The night I died, it was raining.
Heavy, relentless rain that swallowed the sound of the city.
I remember the flash of headlights, the jolt of metal, and the slow, fading thought — so this is it.
Then nothing.
When I opened my eyes again, there was no sky, no ground — only white.
Endless, still white.
A figure stood before me, a silhouette made of shifting starlight, neither man nor woman, radiating calm authority.
"Welcome, Tsuki."
I blinked. "...Tsuki?"
"Your true name. The one that will follow you beyond death."
The voice wasn't cold or kind. It was absolute.
"Alright," I said, strangely calm. "So I'm dead, huh?"
"Indeed. And as your soul has reached a unique resonance, I will offer you a choice — to move on, or to begin anew."
I let out a low chuckle. "You mean reincarnation? Like those light novels?"
"Precisely."
That word froze me. I thought for a moment — and then grinned. "If that's the case, I already know where I want to go."
"Oh? Speak, then."
"The world of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime."
The figure tilted its head slightly. > "A world of monsters, gods, and evolution. You are aware of its laws?"
"I know everything," I said honestly. "Every arc, every power, every secret. I want to live there — with full awareness."
"Then knowledge shall be your burden… and your weapon."
A golden circle of light appeared between us.
"You shall be granted a Unique Skill — a reflection of your will."
The light wrapped around me, burning gently.
"Unique Skill Granted — Copy"
"Copy?"
"The power to replicate any skill, form, or ability you perceive. Efficiency will depend on circumstance. Use it wisely."
The world trembled, and two lights appeared before the figure — my soul and another, shining brighter.
"Another soul has chosen that same world — Satoru Mikami. You shall reincarnate together, as twins born from one wish."
I felt our essences intertwine, two ripples in the same current.
"Live, Tsuki — the mirror of fate."
The world shattered into light.
Ninety Days of Silence
When I next awoke, I wasn't human.
I was… round, soft, translucent. My body rippled when I moved.
A slime.
But I wasn't alone.
Another sphere of light — brighter, purer — pulsed beside me.
It was him.
Rimuru Tempest, though not yet conscious.
He was still being processed by Great Sage, his soul and skills fusing.
In the original timeline, that process took ninety days.
Which meant I had ninety days to prepare.
A familiar voice echoed in my mind, calm and mechanical.
"Unique Skill Activated — Copy"
I focused.
Panels of information appeared before my mind's eye — like holographic script.
Copy:
Replicates any skill, form, or ability through observation or contact.
Efficiency — 100% if target consciousness is dormant.
Memory Slots — 6.
Mana Cost — Variable.
I looked at the sleeping slime beside me, glowing faintly in the darkness.
"Well," I murmured. "You'll be a god one day, Rimuru. But until then… I'll borrow a few tricks."
I reached out, touching his surface. Our bodies merged slightly, ripples passing between us.
The skill responded instantly.
"Analyzing target…"
"Unique Skills detected — Great Sage / Predator"
"Dormant state confirmed. Full replication permitted."
"Copying…"
"Unique Skill Copied — Great Sage"
"Unique Skill Copied — Predator"
A second voice spoke in my mind — soft, intelligent, unmistakable.
"Greetings, Tsuki. Integration complete. I am Great Sage."
I froze. Then smiled slowly. "Hello, Sage. Let's begin."
"Acknowledged."
With Great Sage guiding my thoughts and Predator allowing me to devour and analyze, I began to move.
I explored the cavern, learned the mana flows, mapped every inch of Veldora's seal from a safe distance.
I practiced absorbing ores, stones, tiny monsters — learning control, stability, and efficiency.
Each day was quiet but full of purpose.
Ninety days passed in that timeless space.
Then, one day, the air shifted.
The other slime — Rimuru — stirred for the first time, glowing brighter.
I retreated a few meters and waited, silent.
A groggy voice echoed. "Huh…? Where am I…?"
I smiled. "You're finally awake, brother."
Rimuru blinked his new eyes at me. "Brother?"
"Yeah," I said, drifting closer. "Name's Tsuki. Looks like we're twins."
He tilted curiously, then laughed. "Two slimes, huh? This world's already weird."
"Get used to it," I replied.
And as Rimuru looked around in wonder, I quietly suppressed the Great Sage's voice and dimmed my aura.
No one needed to know that, before he even opened his eyes, his twin had already mastered two of the strongest skills in existence.
This time, the story would be different.