Reincarnation, Second Try

I slowly opened my eyes as I regained consciousness.

'Going through the same thing twice, heh'

The first thing I saw was a cave ceiling. I was lying on my back, in a not-so-comfortable position due to the rock-hard floor.

Thankfully, I still had my clothes from before the reincarnation. The suit and pants felt really tight.... I must be bigger and taller in this body.

'It seems I'm in Veldora's cave, just like the original. At least I know that my reincarnation went smoothly.'

'Now then, it's time to get a grasp over my skills'

"Hey? [Great Sage], you there?"

<Received. Yes>

"Perfect, Now can you give me a brief overview of my race, skills, and situation?"

<Received. Certainly. Your race is 'Demonoid' or to go into detail, a human infused with magicules that mutated your body and turned you into a Majin.>

'Oh, so like Leon Cromwell.... Nice, what about my skills?'

<Received. You possess 3 Unique Skills; '[Great Sage]' '[Necromancer]' and '[Archiver]' along with Temperature Resistance and Pain Resistance

Additionally, the race 'Demonoid' has 3 intrinsic skills due to their natural affinity to magic.

1. [Magic Sense]: Allows you to sense magicules in the surrounding

2. [Magic Resistance]: Resistance to magic-based attacks and effects

3. [Magic Jamming]: Disrupts the flow of magicules around you to dispel magical attacks and effects.>

'Damn, I got lucky with my race. But what about the third Unique skill, I don't recall thinking anything that would result in this skill' I wondered.

<Received. The Unique Skill '[Archiver]' is the culmination of all the knowledge you possess about the past and future of this world. It is integrated into your soul.>

'Ohhhh! So the <VOTW> deemed my knowledge to be on par with a Unique Skill and converted it by itself... Hey [Great Sage], can you give me a detailed summary of each of my Unique Skills?'

<Received. Certainly.

1. [Great Sage]:

[Thought Acceleration]: Boosts perception speed by a thousand times.

[Analyze and Assess]: Analyzes and assesses the target.

[Parallel Operation]: Operates on any matter you wish to analyze, separating it from the regular thought process.

[Cast Cancel]: Annuls the casting period required when using magic, et cetera.

[All of Creation]: Provides full coverage of all unsuppressed matter and phenomena in this world.

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2. [Archiver]:

[Pursuit of Truth]: The highest authority of Analysis. Basically a combination of a superior [Analysis] and a superior [All of Creation]. Allows you to see through even concealed phenomenon.

[World Archive]: An archive of all events, information, and knowledge known by you before

reincarnation.

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3. [Necromancer]:

[Seize Soul]: You can take control of the soul of a defeated or willing target, adding them to your Legion.

[Physical Revival]: Revive a dead target within their own body, while taking control of their soul and adding them to your legion (In case of humans and non-spiritual beings).

[Spiritual Revival]: Revive a spiritual target and put them in a pre-existing body or a body made of the user's Magicules, while taking control of their soul and adding them to your legion

[Hierarchy]: Create a hierarchical soul circuit with all Legionaries. You can take, copy and give skills, magics, and information to any one part of the Legion.

[Soul Realm]: A separate dimension available to all Legionaries. Size is proportional to the capacity of magicules. You can summon any Legionary from the Soul realm anytime. Also acts as a medium of teleportation between you and the Legionaries

[Legion in Death]: Upon the death of a legionary, their soul returns to you.

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'Holy Shit, that's a lot of subskills. It looks like Great Sage is the same as it was for Rimuru. But what interests me is [Necromancer]. It's extremely powerful. It has everything I wanted and more. Now I can finally be like Sung Jinwoo! Hahahahahha!!'

{A/N: 💀}

Once I got a feel for all my skills, I commanded [Great Sage] to use [Magic Sense] to make a general Map of the area so that I can explore. It also suggested to me that it can handle all the information gained constantly through [Magic Sense] using [Parallel Operation]. And obviously, I accepted.

Next, it asked me whether to activate [Pursuit of Truth] passively under it's management. [Pursuit of Truth] was a skill that Veldora would gain later on, so it had to be powerful. I accepted, but didn't feel any immediate difference. No matter, as long as it's helpful.

