In a rental house within an ordinary community, a young man dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase opened the door, dragging his tired body inside.
Zhang Chu is an orphan (one of the three major rules of transmigration: either a tragic loss of parents or starting as an orphan). He has a somewhat thin face but looks rather handsome. He had just left the orphanage and was making his way in the world by selling insurance to make a living.
Fortunately, thanks to his professional training and sincerity, along with a bit of luck, life was going alright. Zhang Chu often joked with his friends from the orphanage, saying he was part of a Fortune 500 company.
But those who knew Zhang Chu well were aware that he was actually a pseudo-otaku. Except for the required days to visit clients each month, he stayed at home playing games and watching anime.
"Ah! Finally, I've met this month's target. My blissful life at home begins now! Where's my aged cold cola?" Zhang Chu exclaimed.
He turned on the computer, ready to dive into his anime journey. "I remember One Piece has an update today! I've been saving up a few months' worth; today I'm going to binge-watch," Zhang Chu thought as he munched on snacks stored on his computer shelf.
"Oh my god, how did Luffy get taken down by Kaido with one hit? What is this? Is it going to be like the Enies Lobby arc where they all suddenly get stronger?" Zhang Chu grumbled in frustration.
"I wonder what Oda is thinking. If only the Pika Pika no Mi was given to the protagonist, how cool would that be?"
He recalled the moment when Kizaru appeared, taking down Supernovas with ease. There was even a joke online: "Barely works when not paid, but when payday comes, he takes down a Yonko."
Reaching for his cola, Zhang Chu found it empty. He got up to buy more, noting that the convenience store was just a street away from his home.
As he stepped out and looked at the gray, cloudy sky, he thought, "Ah, it's going to rain again. How annoying, better hurry."
Seeing a fast-moving truck approaching, Zhang Chu stopped to wait for it to pass. Suddenly, a toy ball rolled onto the street, with a child darting after it, completely unaware of the speeding truck.
Without thinking, Zhang Chu rushed out to grab the child and throw him back to safety. He felt a sharp pain and then lost consciousness. His last thought was, "Does this count as a heroic deed?" Unbeknownst to Zhang Chu, a lightning bolt also struck him at that moment.
When Zhang Chu regained awareness, he found himself in a vast, white place. He was sitting on a chair at a table, facing an elderly man with glasses. On the table between them were two cups of tea, with the tea leaves standing upright! Zhang Chu was bewildered, thinking, "This tea must be poisoned."
Despite the strange tea, Zhang Chu felt a sense of calm. "I just died, didn't I?" he wondered.
"Hello, young man. I apologize for accidentally striking you with lightning and bringing you here," the old man began explaining the situation.
This elderly man, who appeared very respectful, turned out to be a god. During a practice session, a spell went awry, killing Zhang Chu. Feeling guilty, the god summoned Zhang Chu's soul to his home, hoping to offer some compensation.
"Can I be revived?" Zhang Chu asked, curious.
"I'm sorry, due to certain rules, I can't do that. But I can reincarnate you in another world. Would that be acceptable?"
Another world, Zhang Chu thought.
"Can I choose which world I go to?" Zhang Chu inquired.
"Um, sorry, but no. We gods have an agreement to randomly assign worlds."
"Then just reincarnate me," Zhang Chu said calmly.
"But why am I so calm? I'm not usually a calm person," Zhang Chu questioned, puzzled.
The god awkwardly explained, "It's the tea. This is Clear Mind Tea from our realm. Its purpose is to calm the mind. I'm not good at dealing with angry people, so I prepared it in advance. Sorry."
"Oh, I see. Then please reincarnate me," Zhang Chu replied, understanding that the tea only helped him relax without controlling his mind.
"Is it really that simple?" the god asked, surprised.
"I understand your predicament, and I'm grateful for the chance to live again," Zhang Chu thought about the orphanage director who always taught them to be forgiving.
"You are truly a person of excellent character. As atonement, is there anything else I can do for you?" the god offered.
"Like what?"
"I would like to hear your wishes."
"Wishes? Could I have the abilities of the Pika Pika no Mi and the Haki from One Piece?"
"This?"
"Can I add more?"
"Yes, you can. I'm very powerful."
Zhang Chu thought for a moment. Abilities need a corresponding world. "Can I choose the type of world I go to?"
"Sure, although I can't choose the exact world, I can select a general type."
"Then choose a world with magic. My last wish is to have a high aptitude for magic."
"Alright, anything else?" the god asked patiently.
"No, our director often taught us to be content."
"Truly a great director," the god remarked, feeling moved.
Yes, the director was indeed great. He single-handedly supported the entire orphanage, giving us orphans a home.
"Since you've decided, extend your hand," the god said, reaching out. Zhang Chu grasped the god's hand, and a radiant light flowed from the god into Zhang Chu.
"Done. I've granted your wishes and enhanced your future body. Your physical strength and memory will be extraordinary," the god stated calmly.
"I've also imprinted the magic knowledge of a world I know into your mind for future use."
"Thank you so much, god," Zhang Chu said gratefully.
"Haha, you're a polite child. Farewell, then. Go forth," the god said, tapping Zhang Chu's forehead. Zhang Chu felt a gravitational pull, and after saying goodbye, he was whisked away.
In the darkness, Zhang Chu felt enveloped in warm energy, a comforting sensation like a mother's embrace. He couldn't help but smile and softly utter the word "mom," a word he had never said before.
When Zhang Chu regained consciousness, he felt small and weak, unable to open his eyes fully. He could faintly hear crying and feel water droplets on his cheeks. But likely due to being a newborn, everything was vague. Ensuring he wasn't mute, Zhang Chu called out before succumbing to sleep.
Waking up again in a simple room, Zhang Chu saw his small hands and fully realized he had been reborn. He tried to understand his current situation.
"I remember the god also gave me magical knowledge. Thinking carefully, I realized my mind was filled with new information."
Zhang Chu discovered the world he received magic from was familiar. If not the same, it was very similar, as the magic was identical.
"Isn't this like the anime 'In Another World With My Smartphone'?" Zhang Chu realized his situation resembled the protagonist of that anime: accidentally killed by a god, granted wishes as compensation, and then transmigrated... "Could that god be the same one?"
As Zhang Chu pondered, a bald woman in a yellow monk robe, looking around 40, entered the room with a bottle. Her presence exuded a mystical aura.
But when Zhang Chu saw her, he was shocked. He recognized her—she was the famous Ancient One.
"Oh my god, this is the Marvel Universe!" Zhang Chu thought in despair.