"I'm sorry to say that you've died." A tired, older male's voice spoke, heavy with exhaustion and melancholy, as if he'd lived a long, tiresome life.
Another male stood rooted, his young eyes wide and shaking as the finality of the words finally registered. His hands clenched tightly in anger for a moment; the pain of his nails piercing skin was a welcome sensation that centered his being.
"And it's your fault?" he questioned, his voice barely a whisper.
The room where both men stood was opulent, yet held a degree of simplicity. An oak table sat between them, a symbolic divide. To the far right, a roaring fireplace spread its even warmth throughout the office.
The tired man sat on a plush office chair, a large glass of amber alcohol in his hand, his gaze fixed on the youth.
"A clerical error," the older man said, taking a deep gulp of his drink. "A mistake I unfortunately didn't register until it was too late. Fortunately for you, fate has a way of fixing my mistakes."
The youth's eyebrows scrunched tightly as he tried to decipher the cryptic words.
"Fate?"
Clearing his throat, the older man gestured to the empty seat across from him, inviting the newly departed youth to sit. His eyes, slow and controlled, followed as the youth lowered himself into the chair.
"Allow me to introduce myself before we delve into the technicalities of this situation we've found ourselves in. I am God." His voice, which moments ago was weary, now resonated with an unfathomable strength that startled the youth.
Raising a hand, God halted the other man's attempted interruption. "Yes, that God. And yes, there are other variations, but I am... what was it the youth of your world call it? Ah, yes. The OG."
God chuckled lightly at his joke, then continued.
"Unfortunately, your death occurred earlier than your predestined time, a direct result of an error I made during routine maintenance. Your soul, which is what you currently are, was unable to go through the proper channels – the typical afterlife or reincarnation. Through a stroke of fate, chance, luck, or perhaps another clerical error, your soul drifted for an indescribable amount of time and eventually ended up within my domain."
The young man listened to God's words with unblinking concentration. Each revelation brought new surprises and shocks to his already muddled mind. Being told he had died due to a 'mistake' was one thing; learning he'd been dead for an indescribable time was another entirely.
"So, you're planning on sending me back to my own life?" he asked, his youthful, yet strong, voice trembling slightly.
"I wish I could, but you have no place to call home anymore. The period you spent adrift was long enough that your home world and everything surrounding it has gone through multiple life and death cycles. I'm sorry, Gideon."
Gideon, hearing the fate of his home, swallowed a dry lump in his throat. The life he had built was gone in an instant. All his struggles, worries, and accomplishments vanished like smoke.
"This is the worst pep talk I've ever had," he muttered, a dry chuckle escaping his lips as he finally met God's gaze. The long hair typically depicted was non-existent. Instead, a thick, stylized black beard adorned his face, and the hair on his head was cut short on the sides, similar to styles Gideon had seen when he was alive.
"At least you can find a hint of humor in this messed-up situation." A smirk played on God's lips as he leaned back in his chair. "So the question now, Gideon, is this: would you like a new life as an apology?"
"New life? What do you mean?" Gideon leaned forward, his interest piqued. The sadness and loneliness he'd felt moments ago were pushed back by a flicker of hope.
"Just as I said: reincarnate, be reborn, whatever you wish. Plus, I'll be able to use the energy your soul absorbed while lost in my domain to possibly grant you a boon."
The room fell silent as Gideon contemplated. His mind, now back to full function, was racing at full speed, circling the hidden meanings in God's words.
"When you say reincarnate, do you mean into another version of my old life, or something different?"
"Or something more... fictional, if that's your style. Yes, the multiverse and the greater omniverse exist. Your thoughts are correct; those stories, shows, comics, and movies you watched are all real, existing in their own individual spheres." God's eyes gleamed with subtle amusement as he watched Gideon's expressions shift.
Taking a moment to organize his thoughts, Gideon exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, his body tensing slightly. "The boons?" he finally asked.
"Ah, there's the crux of the problem. The energy you've accumulated within your soul has already elevated your existence to a singular entity; that's something I cannot change. To reincarnate you into a new world, I would exchange that energy for something that will slowly grant you continuous power, comparable to the energy you accumulated here. If you were simply sent to a new world with that power, which is currently uncontrollable and volatile, you'd destroy the planet along with the universe you'd be sent to."
"H-holy shit," Gideon whimpered, utterly bewildered by the thought that his soul, simply by being in God's domain, had become so powerful.
"Can I choose the power?" he questioned, his thoughts shooting towards the fantastical worlds he'd devoured in novels, manga, comics, and movies.
God, hearing the question, merely shook his head. "I would say yes, but I've thought of something fun and unique for you. I can see the chaos in your mind, and I think it would be beneficial for both of us if we did something a little... exciting."
Pushing his chair back, God stood and gestured for Gideon to follow him to the center of the room. Gideon slowly rose, apprehension and tension apparent in his quiet movements.
