Beyond the boundaries of Earth, in a realm untainted by mortal limitations, Prince Josh found himself intact, every part of his body accounted for.
At first, he thought it might be a dream. Time and again, he glanced at his hands, touched his neck, and even ran his fingers through his blond hair, but nothing was amiss. His head was firmly attached to his neck, his body unmarred. The sense of completeness felt alien yet reassuring.
Finally convinced of the reality before him, Josh's gaze shifted outward. The realm was breathtaking, a swirling cascade of purples, oranges, and reds merging and flashing like a cosmic symphony. The serenity in the air was palpable, lifting the weight of stress and pain from his shoulders, if only for a while.
Suddenly, a commanding voice rang out from his right, deep and resonant, like thunder encased in velvet.
"YOU'RE THE FIRST TO INVOKE THE RULE OF SACRIFICE."
Josh whipped his head in the direction of the voice, his brow furrowed in confusion. The words didn't sit right. The information of his mother throwing herself in harm's way for him and dying was well known throughout the empire. Where exactly is this place and who is this ignorant individual?
"My mother invoked that rule when she sacrificed herself for me…" he muttered, bewildered, anger beginning to simmer beneath his calm exterior. "Surely you know that."
The voice let out a dry chuckle, as if amused by Josh's indignation.
"YOUR MOTHER NEVER INVOKED THE RULE OF SACRIFICE. SHE MERELY SACRIFICED HERSELF. IF YOUR FATHER HAD KILLED YOU BACK THEN, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO RETRIBUTION. TO INVOKE THE RULE OF SACRIFICE, IT MUST BE SPOKEN ALOUD. SACRIFICING WITHOUT INVOKING IS NOTHING MORE THAN MERE SUICIDE!"
Josh's fists clenched, his rage threatening to boil over, but before he could lash out, the voice continued, now tinged with a note of sympathy.
"RELAX, JOSH. I KNOW IT SEEMS UNFAIR, BUT THE GODS CANNOT INTERFERE IN THE MORTAL REALM UNLESS A TABOO IS BROKEN—LIKE VIOLATING THE RULE OF SACRIFICE."
The voice paused momentarily before pressing on.
"YOUR SUFFERING HAS FINALLY REACHED THE GOD REALM. MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO, WE ESTABLISHED A RULE: ANYONE WHO INVOKES THE RULE OF SACRIFICE SHALL BE GRANTED A SINGLE WISH. BUT BE WARNED—YOU CANNOT WISH FOR YOUR MOTHER'S RETURN OR FOR ANOTHER WISH. THOSE TRICKS WON'T WORK. HOWEVER, ANYTHING ELSE, EVEN THE DEATH OF YOUR BROTHERS OR THE EMPEROR, WILL BE GRANTED."
Josh sucked in a sharp breath, his mind racing.
"Who… who are you?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation. "And Where exactly am I? I should be dead. How am I even here?"
"I AM A'NUI, THE GOD OF RETRIBUTION. YOU STAND IN THE SOUL CELESTIAL REALM. YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE, ONE- IN YOUR FINAL MOMENTS, YOU INVOKED THE RULE OF SACRIFICE. AND TWO- THE BOND YOU FORGED WITH THE ONE YOU SACRIFICED YOURSELF FOR—A CRY FOR RETRIBUTION—TRIGGERED YOUR REAWAKENING. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY FOR REWARD."
The voice fell silent, leaving Josh to grapple with the enormity of what he had just learned. After what felt like an eternity, he finally found his voice.
"So… I can make one wish?"
A stillness answered, confirming his question.
Josh exhaled slowly, his frustration ebbing away. "I can't bring my mother back. And killing the emperor… that would be too easy. I need something more."
"YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO DECIDE. CHOOSE WISELY, OR YOU WILL BE SENT BACK TO EARTH AS YOU ARE."
Josh's eyes narrowed. His decision was made.
"Make me the greatest king that has ever lived!" he declared, his voice steady and resolute.
The silence that followed was heavy, charged with power. Then, after a long pause, the voice spoke again.
"THAT IS A DIFFICULT WISH."
Josh braced himself as the voice continued.
"BUT VERY WELL. YOUR WISH IS GRANTED. UPON YOUR RETURN TO EARTH, THE DETAILS OF YOUR REWARD WILL BE REVEALED."
Without warning, a swirling vortex materialized before Josh, its pull undeniable. The next moment, he was sucked into it, disappearing from the celestial realm.
Once he was gone, another voice—soft, feminine, yet filled with authority—echoed in the space.
"I EXPECTED HIM TO WISH FOR THE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION OF HIS FATHER AND BROTHERS, OR EVEN THE ENTIRE EMPIRE, BUT HIS CHOICE SHOWS GREAT FORESIGHT."
A'Nui chuckled in reply.
"HE IS NOT LIKE OTHER MORTALS. I HAVE DECIDED TO SEND HIM AN EXTRA PACKAGE THAT WILL EXCEED HIS EXPECTATIONS."
Their voices faded, leaving the celestial realm in silence once more.
---
Back on Earth
Josh reappeared in Region 32. The night was dark, the air heavy with the scent of rain. Thunder rolled across the sky as raindrops began to pour.
A voice sounded in his mind, calm yet commanding.
"YOU HAVE REQUESTED TO BE THE GREATEST KING ALIVE. YOU HAVE BEEN GRANTED THE STAFF OF POWER AND THE ABILITY TO COMMAND OTHERS WITH YOUR VOICE. HOWEVER, EACH COMMAND WILL DRAIN YOU. YOUR KINGLY SYSTEM HAS BEEN ACTIVATED."
A glowing screen appeared before Josh, visible only to him.
Name: Josh Aratat
Age: 16
System: Kingly System
Level: 4 – Lieutenant
Weapons: Staff of Power
Vortex Store: D+ (20% storage capacity)
Subordinates: 1 (Conrad Stan)
Josh's eyes widened at the mention of his subordinate. Conrad Stan—the man he had died for.
"Looks like I have a lot to learn," Josh muttered, determination flaring in his eyes as he gazed at the stormy horizon. The clouds churned like restless waves, mirroring the turmoil in his heart.
Suddenly, his vision shifted. A glowing line materialized before him, stretching into the unknown like a luminous thread guiding him forward. It twisted and turned, weaving through the landscape like a squirrel darting around a tree.
"What is this...?" he murmured, his brow furrowing in confusion. Despite his hesitation, an inexplicable pull urged him forward. Shrugging off his doubts, he decided to follow the strange arrow of light.
Each step felt surreal. The line continued to shift and form just ahead of him, as if the path itself was alive and beckoning him closer. He had no idea where it led, yet his instincts whispered that this was the right way. Still, the strangeness of it all sent a shiver down his spine.
After what felt like an eternity, the path ended at a small, weathered hut. Its wooden door was riddled with gaps, allowing faint beams of light to escape, while a lone torch flickered at its entrance. The hut stood in stark contrast to the grandiose palace Josh once called home.
With a deep breath, he pushed open the creaking door. The dim interior seemed to hold its breath as he stepped inside. Two eyes met his gaze—one filled with curiosity, the other brimming with reverence.
Josh froze. The air in the room felt charged, heavy with unspoken meaning.