"Not bad... I enjoyed it."
After catching up with the latest available chapter, Johnson closed the web page showing "scans" of the Chainsaw Man manga.
He wasn't really motivated to read this story because of the rumors about the protagonist's unique personality, but he was pleasantly surprised.
Fortunately, his girlfriend Lea had insisted enormously on the quality of this work.
He could have really missed out on a masterpiece.
'Surprisingly, I liked Denji...'
At first, he wasn't really interested in him because of his countless flaws and personal problems.
The guy reminded him too much of the bad sides of reality, which he tried to forget by reading fictional works.
But Johnson ended up getting used to his personality and appreciating Denji's character.
"Unlike a lot of people, he's honest with himself and doesn't beat around the bush or wear a mask in front of others."
A classic shōnen character on that point, right?
But Denji isn't altruistic, he's purely selfish – and not in a "cute or cool" way like Gon in HxH.
No, his selfishness isn't innocent or linked to some kind of character strength.
It's typical selfishness.
Denji literally doesn't give a shit if the world goes dark or about fame in the Chainsaw Man story.
At least, at one point.
He just wanted food, a place to sleep, and a girlfriend.
Later, he'll accomplish some wishes and his desires will slowly increase.
He'll become more selfish and, after... he'll crack under Makima's plan.
He'll want to stop thinking and find someone reliable to do it for him.
But again, the world won't make things easy for him.
The person he designated to think for him didn't want Denji but his "heart"... Pochita.
Thus, the selfish and cowardly choice wasn't the solution for Denji.
He had to evolve after Makima, and he finally met Asa... or Yoru?
"Whatever his choice, if he ends up with one, then the other is a bonus haha."
After laughing at his own joke, he decided to wander around the Internet a bit more despite the late hour.
'Anyway, I got nothing planned tomorrow.'
Johnson wasn't really the popular guy who goes out every weekend with friends, quite the opposite.
He wasn't popular and had an average face, an average appearance that you'd quickly forget.
The only reason he'd managed to get a girlfriend was his low standards, but also luck.
"What's this weird site?"
Involuntarily, he didn't click on the right icon but on a strange ad.
A common accident online, but things were getting a bit weird or ridiculous?
[Your current life is no longer satisfying?]
[You want excitement? Adventure? Super powers? Look no further!!]
[Please click here.]
'Who would be dumb enough to click on that?'
He laughed at his own passing thought, but his eyes had a strange gleam.
"Me!!"
Johnson was a fan of fantasy works, particularly isekai, which had helped him mentally during difficult periods.
When he saw this ad, his otaku instinct ignited and he didn't hesitate to click on the link.
Of course, it could be an online scam but...
'I've already used almost all the money in my bank account anyway.'
He already intended to ask acquaintances for food, to survive the rest of the month and get his salary.
A shameless idea, but Johnson is an unscrupulous individual.
[Please select your new world.]
"A world?"
Johnson was troubled for a moment, but he noticed available options outside the bar meant to receive a written name.
By clicking on it, he saw several strange unknown names from fictional works.
"Naruto?" He clicked on it and found a description that described the world and offered a modification option called AU.
This situation stimulated the isekai and fanfic fan in him.
After a small confirmation of his assumptions, he confirmed that the AU option offered another timeline of the selected world.
The world is altered by the modified description thanks to "AUs", which changes the history of the selected world to match the new description.
'I'll keep this option in mind, because that one gives me lots of funny and interesting ideas.'
After that, he started wandering through the list of available universes looking for interesting places he recognized.
Preferably, that he could satisfy three conditions:
• First, technology developed enough to have Internet and access to modern comforts.
• Then, supernatural or humanoid creatures other than humans.
• Finally, a danger level not too high, unlike a certain G in One Punch Man.
These conditions immediately eliminated universes like DC and Marvel, because he didn't want to die without understanding the why or how.
Of course, fantasy-type isekai universes are also thrown in the trash.
"Chainsawman... Yeah, that would work."
He didn't hesitate with Chainsawman, since he had read the work very recently.
The manga has powerful entities, that's certain.
