Check-in Point.
The moment his consciousness returned, a salty sea breeze rushed into his nostrils.
Wait… something's wrong.
Lin Fei's thoughts froze for a second.
"My hair is gone!"
The realization made him snap his eyes open and spring up from a crude beach lounge chair.
Above him stretched an azure sky and endless golden sand.
Not far away stood a solitary pink house with large letters painted on the wall:
Kame House.
Kame House.
Lin Fei's mind buzzed. He slowly looked down at his body.
He was wearing an orange Kame School martial arts uniform. The fabric looked old and had been washed so many times it was nearly white.
His palms were covered in calluses, yet the hands themselves were clearly too small. His legs were short and lean, but packed with explosive power.
This is… Krillin's body.
He hurried toward Kame House, pushed open the half-closed door, and faced the mirror inside.
The reflection nearly made him stop breathing.
A short bald head. Six burn scars neatly aligned across his forehead. No visible nose bridge. His features were slightly scrunched together, giving him a comical appearance.
It really is Krillin.
In the world of Dragon Ball, he was known as the strongest human on Earth. Yet he was also a figure filled with regret, forever chasing the backs of Saiyans.
As he absentmindedly touched the scars on his forehead, an emotionless voice suddenly echoed inside his mind.
[Detected that the Host's soul and body are fully synchronized. Activation conditions met.]
[Invincible Devouring System officially starting.]
Lin Fei stiffened.
A System?
[Newbie Gift Pack has been issued. Please check it, Host.]
A translucent blue screen unfolded before him, displaying only a few lines of text.
[Newbie Gift Pack Contents:]
[Appearance Template — Choose one of three.]
Lin Fei's breathing quickened.
Three options appeared, each accompanied by a dynamic character model.
Option 1: Saitama (Hero Form).
Description: Possesses the potential to break the limiter.
Skill: Serious Punch.
Option 2: Garou (Monster Form).
Description: Demonic horns and hardened armor. Extremely high martial arts talent and evolution capability.
Option 3: Boros (Dominator of the Universe).
Description: A cyclops whose armor suppresses his energy. Once released, he can unleash planet-destroying power.
Lin Fei barely hesitated.
Garou's strength depended on his opponent.
Boros had overwhelming power, but a clear upper limit.
Only Saitama's strength was pure and unreasonable. It broke biological limits through basic training. His growth had no ceiling.
"I choose Option One, the Saitama template."
[Selection confirmed: Saitama Appearance Template.]
[Template Fusion beginning. Estimated time: ten seconds. The fusion process will involve intense physical remodeling. Please endure it, Host.]
The moment the notification ended, indescribable agony erupted from every cell in his body.
His bones cracked violently. His spine felt like it was being stretched by invisible hands.
His limbs, once thick from martial arts training, were compressed and reshaped. Muscle fibers tightened, condensing into denser, stronger tissue.
His height began increasing visibly.
153 centimeters.
160.
170.
It finally stopped at approximately 175 centimeters.
The once-loose martial arts uniform tightened across his body, outlining a perfect inverted triangle physique.
The strangest change happened to his face.
The six scars on his forehead gradually faded, as if erased by an invisible hand, until they vanished completely. His skin became smooth.
The short, comical Krillin disappeared from the mirror.
In his place stood a bald young man with calm, rugged features. Though he still lacked a nose bridge, his overall appearance carried an indifferent, composed aura.
He looked strikingly similar to the man who solved all problems with one punch.
The pain came swiftly and vanished just as fast.
Lin Fei flexed his body, and an unprecedented sense of power surged through him.
Deep within this new body lay a dormant yet incredibly pure strength.
[Template Fusion complete.]
[Passive Skill 'Serious Punch (Growth Version)' loaded.]
[Skill Description: The Host can concentrate all physical strength into a single punch, delivering an attack that exceeds current limits. Power increases with base strength. No upper limit.]
Krillin slowly raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist.
The air popped with a faint sonic boom.
This is the seed of Saitama's power.
Even in its growth form, it was enough to give him a foothold in this dangerous world.
He calmed himself and began sorting through Krillin's memories.
Training under Master Roshi.
Competing in the World Martial Arts Tournament alongside Goku.
Being killed by one of King Piccolo's subordinates.
Being revived by Shenron.
Everything felt vivid.
The current timeline was before the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. Goku was training in the Heavenly Realm.
Five years remained before Raditz's arrival.
Peace was temporary.
With Krillin's original strength, he would only be cannon fodder in the Saiyan invasion.
He refused that fate.
"System, besides the Newbie Gift Pack, what other functions do you have?"
[Core Function: Devouring.]
The screen refreshed.
[Devouring Ability: By defeating or killing enemies, you may devour one core ability or genetic talent.]
[Subduing Female Characters: By forming deep relationships with important female characters, you may devour their exclusive talents.]
Krillin's breathing paused.
Defeating enemies made sense.
But the second function…
If he subdued Bulma, could he gain her genius-level intellect?
If he subdued Android 18, could he obtain her Infinite Energy Core?
This System was dangerously appealing.
He shook his head.
Strength came first.
Without power, survival was impossible, let alone anything else.
[Training Reward: Complete Saitama-style training daily (100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, 10 km run) to earn Energy Points or Skill Points.]
[Skill Fusion: Combine different skills using Skill Points to create new Moves.]
Devouring. Training. Fusion.
This was a perfectly tailored path to dominance in the Dragon Ball world.
Frieza's Frost Demon bloodline.
Cell's regeneration.
Majin Buu's magic.
Just imagining it made Krillin's blood surge.
He was no longer the "strongest human" who died to motivate Goku.
He would carve a completely different path.
A bald warrior's path.
Suddenly, footsteps approached outside Kame House, followed by a bright female voice.
"Hey! Master Roshi! Krillin! Are you guys here? I brought the latest Capsule Corporation sports car!"
Bulma.
Krillin's heart skipped.
He looked at himself in the mirror.
A 175-centimeter bald man wearing Krillin's clothes.
How was he supposed to explain this?
The door creaked open.
Bulma stood there in her youth, about sixteen or seventeen. Her aqua-blue ponytail bounced as she moved.
She wore a pink cropped T-shirt and a short denim skirt.
She removed her goggles and blinked in confusion.
"You… who are you? Why are you here? Where's Krillin?"
Krillin took a steady breath. His voice was deeper now.
"Bulma, it's me. I am Krillin."