A God? Or a Hero??

Sameer was a man in 30's. A typical middle-class office worker. Married with a beautiful wife. Had two children of age 10 to 11. Doing his best to give time to both his work and family. But life doesn't always go as you plan.

His wife was his college's top beauty princess. She had hundreds of admirers. Many proposed to her, many tried to ask her to dinner. But she always politely rejected them. She was a hardworking woman. She kept her studies first then her friends. After graduating she met Sameer at her new workplace. Liked his personality. He was polite and humble. Average looking guy with not wanting much from life. Wanted to live a simple, long and happy life.

Soon both of them became closer and turned their relationship into a married couple. Life is a rollercoaster. It brings ups and downs with it. Even though Sammer gave her adequate time and attention. She was missing something. This led her to cheat on him. With a young stud. She finally found what she was missing.

Here Sameer was signing his divorce paper brought by a lawyer. She cheated on him, so she couldn't win the custody right of her children.

Soon time passed and Sameer entered his 50s. Saved more than enough for his old age. His children left him the moment they got married. He thought not much about them. He was fine living alone not worrying about anyone.

After performing his best and getting continuously promoted he was at the CEO position of his company. He earned enough to earn the title of the richest man on the planet.

During his journey, he didn't forget his temperament to help others in need. Kept earning and kept donating. That was what was left in his life which gave him pleasure and satisfaction.

And in his late 60, he left the world leaving his will which stated to transfer his wealth in various small shares to the selected parties. Throughout his life, he had also investigated different charity groups and organisations. Most of these NPO charity were not NPO. But he found some actual honest NPO Charity group whom he made the nominees of his wealth. This way he has to not worry about his greedy business friend getting a share of his wealth.

•••

Somewhere in void

"Humans on earth first create problems for the environment and when nature shows it might they curse nature itself. What idiotic people! Tsk, increasing my workload." A mysterious man spoke.

"Next!" A bright shining soul stepped forward.

"Hmm, you are special! What a divine soul!! Pure as the driven snow, untainted by any filth. Honest and humble. A filial one as well. Great! You deserve a reward lost soul!" The mysterious man's mood became cheerful after meeting Sameer's soul.

"Let's see what I have got. Hmm, not many left. Here touch one of the stones you like." He was asking a lost soul to select on his liking. What an idiot he was.

"Ha... Ha... Apologies pure soul! Here let me choose one for you. Let's select the most black one. It is contradictory to your soul. You don't like it? Well apologies again, but you don't have a choice." He picked the black stone, it was emitting black fog. Directly inserting within Sameer's soul.

'Hiss...' Sameer's soul twitched in pain and agony. His soul screamed, asking for salvation.

Soon the pain subdued and the black stone started to change. The blackness was absorbed by the pureness of his soul. And the stone became crystal clear. Shining like a dazzling star showing the path to the lost ones.

These changes in the stone were not noticed by this mysterious man as he already sent Sameer's soul to the reincarnation cycle. If he had seen, he would have snatched the stone from Sameer for himself.

•••

Sameer's soul was nearing the black hole which was also called the reincarnation cycle. This hole will send lost souls to be born in a new body. While they go through this process their memories will be blanked.

Sameer's soul approached this hole but just as he entered, the crystal stone shone its light making his soul's body glimmer. Soon he vanished into the black hole.

•••

Near adjacent to the boundary of the Kingdom of Zolla, The Blood Forest.

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"Argh!" A man in leather armour was bitten in the neck by a big wolf. Man's food pipe was torn out of his neck by the wolf.

"Rubel! Anim! Cover my back! I will take him on!" A man wearing full red coloured armour spoke as he drew his long double edge blade. He readied himself to launch an attack on the wolf.

Rubel and Anim were wearing a light plate silver armour. Rubel held two short blades and Anim held a sword and a shield.

They were occupied by three other wolves, these were smaller in size about three meters each. They fought these animals and gave cover to Zed, their leader. He was a knight. They got an order to harvest blood lotus which is only found in the centre of the Blood forest.

Blood lotus was used to purify blood in the body. It was a rare herb required especially to cure blood poisoning. If taken directly by a normal person, then his possibility of survival be none.

The big wolf moved forward to bear his fangs on Zed, while Zed was waiting for this exact movement. He swung his long blade which was now glowing in white bright light while he dodged the wolf.

"Spirit Blade Slash!" *slash* *thud*

The big wolf missed his attack on Zed and was outmatched. His head was sliced off from its neck and fell to the ground soaking the dirt in its blood.

"Yes! Greatly done leader." Anim shouted in joy. He lowered his guard a little there.

"Watch out!" Zed warned him but he was too late. Another big wolf jumped from the dense buses towards Anim and detached his head from his body with his sharp fangs. Throwing it towards Zed's feet.

"Bastard!" The wolf was imitating him. The pressure increased on both Zed and Rubel.

They fought against these vile creatures but couldn't last long. Soon Rubel perished under the claw of one of the small wolves.

And Zed was in bad condition. He was breathing hard and was wounded all over the body. Might faint any second due to severe blood loss. Still stood on his feet not showing his back to the big wolf.

But couldn't hold any longer and soon he too fell because of a lack of mana and stamina. He brought 50 men here with him. All of them were stronger than the others. They came on the order of King Arthur of the Zolla Kingdom. The princess of Zolla was poisoned and the physician said she could only be cured by the essence of Blood Lotus.

