An unfamiliar wind brushed against Riley Carter's skin. The air was thick with floral scents he couldn't name, and the sky above shimmered with colors he'd never seen. The ground beneath his feet was soft and alive, like the earth itself breathed in unison with the sky. Giant crystal-like trees swayed in the breeze, their leaves humming in harmony.
Then came the voice.
"Riley Carter."
He spun around. "Who's there?!"
Out of nowhere, eight figures appeared, seated around a grand circular table made of polished stone and glowing with symbols. Each figure radiated an intense presence, and Riley instinctively took a step back.
A tall woman with earthy brown hair, bright green eyes, and a dress of living vines stood up. Her presence was calming, maternal.
"I am Gaia, Goddess of Creation," she said, her voice like wind through trees. "You have been summoned to our personal divine realm."
Suddenly, her serene face twisted in panic. "I am so sorry!!!!!!!!!"
"Huh?!" Riley exclaimed.
Another woman, graceful with violet hair and glasses, calmly rose. Her dark blue dress shimmered with arcane runes.
"Gaia, he doesn't know what you're talking about. You have to explain it to him," she said.
"Oh! Right, I'm sorry again," Gaia said, taking a deep breath. "You see... I may have made a small blunder. I accidentally dropped some lightning into the world below and... well, you know the rest."
She laughed awkwardly.
"Huh…?" Riley blinked.
Gaia bowed deeply. "I am really sorry!!!!"
Then another voice rang out, amused.
"Sorry about our sister here, she's a little excitable," said a woman with starry eyes and flowing black hair streaked with purple. Her outfit glimmered with the cosmos. "But you gotta admit, it was a little funny to get hit by lightning."
"Nyx, stop that. It's not funny for him—he died," said another. This one had silver hair in a braid and golden, clock-like eyes. Her elegant black and silver dress ticked softly with every movement.
"You're no fun, Chrona," Nyx said with a smirk.
Riley stood dumbfounded. Then he looked down. Or rather, he tried to. He had no body—he was floating, translucent. A spirit.
"Okay, okay. So not only am I dead, I'm literally a ghost?" he said, eyebrows raised.
"Riley, please forgive me," Gaia said, placing her hand over her heart.
"No way. You literally killed me."
"It was an accident!"
"You threw a lightning bolt at the Earth like it was a Frisbee!"
"I sneezed!"
"How does that even—wait, never mind."
They went back and forth, Gaia growing more flustered, Riley becoming increasingly sarcastic.
The other goddesses leaned in to watch like they were at a soap opera.
"Aww, they're kind of cute when they argue," Venus cooed.
"I ship it," Fortuna giggled.
"Hmm. Adversity builds rapport," Sophia noted, adjusting her glasses.
Riley suddenly broke into a chuckle. "It's okay. I mean... apologizing won't fix this. I'm already dead."
Gaia let out a long, relieved sigh. "Thank you, Riley."
Riley raised a brow. "So, who exactly are all of you again?"
Gaia gestured with her hand. "Allow me to properly introduce my sisters."
The one with glasses nodded. "I am Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom. I guide knowledge, logic, and learning."
The cosmic-themed woman twirled her hair. "Nyx, Goddess of Chaos. I bring unpredictability, mystery, and a little fun to the world."
The one with the clock eyes gave a soft smile. "Chrona, Goddess of Time. I govern its flow, ensure balance, and... fix mistakes like this."
The tall, muscular warrior woman smirked. "Athena, Goddess of Strength. Battles, bravery, and fortitude are my domain."
A shy girl in a constellation-cloaked robe gave a small bow. "I'm Selene, Goddess of Magic. I oversee the arcane and hidden energies."
The bubbly blonde waved enthusiastically. "Fortuna, Goddess of Luck! I'm all about games of chance, good fortune, and a little chaos of my own."
The pink-haired beauty smiled seductively. "And I'm Venus, Goddess of Love. Romance, passion, charm—you name it."
Riley blinked. "So basically... the divine girl squad."
