"Don't go!"
"Save… save me!"
Nikki stretched out his blood-stained hand, calling out nonstop, but the hit-and-run driver not only didn't stop—he slammed down on the accelerator, speeding into the distance with a roar.
Watching the sports car race farther and farther away, about to disappear completely, Nikki fell into utter despair.
All hit-and-run drivers should be arrested and shot for ten minutes—damn it, he could still be saved!
Perhaps because he was panicking, the sports car that was about to vanish suddenly crashed through the roadside guardrail and plunged into a canyon.
Several seconds later—
A loud bang rang out, and a mushroom cloud from the exploding car rose into the sky.
This kind of development actually happened? Nikki was stunned!
Heaven sees all; even Heaven couldn't stand it anymore!
That damned hit-and-run couple died; one life in exchange for two— even if he died, it wasn't a loss.
However, after thinking for a few seconds, Nikki still felt it was a huge loss.
Damn it—car accidents only "profit" you when they're not happening to you.
Because he had been flung by the speeding sports car, Nikki was severely injured, his body paralyzed, completely losing the ability to move.
Even worse, when his body fell, he unluckily struck a sharp pointed rock, giving him a backstab + kidney shot.
Blood poured out, and his consciousness grew blurrier and blurrier.
Am I going to die like this? I'm really not ready!
His twenty-something years of life were far too short; there was still so much of the wonderful world he had yet to experience.
And if he died, what would happen to his room full of figures and the massive amount of foreign-language study materials on his computer?
The poplar tree he had spent two years gathering green energy for in Ant Forest hadn't even been planted yet.
The only consolation was that he probably wouldn't have to repay his Huabei next month.
If he'd known disaster was coming, he would at least have maxed out his Huabei—what a terrible miscalculation!
Maybe because his body had been flung and he was losing too much blood, Nikki felt hot all over, as if he had fallen into a furnace.
My whole body is burning… is this what death feels like?
Just then, a voice suddenly echoed in Nikki's mind.
[Confirmation complete. Successfully acquired Heat Resistance.]
What was that sound?
On the brink of death, his consciousness scattered; Nikki didn't hear clearly.
By the way… if it weren't for that kidney shot, would I not be dying?
[Confirmation complete. Successfully acquired Pierce Resistance. Additionally, Physical Attack Resistance acquired.]
Pierce Resistance? Physical Attack Resistance?
Huh???
A flash of lightning streaked through Nikki's mind. Wait—why does this feel so familiar?
Oh my god!
Isn't this exactly like the scene in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime where Rimuru gains skills while dying?!
Does he also have a chance to transmigrate to another world?
In other words… maybe he doesn't have to die?!
Nikki trembled with excitement—but joy turned to sorrow. His body suddenly convulsed, his torn wound split open further, the pain stabbing deep into his soul as blood gushed uncontrollably.
"It hurts so much! The bleeding's getting worse—am I going to die before I finish talking?!"
[Confirmation complete. Pain Nullification acquired. Bloodless Physique transformation complete.]
Pain Nullification was a divine skill, but what the hell was Bloodless Physique?
Was he going to turn into a slime?
Nikki felt like crying but had no tears. Rimuru was great—he liked him. But becoming a slime? That was nonsense; how much joy in life would be lost.
He had planned to avoid this pitfall, but who knew fate would pull such a stunt?
Nikki panted heavily—his injuries were truly too severe. His body was like a broken bellows, making "huff, huff" sounds with every breath.
His consciousness blurred further, but he still hadn't acquired Rimuru's ultimate divine skills, Great Sage and Predator. He couldn't die, not yet.
Otherwise, even if he transmigrated, he'd end up as just a normal slime—a fate he refused even in death.
Oh right—how did Rimuru get Great Sage and Predator again? He couldn't remember!
How about—this?
"Predator!"
[Confirmation complete. Unique Skill Predator acquired.]
It actually worked?!
Nikki didn't even know how to complain anymore. Ever since he'd been hit by that car, he'd been walking the exact same road Rimuru had!
"Great Sage!"
[Confirmation complete. Unique Skill Great Sage acquired.]
What other abilities did Rimuru have?
A gust of wind blew, and Nikki shivered; he felt his body temperature draining rapidly, his body growing heavier.
Instinctively, Nikki muttered, "So… so cold…"
[Confirmation complete. Cold Resistance acquired. Conditions for Cold Resistance and Heat Resistance met—Thermal Fluctuation Resistance acquired.]
Nice!
One dying wish, one new skill—was this the most expensive dying wish in history?
Think, think quickly—what other skills did Rimuru have?
Maybe because he was minutes from death, Nikki felt as if his brain had rusted.
His mind went numb; he still had so many things to recall, but couldn't remember any of them.
In his final moments, what came to mind wasn't Rimuru or any skills, but the memories of his life.
Ever since his parents passed away in an accident, he had completely let himself go.
After unexpectedly getting into anime, he changed his "wife" every three months, buying mountains of dakimakura and figures; he never thought anything was wrong.
But on his deathbed, his heart filled with endless regret—damn it, there were so many anime he probably would never finish in this lifetime.
Also—and worse—after Marvel's ten-year Endgame, the next chapter was about to begin, and he'd never know what happened next.
Damn it!
"No regrets entering anime in this life; may I be reborn in the second dimension in the afterlife!"
"No regrets entering Marvel in this life; may I be snap dust in the afterlife!"
[Confirmation complete. Keywords second dimension, Marvel detected. Information chaotic. Unable to execute. Recalculation initiated.]
Unable to execute.
But Nikki couldn't change anything now; his consciousness was slipping into darkness.
Rumble!
A bolt of lightning struck from the sky, tearing through the air. The thunderous sound and brilliant flash startled Nikki, clearing his consciousness just a little in a final burst of lucidity.
"Lightning… that's right… I remember now—Rimuru gained Current Resistance because he asked his colleague to destroy his computer!"
[Confirmation complete. Current Resistance acquired. Additional skill Paralysis Resistance acquired.]
Heh… heh… a big, satisfied smile appeared on Nikki's pale face.
He hadn't expected that one sudden thunderclap would help him gain Current Resistance and Paralysis Resistance. Truly—it was all the choice of Steins;Gate!
As for him being hit by a car—that must have been the fault of the World Line too!
So sleepy…
Is this what death feels like?
Nikki slowly drifted off, his breathing fading, his heartbeat gradually coming to a stop.