The door creaked open as a thin man stepped inside. He flipped on the light, revealing his tired, wrinkled face—definitely not the kind of handsome.

He dropped his suitcase onto a chair, loosened his black tie, and shrugged off his sweat-stained white shirt. Everything felt sticky, so he decided to take a quick shower to freshen up.

The room itself was a disaster. Clothes were strewn across the floor. A stack of comics lay on the bed, which was half-covered by a crumpled blanket that hadn't been straightened in days.

But Austin didn't mind the mess. He barely had time to care about himself anyway. After a quick shower, he threw on a black shorts and went shirtless, making his way to the desk to power up his computer.

As he settled in, his stomach let out a loud scream. "Let's see if I have a cup of noodles left," he muttered to himself.

On his way to the kitchen, his toes smashed into the edge of the doorframe. "Ah, fuck!" he shrieked, hopping in place for a moment before limping over to the cupboard where he stashed his food.

Pulling it open, he was shocked by empty shelves. "Great! Forgot to stock up again this month."

Emotionless, Austin slammed the cupboard shut and trudged back to the main room. "What's next? My computer decides to die?" he whined.

He leaned over the desk, squinting at the monitor to make sure it turned on without issues. Thankfully, it hummed to life after a few seconds. However, when he reached for his chair, he fell straight to the floor not because he missed it, but because the damn thing was broken.

Flat on his back, Austin lay motionless, staring at the ceiling and questioning his luck. "Whatever, man. I'm done," he mumbled. "This life is meaningless."

Austin let his eyes drift shut, too tired to care about anything anymore. All he wanted was a better life, something far from the mess he was stuck in. His father and mother were still alive, but that didn't mean much—they'd kicked him out for being useless. Love and support? Those were distant memories, replaced by constant failures.

Earlier that day, he'd gone to an interview, but, like always, it didn't go well. He spent the rest of the afternoon applying for jobs, each rejection making his chest feel heavier. His bank account was running on fumes, and his motivation had crumbled. Hope felt like a cruel joke, something always out of reach.

Lost in his spiraling thoughts, something strange happened. A light appeared in front of him, faint at first but growing brighter, larger, and more intense.

"What the hell?" Austin muttered, his tiredness replaced with confusion.

[Welcome to the realm of Devana, Aldebaran.]

"Wait, who said that?"

[System of Ascension. You are now living among the Goddesses.]

Austin blinked, his frown deepening. "What the hell is this supposed to mean? This has to be a dream."

[Beyond a dream. Your second life awaits. Don't waste it like you did before. Do better!]

"Are you kidding me?" he complained with doubt. "This is ridiculous. Just send me back."

[Back to what? A life where you are stuck as a loser? Floating in the middle of nowhere with no direction? Or would you rather have a life where you can become a God and build the Heaven you've always wanted?]

Austin hesitated, the words hitting harder than he expected. "What are you talking about?"

[Conquer the Goddesses in the Devana realm. Prove yourself to them, earn their approval, and become their Lord. You'll be the ruler of a new Heaven.]

Austin stood there in stunned silence, unable to process what was happening. It felt like something straight out of one of those web novels he used to read, reincarnation, transmigration, or whatever. But to actually experience it? That was on a whole different level.

"Why me?" he uttered under his breath. "I mean, look at me. I'm nobody. Definitely not someone worthy of becoming… whatever this is—let alone some God-like figure."

[It has already been decided. Isn't that what you wanted most?]

He stared down at his hands, clenching them into fists. It felt real, too real to be a dream. The vivid sensation made his heart race. Looking around, he realized he was standing on something that looked like billowing smoke, or maybe it was an endless cloud.

Despite himself, Austin couldn't deny the temptation creeping in. The chance to leave his old, miserable life behind? To become something more? Wasn't this exactly what he'd always wished for?

"It seems like I don't have a reason to refuse," Austin said, letting out a resigned sigh.

[You now bear the name Aldebaran. You'll start in this world as a teenager, not an infant. You've been bestowed basic knowledge of the realm and blessed with the Aura of God.]

He raised an eyebrow. "Aura of God?"

[It's your first trait as a God. Pay attention and listen well.]

[The Aura of God is a unique trait that confirms your status as a God. It ensures that the Goddesses recognize you as one of them, and as your relationship with them deepens, their trust in you will be stronger.]

"So… it's like a divine icebreaker?"

[Also, traits are different from skills. You don't have any skills right now, but you can earn them through quests or blessings from the Goddesses.]

[You are starting at level one. With every multiple of ten, you'll unlock a new trait. Do you have any questions?]

Austin hesitated for a moment before asking, "What happens if... I failed the mission?"

[If you fail, you risk being dominated by them instead. And some Goddesses? They're not exactly the forgiving type. You could even be killed.]

He swallowed hard. "Well, that's comforting."

[However, they have never experienced a connection with a male God, this could be their weakness.]

"Good," he said, half-sarcastic. "So, I have to outsmart a bunch of immortal beings. No pressure, right? How do I begin?"

[Farewell. You will be sent near the first target's location.]

Before Aldebaran could respond, he felt his mind being swept away, like he was moving at lightning speed without actually moving. Then everything stopped, and darkness surrounded him.

The sound of birds chirping broke through the silence, nudging him awake. As he opened his sage-color eyes, he found himself in a forest, leaning against a tree trunk.

Looking down at himself, he noticed the dark blue robe he was wearing. It flowed down to his feet in layered fabric, with feather-like adornments on his shoulders in matching colors. Complicated carvings ran along the edges, and a hood partially concealed his face.

"So… this is me now, huh?" Aldebaran mumbled, standing on his feet. The cape-like behind him flared out like wings as he moved. "Feels like I'm cosplaying as a wizard."

[Objective: Learn about the Goddess of Nature and Wildlife, Thalendra.]

[Go now and become the Lord of the Goddesses.]