Chapter 1: A New Beginning

Kevin had always been the embodiment of average. Average height, average looks, an average life—just another face in the crowd. At 22, freshly graduated and trudging through an internship, he often felt like a background character in his own story. His life was a series of responsibilities, driven by the need to support his below-average income family. The only spark in his mundane existence was his love for anime, manga, manhwa, and novels. Fiction was his escape, a world where he could live out his wildest fantasies, far from the dull reality that tethered him.

Today was supposed to be a rare day off, a break from the monotonous grind. Kevin was eagerly anticipating the release of Chapter 268 of Jujutsu Kaisen, one of his favorite manga series. The series had once been a beacon of hope and excitement for him, but recently, it had lost its charm. The Shibuya arc had left him disillusioned; what followed was a mess of endless battles, character deaths, and plot twists that felt more like afterthoughts than a coherent story. Still, Kevin couldn't help but stay loyal, hoping for a glimmer of the brilliance the series once held.

After finishing the latest chapter, Kevin sighed. "What a waste of potential," he muttered, as he shut off his computer. Characters like Megumi had been reduced to mere tools for the plot, and Gojo, once the series' shining star, was now a hollow shell of his former self. Disappointed, Kevin dragged himself to bed, preparing for another day of toil.

As he drifted into sleep, he found himself enveloped in an infinite darkness. There was nothing—no sense of time, no body, just an endless void. Panic set in briefly, but Kevin quickly pushed those thoughts aside. "Kidnapped? No way. I'm too poor for that," he mused, trying to rationalize his situation. Left with nothing but his thoughts, he did what he always did: he daydreamed. He imagined himself in a world of fiction, a place where he could be the hero, the main character of his own story.

"Hey there, young one. Quite the imagination you've got," a voice suddenly echoed through the void, pulling Kevin from his thoughts. "But dreams without goals are just dreams, don't you think?"

Kevin was stunned into silence. The voice had struck a chord. He knew he was a dreamer, someone who could fantasize endlessly but struggled to act on those dreams. Reality had taught him that even with a second chance, he would probably end up just as average, just as unremarkable, as he was now.

"Heh, so you're self-aware," the voice continued, seemingly amused. "Many like you wish for reincarnation, hoping for a life of excitement and adventure. But they forget that reincarnation doesn't guarantee a life like a fictional main character."

The darkness lifted, and Kevin suddenly found himself standing in a white room, empty save for a brilliant golden light in front of him.

"Who are you? Or rather, what are you?" Kevin asked, squinting at the light.

"Let's just say I'm what you people would call a god," the light replied, glowing even brighter. "The first entity to gain enlightenment in the vast chaos."

"So, you're the God from religions—like the Almighty, Allah, that kind of thing?"

"You could say that. But enough about me. Let's talk about you and your future."

"My future?" Kevin echoed, his mind racing. "I mean, I'd love to be reincarnated, but not as some extra, like in my current life."

"Ah, let me correct you—your 'past' life. You're dead."

"Wait, what? Dead? How?"

"A gas explosion. Your neighbor left the burner on. You died in the accident."

Kevin was taken aback. It was such a mundane, anticlimactic way to go. No heroic sacrifices, no tragic backstory—just a freak accident. He felt a pang of sadness for his parents, wondering how they would cope without him. But then, a sense of relief washed over him. He no longer had to endure the drudgery of his life.

"Don't worry about your parents," the god reassured him. "Do you remember the lottery ticket you bought with your mother last month? She'll win that. The prize money will be enough for them to live comfortably in their old age."

"What a relief," Kevin sighed. "But why am I here? Do you judge people based on their karma or something? Send them to heaven or hell?"

"Do you want me to judge you and send you off to heaven or hell?"

"Wait, there's another option?"

"Yes. I can grant you your wish of reincarnation into a fictional world."

Kevin's eyes widened. "So, anime and other fictional worlds actually exist?"

"Yes and no. It's complicated," the god explained. "Let's just say that if enough people believe in something, it can become reality. Some popular fictions are formed by the beliefs of their readers."

"Wow, so fiction does exist… Nice! So, do I get to make a wish or something? Or do I just get reincarnated as a main character?"

"Wishes, huh? If I didn't allow that, you'd just be another background character, dying who knows when. I can grant you three wishes. First, decide which world you want to enter, and then I can see what the limits are for your wishes."

"Really? I can choose the world?" Kevin's mind raced as he considered his options. Naruto? One Piece? Jujutsu Kaisen? He quickly dismissed cultivation worlds—too much hassle with young masters and no entertainment. After some thought, he settled on Jujutsu Kaisen. It was the latest manga he'd read, and he knew the story and power scaling well. Naruto was too chaotic with the ongoing Boruto series, and One Piece's story was still far from finished. He wanted control in his new life, not a world full of uncertainties.

"I'd like to reincarnate in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen."

"Interesting choice," the god mused. "A modern world, so you should adjust well. But are you sure? Death is common there, and someone like you, who's never even killed an insect, might find it hard to survive."

"Don't I get wishes for that?" Kevin retorted.

The god chuckled. "True. But there's a difference between holding a weapon and using it when it matters. Anyway, it's your choice. What are your wishes? Just keep in mind that they have to fit the world's logic—no breaking the balance with something like 'Heavens Fall' or a level-up system."

"Fine," Kevin grinned. "For my first wish, I want 'infinite growth potential.' No bottlenecks, no limitations."

"Hmm… You know that world operates on balance, right? This wish goes against that."

"Can you do it or not? You know Tengen, right?"

The god sighed. "You're a cheeky one. I can grant it, but you'll be responsible for the consequences. Next."

"Thanks! For my second wish, I want a cursed technique that lets me absorb people's emotions, dreams, and nightmares and convert them into points. And I want a simple panel to allocate those points into strengthening myself."

"I can do that, but it'll cost both remaining wishes."

Kevin thought for a moment. "How about just granting me one more little skill?"

"What skill?"

"A skill that shows me the success and failure percentage of anything I ask."

"Heh, you're asking for a scaled-down version of omniscience. That's impossible. But I can grant you something similar—it'll work once a day and only tell you the probability of certain things, not everything."

"I can work with that," Kevin agreed. "So, can I choose the time and background of my new life?"

"Go ahead."

"I want to be born five years younger than Satoru Gojo, in an above-average wealthy family in Tokyo. And can you make me handsome? I was pretty average-looking in my last life."

The god chuckled. "I can do all that. Get ready for your second chance at life, kid."

"Thanks for giving me this opportunity," Kevin said, feeling a mix of excitement and gratitude.

"Don't thank me, kid. Your fantasies are your responsibility to fulfill. I'm just giving you a nudge. Now, off you go. Live your life the way you want."

As the god's voice faded, Kevin's senses dulled, and he was once again plunged into darkness. But this time, he could feel his surroundings—a warm, comforting enclosure. "I guess I'm in the womb," he thought, already feeling sleepy. "Might as well rest until it's time to be born."

And with that, Kevin drifted off, ready to face the new life that awaited him.