Riley Carter opened his eyes to a breathtakingly unfamiliar landscape. The ground beneath his feet shimmered with hues of soft blues and greens, and strange, bioluminescent plants pulsed gently with light. Above, the sky stretched endlessly, swirling with galaxies and constellations that seemed to dance. The air itself felt alive, filled with an almost musical hum.
A soft voice echoed through the space.
"Riley Carter."
Riley spun around. "Who's there?!"
Suddenly, eight figures appeared, seated around a long, ornate table that floated above the ground. The table itself gleamed with shifting patterns of gold and silver, etched with symbols Riley couldn't begin to understand.
A tall woman with earthy brown hair and bright green eyes rose from her seat. Her flowing green dress was adorned with flowers and vines that seemed to grow and bloom with her every breath.
"I am Gaia, Goddess of Creation," she said gently. "You have been summoned to our personal divine realm."
Before Riley could respond, Gaia's eyes widened in sudden panic. "Oh no! I'm so sorry!!!!"
"Huh?!" Riley's eyes widened as Gaia bowed so low her hair almost brushed the floor.
A calm, measured voice cut through the awkwardness. "Gaia, he doesn't know what you're talking about. You need to explain it to him."
Riley turned to see a woman with long, flowing violet hair and glasses, dressed in a dark blue gown etched with glowing runes.
"I am Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom," she said. "It would help if you didn't overwhelm him immediately."
Gaia sighed, brushing her hair back and taking a deep breath. "Right. I'm sorry." She hesitated before saying, "I'm afraid I made a… bit of a blunder. I may have… accidentally dropped some lightning into the world below." She laughed awkwardly.
"Huh…?" Riley blinked.
Gaia bowed deeply again. "I'm really sorry!!!!"
A low chuckle sounded from a woman with long black hair streaked with purple and starry eyes. Her dark, form-fitting outfit shimmered like the night sky.
"Sorry about our sister here," the woman said, smirking. "She's a little too excitable sometimes. But come on — you've got to admit — getting hit by lightning is kinda funny."
"Nyx," another woman's voice interrupted. Silver-haired with golden clockwork eyes, she wore an elegant black and silver dress adorned with gears and time motifs. Her tone was calm but edged with quiet authority.
"It's not funny when he died," said Chrona, Goddess of Time.
"You're no fun sometimes, Chrona," Nyx teased, stretching her arms behind her head.
"Excuse me!" Riley shouted, throwing his arms up.
All eight women turned toward him.
"Yes, Riley?" Gaia said with a bright smile.
"So… three things. One — who are you ladies? Two — why am I here? Three — can I go back to my world?"
Gaia laughed awkwardly. "Oh, right! Well, I am Gaia, Goddess of Creation. And these girls are my sisters."
Chrona, Nyx, and Sophia each introduced themselves again, sharing their thoughts and opinions.
A loud laugh erupted from the table. A tall, athletic woman with long silver hair and piercing amber eyes grinned at Riley. She wore a sleek white and gold armor set that seemed to radiate strength.
"I'm Athena, Goddess of Strength," she said confidently. "You've got guts, I'll give you that."
Next to her, a petite girl with long lavender hair and glowing blue eyes peeked from beneath a dark hooded robe decorated with constellations.
"I… I'm Selene… Goddess of Magic," she said softly.
A blonde girl with green eyes styled into playful twin tails leaned forward on the table, her white and gold outfit teasingly loose.
"I'm Fortuna, Goddess of Luck! Don't worry — things are about to get very interesting." She winked.
The last woman had long pink hair that cascaded down her shoulders, deep crimson eyes that practically shimmered, and a silky white gown that seemed to slide off her shoulders.
"I'm Venus, Goddess of Love," she purred. "And I have to say… you're kinda cute." She smiled seductively.
Riley's mind reeled. What is happening?!
Selene cleared her throat softly. "To answer your second question… we're here to apologize — and give you a second chance at life."
Riley's eyes widened. "Wait… I can go back to my world? See my family again?!"
Venus' smile faded. "That's the third thing… you don't have a body to return to anymore."
Riley's face paled. "I… I don't have a body?!"
Gaia bowed deeply again. "I'm so sorry!!!"
Riley took a shaky breath. "You know… apologizing won't fix this. I'm already dead."
Venus leaned forward. "But if you choose… we can allow you to be reborn in another world."
Nyx grinned. "With divine protection and maxed-out stats."
"Whoa… awesome!" Riley's eyes lit up. "What kind of world are we talking about?"
Athena crossed her arms. "A world full of swords and magic."
Fortuna smiled. "With a leveling and skill system you'll love."
"Stats…?" Riley murmured.
"Try thinking it," Selene said softly.
"Stats," Riley said.
A blue screen materialized in front of him, glowing brightly.
Riley stared at the glowing blue screen in front of him, his mouth hanging open.
