Chapter 1:

Primordial Aerth, The World Of Kaiju

World Serpents: Reincarnated into a Planet of Strange Beasts

Isekai.

Everyone believed it was nothing more than a concept born from novels. The protagonist gets transported or reincarnated into a fantasy world. They slay evil, then return home as if nothing ever happened.

It was just a genre.

Until teenagers all around the world began disappearing without a trace. Global search parties were launched, but no one could find where these adolescents had gone.

That was until, years later, a few returned. They told stories of how they got “Isekai’d” and had to save a dying world from destruction.

Those who didn’t make it back were presumed dead.

As much as people wanted to celebrate, they couldn’t—not from sadness over the lost, but for an entirely different reason.

The Earth shattered. Literally. It began to break apart under the weight of the foreign energy the “Returnees” carried inside their bodies called:

"Mana Radiation."

An alien energy the Earth could not contain. And so, the very people who saved countless “Otherworlds” doomed their own.

But...

Some survived, thanks to an event the gods named “Mass Transportation.”

Not even a minute had passed since people from Earth got “Isekai’d” into another world—the world at the very core of all existence.

***

Primordial Aerth — Carnivorous Continent, Prediesta

Towering structures lay in ruins. Skyscrapers leaned precariously, as if a gentle wind could topple them. The ground beneath was shattered, splintered like it had been pierced by the towers themselves.

That was exactly what happened. Not only people, but objects fell like raindrops from a black sky filled with clouds.

A lone man hovered in the air, wearing a white porcelain mask marked by a deep claw scar. His outfit was a strange blend of a suit and shining silver armor.

He opened his mouth, his voice echoing to every edge of the continent.

“Listen well, Summonees—or should I say, Unknowns. By the grace of the gods, you have been granted a drop of salvation from joining your world's destruction.”

“This world is known as Primordial Aerth, home to monsters called Kaiju. Every existence here has an ability, called a skill.”

“You too possess such a gift, for you are of this world, even if you are Unknown.”

“I have bestowed upon you items that will prove useful. Discover how to wield them yourselves.”

“And lastly, four of you have gained the Seed of Ascendance and have reincarnated as Sub Kaiju. Evolve if you wish to understand why.”

“As the gods cannot interfere any further, may their grace be with you all.”

Those were the masked man’s last words before he vanished without a trace.

***

Prediesta — Ruined City, Abysmare

Abysmare had suffered the worst of the Mass Transportation, skyscrapers stood like thrown darts on a dartboard, some already crumbled.

Luckily, no humans were harmed; the continent was always devoid of life, at least human life.

Atop a skyscraper sat a child with deep black hair cascading over small shoulders, staring down at the destruction.

He yawned.

“Guess I should check out those items that unnecessarily loud voice kept yelling about.”

Before him lay a black ring with a red gem embedded in it and a black book.

He glanced over his shoulder as two massive black bat-like wings unfurled from his shoulder blades.

“Wings...? That’s new. The voice did mention people becoming Kaiju. Was a Kaiju always this small?”

He yawned again. “Guess so. Just hope this doesn’t mess with my sleeping schedule.”

He looked down at his hands, which now had claws like a dragon’s, his blue eyes reflecting the glint of his razor-sharp nails.

Despite his small frame, they looked extremely dangerous.

Even the black kimono, layered with a white robe laced with dragon patterns, hung loosely on his child-like body, displaying his current size.

This child had once been a sixteen-year-old high schooler named Ling Mizunagi.

He stared at the items again. The ring seemed important, while the book reminded him of homework—the second thing he hated most.

He slipped the ring onto his finger. Suddenly, a holographic screen appeared, semi-transparent like glass, with black text:

———】

STATUS

Name: Ling Mizunagi

True Name: None

Race: Kaiju (Sub Kaiju)

Species: World Serpent

Age: Hatchling

Titles: Unknown, Reincarnated, Chosen By The World

———

Empyreal Skill:

[<(Draw Creation: Kaiju Summoning)>]

Derived Skills: None

———

Evolution Condition:

• Seed of Ascendance

• ???

———】

Ling waved his hand, dismissing the screen, now knowing how to open and close his status display.

“What do I do now?” he asked, tilting his head.

Flipping through those books would be too much effort, and his growling stomach reminded him he needed to eat.

“I could’ve at least gotten something to eat instead of the useless book. Starving isn’t exactly fun.”

There was one thing Ling hated more than homework: hunger. It took too much effort.

He glanced back at his wings, twitching them to confirm he could control them, then flapped quickly. White dust formed as his body slowly rose from the ground.

“Time to find food. Hope it doesn’t take long.”

Controlling his wings and body midair was easy—it felt natural, as if they had always been there.

Within minutes, he reached the base of the skyscraper, where he encountered something straight out of a fantasy novel:

A goblin. But unlike usual, this one had blades protruding from its forearms, sharp and shiny.

It sprinted toward Ling, who jumped aside, dodging the slashing attack.

“Wow, coming right at me for our first meeting—”

The goblin ignored words it couldn’t understand and launched a cross slash attack. Ling dodged again, then struck with sharp claws, crushing the goblin’s side and sending it flying into the skyscraper.

The building collapsed like sand, burying the goblin and all below in a cloud of dust.

His strength far succeeded that of a human, at least a normal one from their world.

Ling had already flown beyond the collapse radius, gazing back with one thought.

“Oh... I forgot the book.” He blinked. “Well, it would never come in handy anyway—”

Ling's eyes widened—just for a split second. A wave of fear surged through him, trying its best to paralyze his senses.

It was a feeling he had never once experienced in his life—not even as the leader of the Mizunagi-gumi. But he knew exactly what that pressure was.

Bloodlust.

He turned to look.

A towering beast, as large as a house, slowly approached. The air around it grew thick, oppressive. Its glowing eyes locked onto him, radiating a primal hunger.

Ling scratched the back of his head and closed his eyes briefly.

—Just my luck...

He opened one eye and muttered with a dry smirk,

"I don’t suppose you’re lost?"

The only response was a thunderous, primal roar—so powerful it sent faint shockwaves rippling through the air.

Ling chuckled, low and dry.

"Yep. That’s definitely not the voice of a lost lamb."

A single drop of rain splashed against his cheek. Then thousands followed, drenching the earth in an instant.

The King of Abysmare had made its presence known.

The beast known as:

Tigurath, the Mightiest Monarch.

———