Darkness...silence….
"Where am I? It's so quiet and peaceful. I guess, I'm waiting to go to heaven, hell, or maybe even reincarnation. Hopefully I can just enjoy this peace for awhile."
[Aren't you confused?]
"Huh? Confused about what?"
[About why're you're here in this darkness. About if you really died]
"Haha, I know I died for sure. Those bullets were laced with poison and one even hit an artery. I was as dead as a door knob the moment I closed my eyes. There's nothing worth being confused about here."
[Then why are you so calm? Normally anyone else who comes here would be afraid after hearing my voice, but here you are having a full conversation as calm as you can be.]
"I lived as my country's greatest weapon, I've seen so much and had so many responsibilities on my shoulders that I'd prefer to allow the natural course of things to just flow."
[You are a strange child, but that reinforces the faith I have in you even more Brandon. How about becoming my champion?]
"Eh? "
"First, I presume you are God, and since I've prayed to only one god, you must be the God of Light?"
[Correct]
"Do I have a choice in this matter then?"
[Yes you do have a choice, but if you'll trust me, I believe that'll you will benefit greatly from becoming my champion.]
"Hmm"
Silence ensued for what seemed like hours, but without a body or even light to see, Brandon couldn't tell how much time passed from his last statement. Regardless of the wait, God was silent and patient.
"Fine, I'll do it. Please inform me of what needs to be done."
[I thought you'd ask more questions, but before we move on can I ask why did you agree so quickly?]
"Because my last life was fulfilling and I know whether it was luck or blessings, I was able to stand at the top."
[You say that even with the way you died? Even with having to leave your wife and daughter?]
"That was something I was prepared for the moment the super soldier experiment on me was a success. I knew what would follow so I blame no one. Kayla knew as well and we still agreed to live our way."
[A fine candidate indeed. One moment so you'll be more comfortable.]
Zzzt! Brandon feels as if he was teleported and miraculously he can see a large pure white hall with a large man sitting on a golden throne. This man looks middle aged with long blonde hair draped over his shoulders and dressed in a white dress shirt with white slacks. The definition of elegance is all Brandon could think. This man's skin looked pure like jade and his eyes blue like water.
[Come my child, we have much to discuss!]
Brandon realizes that he now has his body again but he seems to be transparent. A sign that he's just a soul currently. Nevertheless, he walks forward and bows to the God of Light.
"So, can we discuss what is a champion and what will my duties be?"
[Every few thousand years we gods of different worlds and different religions hold a contest together to see who can find a worthy champion amongst ourselves. Then our champions compete on different worlds to become the strongest against each other. The winner brings glory to their god or goddess and will step into the path of godhood themselves.]
[So in short, I need you to become stronger than every other champion and bring me glory. I care not how you do it, whether you create armies across the different worlds you'll be competing in or, if you become a slaughter bringing chaos throughout the cosmos. You can even become a king of different universes, I just want you to win, but be warned, on this path there might be situations that will hinder you depending on your personal values.]
"Understood, so how does it work for me on a personal level compared to my enemies?"
[You really don't like asking unnecessary questions huh?]
"You're God, and I've never felt mistreated by my fate, so why shall I question you?"
Even the God of Light didn't know what to say. Normally, most contestants would be naive children who spent too much time at home reading novels and playing games, or those children who thought they were a protagonist. Those children were mostly picked because the reading material and fantasies that they were obsessed with helped them adjust to their situations a lot better than others. This was the first time he picked someone who was neither of those and he is surprised and how much easier this process is.
[Very well anyway, you'll be given a choice to pick any four gifts to be born with in your next reincarnation. On the world you'll be going to first, it'll be a version of Earth that has supernatural powers with modern technology. One out of every ten people there will be born with supernatural talents, some will be born with multiple such as yourself. All contestants must go through this process no matter what. The earth you'll be going to will have two other contestants, but I'm not at liberty to give out their information, nor yours. The gifts you ask for will determine your path, and since you all have this chance it's a fair starting point across the board. I can not recommend anything nor nudge you in any direction, so choose well Brandon. Only your imagination can limit your chances. The interesting part starts now my child.]