[STATUS SCREEN]
Name: Riley Carter
Age: 18
Race: Demigod
Level: MAX
Class: Archmage
Titles: Blessed of the Eight, Chosen of Fate, Lightning Survivor
Blessings: Gaia's Blessing (Creation), Sophia's Blessing (Wisdom), Nyx's Blessing (Chaos), Chrona's Blessing (Time), Athena's Blessing (Strength), Selene's Blessing (Magic), Fortuna's Blessing (Luck), Venus's Blessing (Love)
Health Points: MAX
Magic Points: MAX
Strength: MAX
Agility: MAX
Endurance: MAX
Mana: MAX
Luck: MAX
Charm: MAX
[SKILLS]
[Normal Skills]
Weapon Mastery – Instinctive proficiency with all weapons, including swords, bows, and staves.
Enhanced Reflexes – Reaction time and movement speed increased to divine levels.
Martial Arts Mastery – Complete understanding and execution of all martial arts techniques.
Physical Endurance – Can fight and survive without rest or fatigue.
Divine Crafting – Ability to create legendary weapons, armor, and artifacts.
Eidetic Memory – Instantly memorize and recall any information.
Animal Communication – Understand and communicate with animals.
Flight – Ability to levitate and fly at will.
[Ability Skills]
Gaia's Touch – Control over natural elements such as earth, plants, and wood.
Sophia's Insight – Perfect understanding of all tactics and strategies.
Nyx's Shadow Step – Instantly teleport through darkness.
Chrona's Rewind – Rewind time up to 10 seconds.
Athena's Battle Cry – Temporarily increases strength and endurance.
Selene's Arcana – Comprehend and analyze any magical formation.
Fortuna's Gamble – Temporarily increase luck beyond divine limits.
Venus's Charm – Influence emotions and desires of others.
Divine Blessing – Temporarily boost all stats.
[Magic Skills]
Arcane Bolt – Launches a concentrated bolt of magical energy.
Mana Surge – Overload mana to enhance the strength of spells.
Elemental Fusion – Combine different elemental energies to create new spells.
Void Sphere – Summon a sphere of condensed magical energy that disrupts nearby magic.
Illusion Weave – Create complex visual and auditory illusions.
Magic Ward – Create a protective barrier that blocks magical attacks.
[Unique Skills]
God-Slayer Mode – Temporarily increases all stats and allows the user to harm gods.
Avatar of Chaos – Enter a state of pure chaos, making attacks unpredictable and unblockable.
Eternal Flow – Grants immunity to time-based effects and allows free movement through time.
Divine Authority – Command lower-tier beings and alter divine structures.
Absolute Regeneration – Instantly heal from any wound, even fatal ones.
Soul Forge – Fuse divine energy into weapons and items, permanently increasing their strength.
Infinite Arcana – No mana cost for spells below divine-tier.
Lucky Break – Automatically avoid fatal attacks once per day.
Chaos Reign – Convert chaos energy into a powerful destructive wave.
Heart of Creation – Summon constructs or life forms made of divine energy.
[WEAPONS/ITEMS]
Gaia's Blade – A legendary sword infused with the power of creation. It can cut through any material and regenerate damage.
Nyx's Dagger – A dark, shadow-forged dagger that poisons the soul of its target.
Chrona's Hourglass – A mystical hourglass that allows the user to manipulate time within a limited range.
Athena's Shield – An indestructible shield that reflects damage back to its attacker.
Selene's Grimoire – A spellbook containing all known magical spells.
Fortuna's Coin – A golden coin that, when flipped, can alter fate.
Venus's Veil – A silk cloak that enhances charm and seduction.
Sophia's Crown – A silver crown that enhances wisdom and tactical awareness.
"W-Wait… What the hell?!" Riley shouted. "My stats are all maxed out?! I'm at max level already?!"
"Yes," Sophia said calmly, adjusting her glasses. "As Nyx mentioned earlier, you'll be starting off with divine-level stats."
Riley rubbed his head. "I'm a demigod?! And… these titles and blessings—" He scrolled down the list. "Blessed of the Eight? Chosen of Fate? What does that even mean?!"
Gaia smiled nervously. "Well… you have the collective blessings of all eight of us. That makes you somewhat… special."
Nyx smirked. "'Special' is putting it lightly. He's practically a god now."
Chrona folded her arms. "It's an unprecedented situation. No mortal has ever held this level of power before even stepping foot into a world."
Athena grinned. "A warrior at full strength from the start. I like it."
Venus leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "And you're looking very good with that new demigod body of yours…"
Selene shyly glanced away. "You… you have an incredible amount of magic potential."
Fortuna laughed. "Talk about luck! You've already hit the jackpot before even starting."
Riley let out a shaky breath. "This is… insane." He smiled despite himself. "But starting life in a fantasy world at my age is a little—wait—18 years old?"
Gaia smiled. "It's part of the apology start-up campaign. We wouldn't want you starting your new life as a 40-year-old man, right?"
