"What is your greatest regret in life?"
Floating in a void of endless white, that was all he heard. His eyes barely shifted, yet his mouth began to form words.
"That day, that notification. Are you... gonna turn back time for me?"
A soft sigh resonated from the missing body of the voice around him.
"While something you may want, even may need, after what your life became... I am deeply sorry. My power is not over time, but space. I wish to send you to a world under my dominion, with a gift that matches you as a person."
A small glint of light pierced the man's chest, growing throughout his body. Almost as soon as it entered, it slid back out and morphed into a flat screen of light. It flickered, showing his past.
"I see. Your life changed a lot, when they..."
The voice trailed off as the man's grey eyes began to focus on the screen. A series of memories played back.
"That day, at their funeral... my mind was hazy and my heart was broken. Heh... I only checked my phone for a second. I felt it vibrate, you see? Then they started talking. People that didn't even know my parents had a child, they started talking about me as if I wasn't there! To spite them, I did it again. I pulled out my phone and downloaded the app from the notification. It was a gacha game, the first of ten years worth of my dead beat life."
"You died after wasting away, playing gacha games on your inheritance money. I can feel your self hatred. The rage within you burns bright... towards yourself. You regret it all, yet I can change your views. While unable to return to the past, I can send you to one of the world's that can make your new power shine. Change yourself, while keeping this blessing as a part of you."
The screen zipped back inside of his body, flooding him with a strange heat. He curled up into a fetal position, grimacing as if in pain.
"Before you go, I ask of you for your name?"
"Call me Rune. My old name means nothing where I'm going."
"Very well."
The space around Rune began to collapse, slowly turning dark and voidlike.
'I guess this is better than agony in Hell.'
His eyes adjusted slowly, gleaming light filling the halls of a grand room.
"Oh! He has arrived, Your Highness."
An excited voice brought Rune into focus, quickly sitting up as a beautiful girl stepped closer. Her flowing blond hair nearly reached the floor as she leaned forward to look into his eyes.
"Do you understand me?"
Rune gave a small nod. His eyes taking in the room, as well as a smiling girl near the only exit. She was stunning, yet not so much as the one standing before him. She spun around, her nun's habit flowing outwards.
"Where-"
"My father will be here soon. Forgive me, but you were summoned here as the chosen hero. I am Velvet, princess to the Raining Kingdom. May I ask for your name?"
Rune pushed himself up, climbing to his feet. Princess Velvet followed him with her eyes, straightening her back as his height shadowed hers. Her eyebrows raised as he began to stretch slightly.
"Sorry, Princess. A little sore. I'm Rune, but why was I summoned here?"
'I could've sworn that voice was what sent me. Did they throw me into a summoning ritual?'
The princess clasped her hands. Her narrow frame seeming frail. Rune allowed his eyes to wander, taking in Velvet's entire appearance. Her dress was tight, yet elegant. Her bust barely contained by the fabric.
"I know not. My father, he chose to summon a hero. Before he arrives, please tell me your status. I wish to know of your strength."
"Status?"
Rune scratched his head, stopping as a translucent screen appeared in front of his face. He read it aloud for Velvet, her eyes dropping as he continued.
'Name: Rune
Level: 1
Race: Summoned Hero (Human)
Strength: D
Vitality: D-
Stamina: D
Speed: D
Magic: E
Focus: SS
Luck: F
Skill: Hero's Gacha'
Even Rune could see why she wasn't impressed. With a soft sigh, he began to bow towards her.
"Sorry, seems I'm not much of a hero."
He could only chuckle as Velvet turned away. The gair across his body suddenly stood on end.
"Welcome, Great Hero!"
Rune looked up, his eyes locking onto a grown man. His robes were regal, lifted at the hem by two young women in next to no clothing. This caused Rune to raise his brow.
'The hell?'
The man, obviously the King, stood beside Velvet. One hand reached out, holding her by the waist, while the other was against the nun's rear. She didn't seem fazed, more so excited.
"Father, can you not?"
Velvet proceeded to shrug him off, her eyes breaking from her original sophisticated look. Disgust. That was all she had in her eyes.
"Apologies, my dear. Now hero, I am here to tell you... to go to the edge of my kingdom. We need someone like you to be based out in Serro."
Velvet's disgust became shock. Her jaw dropped as she attempted to speak, yet no words formed.
"A carriage will be made available. Please, refrain from returning to the castle without an invitation."
The king turned away, leaving Rune and Velvet alone. They looked at each other, then she sighed heavily.
"Forgive me. In the Raining Kingdom, his word is final. Serro is no place for a new hero to travel. It may be... never mind. He will want you gone sooner than later. I shall lead you to the carriage."
Before long, Rune sat alone in a carriage. As the carriage sped off, Velvet began to head back up towards the castle.
"My lady, you know why he was sent there, yet you allowed him to leave. The only other man in this castle, thrown away."
"Shut it. I'm already sick of that bastard treating me like his daughter. Sending away men, keeping women here. He brainwashed so many, leaving me to watch and wait for him to corrupt me. DAMMIT!"
Velvet lashes out, her fist slamming into a stone pillar. Cracks began to form as she trudged forward.
"My lady, I will return to hiding."
With a flick of her wrist, the shadow trailing her vanished. Velvet reentered the castle, quickly rounding a corner and finding the king waiting.
"He was weak, but he resisted my intimidation. Keep an eye on him, end him if necessary."
The king began to walk away.
"Father! Why summon a hero, just to kill him!?"
With a smug look on his face, the king threw his voice back.
"I wanted a woman to serve me. Someone strong to protect me, yet sexy enough to lay with me."
The king laughed as he walked away, leaving Velvet with disappointment on her face.
"Of course. I guess I'm off then."
Back in the carriage, Rune sat with his head in his hands. His status screen was lit up in front if him.
"Gacha, again. How am I supposed to do something with what ruined my life once?"