The king was in urgent need, he send a request to the mercenary guild for a high reward but no one came forward to accept the mission. The blood forest was also known as the graveyard of the fallen. No one came alive after entering it. It is said that in the past billions of lives perished there in certain wars. The amount of blood that flowed during the war could fill even the ocean. This changed the whole topography of the forest. And so came the blood forest.

Having no choice the king dispatched 50 strong men squad under the leadership of Zed. But here Zed was lying in his blood pool. They couldn't even cross the outer region. He knew this was a suicide mission. But he owned his life to the princess once. He was also obliged by his duty to the kingdom.

"This is how it ends! I'm sorry my king disappointing your trust and faith in me." He watched the big red wolf walking toward him drooling. Enjoying taking his time. Soon the wolf's face was over his face, making his face drenched from the drool.

"Wrha" It opened his mouth to bite him. Zed closed his eyes. Praying for a quick death.

*Whistle!* A voice came from the dense forest.

*Woosh* Stillness. Zed waited for the final blow but it didn't come.

This bastard is still playing with me.

He opened his eyes and saw nothing. He thought the wolf was playing with him. He tried to move around to observe. Soon caught the wolves sitting in front of a man wearing a black smooth garment over his top and a well-tailored blue pants over his legs.

He couldn't believe his eyes. He saw those wolves shaking their tails like they were some pups and the man was their owner. This man must be some monster.

"Yeek!" The man started walking in front of Zed. Soon he was able to see clearly what this man looked like. Black wavy long hair, sharp golden eyes, wolf-like jaw, tall about 7 feet at least. But something was wrong. This man was giving a horrifying aura but it was also pleasing to the eyes. Mind said to run away but the heart said to worship him.

"I know you wanted to get revenge for your fallen comrades. But please don't do that, they are not at fault. It's their nature to prey on the weak and you guys were the first ones to attack them." He spoke in a strong but gentle voice.

What!? It's our fault? Truly a demon, trying to defend his pets. How were they wrong? Never!

Soon Zed stopped cursing him in his mind. Because the man used something very rare to find in the whole kingdom of Zolla. Healing magic! also a high-grade one. He healed Zed's every wound and soon Zed felt as if he was reborn. This magic was not just simple healing but something more divine. Like a blessing of the goddess.

The man carried Zed like a princess and brought him to the wolves.

Seeing where this man was taking him, Zed struggled to save himself.

"No! Drop me you devil! First, you wound me then heal me and now again want to harm me! I have never met someone like you! Leave me, you despicable creature." But to no effort, he couldn't get released from the man's hold.

"No worries mate!" The man said.

All the wolves stood up shaking their tails and drooling more and more as Zed got nearer.

Zed was near fainting. He was watching his death play with him. Demons! All of them are demons!

The man brought Zed in front of the big wolf ad made him ride the wolf.

He said something to the wolf and the wolf nodded in agreement.

Zed didn't know how to respond to this situation. He was just fighting this beast a moment ago and now was riding on it.

The man moved his gaze to Zed's waist where a scroll was tied. He took the scroll and unfurled it. It was a picture of blood lotus. He thought of something. Soon realised that these men came here in search of this plant.

He turned to Zed and told him to wait. And turned back to the forest. Zed had no choice but to wait. As he waited there his heart was beating loudly, being afraid of the wolves around him.

The man came back holding two crimson coloured flowers.

"The blood lotus!!" Zed couldn't believe his eyes. It was in front of him. 49 of his men perished here to find just one of this and now this man brought it for him two of that lotus just like that.

The man gave the flower to Zed. And Zed accepted it with utmost care. He tore his garment and used it to wrap the blood lotus.

The man smiled at him watching his behaviour.

Zed was going to thank this demon but was frozen watching his smile.

God! It's a smiling god! His smile was so innocent and pure.

The big wolf barked. Making Zed to unfreezing. He was blushing. Feeling awkward.

"Please forgive me god, I wasn't able to recognise you. If this fool has angered you in any way, please have this idiot's head as an apology. But please have it after this fool delivers the herb to his king!" Zed dismounted the wolf and kneeled in front of the man.

"I'm not what you are thinking. And please take this plant with you. It must be urgently required seeing that you brought this many troops with you."

"Thank you, divine god! Can this fool know your name?" Zed asked while bowing his head.

"Please! I'm no god! And my name... is Sameer!" Sameer was getting annoyed by this man named Zed.

"Sameer?" Zed thought about this name but never heard it before. Ah! Maybe God in front of him is on some mission. Or maybe he came down here to observe his worshippers. Hmm, Yes that is the only possible explanation. I need to hide his secret, not to offend him further.

Zed nodded and got up and introduced himself. "I'm Zed, a holy knight of Zolla. And I thank you Sir Sameer for giving me this herb. If you ever visit the capital city of Zolla, Ebonstorm, please mention my name to any of the guards there. And I will come to your welcome."

"Fine! Now you should leave or you might be late to save someone." He spoke casually.

Zed nodded and mounted the same big wolf again but this time without any fear. The wolf pack started running towards the exit of the forest.

"Huh?" How did the god know that the blood lotus was for saving someone's life? He turned around to see the man who was getting farther. Maybe? He is sent by the holy goddess. A Hero?? I need to tell this to the king.