As an overwhelming sensation quenched his pain, Alex felt as though he was floating. He opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by an ethereal white glow. A radiant figure sat before him, its presence drawing him in.
After scanning his surroundings, Alex realized the familiarity of the scene. On Earth, this was a common fantasy of every otaku hoping to meet a goddess and embarking on a heroic adventure.
"Seems my luck has turned after death and I’ll finally get a life where everything revolves around me as the main character," he muttered to himself with a mischievous grin. As he reveled in his imagined freedom, a voice other than the goddess boomed down from above, forcing him to bow his head.
"Alex, due to your involuntary servitude and forced path of violence, you shall be granted rebirth to cleanse your soul and live a virtuous life."
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The pressure lifted, but Alex remained bowed, not wanting to appear disrespectful to the goddess. However, as he raised his head to meet the goddess's gaze, he saw not compassion but disgust.
"Aren't immortals supposed to transcend such mundane emotions?" he thought to himself, a shiver running down his spine.
"The heavens may have granted you redemption, but I abhor sending a tainted soul like you to my realm," the goddess declared.
Alex's disbelief consumed him. "What about my fantasy life? My freedom? My promise of redemption?" he thought frantically.
"Never will I bestow a new existence upon a repugnant creature like you, who has prematurely sent souls to the underworld," the goddess asserted, as if reading his thoughts.
"Even if I were to be born an orphan, in poverty, or cursed, I would still embrace the chance to live," Alex pleaded desperately.
"Though I cannot defy the heavens, your redemption will be accompanied by suffering that will undoubtedly lead you to abandon your desire," the goddess stated, her smirk widening.
With a snap of her fingers, Alex felt a tingling sensation as the void seemed to swallow him. He screamed, but his voice was lost in the darkness.
Opening his eyes again, his head throbbed and his body ached. He remembered the feeling of falling through the abyss and wondered what sight awaited him this time.
"Huh? Where am I? Why am I red-skinned?" Alex muttered in confusion.