"Basically," Nyx smirked.
Fortuna leaned forward, perky and bright. "Sooo, about that world you're heading to! It's called Elyndra—total fantasy land! Think swords, magic, monsters, guilds, enchanted forests, adorable slime creatures with murder in their hearts, and lots of food!"
Riley's eyes sparkled. "Monsters and food? I'm in."
"Of course you are," Sophia muttered. "You're a curious, food-obsessed chaos magnet."
"Guilty as charged," Riley grinned. "Wait—chaos magnet?"
Gaia cleared her throat. "Before you go, each of us would like to grant you our blessing."
Chrona stepped forward first. "I bestow upon you the Blessing of Time—you may perceive the flow of time around you, slow it briefly, and react with uncanny speed."
Nyx followed. "You'll get the Blessing of Chaos—your presence will bend probability, making unexpected things happen in your favor. Sometimes... a little too unexpected."
Sophia raised her hand. "Blessing of Wisdom. Your learning rate will be vastly accelerated. You'll pick up languages, spells, and combat styles just by observing them."
Athena smirked. "Blessing of Strength. You'll possess the might of ten warriors. Physical limits won't mean much to you."
Selene approached shyly. "Blessing of Magic. Your mana will be vast and pure, allowing you to wield all kinds of magic—even those usually restricted by class."
Fortuna spun playfully. "Blessing of Luck! You'll be the luckiest guy alive. Rolls, loot, coin tosses—fortune's got your back."
Venus stepped up last, eyes soft. "Blessing of Love. You'll draw others to you—not just romantically. You'll inspire trust, affection, and loyalty wherever you go."
Riley blinked. "Okay… that sounds OP."
"That's because it is," Gaia said. "You'll be entering Elyndra as a demigod. Among mortals, you'll be the strongest. But that strength will come with responsibility and danger. You must tread carefully."
"So... no pressure," Riley muttered, scratching his ghostly head.
"Try thinking 'Status,'" Selene said.
Riley raised a brow. "Alright... Status."
A mysterious violet screen flashed before him, glowing with arcane symbols.
Riley stared at the glowing violet screen, jaw slightly open. "Okay… this is way past any fantasy game stat sheet I've ever seen."
He blinked, reading the display as it shimmered before his eyes:
Name: Riley Carter
Age: 19
Race: Demigod (Human+)
Level: 1
Class: Divine Adventurer
Titles: Chosen by the Eight, Chaos Favored, Demigod of the New Age
Blessings: Eight Divine Blessings
Health Points (HP): 9,999
Magic Points (MP): 9,999
Strength: 999
Agility: 999
Endurance: 999
Mana: 999
Luck: 999+
Charm: 999
Normal Skills:
Appraisal EX: Instantly identify the properties, history, and hidden details of any object or being.
Multilingual: Understand and speak all known languages, including magical and ancient dialects.
Weapon Mastery: Mastery of all weapon types; instantly adapts to any form of armed combat.
Enhanced Vision: Allows sight in darkness, detection of magical auras, and x-ray vision.
Unarmed Combat: Exceptional hand-to-hand fighting prowess with instinctive counters and precision.
Blacksmithing: Forge, repair, and enchant high-grade weapons and armor with divine efficiency.
Supreme Cooking: Create food that restores stamina, buffs stats, and may even heal emotional states.
Stealth Mastery: Move silently, become harder to detect, and leave no trace.
Beast Whisperer: Communicate with and tame wild and magical creatures with ease.
Adaptive Combat: Learn and counter enemy fighting styles in real-time during battle.
Ability Skills:
Godspeed: Move and react at speeds invisible to the naked eye.
Divine Body: Your body automatically adapts to resist toxins, illnesses, fatigue, and extreme environments.
Divine Regeneration: Rapidly heal from wounds; even lost limbs regenerate in seconds.
World Sense: Perceive danger, presence, and environmental changes across large areas.
Battle Instinct: Intuitive responses during combat, including dodging, blocking, and parrying.