Clapping his hands, God turned abruptly, now facing the worried Gideon in the room's center.
"I know you love those stories about being granted a System. So I've created a roulette wheel for you. Spin it, and it will grant you a system based on your chaotic wishes. There are hundreds of options: some from anime like One Piece, Highschool DxD, and Bleach; others from movie and TV franchises. You might even be granted that Gamer system I've seen!"
Waving his hand, a large roulette wheel materialized before Gideon, each portion bearing words that signified a potential system.
Tightly grasping and scrunching the hem of his shirt, Gideon stared at the looming wheel that would dictate his future. He knew this was an opportunity most people could never even dream of. Even he, back when he was alive, had longed for such an unrealistic chance to escape his life.
Seeing the apprehension in Gideon's eyes, God smiled softly. "Don't worry, they will all grant you unparalleled levels of success, though they vary. Even if a system doesn't seem appealing at first, it will truly shine if you are patient. Now go ahead, spin it."
Gideon briefly closed his eyes and took a deep breath, slowly regaining control of his worry. Upon opening his eyes, a spark of confidence ignited deep within him as he nodded and stepped in front of the wheel.
Raising his hand, he gripped the side strongly before pulling down with all the strength he could muster.
The roulette wheel spun at a sickening speed. The sound of gears grinding echoed in the room. Gideon stood still, his eyes blinking rapidly, trying to discern where it might land.
The speed was too great, so he simply closed his eyes and listened to the continuous whirring.
Seconds bled into minutes as the dull sound of the wheel began to slow. Clenching his fists tightly, Gideon braced himself as the slowing rotations grew louder.
...
"Huh. I honestly wasn't expecting this one. But I must say, you're truly blessed with luck."
Hearing God's quiet mutter, Gideon's heart rate began to race. He cracked a single eye open to see the wheel at a standstill. Opening the other, he followed God's gaze, staring at the arrow pointing to his future.
Blinking rapidly, Gideon couldn't help but crack a large smile as he read the words, accompanied by a blinking light, as if he'd won a 'jackpot'.
"Thematic Template System: Seven Deadly Sins."
"It's exactly as it states: a system that will grant you templates of characters from the world of Seven Deadly Sins. This means you will gain their powers, physique, and traits. You'll slowly synchronize with a template passively, but if you actively train and comprehend the powers yourself, the sync rate will increase tremendously. Once you hit 100% on a template, another will be granted at random."
Waving his hand once again, the roulette wheel vanished as God walked to a couch and sat down. "Well?" he asked, a knowing look on his face.
"Well? That's bloody amazing!" Gideon exclaimed, his voice cracking with eagerness. Taking a seat across from the deity, Gideon quietly cheered in his mind.
"Thank you. I know you could've just ignored a soul floating in your domain, or even erased me, but you've given me an incredible second chance. I just want you to know I appreciate your kindness." Gideon's faint smile softened his features.
Waving his hand in dismissal, God spoke. "It's fine, think nothing of it. Now, I don't want to rush you, but I have some important matters to attend to. I've compiled a list of worlds you have positive emotions towards; would you like to choose?"
Gideon merely shook his head.
"I think we should randomize it. I've realized I've had a degree of luck, even though I died. Floating through the abyss and somehow ending up here? Luck. Gaining the 7DS system compared to some less appealing ones? Luck. Let's roll the dice with this one too."
A boisterous laugh escaped God's mouth, and he grinned at Gideon, clearly amused. "Unconventional, but I can see the logic behind it. I just hope you're not unhappy with your decision later."
Waving his hand for one last time, a small roulette wheel appeared, comparable in size to a basketball. Flicking his finger, God spun the wheel and let it roll.
Gideon watched as the smaller wheel spun, his eyes eagerly reading the options. It slowed much faster than the previous one, coming to a standstill in moments.
"Twilight," Gideon said. "Not a bad place. Twenty years in the past from my time. Technology advances the same way, but there are supernatural entities there. I could do worse, like 40k."
God snorted at Gideon's words. "You're right, 40k would be a hellscape for someone still gaining power."
Standing up and brushing imaginary dust from his clothes, God looked at Gideon.
"Well, son, this is it. I'll be gifting you some small things to start your journey: simple things like an identity and a small home, maybe a surprise or two. Beyond that, you'll need to utilize your system to accomplish any goals you have."
Nodding, Gideon quickly stood up, a wide smile spreading across his face.
"Let's do this."
As he uttered those words, darkness consumed Gideon's mind, and he fell into a deep sleep.
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Hey all, DumbedDown here! If you don't know me, I wrote a fan-fic here a year ago, but unfortunately I fell ill with a medical issue and lost my computer. I've recently purchased a laptop and I want to get back into story telling.
I hope you all enjoy my new story!