"Fair point." Riley chuckled.
Gaia stepped toward him, placing a hand over his forehead. "Now, with your new body, I will etch this world's common language and knowledge into your soul."
A soft green light enveloped Riley's head. Information flooded into his mind — languages, customs, the world's geography, basic history — all of it settling neatly into his memory.
"Whoa… that's trippy," Riley muttered.
Venus smiled. "Now… what class would you like to be?"
A new screen materialized before Riley, displaying several class options:
Divine Champion — Wield divine weapons and powers.
Godslayer — Specialize in hunting and defeating gods.
Eternal Avatar — Embody pure cosmic power.
Omniblade — Master all weapons and fighting styles.
Supreme Ascendant — Control the laws of reality.
Archmage — Master of all forms of magic.
Riley's eyes widened. "Hmm… hard choice." He rubbed his chin. "But… I choose Archmage."
Gaia smiled. "An excellent choice."
Suddenly, golden light gathered in front of him, swirling into the shape of a perfect core.
[SYSTEM SEQUENCE: ARCHMAGE SELECTED]
The golden core floated toward Riley and phased into his chest. Power surged through his body as golden circuits traced along his skin.
[REBIRTH SEQUENCE INITIALIZING]
Riley felt his consciousness slip away as the golden light enveloped him completely.
Golden light swirled around Riley, growing brighter as divine energy flowed through his body.
[REBORN SYSTEM SEQUENCE: INITIALIZING]
Riley's body began to shift and reform as the golden circuits traced along his skin. He felt his muscles tighten, his bones strengthen, and his senses sharpen to an almost overwhelming degree.
[STATUS UPDATE: BODY REFORM COMPLETE]
Height: 6'2" (188 cm) – Tall and well-built.
Physique: Lean and muscular with well-defined abs and toned arms (from intense training).
Hair: Jet-black, slightly messy but effortlessly cool, with a natural shine.
Eyes: Piercing golden eyes with faint glowing patterns — enhanced by his divine power.
Skin: Smooth and lightly tanned — enhanced by his godlike endurance and resistance to damage.
Face: Sharp jawline, high cheekbones, and a straight nose — naturally handsome with a slightly roguish smirk.
Expression: Confident and calm, but his golden eyes reflect hidden intensity when he's serious.
Scars: A single faint scar across his left eyebrow (adds to the "dangerous but hot" vibe).
Riley's eyes widened as he watched his reflection in the golden light. "W-What…" he stammered.
Gaia smiled approvingly. "Yep… really good-looking."
"More than good-looking," Venus purred, her crimson eyes glinting with amusement. "He's divine."
"Strong physique," Athena added with an approving nod. "A warrior's build."
"His magical aura is remarkable…" Selene whispered, her cheeks tinged pink.
"The golden eyes are a nice touch," Sophia noted, adjusting her glasses.
Nyx smirked. "A bit dangerous-looking. I like it."
"He's certainly… lucky," Fortuna giggled.
Chrona's golden clockwork eyes studied him closely. "Perfectly balanced… for now."
Riley rubbed his face, feeling the smoothness of his skin and the strength beneath his fingertips. "Uh… thanks?"
Gaia stepped forward and held out her hand. A bright light formed beneath Riley's feet, shaping into a large, intricate magic circle.
"W-What's happening?" Riley stammered as the circle began to glow brighter.
Gaia's green eyes softened. "It's time for you to go, Riley. To start your new life."
"Already?" Riley's golden eyes darted between the eight goddesses.
Athena crossed her arms. "You'll be fine. A warrior like you will thrive."
Venus winked. "Don't forget to have some fun while you're at it."
Selene smiled shyly. "You'll… do well. I believe in you."
"Try not to cause too much chaos," Chrona added.
"Or do," Nyx said with a mischievous smile.
Fortuna flipped her golden coin. "Bet on yourself. It's a winning hand."
Sophia adjusted her glasses. "Use your strength and wisdom. That combination is rare."
Gaia blushed slightly. "I… I hope to see you again someday."
Riley's eyes widened. "Huh? Wait—"
A surge of light erupted beneath him, and the last thing he saw was the eight goddesses smiling at him as the light consumed his vision.
Riley groaned, blinking against the sunlight filtering through the trees. He sat up, feeling soft grass beneath his fingers and the cool breeze brushing his face.
"Where… am I?"
He pushed himself up and turned toward the sound of running water. A small lake glimmered nearby. Slowly, he stood and walked to the edge.
His reflection stared back at him — golden eyes glowing faintly beneath the shadow of his messy black hair.
"Whoa…" Riley touched his face, tracing the sharp jawline and feeling the strength in his new body. "I really do look… kinda badass."
He stretched his arms, feeling the ease and power in every movement.
"So… this is it." Riley smiled to himself. "A new chance at life. And I'm a demigod now."
His reflection smiled back.
"Here we go…"