Henry lay on the hospital bed, the cold touch of metal and sterile sheets his only companions in his final moments. The once vibrant man, now a shadow of his former self, stared at the ceiling, his mind drifting away from the pain that wracked his body. The room was silent, save for the steady beep of the heart monitor beside him, a grim reminder of the life slipping away.

In his hands, he clutched a book—a light novel about ordinary people being transmigrated into gods and goddesses, beings of immense power who shaped worlds with a mere thought. The pages were worn, the cover faded from countless readings. This book, a simple story of fantasy and divine power, had been his escape from the reality of his illness. It was a world where he could imagine himself not as a frail, dying man, but as someone with the power to change the course of destiny.

As his vision blurred, Henry felt the creeping numbness that signaled the end. He didn't fear death; he had made his peace with it long ago. What gnawed at him was the unfulfilled dream, the burning desire he'd carried with him his entire life—the dream of becoming something more than just a man. In those final moments, he whispered a silent wish, one last plea to the universe that had never seemed to listen.

"If only I could have that power… if only I could be a god…"

The heart monitor gave a final, flatline beep, and the room fell into silence. Henry's grip on the book loosened as his hand fell limply to the side. The light in his eyes dimmed, and with a soft sigh, he slipped away, leaving the world of the living behind.

But death was not the end for Henry. As his consciousness faded, a strange sensation overcame him—a sensation of falling, not into darkness, but into light. It was as if he were being pulled into another realm, one far beyond the mortal coil. There was no pain, no fear, only a profound sense of peace and an overwhelming light that enveloped him completely.

When Henry opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a soft, lush surface. The pain, the weakness—everything that had plagued him in his final days was gone. He felt… whole, renewed, as if his body had been restored to its prime. But this body wasn't the one he had known. He looked at his hands—delicate, pale, almost translucent, with a faint glow that seemed to emanate from within.

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He sat up, taking in his surroundings. The air was filled with the scent of flowers, and the sky above him shimmered with colors he had never seen before. Towering trees with leaves of gold and silver surrounded him, their branches swaying gently in a breeze that carried the soft music of nature. Streams of crystal-clear water wound through the landscape, reflecting the radiant light that suffused the air.

It was a paradise, unlike anything he had ever imagined. But as Henry took in the beauty of this place, a realization dawned on him. He was no longer in the world he had known. This was a new realm—a divine realm.

Henry touched his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. He was alive… but different. He was no longer human. His body, though familiar, was transformed. He felt lighter, more ethereal, and as he focused, he noticed a pair of wings—small and delicate, but undeniably there—attached to his back.

"I… I'm an angel?" he whispered, the words barely escaping his lips as he marveled at his new form. The very thing he had read about in countless stories, the dream he had clung to, was now his reality. But unlike the pure, divine beings he had imagined, he could still feel the remnants of his old self—the ambition, the desires, the greed.

As if responding to his thoughts, a voice echoed in his mind—a calm, almost mechanical tone that contrasted sharply with the serenity around him.

[Welcome, Henry. You have been reborn as the lowest-ranking angel. Your journey to ascend through the celestial hierarchy begins now. Utilize the system to advance, grow stronger, and fulfill your true potential.]

Henry blinked, the words sinking in. A system? Like in the novels he had read? It was almost too much to process. He had died, been reborn as an angel, and now he had a system to help him grow more powerful? It was like a dream come true—a dream he had never expected to be real.

But as the initial shock wore off, Henry's mind began to race. This was his chance. This new world, this new life—it was an opportunity to achieve the power he had always craved. He wouldn't just be an angel; he would rise through the ranks, surpass all others, and maybe one day… one day, he would become a god.But for now, he had to be careful. He had to learn, grow. He couldn't let anyone know what he was truly thinking.With a deep breath, Henry stood up, ready to face whatever this new world had in store for him. His journey had only just begun