Aura Suppression: Conceal presence from detection, both physical and magical.
Emotional Boost: Emotions can temporarily amplify abilities and powers beyond normal limits.
Magic Skills:
Elemental Mastery EX: Absolute control over fire, water, wind, earth, lightning, and ice magic.
Clone Projection: Create solid magical clones capable of independent thought and combat.
Pocket Dimension Creation: Form and access your own private dimensional space.
Divine Healing: Heal others instantly, cure curses, and restore lost limbs or senses.
Dimensional Gate: Open portals across vast distances or even other realms.
Mass Telepathy: Communicate with multiple beings across long distances.
Eden Bloom: Summon flora with magical and medicinal effects, including massive area control.
Soul Speech: Speak directly to the soul; bypass language and deceit.
Time Shift: Slow or speed up localized time during combat or exploration.
Creation Magic: Bring imagined tools, objects, or constructs into physical reality.
Unique Blessing Skills:
Genesis Script: Rewrite and reshape reality within limited bounds; divine-level spell scripting.
Infinite Knowledge: Access divine memory banks for immediate learning or analysis.
Chaos Veil: Cloak your presence and intent in unpredictability, confounding enemies and systems.
Timelock: Temporarily freeze a target or area in time.
Invincible Core: Grants one-time survival from fatal damage per day; your core cannot be destroyed.
Mana Infinity: Infinite magical energy regeneration. Never run out of mana.
Fatebend: Temporarily bend the outcome of fate-based events in your favor.
Irresistible Aura: Your presence inspires awe, charm, and obedience in all but the most divine beings.
Weapons:
Aetherfang: A divine blade forged from starlight, capable of slicing through magic and space.
Chaosbrand: A shifting weapon infused with Nyx's chaotic energy—its form and effects change unpredictably.
Fists of Fate: Enchanted gauntlets that amplify unarmed strikes with explosive divine force.
Items:
Dimensional Inventory Orb: Stores unlimited items in a weightless pocket dimension.
Phoenix Feather Token: Revives the bearer once upon death with full health and mana.
Auto-Refilling Canteen: Produces any drink the user desires; magically refills without delay.
Riley's eyes widened. "Okay... WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL IS THIS?!"
He looked up, stunned. "I have—what—Aetherfang? Chaosbrand?! Phoenix Feather?! Mass Telepathy?! What even is 'Eden Bloom'?!"
The goddesses gathered around Riley, their gazes fixed on the glowing status screen hovering in front of him.
"Those stats are terrifying," Athena said with a smirk. "You're going to break the world balance."
"Or make it more interesting," Nyx grinned. "He's got chaos written all over him."
"He's... elegant," Selene whispered, eyes wide. "His aura is so clean."
"That boy is practically a walking divine storm," Chrona added thoughtfully.
"Oh! Oh! He's gonna have the best luck ever," Fortuna beamed. "He might even make me jealous."
"He'll become a legend," Sophia nodded. "A new chapter in this world's mythology."
Venus sighed dramatically. "He's divine, dangerous, and... delicious."
Riley smiled sheepishly. "Starting life in a fantasy world at my age is a little—wait, I'm eighteen? Wasn't I older before?"
Gaia chuckled. "It's part of the Apology Start-Up Campaign. We wouldn't want you to start your new life as a 40-year-old man, right?"
Riley laughed. "That's fair. And... I'm getting a new body too?"
Gaia nodded. "Not just any body. One worthy of your blessings. Now, I will etch this world's common language and knowledge into your soul. And after that, your new form shall be born."
Riley's smile widened. "Honestly, I never thought dying would lead to this. But... this is kind of awesome."
Gaia stepped forward. "Are you ready for your new body?"
Riley straightened up. "Yes. I'm ready."
The eight goddesses looked at one another and nodded. They raised their hands in unison.
A golden magic circle appeared beneath Riley, and a second one hovered above him. Runes began to glow, swirling in sacred patterns.
