The group of porters, dressed in full hazmat suits, meticulously fitted several bodies into body bags. Each movement was slow and deliberate, as the corpses seemed to disintegrate at the slightest touch.
After securing the bodies, they began transporting them to the morgue, one by one. Despite their professionalism, the porters were visibly unsettled. The bodies were grotesquely mutated—unlike anything they had ever encountered in their lives. Human corpses, just minutes old, looked like decaying, bloated rats. Their skin was riddled with grotesque bumps, oozing a sickly yellow liquid that made their stomachs churn.
"Shit! This is friggin' disgusting!" one of the porters exclaimed, his voice filled with revulsion. He cursed his brain for having etched the horrifying image into his memory.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. They don't even look human anymore," another said, his tone a mixture of fear and disgust. "I don't ever want to catch something like this."
While most of the group continued their grim work, one porter, Gregor, stood apart, staring at a particular body bag. His hands trembled slightly as his mind replayed the moment he had carefully placed the young body inside.
'It's just too sad—'
"Hey, Gregor. Something wrong?" a colleague asked, noticing him zoning out.
Gregor initially shook his head, reluctant to speak, but after a moment, he sighed deeply and replied, "That young kid... the one who loved playing video games. It's painful to think he died so young. And he came from such a rich background too. What a waste."
His colleague burst into laughter, the sound jarring and callous. Gregor's face flushed with anger as he clenched his fists.
"That's what's got you so worked up? Come on, think about it this way—he probably enjoyed his short time on Earth more than you'll ever enjoy your entire life. Maybe that'll help you feel better."
Gregor said nothing, refusing to dignify the remark with a response. Instead, he turned his gaze back to the body bag, his voice soft and filled with genuine emotion.
"I hope this kid at least finds peace in Heaven."
---
Meanwhile:
Yuka's mind felt clearer than it had ever been—an almost unnatural clarity. His very being felt whole, as though he no longer had any conscious or subconscious thoughts weighing him down. It was as if he had been reborn.
Around him stretched pure, infinite darkness. No sound reached his ears, and he felt weightless, as though he were submerged in the depths of an ocean. Despite the sensation, he could breathe effortlessly. Everything about the experience felt strangely normal, though he couldn't find words to describe it.
'Is this Heaven?' Yuka wondered, uncertain how to interpret his surroundings. After what felt like an eternity, his answer came in an unexpected form.
A green holographic bar appeared before his eyes, cutting through the oppressive darkness.
[Welcome, Yuka Hikano]
[You have successfully received the grace of participating.]
[Do you accept?]
'What is this? A gift? Is this some kind of requirement for passing into the afterlife?'
"Yes, I'd like a gift," Yuka said cautiously. A gift couldn't possibly be a bad thing, or so he thought.
[Good of you to choose this as an option.]
[Registration begins.]
'Registration? So I have to register now?' Yuka hesitated briefly, but his curiosity and acceptance of the unknown compelled him to proceed. After all, this could very well be the process of transitioning to the afterlife.
[Name you want to be called by?]
"Yuka Yeager," he said, choosing the name he had used during his gaming life on Earth.
[Hair color?]
"I'll go with black."
[Choose one:]
Smart and skinny
Muscular and mostly senseless
Reflexive response with small backlash
"Reflexive response... I guess," Yuka muttered after some deliberation.
[Race:]
Human
Elf
Dwarf
Surprise me
This time, Yuka paused longer. Choosing human seemed safe, but he had already lived that life. From his gaming knowledge, he knew elves often had higher resistance and greater potential compared to humans, while dwarves were too short and stocky for his liking. The "surprise me" option didn't even cross his mind—life had already thrown too many surprises his way.
'But this isn't a game, is it?'
Yuka selected Elf, though his heart sank when the next notification appeared.
[Job class:]
Would you like to select a job?
Would you like to see what job suits you the most?
At that moment, Yuka's unease deepened. This no longer felt like an afterlife transition; it felt eerily similar to a game.
'I remember coughing, the pain spreading like wildfire, my body burning from the inside out... Could it be? Am I dreaming? Or…'
He hesitated to finish the thought, the alternative too terrifying to acknowledge. Steeling himself, he selected his preferred choice, and the next notification appeared.
[Weapon Master]
[As this is a special recommendation, you will be tested for compatibility with this ability.]
"I'm in a game," Yuka whispered, the realization dawning on him. "So I'm going to be tested... Is this some kind of special quest?"
Questions swirled in his mind. "Where are you taking me? How did I get here? What's going on?"
The notification remained silent, much like an NPC, answering only within the confines of its programming.
As he floated through the endless darkness, a shift caught his attention. In the distance, a faint light began to pierce the void, growing steadily brighter.
The light consumed the surrounding darkness, and Yuka felt his body react strangely to its presence.
[Good luck, Yuka.]
The message appeared just as the light enveloped him completely.
In an instant, Yuka materialized in an unfamiliar place.
He stood in a grand hall, its opulence overwhelming. The floors and walls were adorned with glittering diamonds and gold, radiating an aura of immense wealth. If Yuka had a shovel or an explosive, he might have entertained the idea of taking a chunk for himself to sell later.
But such thoughts faded as he noticed he wasn't alone.
Others were there—people of varying ages, some his own, others older. Many looked confused, while a few appeared calm and composed.
Moments of tense silence passed as they exchanged wary glances. Then, a sudden burst of light illuminated the center of the room, drawing everyone's attention.
Standing there was the most majestic figure Yuka had ever seen. Even the women in the room appeared awestruck, their expressions mirroring his own.
"Hello, one and all!" the figure announced, their voice booming with authority. "I welcome you to the Deity Game."