“I’m retiring.”
The words rang throughout the building, causing the once bustling noise of conversation to die in an instant. The atrium was etched with gold and white marble, a tapestry painted amongst the ceiling. Its contents were painted to show epic battles and great feats. Beneath, an oval table of brass and perfectly smooth mahogany wood held five figures.
The voice belonged to a man clad in silver armor and red cloth, his muscles bulging and threatening to rip his chainmail apart with the slightest of movements. His jawline was strong, perfect olive skin embedded with amber eyes that glowed with powerful gold. He had a slight goatee and a long mane of blonde hair, the strands seemingly pulsing with mana.
The silence grew thicker, and four sets of milky white eyes glared at him.
An older man in a white robe smirked, his grey beard reaching past his chest, and his bald head shining in the light.
“Good joke Anton, but at the moment we have more pressing matters.”
With those words, the four all powerful beings began to chat again. Anton however, was not amused, casting a glance toward the other three figures situated at the table. A boy sat on a raised throne of gold and brass, sucking on a candy that pulsed with golden fire. He had a bowl cut of black hair and the smugest look one could possibly own.
Next to him, a woman of pure beauty laughed as the boy began to pester her. Her body was alluring, perfect curves and tan skin glistening with perfection. A dress of living wood ran with green light, her hair strands as dark as midnight.
Across from her sat the old man who spoke before, his eyes furrowing as he scolded the boy for laughing. To the old man’s left, a long slender man with grey skin nodded slightly. He wore a silver tuxedo, his handsome face etched with vanta black tattoos that swirled around his milky white eyes. His black hair was slicked back with grease, giving him a more professional vibe than the others.
Anton scoffed as he studied them one by one.
“I’m serious.”
The atrium was cast back into the thick silence, causing all of them to look at him again. The grey skinned man seemed to sigh of exhaustion.
“Anton, we love you to death but at the moment we are discussing the possibility that one of our worlds might be destroyed. So for the moment your pranks are not needed.”
“Yando is right Anton, if anything you should be helping us discuss the matter.”
Anton’s face grew grim,
“Elder Ul, I apologize for interrupting such an important conversation.” There was a short pause. “But I’m done.”
The woman spoke now, a frown forming on her face.
“What do you mean done?”
Anton exhaled heavily, “Lady Beck, Yando, Elder Ul, and Ren” He bowed deeply. “I quit.”
The entire table erupted with conversation, each of the deities making sure to add curses and the implications of what he just said. Anton said nothing, allowing them to vent their surfacing anger for him saying such a powerful statement.
In reality, he could care less.
Another exhale followed as he exited his bow, his deadpan face looking toward the far wall. A painting of elaborate and perfect detail was shown. A warrior glad in silver armor slaying a giant that towered above mountains. The sky was azure, purple lighting striking the ground and creating craters.
Anton smiled at the memory, but it was short lived as the old man also stood.
“Hey, are you evening listening?!”
Anton shook his head, “Such petty rage is not worth the listen. I’ll be honest with all of you, I hate this job”
Lady Beck snorted, “What, is being the Champion of Light not a good enough position for you?”
The warrior shook his head and waved her question off, “Quite the opposite M’lady, I find myself unworthy of this position. I was just a kid on Earth who had tried saving a puppy from oncoming traffic. If anything, I am quite a scar on the title.”
Anton continued to talk, but his mind began to drift as more drivel escaped his mouth. The internet, god he missed it. Hell, at this point he would give all his power to get a smartphone. When was the last time he watched a Pewdipie video while he ate hot pockets? Anton shivered, never believing he would miss being a poor college student again. Although, could he blame himself.
Eight hundred years of being the Champion of Light had put a toll on his mind. Fighting Immortals used to be fun, but as he became stronger his enemies just became obstacles and reverie. Oh he really missed the evil monologues, especially when it allowed him the time to form a plan to crush them. Now, when an Immortal rose and caused chaos, Anton would show up, wave his hand, and find himself sitting back at the same table. Listening to the four Gods discuss political affairs that Anton had no say in.
He was just a pawn, a kid from Pittsburgh who died, got reincarnated into another world, got blessed by the same Gods sitting before him, rose to become all powerful with some complications, and took the position of the Champion of Light.
To be honest with himself, he thoroughly and fully believed his job was just that of a glorified janitor. A God could not intervene on their world, so they had a Champion of Light to do their bidding. He had done his part for centuries and was simply done.
The thrill was lost, Anton no longer finding joy in what he did.
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His attention shifted back to his speech. Daydreaming while talking was something he had picked up long ago. The Gods loved long speeches and lectures about morals. Morals Anton deemed to be better named “which one of our problems can we dump on Anton while sipping fine spirits to our heart’s content”.
“So, in conclusion, I want out. I do not care if you take my memories away and let me die and go to the Silver City, or even the Underworld. I have no joy in doing this anymore.”
