Naked in the wilderness

"Where on earth am I now?"

I find myself pondering this, as what lies before me is a forest of towering trees, their branches and leaves stretching high, nearly obscuring the sky above.

"And just why on earth am I utterly bare?"

Another question escaped my lips as I caught sight of my completely bare form, exposed and unadorned by any fabric.

"Is it possible that I am being abducted and discarded like refuse into this strange place by an unseen power?"

Once more, a question escapes my lips, seeking an answer that remains elusive.

I found myself in a state of confusion, yet there was no hint of panic regarding my situation; it felt oddly familiar. In moments like these, I usually struggled to maintain my composure or hide my emotions, yet at this very moment, I felt an unexpected calm wash over me, leaving no hint of panic in sight.

There had to be a reason I found myself standing here in the forest, completely exposed to the world around me.

"Kaito, do not forget, it seems you might be experiencing a bit of short-term memory loss."

As I strained to recall anything that might satisfy my curiosity about my condition, a notification chimed, echoing like a distant sound in my ear.

Integration has been successfully completed! Welcome, dear host, to the beginning of your second life!

"???"

Confusion washed over me, a single word echoing in my mind, for I was all too familiar with this kind of occurrence that often graced the pages of fiction.

"...Is there a system?"

Absolutely! What do you need to host?

"...A system?" Then... Am I in another world right now? "System, hey, answer me! Why am I in this place?" As... I find myself lost in a fog of forgotten memories.

The host found themselves cast into this realm by the 'Creator', destined to serve as a technician tasked with erasing impending bugs or crafting a world far superior to the one that existed before.

"Oh, really?" Well, I suppose it is fine if I have to tackle a messy task in this place. But, you see, I was just an everyday person! Even with all those adages, humans have an incredible capacity to evolve when faced with challenges. Yet, for me, the priority has always been safety!

*Giggles* I completely understand, dear host; that is precisely why 'Creator' has graced you with my presence. I will be your guide to help you accomplish every mission ahead of you.

A sigh of relief escaped my lips.

I recognize that there are numerous realistic reincarnation tales that steer clear of those cheat powers, introducing a refreshing aspect to the narrative. Often, these stories rely on an overpowering element for the main character, which can lead to a lack of meaningful growth throughout the journey.

I tend to lean towards a more grounded approach, prioritizing the development of the main character and the intricacies of the world over sheer power.

Yet! As I stood on the brink of becoming the main character, an undeniable urge welled up within me—a desperate need for that overpowered cheat to boost my odds of survival!

Picture yourself cast into a perilous realm brimming with magic, mystical beings, and treacherous monsters lurking at every turn. You're simply a regular person, lacking any special edge.

Are you certain you are becoming the main character and not just one of the background characters in those kinds of worlds?

I think that realistic main characters, lacking any overpowered advantages, struggle to develop without the presence of something like plot armor and a protagonist halo.

Perhaps the "Creator" has blessed me as well with an impenetrable shield and the charisma of a protagonist, destined to complete their journey even without the aid of any special abilities.

What am I up to? Suddenly erupting in a fit over such matters, while I stand here bare and gradually trembling from the chill.

"Achoo... Brr... Quick, System! I need something—anything! Just clothes to shield me from this chill!"

Alright, Host! Initiating 'Small Gift' from 'Creator'...50% ...100%

Well done, host! You have acquired the formidable <Ito-Ito No Mi Power>, the enigmatic <Color of Armaments>, and the elusive <Control Immunity>.

In an instant, an overwhelming sensation coursed through my body, a gentle warmth enveloping me. I find myself in a state of confusion, as I understand that such matters typically bring harm to the owner.

It feels as though a surge of a thousand volts has coursed through me.

As the minutes ticked by, the comforting warmth that had enveloped me slowly began to fade away.

A surge of strength coursed through my body, more potent than ever before.

Without hesitation, I summoned my power, striving to replicate the flamboyant style of Doflamingo from One Piece, drawing from the depths of my memory.

"Hmm... How about Goshikito (Five Color Strings)!"

I attempted to gesture with my right hand, as if to scratch an itch just before my eyes, and in an instant, my five fingers unleashed slender, razor-like strings that sliced cleanly through the thick tree standing nearby.

The tree fell with ease, as if a heated blade were slicing butter.

This ability reminded me of how Doflamingo wielded the power of his fruit to assert control over an entire nation.

"It's an extraordinary power..."

I whispered to myself, attempting to release the vibrant hues of the weapons adorning my hands while recalling Rayleigh's words from the tale.

In an instant, a dark sheen envelops my arms, and I sense my hands transforming, becoming as unyielding as steel. With a sense of curiosity, I inhaled deeply, gathering my resolve before I swung my right arm into the logs I had previously sliced.

*BAM!*

The sound echoed like a thunderous explosion as my fist shattered the logs into splintered fragments.

I exhaled softly, a small smile creeping onto my lips as the thrill of power coursed through me, reminiscent of a child discovering a brand new toy to explore.

"System, I am filled with curiosity about my current strength." Could you provide me with a reference?

What's this? If you were to inquire, the host at this moment could effortlessly obliterate multiple buildings with ease.

"Oh, really..."

I found myself lost in thought: how far into the future could I possibly journey? Am I destined to become just like Saitama? One decisive blow capable of extinguishing an adversary's existence.

As I contemplated, a sudden awareness washed over me: I was utterly exposed. As I sat there, a thought struck me: could I perhaps create some makeshift attire, just enough to cover my additional limbs and the twin orbs that set me apart?

With a determined effort, I sought to let go of the string, picturing a simple yet elegant pair of shorts taking shape in my imagination.

Enchanted events unfold.

Before long, a straightforward tale has come to life. The color was simple white, much like the string I released, which resembled the hue of Doflamingo's threads.

I got to work right away, creating a straightforward shirt and then a pair of shoes that still had a classic appeal.

The memories flood back; I found myself in realms of imagination.

It would certainly be peculiar if someone appeared, adorned in something extravagant and strikingly distinct from the rest.

Once I have ensured I have clothes to keep me covered, my next goal is to seek out something to eat and locate sources of water.

"Hold on..."

In my recollection, there was a system that included a feature related to the map or perhaps something else that resembled the light novels I used to follow in my past life. Satou-san from the Death March series pondered, "System, do you have any features such as maps or anything similar?"

It's a little unsettling to accept the might of the system while standing here doubting who I am. I discovered myself to be one of the chosen transmigrators, tethered by fate to a pair of systems made by their enigmatic creator.

Of course, you can access the map feature.

In the fleeting moments that followed, I found myself gazing at the surrounding maps, each adorned with dots of various colors, vivid and distinct against the backdrop.

As an avid RPG player, I find myself quite accustomed to this sort of experience.

The red dots remained unaware of the lurking enemy, a creature, or some unseen danger that threatened their existence.

Green dots appear to be treasures waiting to be gathered.

Blue dots appear to be an abundant resource, ripe for harvesting over and over again.

With this map feature, I can effortlessly follow the river's path. It is just a short distance, probably only about 1 kilometer from where I am.

"Alright, let's step into the realm of those water resources."

As I stroll toward my destination, an unexpected turn of events unfolds...

Ding! A pressing quest has emerged! One of the heroines is in need of assistance! Hurry! Something terrible is happening to her! [Reward: ???]

Witnessing this, a sigh escapes my lips, for I feel the call to become one of those heroes who save beauty from peril.