an endless sea, its glimmering waves gently kissing the gray sky above.

  “So... it really is the sea.”

  “Am I... on an isnd?!”

  At the mouth of a cave atop a mountain, Yoriichi Tsugikuni stood barefoot in the wind. He wore nothing but a pair of ragged hemp shorts and a rough, sleeveless animal-skin vest. Eyes fixed on the horizon, he took in the unfamiliar world before him.

  The climate here was strange. The night before, the wind outside the cave had been bone-chilling, yet by morning, the air had warmed dramatically. The bizarre temperature swings left Yoriichi slightly disoriented.

  “First... I should get a y of the nd.”

  Drawing a deep breath of the crisp morning air, he stepped back into the cave. Moments ter, he emerged again, long bde in hand, scanning the area. He followed the only visible path leading down the mountain.

  From the look of things, the previous occupant had lived in this cave for some time—there were clear signs the area around the entrance had been cleared and maintained.

  Soon, Yoriichi vanished into the thick forest below.

  …

  It was a primeval jungle. Towering ancient trees loomed overhead, their canopies so dense that not a hint of blue sky remained. The intertwined branches and lush leaves formed a living ceiling of green. When the sea breeze swept through, the rustling leaves echoed like a dragon’s sigh.

  As he made his way through the forest, Yoriichi came across many strange pnts he had never seen before. He often stopped to study them—not out of mere curiosity, but to see if any bore edible fruits.

  He hadn’t forgotten the mess inside the cave. The only thing even remotely resembling food had been that foul, paste-like substance. If he had any choice in the matter, he'd never touch that goop again.

  Unfortunately, no fruit trees had shown themselves yet.

  “ROAR!!”

  A sudden, deafening roar split the forest air. In the next instant, a gust of foul-smelling wind rushed straight at Yoriichi.

  Without thinking, he leapt back, toes grazing the ground as he vaulted several meters away. A heartbeat ter, a massive cw smmed into the spot where he’d just stood, shaking the earth and leaving a web of deep cracks in its wake.

  “What the hell is that?!”

  Yoriichi focused, and there it was—a massive tiger, easily ten meters long, its fur a chaotic blur of stripes.

  But this was no ordinary tiger. Its sheer size was monstrous, and those two half-meter-long fangs jutting from its maw made Yoriichi’s vision swim.

  Staring into the beast’s golden eyes, his skin bristled with primal alertness. At some point, his bde had already found its way into his hand. He held it low, gaze steady, every muscle coiled in anticipation.

  “ROAR!!”

  Another bellow—and the tiger pounced.

  It surged forward with terrifying speed, its twin forepaws swinging down like guillotines. The foul stench of blood and rot hit Yoriichi like a wall, nearly making him gag.

  Who knew how many creatures had been shredded beneath those cws?

  Yet in that moment of crisis, Yoriichi’s mind was utterly still. His breathing subtly shifted.

  To him, the tiger’s movements seemed to slow.

  And the world around him—changed.

  Transparent World.

  By focusing his senses and shutting out all distractions, the bodies of living things became see-through—organs, blood vessels, muscle contractions all visible in precise detail. His speed increased. His ability to predict and evade attacks sharpened to perfection. Even the flow of blood in an enemy’s lungs became crystal clear.

  Here, in this unfamiliar world, Yoriichi had awakened a terrifying power—one he had been born to wield.

  In his eyes, the monstrous tiger was no longer just a beast. Every organ, every breath, every twitch of muscle was id bare. Its massive, pulsing heart throbbed with frightening vitality.

  If he had to compare... its life force was not far off from the Lower Moon demon he'd once sin.

  “I can see it... just like before. I can see everything!”

  “Breath of the Sun – First Form – Dance of the Fire Wheel!”

  With that familiar crity in his vision, Yoriichi's tension vanished. In a single blur of motion, he unleashed three lightning-fast sshes.

  The incoming cws, once menacing as a runaway beast, passed harmlessly by him.

  A geyser of blood erupted.

  “Thud!”

  The great beast colpsed.

  Blood pooled across the forest floor.

  The tiger’s forelegs had been severed clean at the root, and its massive head now bore a deep, gaping gash. Blood and viscera poured from the wound, soaking the earth in crimson.

  No wonder the monster had died so swiftly.

  Yoriichi stepped forward, ready to sheath his bde and inspect the kill—but something made him pause. He looked up.

  “FWOOOSH—!”

  A tremendous sound tore through the canopy.

  A monstrous bird crashed down from the treetops, talons fshing. In an instant, it snatched the tiger’s corpse, spread its enormous wings, and vanished into the sky.

  Yoriichi could only stare, stunned.

  If his eyes hadn’t deceived him, that creature’s wingspan had to be at least twenty meters.

  He’d never seen anything like it before.

  Its heart—he’d caught a glimpse—beat with even more vigor than the tiger’s. Comparable to a mid-ranked Lower Moon.

  Of course, life force didn’t always correte directly with combat ability, but still...

  Two bizarre creatures in quick succession. What kind of world had he nded in?

  Even stranger—this new body of his could sustain Total Concentration: Constant without effort. No strain. His movements were smoother, more natural than ever.

  That dodge earlier? Pure instinct.

  No doubt about it—this body might even be stronger than the one he had before.

  All signs pointed to one conclusion.

  Could this be... a cultivation world?

  With that thought lingering in his mind, Yoriichi approached the severed tiger limbs he’d carved off earlier. Really, they were more like entire legs than mere paws, each over three meters long and heavy enough to crush a man ft.

  “Probably... edible, right?”

  “Well, at least I won’t have to eat that paste again.”

  “If this is a cultivation world, then this thing might count as a spirit beast? I mean, look at the size.”

  “I wonder if spirit beast meat really does have those legendary effects... Eat one meal, and you’re strong enough to scale five floors without breaking a sweat.”

  Muttering to himself, Yoriichi bent down, preparing to carve off a chunk.

  But as he reached for his bde, a strange thought struck him.

  Instead of cutting, he sheathed the sword and wrapped his arms around one of the massive legs.

  Just to try.

  And to his surprise—it lifted. Clean off the ground.

  What shocked him even more?

  It didn’t even feel heavy.

  “What the hell is this brute strength?!”

  Even Yoriichi was baffled by his own monstrous power. He had no idea where it came from.

  But honestly? He didn’t dwell on it too long.

  After all, this was already his second time transmigrating.

  Compared to that, having ridiculous strength?

  Totally within reason.

  He chalked it up to the heavens' favor.