I knew that before long, I would hear Veldora's voice, that is, if everything is the same as the original.

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As I slowly made my way around the cave with [Great Sage] guiding me, I finally heard the voice which I'd been dying to hear.

'𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘦, 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯?', a voice boomed in my head.

'Yeah, I can hear you.... Veldora'

'𝘉𝘞𝘈𝘏𝘈𝘏𝘈𝘏𝘈𝘏𝘈𝘈, 𝘴𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺?', Veldora exclaimed.

'Well, I guess I thought you would be lonely, but if you want me to shut up, then--'

'𝘞𝘈𝘐𝘛! 𝘕𝘖.... 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘵 𝘶𝘱, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦'

'A tsundere huh, doesn't really feel cute when they're a bigass dragon'

After that first encounter, I made my way to the chamber where Veldora was sealed.

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After a few minutes of walking, I reached the chamber of Veldora's sealing. The first and most obvious thing that greeted my eyes was the gigantic, majestic dragon, covered in black scales, with a blue underbelly.

'The Storm Dragon Veldora, one of the 4 True Dragons and among the strongest beings of this world. Destruction incarnate, and a Catastrophe-rank monster... For such a grand introduction, he looks kinda underwhelming stuck inside this barrier. '

'BWAHAHAHAHA! Are you mesmerized seeing my grand self?' He was speaking normally instead of telepathically now.

"Yeah, sure, definitely..... Anyways, how long have you been sealed here?"

"Oh? A curious one aren't you. Very well, I shall tell you the story of how I got trapped in this place at the hands of that beautiful hero. In return, you shall tell me of your origins. I am also curious about your presence here, no monster has approached my domain in the past 300 years." Veldora proclaimed.

"Uhhh- No thank you, I already know how you fought with the hero and were imprisoned here, I was just wondering how long it has been. And about your question, I am an otherworlder who has just arrived in this world." I responded to the dragon.

"You are an insolent one aren't you, but how do you know so much for a recently born otherworlder?" he asked.

"It's a skill I have that allows me to know many things." I answered.

'It's okay to tell Veldora about this cuz he can't do any harm with that information. Anyway I plan on getting him out and having him as an ally. His name and presence by my side will be a good deterrent to potential enemies until I become strong enough to take them on.' I thought.

"Hmmm very interesting. You look like a human, but I sense a large quantity of magicules within your body. Seems like you were infused with my leaking magicules when you reincarnated and immediately evolved into a majin of sorts."

"That makes us relatives then. Should I start calling you Big Bro?" I asked him teasingly.

'The series really downplayed his intelligence and deductive capabilities, no matter how he acts, he's still a being who has lived for more than 20,000 years. And he also has rhe Unique Skill [Investigator]' I thought.

"NO WAY! That's embarrassing" Veldora exclaimed.

"Hey, you must be lonely as hell in here, wanna be friends?" I proposed.

"W-what!! A mere majin wants to be friends with me?! The Strom Dragon Veldora!" Veldora answered, still keeping his prideful act up.

"Oh sorry, I guess I'll leave then." I responded casually.

"You FOOL, I never rejected your offer, since you're being so insistent, I shall accept you as my friend." Veldora said in a panic.

'Loneliness sure has made him desperate eh, classic tsundere.'

"Great then, from now on, you're my first friend in this world."

"Kuahahahahaha! I, The Storm Dragon Veldora acknowledge you as my friend-- Wait, I just remembered, you don't have a name do you?"

"Well no, since I've just come into this world."

'Names might be a casual thing back in my world, but here? They're powerful, very powerful. Bestowing a name upon a monster or human involves using up A LOT of magicules and forming a bond of master-subordinate with the monster. Named monsters are generally more powerful and have stronger wills along with more complex emotions. Occasionally, monsters can even evolve and gain skills after being named to match their new power'

"Okay then, allow me to bestow upon you a name, in return you shall give us both a name, a last name in a sense."

"Nice! I have a request, could you give me a name related to the darkness, I have to sound cool too, ya' know"

'The name has to match my powers. I don't wanna be called something like Demon Lord Dingus, that's goofy as hell'

"Fret not, I shall give you a name worthy of my friend!"

