Reborn as Baby

~ Baby's Pov ~

.

.

.

"According to my memories... that last creature should reside somewhere nearby," I kept looking around, scoping the area...

The terrain was rough, jagged rocks jutting out at odd angles, with the occasional patch of alien flora breaking the monotony. I walked for a few minutes, relying on the fragmented knowledge I'd gained from my earlier assimilation. It gave me a general sense of direction, but not much else.

"Tch," I clicked my tongue in irritation, scanning the area some more. The memory wasn't as clear as I'd hoped. Either the creature's instincts had dulled over time, or I was missing something crucial.

Twitch~

My body froze instinctively.

I didn't move. I didn't even blink, not that I could. My senses sharpened, every nerve on edge as I focused on the faint sound I'd just caught. It wasn't loud, but it was distinct—a faint rustle, almost like something shifting nearby.

"..."

The silence stretched, heavy and tense, as I remained perfectly still. Then, I spoke, my voice low and steady.

"I heard that."

The wind carried nothing but the faint sound of leaves rustling and distant wildlife. But I knew better.

I turned my head slightly, letting my ki extend outward like an invisible web. It wasn't much, just enough to brush the edges of my surroundings. There. A faint, almost imperceptible presence lingered just out of reach. It was trying to suppress itself, to stay hidden.

A smirk crept onto my face. "You're not as sneaky as you think."

I turned sharply, locking onto the source of the disturbance. My claws shimmered faintly as I extended them, the glow reflecting off the nearby rocks.

"Come out," I said, my voice calm but firm. "Or I'll drag you out myself."

The air grew still, the tension thick enough to cut. Whatever was out there hadn't moved, but I could feel it—its ki was faint, but it was there, trying desperately to mask itself.

"Alright," I muttered, raising a hand as a small orb of ki formed in my palm. "Have it your way."

The faint orb of ki in my palm crackled softly, its glow casting jagged shadows on the rocks. My senses stayed locked onto the presence nearby, more focused than ever. This wasn't like the others.

Its ki wasn't exactly faint. It wasn't trying to hide. It was just subtle, deliberate, like it wanted me to notice but didn't want to give away its full hand... Was I underestimating this thing?

Either way, "Last chance," I said, my voice steady, hiding the twinge of anticipation creeping up my spine. "Come out, or I'll bring you out."

The air grew heavier, the pressure around me building slightly. Then, I heard it—a low, guttural growl, but it wasn't just animalistic. No, this was calculated. Controlled.

I hurled the orb forward without hesitation.

BOOM!

The explosion tore through the brush and rocky terrain, sending debris flying in all directions. For a moment, I thought the thing had been caught in the blast. But then I saw it.

A shadow, darting through the smoke with incredible speed. Too fast.

"Damn," I muttered, spinning around just in time to catch the faint blur of movement heading toward me.

It was on me in an instant.

CRASH!

"Ugh!!!" The impact sent me skidding backward, my feet digging into the ground to stop myself from being knocked off balance. When the dust settled, I finally saw it...

The creature stood tall, easily matching my height in this new form, its sleek, black-and-gray frame shimmering faintly under the glow of my ki spheres. Its body was humanoid but feral, its arms and legs elongated and corded with muscle. Jagged, obsidian-like spikes jutted from its forearms, shoulders, and back, and its glowing green eyes locked onto mine with unsettling intelligence.

Its ki radiated around it, sharp and focused, with no wasted energy. This wasn't raw power—it was refined, precise, like a blade honed to perfection, or as close to it as it could strive for.

"So you're the last one?" I asked, wiping some of the dust from my shoulders... "Not bad at all..."

It didn't respond, but its gaze never left me. I could feel it analyzing every movement I made, every shift in my stance. This thing wasn't just strong—it seems it's quite smart.

Its Ki spiked suddenly, and before I could blink, it moved.

"??????!!?" 

WHOOSH!

I barely managed to sidestep its first strike, a clawed hand slicing through the air inches from my face. Its speed was absurd. Hell, it was much faster than anything I'd encountered so far. It twisted mid-strike, using the momentum to launch a kick toward my side.

THWACK!!

I must have flew dozens of meters away... That last kick was solid, it got me good too... If it can do this to me while I was currently suppressed, that means it's power was already quite close to my own... Though, I should take a look to be sure...

