[Multiverse] The Reincarnated One's Journey Across Multiverse

The forest was quiet except for the rustle of leaves. Shirakawa Yuki sat cross-legged before the lifeless corpse of a massive bird, his gaze fixed on the radiant yellow soul ring hovering above it.

"I wonder what kind of skill this will be," Yuki murmured. Taking a deep breath, he recalled the soul absorption technique he'd learned at the academy. With determination, he closed his eyes, focusing his energy to guide the soul ring toward himself.

The yellow ring descended, shrinking as it approached Yuki's forehead. The moment it entered his body, an excruciating pain surged through his head like a thunderclap. His scream echoed through the forest.

"Ahhh!" Yuki clutched his head, veins bulging on his temple. Sweat poured down his face, evaporating almost instantly in a faint mist. The agony felt like his mind was being torn apart.

Inside his consciousness, a strange vision appeared. Yuki found himself in a vast, dilapidated hall. Dust covered every corner except for two enormous statues standing at its center. Both figures radiated an aura of immense power.

The statue on the left depicted a majestic angel with immaculate white wings and a gleaming knight's sword. Its face was serene, yet its dark, piercing eyes seemed alive, as if observing Yuki. The statue on the right was its polar opposite—a demonic figure with jagged bat wings, a vicious trident in hand, and glowing crimson eyes that burned with malice.

A voice, ancient and heavy, broke the silence.

"You've finally arrived, after millennia of waiting," it said, resonating through the hall.

"Who are you? Where am I?" Yuki demanded, his voice steady despite the surreal surroundings.

The voice chuckled, its tone tinged with weariness. "You already know me, boy. You've wielded my power in battle. This is the Hall of Demon Gods, where divine and infernal powers converge. Your destiny has been sealed since the moment of your birth. Seek the Pantheon and claim its throne—only then will all be revealed."

Before Yuki could respond, the hall dissolved into a whirl of blinding light. He was back in the forest, the corpse of the bird still before him. The pain in his head had subsided, replaced by a strange clarity. The Demon God Double Guns in his hands had changed subtly—a sharp, metallic spike now extended below each barrel.

"So, this is my first soul skill..." Yuki whispered. His mind instinctively grasped its name: "Enchantment – Explosion."

He grimaced, muttering, "This feels way too chuuni. Still, it's better than Oscar's 'big sausage chant' from the academy."

Yuki stood, his gaze fixed on the bright moon that had risen overhead. The forest at night was alive with danger, and survival demanded constant vigilance. "I should keep moving," he decided, summoning his twin guns. He marveled at the modifications, noting how they resembled his favorite custom weapons from his past life.

With the moonlight guiding him, Yuki dashed through the forest. The dense foliage scraped at his clothing, but he paid it no mind, focusing on escaping the Star Dou Forest. For a while, luck seemed to be on his side—no soul beasts emerged to challenge him. But as he neared the forest's edge, his fortune ran dry.

A low growl stopped him in his tracks. From the shadows emerged a massive wolf, its body over two meters tall, its sleek gray fur glinting faintly under the moonlight. A golden tuft of hair adorned its forehead, and its emerald-green eyes glowed menacingly.

"Just my luck," Yuki muttered, gripping his guns tightly. "Well, let's test this new power."

The wolf lunged, its claws slashing through the air. Yuki sidestepped, barely avoiding the attack, and raised his weapon.

"Enchantment – Explosion!"

The yellow soul ring behind him glowed, and with a flick of his finger, he fired. Four bullets erupted from the barrels, each igniting into fiery explosions upon impact.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The wolf's howls of agony pierced the night. Flames engulfed its body, leaving scorched fur and deep wounds. One of the blasts had torn its side open, exposing charred flesh and entrails.

Yuki approached cautiously, examining his handiwork. "This power... It's incredible," he admitted, the corners of his mouth lifting in satisfaction. "Feels like I'm holding a miniature version of the Haōten Geki."

He glanced at the glowing guns in his hands. "Even the Clear Sky Hammer might struggle against this." His thoughts drifted back to the mysterious hall and the voice's cryptic message. The mention of the Pantheon troubled him. Could it be connected to the animes he'd once watched? The thought was both thrilling and unnerving.

Shaking his head, Yuki muttered, "No point in worrying about that now. I'm still just a beginner. I need to focus on getting stronger."

With resolve in his heart, Yuki holstered his weapons and resumed his journey.

###

In the endless void of space, gears of colossal proportions began to turn. Their grinding echoed in the vast emptiness, a sound that carried both promise and forewarning.

A voice whispered faintly, barely audible:

"Destiny is now set in motion."