Ryan frowned, still trying to process all of this.
"So, I'd be some kind of… warrior with magic? Fighting monsters and evil kings?"
The fiery god laughed again.
"Something like that. Though I suspect you'll find Eldoria's challenges far more complex than what you're used to. It's not just about fighting. It's about leading, uniting people, and making hard decisions—much like your life as a soldier."
Ryan closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, the weight of his past life settling over him like a heavy cloak.
The memories of his time as a soldier came rushing back: the missions, the battles, the moments of life and death.
The faces of the men and women he had fought beside, those he had saved, and those he couldn't.
The sharp sting of loss was still fresh, even in this strange, otherworldly realm.
His sacrifice had been the last thing he did as Sergeant Ryan Mitchell.
But now, standing before the gods, he was being asked to step into something far greater.
When he opened his eyes, the gods were watching him with patient expectancy.
"Why me?" Ryan asked again, his voice steady now but filled with the weight of the question.
"Why not someone else? There must be people in Eldoria who are capable. Why pull a soldier from a different world?"
The goddess with the silver hair and gentle eyes stepped closer, her presence calming.
"Eldoria has champions, yes. Many have tried to stem the rising tide of darkness. But it has been foretold, in prophecy, that someone from beyond the veil of their world—someone from a place untouched by their history and conflicts—who is blessed by the gods, will be the one to change its fate. You, Ryan, possess qualities that go beyond physical strength or combat skill. You have seen sacrifice, you understand the burden of leadership, and you carry a deep sense of honor."
The fiery-haired god with molten eyes nodded.
"Eldoria doesn't just need a fighter. It needs a leader, someone who can inspire others, who can rise above the chaos and unite people under a common cause. It needs someone willing to make the hard choices, even when they seem impossible."
Ryan looked at each of the gods in turn, weighing their words.
He had always seen himself as just a soldier, doing his duty.
Sure at one time he had taken a cycle of being a drill sergeant, training the next batch of new soldiers, but that was for a very brief time.
But here, they spoke of him like he was something more—a potential savior of a world he'd never even heard of until moments ago.
It was overwhelming.
"And if I refuse?" Ryan asked, his tone measured but curious.
The god with galaxy-like eyes stepped forward.
"If you choose not to accept, you will remain here in the Divine Realm, where you will find peace and eternal rest. You have already earned a place among us through your bravery and sacrifice. But know this: while we will not force you, the fate of Eldoria hangs in the balance. If you choose to stay, another may be chosen in your place, but the outcome will be uncertain."
Ryan's heart pounded in his chest.
A new life, another chance to fight—but this time with power beyond anything he could have imagined.
And yet, the pull of rest, of peace, was tempting.
After all he had been through, the idea of eternal calm was alluring.
No more battles, no more bloodshed.
Just an end.
Rest.
But then he thought of Carter—the young private he had saved in his final moments.
He thought of the countless lives that had been in his hands over the years.
Even in death, his sense of duty hadn't faded.
Could he really turn away from a chance to save lives once again?
To protect another world, a kingdom, from falling into chaos?
"What happens to me in this new world?" Ryan asked, his voice quieter now. "Will I remember this? Will I be the same person?"
The goddess smiled softly. "You will carry the essence of who you are—your courage, your experiences, your heart. But your memories of this realm, and of your life as Sergeant Ryan Mitchell, will be locked away deep into your soul. You will be reborn into Eldoria, with a new name, a new identity. But deep down, you will still be you. Your "talents" and "knowledge" from your past experiences and life will be looked on as blessings from the gods and you'll be considered a genius."
Ryan exhaled slowly.
That was the hardest part—letting go of who he had been.
He wasn't sure he could.
But if there was one thing he had learned in all his years of service, it was that sometimes the hardest choices were the ones that mattered the most.
"And what about this darkness in Eldoria?" Ryan asked. "What exactly am I fighting against?"
The fiery god's face darkened.
