Sol Mirek groaned as he pushed himself up from the floor of a dim, rundown rental room. His vision blurred for a moment before he took in his surroundings with mild disbelief.
I'm really here. I actually transmigrated.
Sol blinked rapidly. In his previous life he had been struck down like a discarded object, unconscious before he ever hit the ground. Now he was somewhere unfamiliar yet strangely real.
His gaze drifted across the room, lingering on a plate of steaming roasted meat resting on the small table.
A flash of memory hit him: in this world, his other self had eaten boneless beef too quickly and choked to death. That had been how he died.
Sol smirked at the absurdity even as his stomach growled. Hunger gnawed at him.
He opened the refrigerator, grabbed an ice‑cold can of cola, then began eating the roasted meat with energetic bites while sorting through the memories streaming in.
His counterpart had lost both parents years ago in an accident and drifted through life with no direction. With monsters appearing across the world, he had believed humanity was doomed. In despair, he had spent his last yen on one final meal before accepting death.
Monsters… Sol frowned as scenes from his memories repeatedly played in his mind.
Slowly, clarity settled in. This was the world of One‑Punch Man.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
"Sol, are you alright? I heard some noise out here." A familiar voice called out.
Sol's ears perked up. That voice belonged to Saitama, the hero known for his bald head and deadpan expression, someone his counterpart had gotten along with.
"I'm fine, just slipped and fell," Sol replied loudly.
"Do you need to go to a hospital?"
"No thanks. Want some roasted meat?" Sol cleaned some oil from the floor, grabbed the plate, and opened the door.
Saitama stood there in a plain white T‑shirt, his smooth bald head reflecting the hallway light. As he stepped into the room, his gaze settled on the food and his stomach growled embarrassingly.
"Uh… is that okay?" Saitama asked, scratching the back of his head.
"Of course. I can't finish it all." Sol stepped aside to let him in.
As Saitama passed, Sol felt a sharp sting in his head. He steadied himself against the pain and gripped the plate tightly.
Suddenly, a ripple of electricity passed through him and the pain vanished. A translucent blue panel appeared before Sol's eyes:
[Main World: One‑Punch Man]
[Host: Sol Mirek]
[Transmigration Value: 100]
[Talent: Super Evolution Ability]
Footnotes explained that Transmigration Value increased by actions that could change the direction of the plot and could be used to travel to other worlds. Talent: Super Evolution Ability allowed the host to evolve by selecting a desired ability and meeting its conditions.
Sol blinked twice to confirm this was real.
"Are you alright, Sol?" Saitama's concerned tone pulled him back to the moment.
Sol shook his head and smiled. "Yeah, I bumped my head. Still a bit dizzy, but fine."
Saitama frowned slightly. "Are you sure? No hospital?"
"Really, I'm okay. Come on, let's eat."
Sol set the roasted meat on the low table. They sat down and Saitama immediately took a piece, crunching into it with delighted eyes.
"Delicious! Your dipping sauce is great."
Sol smiled and quietly reopened the panel. A 3D image of Saitama appeared above the table, followed by a small selection window.
[Choose Evolution Ability]
Absolute Strength
Invincible Defense
Super Speed
Infinite Stamina
Breakthrough Limiter
Combat Intuition
Curious, Sol selected Absolute Strength first.
[Ability: Absolute Strength]
Evolution Condition: Withstand Saitama's Serious Punch
Sol blinked. That condition was insane. Even a casual punch from Saitama could end someone's life, let alone a serious strike.
He scanned the other evolution options — most involved surviving attacks or matching Saitama's speed. Then he reached Combat Intuition.
[Ability: Combat Intuition]
The host's reflexes and perception break human limits, allowing instinctive danger anticipation and optimal responses.
Evolution Condition: Play with Saitama's bald head for ten seconds without taking damage.
Sol raised an eyebrow, a slow grin spreading across his face. Compared to the other conditions, this one was absurdly friendly.
"Saitama," Sol said casually, watching as Saitama chewed.
"You have a very smooth head."
Saitama blinked mid‑bite, startled. "Huh? What?"
"I've never seen a head that shiny." Sol leaned forward.
"Well… I guess it's smooth." Saitama touched his bald scalp awkwardly.
"Can I touch it?" Sol asked with faux curiosity.
Saitama hesitated only a moment before nodding, likely swayed by the promise of more meat.
"Okay… but why all of a sudden?"
Sol stood and walked behind him, eyes trained on that gleaming scalp. He exhaled slowly and reached out, resting his right hand gently on Saitama's head.