I focused on it's figure while it stood still, it's panel popping up shortly after...

______________

Name: Mormian

Height: 168.9 cm

Power Level: 81,106.0

Potential: 78.5

Latent Potential: 89.1

Abilities; 

Enhanced Mind II (Passive): The user has 100% neurons and glial Cells, allowing you to learn, process and understand information than a typical creature...

Enhanced Senses V (Passive): Enhances all senses by 250-fold.

Enhanced Reaction speed III (Passive): Increases the user's reaction speed by 5-fold.

Supreme Speed III (Passive): Enhances Leg muscles by 12-fold.

Mind and Body Connection (Passive): Increases the user's mind-body responses and coordination by 50%.

Adaptive Body (Unique Passive): Allows the user's body to respond to negative stimuli with positive results...

__________________

"Hmmm…" I mused, brushing a bit of dirt off my arm. "I suppose that explains why you actually managed to keep up with me earlier..."

The creature's glowing eyes narrowed, its stance seemingly tightening as it watched me carefully. It wasn't attacking yet—smart, considering the situation.

Either way, despite my higher power level, it made sense now why this thing could match me in certain areas. Its entire build was geared toward speed, reflexes, senses, and mental acuity. Every ounce of its power level was focused on excelling in those areas.

My power level, on the other hand, was much more well-rounded. A comprehensive mix of speed, strength, stamina, and toughness. On paper, that gave me the overall advantage—my boosts weren't just specialized, they were across the board. Plus, that last ability is a bit vague, no?

Even with all its speed, it was clear now that it couldn't effectively damage me. It had been darting around, landing attacks, but I hadn't felt a single blow that could truly push me. Not yet, at least.

I landed lightly on the ground, brushing myself off again as I straightened.

"I bet that feels frustrating, huh?" I said with a smirk, my voice carrying just enough mockery to sting. "All that speed, all that effort... and still, you can't actually hurt me."

The creature didn't flinch, but I could see its claws twitch slightly, its body coiled like a spring. Was it understanding what I'm saying?

"Let me guess," I continued, testing it out; pacing slightly, keeping my eyes locked on it. "You're used to being faster than everyone else. Smarter, too. Outmaneuvering opponents, wearing them down before they even realize what's happening. It's worked for you so far, hasn't it?"

I stopped, my smirk growing wider. "But not this time. Not against me."

The air grew heavier as the creature's ki spiked again, the glow of its eyes intensifying. I could feel the frustration radiating off it like heat. It wasn't reckless, though—no, it was thinking, calculating.

"Go ahead," I taunted, spreading my arms slightly. "Come at me! Show me what all that speed can really do."

Its claws scraped against the ground as it shifted its stance, and I could tell it was about to make its move. My own ki flared in response, my body ready now. I wouldn't kill this thing yet, I wanted to improve, and as much as I didn't want to admit it, this thing can fight much better than I could, and I'll use that to improve...

Hehe~ This was going to be fun. Before we started, I quickly used my Ki dampening skill in a large area so that those Saiyans wouldn't interrupt our battle. I wanted to take my time with this...

"Now... Where were we brother?" I smiled.

The moment stretched for a bit, heavy and silent... As we stared each other down. I saw its claws scraping the ground one final time before it blurred into motion, faster than before.

WHOOSH!

I barely had time to shift as it closed the gap, appearing at my left and aiming a swipe at my neck. I ducked low, its claws slicing through the air with precision.

"Hrmph!! Not bad." I muttered, twisting my body and countering with a sweeping kick aimed at its legs.

But it anticipated me. With a graceful leap, it vaulted over my strike, spinning mid-air to slash downward.

CLANG!

I raised my forearm, blocking its strike with my bracers. The impact sent a surprisingly sharp jolt through my arm; but I didn't let it faze me. I retaliated with a clawed jab aimed for its torso, only for it to twist out of reach with uncanny reflexes.

"You're quick. I'll give ya' that," I said, smirking as I surged forward, launching a flurry of strikes. My claws glinted as they cut through the air, aiming for its arms, legs, and chest.

It dodged with ease, weaving through my attacks like water slipping through cracks. But then it did something I didn't expect—it adapted.

