Becoming a god might seem a privilege to most, but to me, the burdens weighed heavy.
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I remembered sitting in my apartment on Earth. What I had been doing that day was of little importance—it was just another uneventful moment in my ordinary life.
I lived alone, earning an average salary. Most of my days were spent reading books of every genre imaginable. My life, while comfortable, was stagnant, a pattern unbroken for years.
And so it remained, until the day I woke up in a place no human eye could comprehend.
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I stood above the clouds, surrounded by unfamiliar beings.
They were majestic, floating effortlessly in a realm that could only be described as heavenly.
Some wore robes, others wore cloaks or dresses, and a few were even dressed in suits. We all seemed to come from many different eras.
Each figure radiated strength—muscular forms of every kind, from towering and bulky to lean and thin. Yet, all of them possessed a beauty so striking it would be unimaginable on Earth.
I couldn't help but wonder how I appeared among them. My dull black hair and unimpressive height must have seemed starch in comparison. But as I looked at my arms and hands, I noticed they were far more defined than I remembered.
Even my clothing had changed. I wore white and gold robes, their richness far beyond anything I could have afforded in my former life.
Hundreds of us were scattered in a large circle, floating within this ethereal realm.
Then, the sky above shifted, and a face began to take form—a face impossibly large, crafted from clouds. It depicted an old man, his sharp eyes scanning us with a piercing gaze, as though he were weighing our very souls.
"It seems we have some interesting gods among us," the face boomed, its voice resonating with a bass so loud it seemed to shake the heavens themselves.
Gods? I said to myself, though the words refused to leave my throat.
The face's expression was stern as it continued, its voice carrying to every corner of the realm.
"Yes, yes. I see the God of Fools. The God of the Fearful. Even the God of Lust."
As the face listed these titles, its eyes darted to different individuals, and I wondered what meaning lay behind those names.
Then, its gaze lingered on me. A single cloudy eyebrow arched in curiosity.
"The God of the Broken?" it mused, a smirk curling its lips. "Interesting!"
The face erupted into a laugh, loud and thunderous, the sound almost unbearable to my ears.
"Well, I am sure you are all wondering why you are here," it said, the laughter fading.
Your last memories are likely of events from the worlds you came from, but that is of no consequence now. You have been chosen for a greater purpose. A new world, and a new role, awaits each of you."
"Consider yourselves gods. Not as powerful as I, of course, but gods nonetheless, wielding power far beyond that of the humans who will live under your rule."
The face paused, its eyes sweeping over the gathered crowd.
"Look around you. Memorise these faces, for though you are all gods, you are also destined to be enemies.
"Over time, I will pit you against one another to test the worlds you create. From these trials, I will judge who among you is the greatest—a god worthy of dwelling with the Absolutes."
The sheer weight of the words crushed my mind as I tried to process their meaning. Even with my sense of logic, the concepts felt impossible to grasp.
The face continued.
"I will not overexplain. In time, all will become clear. But know this: each of you have been chosen for a reason. That reason is enough to compel you to rule your people with all your might. My name is Odison, and I will be seeing you all soon."
With those final words, the face dissolved, vanishing into thin air.
I turned to the others, studying as many faces as I could. Each was unique, radiant, and formidable.
I couldn't fathom fighting against any of them, yet if the face spoke the truth, conflict was inevitable.
Then, against my will, my eyelids grew heavy. Darkness claimed my vision, and I slipped into unconsciousness.