But they're nothing like multiversal level or hopelessly strong, from his knowledge.
Especially, there are plenty of places to explore from his point of view, like Hell and Earth itself.
'I've never been able to travel much, but the Chainsawman universe looks like ours... that counts, right?'
Despite his desire to explore this place, Johnson still made a slight modification to the Chainsawman universe:
'A massive decrease in the male population, because of a "hormonal demon" that was devoured by Pochita.'
Why this decision?
The answer is: why not?
He wasn't popular anyway, so he prefers to eliminate the competition preventively.
"Now that I've finished the details for the world..."
His eyes naturally turned to the icon asking for character selection.
[Please select your future you!!!]
[Name: Kishibe]
[Age: _]
[Description: a man possessing the potential to be the best Devil Hunter, but because of emotional depression, he lost the opportunity to exploit all his potential.]
[Name: Aki Hayakawa]
[Age: _]
[Description: he is a Devil Hunter who met a tragic end because of his hatred and desire for revenge. Yet, he has good potential.]
[Name: Denji]
[Age: ...]
[Description: a hybrid who inherited Pochita's heart.]
Besides these, several familiar names scrolled before Johnson's eyes.
He didn't hesitate long before selecting the OC creation option, which was displayed right next to it.
"I certainly have a character limit to 'describe' myself and for my background, but it's acceptable."
Johnson described his favorite secondary character and antagonist, namely Chrollo Lucilfer from the HxH manga.
He didn't just mention his appearance, but also the criminal leader's monstrous talent.
As for his identity in the Chainsawman universe?
He is a demon.
Unfortunately, he had exceeded the word limit when he wanted to specify his demon's name.
'It's not a big deal, I can always select a power or create a power according to the website.'
After reassuring himself, he ended up accepting, for now, the passive demon powers.
"Hmm... I'll be reborn at the same time I receive my demon name, but my memories will return a month before canon."
After finishing adjusting the small details related to reminders of his memories from Earth, he validated his option.
[Please choose a reasonable power, which does not violate the world laws of the Chainsawman universe.]
"...A power, that stays within the theme of the Chainsawman universe?"
He spent a long time in front of his screen, in deep introspection.
Several powers scrolled through his mind, but one particularly caught his attention:
'SCP-738, or The Devil's Deal.'
He could have stayed with Chrollo's powers, but he decided to follow this path after a long reflection.
After all, who would want to remain a simple "hatsu" when they can get SCP-738?
[The ability of SCP-738, named "Devil's Deal", will become your demon identity. But you can no longer use it on yourself directly.]
[Do you accept this modification?]
"What's this scam?"
It took Johnson time again to understand the situation.
In short, he'll still have the ability to alter or modify reality thanks to SCP-738.
But... he can't use it directly on himself.
'I need to make a contract... Tsk.'
To put it simply, if Johnson wants a specific power,
he must first make a contract with someone for that person to get it.
After that, he must then create a new contract to get it back in his hands.
Similarly, he can take things like memory or the very existence of a person via contract.
That's the power of Devil's Deal.
"It's become unnecessarily more complicated... but it's still powerful, so OK."
[Receiving client acceptance in progress...]
[Reception accepted!!]
[Congratulations!!]
[You are the first to have found this site.]
[You receive a power linked to the chosen ability.]
[Searching for reward in progress...]
[Completed.]
[Name: The Word]
[Category: Passive Skill (Rank: Unique)]
[Description: You have received a second name, since your current name was imposed on you.]
'Jackpot!!'
"If I'm the devil of the word, then I'm close to a primal fear."
Yes, the Word isn't a fear as ancient as Darkness or the Fall.
But it borders on their antiquity.
[Please select the cause of death to access your new life.]
[Warning: any cruel description will not be recognized as our fault!!]
Whaaaaooo.
After letting out a long yawn of fatigue, Johnson got up with the intention of going to bed.
Yet, he didn't forget to fill out the last request from the suspicious site.
He wrote the first idea that came to mind:
a stupid mistake, that would push a lot of people to deny any connection with him.