Mid-dodge, it shifted its stance, stepping into my attack instead of away from it. My claw grazed its side, but it used the momentum to slam its elbow into my jaw.

CRACK!

The force sent me stumbling back. I caught myself quickly, shaking my head.

"Okay," I muttered, wiping a bit of blood from my lip. "You're learning fast."

It didn't give me any time to recover my footing. It shot forward again, faster than before, its ki flaring as its movements became sharper, more efficient. Each strike was calculated, designed to force me into a defensive position.

CLASH! CLANG! SWIPE!

Its claws clanged against my bracers as I deflected strike after strike, but it was relentless. For every move I countered, it had two more ready, and they were getting harder to predict.

"You're not the only one who can adapt," I growled, letting my ki flare.

I pushed back with a burst of energy, forcing it to retreat momentarily. Using the opening, I charged, matching its speed as I delivered a crushing blow to its shoulder.

THUD!

It staggered but recovered almost instantly, spinning into a kick aimed at my ribs. I caught its leg and hurled it into the ground with a loud crash, sending dust and debris flying.

"Gotcha!" I said, smirking as I moved in for a follow-up.

But before I could strike, it was already up. Its ki spiked again, and its body seemed lighter, faster—like it had learned from the last exchange. It darted forward, its movements almost blurring as it struck at my side.

SLASH!

The pain was sharp as its claws raked across my armor, drawing blood. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the sting as I countered with a punch aimed at its jaw.

BAM!

The hit connected, sending it flying back.

"You're improving too fast," I muttered, my smirk fading slightly.

The creature stood, its glowing eyes locked onto mine. It was panting now, but its aura had changed. Its ki had grown stronger, more refined, as if it had absorbed every lesson from our fight so far... 

I exhaled, feeling my own ki pulse around me. My smirk returned. "Good. That just means I'll have to step it up too, don't I?"

This time, I didn't wait for it to attack. I surged forward, my claws glowing as I channeled ki into them. My speed increased as I unleashed a barrage of strikes, forcing it to go on the defensive.

It dodged and countered, but I was relentless, using every ounce of power I had to push it back. My movements were sharper now, more precise—I was definitely learning too.

The ground shook with the force of our battle, sparks of energy lighting up the darkness with every clash. The creature moved like a literal shadow, slipping past my guard and landing a series of quick strikes. I was starting to feel a bit each hit now, but I didn't falter.

Instead, I let the fight fuel me. Each exchange taught me something new, pushing me to adapt faster. My ki flared brighter as I drew on the lessons of the battle, my strikes becoming more unpredictable, my counters more effective.

"Not bad!" I said through gritted teeth, landing a solid blow to its chest that sent it skidding back. "But you're not the only one who can grow mid-fight."

It growled, its glowing eyes narrowing as its aura flared brighter. It was preparing for something big.

"Let's finish this," I muttered, my ki surging to its peak.

The creature charged, its movements almost impossible to follow now. But I didn't need to follow them—I anticipated them. I caught its arm mid-strike, slamming it into the ground with enough force to crack the floor even further beneath us.

Before it could recover, I raised my claws, channeling every ounce of my suppressed Ki into them. My body glowed brighter, my power seemingly surging past its limits.

BOOOOM!

The explosion of energy must have lit up the rock formations when I unleashed a final, devastating blow. When the dust settled, the creature lay motionless, its aura flickering weakly...

...

I stood over it, breathing slightly heavily; my ki slowly settled. My body ached a bit, my mind racing with everything I'd learned from the fight.

"That's enough!" I stepping back. "You've pushed me far enough..." I felt like shit to kill it. But that's the way of the jungle. And it's skills were simply too valuable to just pass up too... Plus, it's too late anyway, I could feel the last of it's life force fading from it's body.

However, I needed to confirm one last thing. I checked it's status panel once again...

______________

Name: Mormian

Height: 168.9 cm

Power Level: 81,106.0 ⇛ 87,372.5

Potential: 78.5

Latent Potential: 89.1

________________

As I damn thought... It's power level actually increased during that short fight... It's likely due to it's sheer potential and adaptable body perk in tandem. It's almost comical to think that such an ability would be in the middle of the wilderness...

And now? It will be all mine...

.

.

.

.

.

.

END