"An ancient evil, once sealed away, is awakening. It seeks to consume the world, to spread its shadow over all living things. It seeks to reclaim its lost power that is buried beneath Eldoria's ancient ruins. Eldoria's people are also divided because of war. If the darkness rises fully, it will destroy everything. You must unite them, rally them to face the threat, and lead the charge against it. But that isn't the only problem. Other kingdoms too seek to destroy Eldoria and claim an ancient power it once possessed."
Ryan's mind raced.
Unite the people?
Unite the kingdom?
Fight against some ancient evil?
He had led squads and teams, but this sounded like something far beyond his usual scope.
Still, the fire in his heart began to stir, the same fire that had driven him in battle.
He had always been willing to step up when others couldn't.
He looked back at the gods, each of them watching him closely, waiting for his decision.
"If I do this…" Ryan began, his voice strong again, "I'll do it my way. I'll fight for the people of this kingdom, but I won't just be a tool for the gods. I won't be a puppet."
The gods exchanged glances, and the goddess nodded.
"You will have free will, just as you did in your mortal life. We will not control you, nor will we dictate your every action. You will be given the tools you need, but how you use them will be your choice."
Ryan took a deep breath.
His whole life had been about making choices, facing impossible odds, and doing what needed to be done—even if it cost him everything.
And now, he was being offered the chance to do it all over again, but this time on a much larger scale.
"Alright," he said finally, his voice steady. "I'll do it. I'll go to Eldoria."
The gods nodded in unison, and the air around him seemed to hum with energy.
"You've made a noble choice, Ryan," the goddess said, her voice filled with warmth. "Now, prepare yourself. You will be reborn into Eldoria with the powers and skills we bestow upon you. Your journey will be long and perilous, but remember—you are not alone. The strength of the divine will be with you, even if you cannot see it."
The fiery god of war stepped forward, his hand crackling with energy. "Before you go, one final gift. A mark, a symbol of your connection to me. This will be your guide to something special in due time, but also to show other champions of the gods that you're claimed by me."
He touched Ryan's forearm, and a searing heat flooded through him, not painful, but intense—like the burn of a forge.
Ryan looked down to see a glowing symbol etched into his skin, an intricate design that pulsed with light.
It felt like a part of him now, something tied to his very soul.
A glowing golden sword glowed brightly and then begin to fade until all that was there was a black looking tattoo.
"This cannot be removed and it will glow when my power is flowing through you. But of course you will learn this again when you get to Eldoria."
"When you awaken in Eldoria," the silver haired goddess said, "you will be but just a new born babe and the path in your life will be unclear. But trust in yourself, Ryan. We will be there gently guiding you. You were chosen for this reason."
The world around Ryan began to blur, the divine landscape dissolving into light.
Ryan felt his body begin to fade, like mist dissipating in the wind.
The last thing he saw was the battle hardened face of the fiery haired god of war, his eyes filled with passion and hope.
"Good luck, Ryan," his voice echoed, soft and distant. "Or should I say… welcome to your new life."
...
When Ryan opened his eyes again, he wasn't standing in the Divine Realm anymore. He was lying in the arms of a beautiful woman and a strong, handsome man looked over him. Many other people were in the room as well, looking onto him.
"Look darling our baby boy is opening his eyes," the woman said.
The man smiles as reaches down to touch his new son's hand.
"For him to be opening his eyes this soon, he must be a strong one."
"Why don't you give him a name dear."
The divine mark on his arm glowed brightly, a sign to the people in the room and his new parents that he has been blessed by a god.
Everyone's eyes opened wide at this.
"His blessed by a god!"
The man smiles greatly at this sight.
"This is a glorious day for House Greythorne!"
He reaches down and caresses his wife's cheek.
"His name shall be Luke. Lord Luke Greythorne."
Ryan—or supposedly Luke now—cried aloud, taking in the unfamiliar world for the first time as a newborn babe.
He wasn't Sergeant Ryan Mitchell of an elite special forces unit anymore. He was someone new, in a world where magic flowed and darkness threatened.
But one thing was certain: no matter where he was or what he was called now, he was still a soldier. And there was a war coming.
His new life had just begun.