'Now then, I also have to think of a name. Tempest sounds cool and all, but I want to be original. I guess I could take an inspiration from the legends and fictional stories from my past life..... 'Past life', still feels unreal.... Can't blame me though, anyone would need time to deal with being in a new world.'

'Now, onto the name.... How about "Lannister".....nahhh, "Black"?....too generic, "Emrys".... cool factor is lacking...OH Yeah!... I got it..... yessss, this is it!!'

"Veldora, I have decided." I announced.

"KUAHAHAHAHA, me too, tell me the name you have decided first."

"Very well, from now on, as a symbol of our friendship, you shall be called, 'VELDORA PENDRAGON'!!!!!!"

"Pendragon huh!! I love it, truly a name befitting my stature. Now then, the name I have decided for you, my friend, from now on, call yourself, 'ASHBORNE'!!! Proclaim to the world that your name is ASHBORNE PENDRAGON!"

'!!!! H-how, this is too much too be a coincidence, how the hell did Veldora pick the name of a fictional character from my past life, that too one that has a similar powers as me???..... Doesn't matter, I should just be thankful that he chose a good name'

'Wait- Why did me or Rimuru not evolve, or even feel a change when we were named?'

<Received. The naming that was performed between you and the Individual 'Veldora' is called Equal Naming. It is safer in the sense that it does not consume any magicules, but does not grant any benefits to the namer or named. Instead, it serves as a declaration of an equal relationship between the two participants.>

'Is that so.... That's too bad, it would have been sick if I just evolved so early. Is there anything else [Great Sage]? '

<Report. Unique Skill '[Necromancer]'s Sub-skill '[Hierarchy]'s effect is being applied. Since you have formed an equal relationship with the individual 'Veldora', they can be added to you Legion as your equal. Do you wish to do so?>

<Y/N>

'Huh? This is a pleasant surprise. I choose 'Yes'.'

<Received. The individual 'Veldora' will be added to the Legion.>

"Oi Ashborne, what's this? Are you trying to form a connection with my soul? I didn't know that such a thing was possible with this abominable barrier in between. But since it's you, I shall allow it."

"Oh yeah, that's my skill taking effect. I don't know what exactly will happen though."

<Report. Individual 'Veldora' is now a part of your Legion. Attempting to form a 'Soul Circuit' between you and the Individual 'Veldora' >

<Successful. A Soul Circuit with you and Veldora has been formed.>

'A soul Circuit? Is that like a soul corridor which was formed when Rimuru released Veldora?'

<Received. A 'Soul Circuit' is a matrix of Soul corridors, with you at it's top. It is an advanced form of a Soul Corridor and has similar functions but on a greater scale.>

'Ohhhh I see.... Wait, does that mean that I'll be able to talk to Veldora Telepathically even when I'm far away and he's inside the barrier?

<Received. Yes, do you wish to open a telepathic channel with Veldora through the Soul Circuit?>'

'YES!'

<Received. Telepathic Channel has now been opened with Vel-->

"OIII, how did you do this??!! I thought it was impossible for skills from the outside to take effect inside the barrier. The only way I even managed to contact you earlier was slipping a small quantity of magicules through this darned barrier."

"I honestly don't know, but this means that we can stay in contact even when I'm away."

"KUAHAHAHAHA! What a wonderful ability you have my friend."

'I feel happy for some reason.... Didn't I just meet him a while ago, why do I feel so happy about being able to talk with him?? Must be my inner fanboy.'

"Well then Veldora, it's time for me to go outside now, though we can still talk regularly.... You know what--"

'Hey, [Great Sage], can you make a compilation of all the Marvel Movies, Anime and T.V Shows from my memories and send them to Veldora through the Soul Circuit?'

<Received. Yes, It is possible. Executing Order..... Successful>

"WOOOAAH!! This is amazing Ashborne! I'll be sure to study these holy records", says Veldora as he receives the information.

"Glad you like it, my friend. See ya", I respond.

'This will keep him busy for a while at least'

'Anyways, it's finally time to explore the rest of the cave and then go out', I thought as I go out of the chamber.

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A/N: The second chapter is here!! This one is quite long, over 2.3k words, just as promised.

Add this to your Library, and please drop some Power Stones, they serve as good motivation.