We soon arrived at the entrance of a grand, vaulted tomb, a structure so ancient and majestic that it was renowned throughout Greece. The god leading us stopped just short of the entrance and turned to face us.
"You two wait here while I bring the others," he instructed, his tone casual but commanding. Without waiting for a response, he disappeared into the tomb, leaving Kaguya and me alone.
Kaguya turned to me almost immediately, her voice low and wary. "This person is dangerous, Val. Really dangerous."
I nodded, my gaze still fixed on the tomb's entrance. "Yeah, I can see that. He's a god, after all."
"No," she insisted, her expression tightening. "It's not just that. I can sense ill intent from him. It's vague, but it's there."
I glanced at her, frowning. "Well, you did threaten him with a spear earlier."
Kaguya shook her head. "It's not about that. I felt it even before. It's like he—"
"Hey, you two, I'm back!" the god's voice interrupted her abruptly. He emerged from the shadows of the tomb with a wry smile. "I hope you weren't badmouthing me while I was gone."
I forced a neutral expression, avoiding his gaze. The first time we met, he had casually demonstrated his ability to read my mind, and I wasn't eager to test whether he'd do it again. Beside me, Kaguya stiffened, clearly caught off guard by his sudden return.
If he had overheard our conversation, he gave no indication. Instead, his attention shifted to me with an amused glint in his eyes. "Robert, I know what you're thinking. I called you here to meet the last champion, not to challenge him to a duel right away."
"Um," I began hesitantly, "who's Robert?"
Before he could answer, nine figures began to emerge from the tomb. They walked slowly, their footsteps echoing faintly against the stone. Four women and five men, each one distinctly unique, formed a loose semicircle about four meters from where Kaguya and I stood.
The god gestured grandly. "Alright, time for introductions. Let's start with the one on the left."
A young man stepped forward, his expression calm. "Hello, my name is Dari Reyes. I'm 19 years old and from the Philippines. Nice to meet you."
Next came a man with a confident air. "My name is Danny Wendys. I'm 28 years old, from America."
A woman with a graceful demeanor followed. "I'm Lorena Rotenberg. I'm 19 years old and from Austria. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Olivia Nowak," said a fourth, her voice soft. "I'm 22 years old and from Poland."
"I'm Sai Agarwal," the next one introduced himself, his tone polite but firm. "I'm 20 years old and from India."
Then came the one the god had called Robert. He stepped forward with a faint smile. "My name is Robert Twister. I'm 23 years old and from England."
So this was the one who wanted to challenge me, I thought, studying him closely.
"I'm Natalya Miroslava," said a woman with an icy composure. "I'm 18 years old and from Russia."
The next introduction made my chest tighten. "My name is Yuko Misaka," the girl said, her voice familiar. "I'm 18 years old and from Japan."
It was her. The one who had set everything in motion for me. The memories of that day surged back, unbidden and raw. I clenched my fists at my sides. I hadn't forgotten, and I wouldn't forgive. One day, I'd take my revenge.
Finally, the last figure stepped forward with a casual grin. "And I'm Anastasiou Damianos. I'm 21 years old and from Greece. Nice to meet you."
The god nodded approvingly once everyone had spoken. "And now you, Val."
I cleared my throat. "My name is Val Oswald. I'm 19 years old and from Japan. Nice to meet you all."
As I spoke, a bitter thought flickered in my mind. My name—a gift from my mother—was a reminder of roots I didn't fully understand. Abandoned at an orphanage, I had no idea who my parents were. Japan was the only home I knew, but was it really where I belonged?
With the introductions over, I took the opportunity to observe everyone more closely. Dari wore a red hoodie and black jeans that complemented his dark hair, which was long enough to occasionally obscure his brown eyes. Danny, in contrast, sported a black hoodie and blue jeans, his red hair vibrant against his darker attire. Lorena's black dress, which fell to her knees, accentuated her long white hair tied in a ponytail and her piercing blue eyes. Olivia's grey dress, shorter than Lorena's, paired well with her short black hair and nearly black eyes.
Sai wore a grey sweatshirt with blue jeans, his semi-long black hair framing his face. He had an earring in each ear that caught the light, matching the shine in his brown eyes. Robert's silver hair blew gently in the breeze, his green eyes fixed on me with a smile that hinted at mischief. Natalya's long grey hair and blue eyes stood out against her white jacket and grey sports trousers. And then there was Yuko, wearing a dark blue dress and semi-transparent black leggings. Her short brown hair and brown eyes seemed so ordinary, yet they stirred the embers of my anger.
Finally, Damianos stood relaxed in a blue blouse, purple jacket, and black jeans. His brown hair and blue eyes completed the look of someone who didn't seem to take things too seriously.
Despite their varying appearances, they all looked... normal. For a group meant to save the world, I had expected something more extraordinary. Still, appearances could be deceiving. Each of them had been chosen for a reason, and I was eager to find out why.
"Alright," the god began again, drawing everyone's attention. "Now that introductions are done, let's get to the reason you're all here."
He paused, glancing at Yuko. "Some of you might already know." Then his gaze shifted to me. "While others have no clue."
"As you all know, I am the god responsible for this world. But I am not the only god. There are countless others like me, each overseeing their own domains. We live in peace, for the most part. But there is one god who seeks to rule over all. He's destroyed more than a billion worlds, killing their gods and leaving chaos in his wake. To stop him, he's proposed a game—a twisted game that's our only chance to save not just your world, but the entire universe."
A heavy silence fell over the group. The weight of his words was palpable. They had come expecting something significant, but this? The fate of the world—of countless worlds—was in their hands. Even I was stunned, though my resolve quickly hardened. I had nothing left to lose. If participating in this so-called game gave me a chance to bring Sagiri back, then I would do whatever it took.
While I clenched my fists, Dari raised his hand hesitantly. "If there are so many gods, why can't you just fight him together? Wouldn't that be easier?"
The god's expression darkened slightly. "A valid question. The answer is simple. A god's power depends on the belief of their followers. On most worlds, civilizations are too primitive to believe in gods or even understand the concept. Without belief, we are weak. And on this world, your belief is fractured."
His choice of words grated on me. "Creatures" instead of "Gods" when referring to his kind? It felt dismissive, almost demeaning. There was more to his story than he was letting on, but now wasn't the time to probe.
Kaguya, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, leaned closer to me. "Val, do you really think we should take part in this?"
I met her gaze, a grin spreading across my face. "Of course we are. I wouldn't miss this for anything. Finally, life gets a bit interesting."