Leon POV

Hey there, I'm Leonardo Silver, you can call me Leon. I’m currently stuck in a prison cell in the underworld. Yeah, you heard that right. Let me explain how I got here. So, I was just going about my day when suddenly, I was teleported to this bright, otherworldly place. Turns out, a goddess was there, asking me and my classmates to become heroes and save other worlds. Pretty epic, right? Except I wasn’t on board. I mean, my own world’s got its problems, and I wasn’t ready to ditch everything and risk my life for some other realm.

I refused, and she didn’t take kindly to that. She called me selfish and decided to throw me in this cell as punishment. So here I am, in this dark, gloomy place, trying to figure out how I ended up in this mess thanks to a mix of my own stubbornness, immaturity, and a goddess with a major attitude. I know, the plot so far kinda sucks, but we'll be stuck together for a long time, might as well get to know each other a little bit. so I-

(Author: Roll in the story.)

Wait, but you promised me my introduction and a great intro.

(Author: Alright, wannabe-Deadpool. But I have a story to write here.)

I like that, but...wannabe-Deadpool? Aren't you the one writing the story, if anyone deserve to be insulted here, it's you, besides, I'm fictitious, you're the crazy on- OW, my nose.

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I was sitting in class, staring at the clock, trying to stay awake. The lecture was dragging on, and I couldn’t care less about whatever was on the board. Just when I thought I’d die of boredom, everything around me started to blur. Before I knew it, I wasn’t in the classroom anymore. I blinked, and suddenly I was standing on what looked like clouds, surrounded by my classmates, all of us just as confused as the next. But before any of us could panic, there was this glowing and radiant being approaching us, she gave off this calming and yet intimidating aura.

I can't really tell what they look like, they're quite bright.

"Welcome, chosen ones, I am the goddess." she introduced herself, "You have been summoned here to fulfill a destiny far greater than any you might have imagined. Each of you has been selected to become heroes, tasked with defending different worlds from impending peril. Your service will demand sacrifices, specifically your time on earth, and perhaps your very lives. By accepting this call, you may never return to your former lives. But know this: in undertaking this mission, you will achieve a higher purpose. and upon saving the world, you will be granted a wish, a reward for your bravery and sacrifice."

"Do we really have a choice?" I asked

"What sort of wish?" One person asked

"Anything you desire. As long as it's reasonable of course, wealth, love...it'll be granted. Some even wished to become one of us."

And for some reason, one by one, my classmates voiced their willingness to accept the call. The goddess then paired everyone up, and since there was an odd number, I was left out, which I didn't really mind since I plan on going back, I'm not really planning to risk my life and everything I've built up until now for another planet while my own is suffering as well.

"Well, there is one particularly hard world, a team of 3 might-"

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"I refuse to go."

"What?" the goddess exclaimed in a puzzling tone, "Are you sure? You have another opportunity to reconsider. This is a chance to rise above the ordinary and make a lasting impact."

"What if we die in the attempt? What happens then?"

"This is a voluntary mission. If you succeed, you will receive the reward of your wish. But if you fail, there will be no reward. The risk is inherent, and the outcome is uncertain."

"So I'll die if I fail with no promise of heaven or anything?"

"That will depend on your sins."

"Come on, dude, just accept it!" one shouted, "Have you never read a novel or a comic? You'll live, a hero will always win."

"Or I can become a hero who got betrayed by a bitch of a princess and be marginalized by a whole nation."

"He got a happy ending."

"Yeah, but I don't want that, I'm supposed to leave my parents and save another world while our own world is also suffering? Shouldn't I prioritize my own home first?"

"But these worlds are in more immediate danger." the goddess argued, "They face threats that could annihilate their existence in a matter of a few years at most. Your world, though important, is not under such imminent threat. They have at least a few centuries."

"Immediate danger or not, it doesn’t change the fact that my family needs me. How can I turn my back on them for the sake of a world I’ve never even seen?"

"The threat to these worlds is not something that can be ignored. The balance of the cosmos depends on the heroes who step up now. It’s not just about one world; it’s about the interconnectedness of all existence. If these worlds fall, they could disrupt the balance and cause ripple effects that might reach your own world eventually. You are a summon, all summons are deemed to be of heroic qualities...it's why everyone always accepted the mission without hesitation, but you...maybe you were hidden among the others and we didn't sense it..."

"So what happens if I don’t go?"

"The immediate threat will continue, and the possibility of their destruction grows further. But your decision is a personal one. If you choose not to be part of this, you are free to accept the consequences."

"So there are consequences for not going through something you forcefully put me through? This is a prank, right? Haha, funny, where are the cameras? Just so you know, you still need my consent if you want to publish this kind of video."

"This is no prank, and there are no cameras. This is a serious matter of cosmic balance and duty. Your consent was never part of the equation, even if you didn't have any heroic qualities as we'd expected, you were still among the summoned due to your potential as the summoning ritual wouldn't have worked on you otherwise. If you refuse the call, the consequences are simply the reality of your choice."

"I'm still refusing."

"Very well. Since you refuse to embrace your role despite the potential you possess, you will be imprisoned in the underworld. Your unwillingness to contribute to the greater good reveals a level of selfishness that cannot be overlooked. Perhaps you need to reconsider your values in a place more suited to your current mindset."

"Selfish? For what? I’m not refusing to help others out of malice. I’m trying to prioritize my own responsibilities and protect what’s closest to me. How does that make me selfish?"

"You are placing your personal concerns above the urgent needs of other worlds. By refusing to act, you are choosing to stay within your comfort zone rather than risking yourself for the greater good. Selfishness is not just about personal gain, it’s about failing to consider the broader impact of your actions...or inactions."

"I’m not ignoring the plight of others. I’m simply saying that it’s unjust to expect me to sacrifice everything without addressing my own world’s issues first."

"The greater good often requires sacrifices that are not immediately fair or easy. Your current stance, while understandable on a personal level, is ultimately a refusal to step up when you are needed. The consequence is that you will be sent to the underworld, where you may reflect on these values as you clearly shouldn't have a place in society."

"Fine, I'll accept it."

"Too late as I've already sentenced you to the underworld."

"Who made you the judge?"

"I am a god, I can judge you however I want."

Before I could respond, the light around me dimmed rapidly, and the bright lights and clouds quickly dissolved into a cold, shadowy abyss as I felt myself being pulled down. The sensation of being pulled downward was disorienting. Eventually, I landed in this super dark realm in front of 3 judges.