[Multiverse] The Reincarnated One's Journey Across Multiverse

The dawn was breaking. Shirakawa Yuki, clad in a snug combat suit, was walking towards the outskirts of the sprawling Darkwood Forest. His hands gripped the Demon God Dual Pistols, eyes scanning his surroundings with cautious precision.

By the time the sun fully rose at 8 a.m., Yuki had reached the edge of the forest. Though this area was only inhabited by low-tier beasts—creatures equivalent to ten or hundred-year soul beasts—he remained wary. He had never faced such creatures before and didn't know how they compared to the predators from his previous life.

The forest was eerily quiet, devoid of any human presence.

###

The bushes near Yuki rustled faintly.

"Rustle... Rustle..."

Yuki's gaze sharpened. His fingers tightened on the pistols' grip as he leaped back, raising both weapons towards the bush.

For a moment, there was silence. But Yuki's instincts screamed otherwise. His experience as a mercenary had taught him that danger was often the most deceptive when it seemed to vanish. He closed his eyes and steadied his breathing, sharpening his senses. The faint sounds of leaves, wind, and distant creatures flooded his ears.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.

"There!" he whispered.

Twisting his body, he fired at the blur of motion lunging at him.

Bang!

Blood sprayed from the shadowed figure—a wolf, sleek and gray, collapsed to the forest floor. The bullet had struck its head cleanly. Its lifeless body sprawled across the ground, blood pooling beneath it.

A faint glow formed above the beast, materializing into a white soul ring.

"A ten-year soul beast?" Yuki murmured, his brows furrowing. "But this looks more like a regular wolf... Wait!"

Before he could finish his thought, a distant howl pierced the silence.

"Awooooo!"

###

Yuki's expression darkened. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath. He crouched, spinning in a slow circle, his guns raised and ready. More rustling sounds emerged from all directions.

He was surrounded.

"Great," he growled. "The wolf was just the scout. Now the pack has come to finish the job."

Yuki's mind raced. Judging by the noises, there were at least a dozen wolves encircling him. He only had fourteen bullets loaded across both guns. While his marksmanship was unparalleled, the unpredictable movements of these beasts posed a challenge.

He exhaled, steadying his nerves. "No choice but to fight."

A shadow darted toward him. Without hesitation, he aimed and fired.

Bang!

A pained yelp rang out as a second wolf collapsed to the ground. The pack hesitated no longer. Wolves charged from all sides, their fangs bared and eyes glowing with primal ferocity.

###

Yuki smirked grimly. "Fine. Let's see how you handle this."

He shifted into a combat stance, knees bent slightly. A subtle glow surrounded him as he whispered, "Gun Kata—Death Wheel Dance!"

Spinning on his heel, Yuki unleashed a flurry of shots in rapid succession.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Every bullet found its mark, carving through flesh with deadly precision. Wolves dropped one after another, their howls silenced in an instant. Blood splattered the ground, staining it red as Yuki completed a full rotation.

When the echoes of gunfire faded, the forest grew silent once more. Around him lay the fallen bodies of the pack, their white soul rings shimmering faintly above them.

Yuki lowered his guns, his breath heavy. Smoke curled lazily from the muzzles.

He examined his trembling arms. "The recoil's still tough to handle... even with soul power cushioning it." His young, six-year-old body wasn't yet strong enough to endure such relentless attacks without strain.

The gemstone embedded in his pistols glowed faintly. The weapons reloaded automatically, their ammunition restored by his soul power. Yuki glanced at the glowing rings above the wolf corpses but didn't bother absorbing them.

"Too weak," he muttered. "I need something better than a ten-year ring."

###

The metallic tang of blood clung to the air, making Yuki's nose wrinkle. He scanned his surroundings. The strong scent would undoubtedly attract stronger predators soon.

No time to waste.

Holstering his pistols, Yuki sprinted deeper into the forest. His boots crushed fallen leaves and twigs as he moved with calculated speed. After a few minutes, he leaned against a tree, pulling out a piece of dry rations.

The hard bread tasted bland, but it replenished his energy. For someone who had survived on worse—bark and grass, for instance—it was more than enough.

As he munched, Yuki unrolled his map.

His brows furrowed. "Seriously?" He sighed. "I'm lost."

But this wasn't a major problem for him. The sun's position offered a clear direction. He had entered the forest from the west, so he merely needed to move opposite to the sunrise to retrace his steps.

"Alright," he murmured, folding the map neatly. "Time to find a real target."

He slung his pack over his shoulder, his eyes glinting with determination.

"I need a soul beast worthy of my first soul ring. Let's see what this forest has to offer."