Riley's thoughts swirled. What kind of body will I get? What if I end up looking like a marble statue... or worse, a weird anime protagonist?
Light poured down from the upper circle, enveloping him in warmth and power.
"Rebirth system: Initiating divine avatar sequence."
The room was filled with a brilliant light. When it finally faded, the goddesses all gasped.
Riley's new form stood before them:
Height: 6'2", tall and commanding.
Physique: Lean, muscular, with well-defined abs and toned arms.
Hair: Half jet-black, half white—slightly messy, naturally cool, and shimmering.
Eyes: Piercing gold, with faint divine patterns glowing inside them.
Skin: Smooth and lightly tanned, blessed with divine resilience.
Face: Sharp jawline, high cheekbones, and a confident roguish smirk.
Expression: Calm and charismatic, with hidden intensity.
Scar: A faint line across his left eyebrow, adding a touch of mystique.
He opened his eyes, golden irises gleaming. He flexed his fingers, felt the air on his skin, and looked down at his new body.
"So," Riley said, grinning, "how do I look?"
Venus fanned herself. "I need holy water."
Selene blushed and turned away. "Perfect... too perfect..."
Athena nodded. "That form is worthy of battle."
Fortuna whistled. "Hot damn, you clean up well!"
"Aesthetic harmony is optimal," Sophia added, eyes shining behind her glasses.
"You're divine now, inside and out," Gaia said with pride.
"Thanks," Riley said, his grin softening. "I feel powerful... alive... more than ever before."
Gaia stepped closer, palm extended. "Now it's time for you to begin your journey."
Riley raised an eyebrow. "Wait. One thing."
"Yes?" Gaia tilted her head.
Riley pointed down. "I'm naked."
The goddesses went silent. Then Gaia gasped, her face turning red. "Oh—oh no! I forgot!"
Riley crossed his arms. "You created a perfect body and forgot clothes?"
"I got excited, okay?!" Gaia stammered.
Nyx burst into laughter. "This is gold."
Sophia sighed. "Predictable oversight."
Venus winked. "Not that I mind..."
Chrona shook her head. "It's rare to see Gaia flustered."
Selene whispered, "I... didn't notice..."
Fortuna laughed. "Hey, maybe it's part of the start-up surprise!"
Riley groaned. "Can we please fix this before my divine debut turns into an awkward comedy?"
"Okay, okay! I'm sorry!" Gaia squeaked.
She snapped her fingers, and with a flash, clothes materialized on Riley: sleek black pants, a fitted white shirt, and a luxurious black and gold fur-lined jacket.
Riley glanced down, tugging at the fabric. "Finally. Thank you."
"You're welcome," Gaia said, relieved. "Now... are you ready to begin your new life?"
Riley nodded firmly. "Yes. I'm ready."
The goddesses surrounded him, raising their hands. A golden portal opened beneath his feet.
"Goodbye, Riley," Gaia said softly. "Live well."
"Be safe," Selene whispered.
"Don't die again," Chrona added.
"Wreak some beautiful havoc!" Nyx cheered.
"Bring strength to the weak," Athena said.
"Make the world more fun!" Fortuna giggled.
"Make friends... and maybe fall in love," Venus winked.
"And learn all you can," Sophia said.
Riley waved as he sank into the portal. "Goodbye. I hope I see you all again someday."
A flash of light—then silence.
The goddesses stared at the empty space.
"He's going to change everything," Gaia whispered.
A golden magic circle pulsed in the middle of a serene forest.
FWOOSH.
Riley landed softly on his feet, the light fading.
The air was crisp. The leaves shimmered with mana. Birds chirped in odd, harmonic melodies. The wind hummed with magical presence.
Riley looked around, wide-eyed. "This place... it's beautiful."
He inhaled. The mana tickled his lungs.
"I feel... godlike. Stronger than I ever imagined."
He cracked his knuckles, feeling raw divine power surging beneath his skin.
He grinned.
"Alright then. Let's start this adventure off right."
To be continued...