Elder Ul, the aging old man, rapidly shook his head, “You do not get it child, we um-” he swallowed hard. “We need you.”
Anton knew this too, but it did not stop him. “I thank you for giving me purpose in life, I really do. However, I cannot believe I am saying this but, I miss being a mortal.”
The entire room grew scarily quiet. Arrogant Gods rarely were quiet, so much so Anton was a little taken aback. Of course, the silence was culled immediately by Ren, the boyish God who had yet to speak on the matter.
“Do you understand what you just said?”
Anton nodded, “Completely.”
More silence, only this time to be broken by Yando the grey skinned God, “I can understand your reasoning. You were born a mortal, unlike us who knew we were going to be immortal from the start. It’s just, we gave so much to raise you up, mold you to perfection and to become our sword. I speak on everyone’s behalf when I say this Anton.” He smiled weakly. “We like you way more than the previous Champion. He was from um, Detroit we believe, and was a cunning bastard who tried to kill us all.”
Anton raised an eyebrow, surprised to hear something new for the first time in hundreds of years. When you live forever, news was a thing of the past, as most details were discovered in his early years. Though he already knew that the last three Champions had come from Earth, that news was nothing special, but trying to kill the very Gods that gave you power.
That sounded… fun.
Anton shook the thought away, knowing there was a reason he got the chance to become the Champion, since there was suddenly an open spot available. The rest was self explanatory. So instead of thinking about killing off his benefactors, Anton nodded.
“I thank you, but I fear that my boredom has overcome the desire to purge evil. The Champion is supposed to be a white knight, a man or woman of undying will to serve a hot plate of whoop ass on anything dark. Sadly, I no longer have that feeling.”
Lady Beck gritted her teeth, “Then please, indulge us in a way we can let that happen. If you leave, many worlds will be left alone and unprotected, billions will die Anton. I know you no longer feel the urge to exact justice with a golden boot, but I know you care deeply for others.”
Anton cursed himself, hating how he was exposed so easily. But, enough was enough, he would no longer be the Champion and that was final. He began to think, picking apart different ideas that popped into his head. He could not leave the mortal plane unprotected, but his own agenda held presence in his consciousness also. If he only did things for others, he might as well be a husk. He was not a tool, though very vague and diminishing with each day, Anton was still human.
Humans were filled with greed, peril, and pride. So channeling his inner human, he steeled himself. If push came to shove, he would run. Being chased by all powerful beings sounded somewhat fun, even if he had done it before. Anton chuckled internally, remembering how he got caught in a single decade, which really was almost a month in his standards. It felt like a vacation, allowing him to just be normal, a prank he migh-
Anton stopped himself, an idea forming. If his thoughts were visible, he believed a light bulb would turn on above his head.
A wide grin took his face, and the four Gods knew that gesture anywhere, as it usually left them with a pain in their Godly asses.
“A vacation… I want a vacation. I want to be alone for a period of time that I can be left to my own devices. And, possibly I can work in intervals, taking more vacations when there is a peaceful century.”
Elder Ul looked surprised, not believing he had actually come up with a good idea that would not lead to years of strife. The others seemed the same way, taken aback by his words. This was doable, they could keep their perfect sword of justice and no longer worry about it rusting. If a vacation was all he needed then they could easily manage.
Anton studied their faces, pleased that he had gotten through. A vacation, damn how did he never think of it earlier. If he had some paid holidays maybe he would have tried a little harder to go finish off some beings that killed a few thousand more than needed. Hey, people were going to die no matter what, and usually Anton kept it under what was expected of him anyways.
Dropping the guilt that started to gnaw at him, he spoke loud and clear,
“If I am allowed this vacation, and it goes well, I will no longer pester you on the subject of quitting.” He lied, but it was small compared to him actually just leaving. At least now he was considering staying for a few hundred more years.
Ren spoke up, the boy sitting up in his throne, “How long do you suppose you want this vacation?”
Anton visibly thumbed his chin, forging an estimation that would leave him at the very least a little pleased. Fifty years was too little. Two hundred was doable with some more push, but maybe if the first went well he could get more time.
“A century.” He said aloud.
The four Gods sighed in relief, happy he did not push for millennia like they all individually believed he would. Thankfully, this time they hid their leisure, opting for just a nod. Elder Ul clapped his hands together,
“Than everything is s-”
Anton held up a hand. He was not finished. He wanted out, a vacation would be nice, but he really did not want to come back. He needed a solution, a way to make it all work. Then, as if the Gods blessed him again, he had another thought enter his mind,
“I have another suggestion.” The four slumped in their seats, knowing their relief was too good to be true. “I am going to be abrupt again, I no longer want to be the Champion. BUT, I refuse to let mortals die with no hope. Sadly.”
A glare from Elder Ul made Anton shiver, maybe that last bit was better left unsaid. Clearing his throat, he continued,
“So what if you began to sculpt another Champion. While I run- uh I mean relax, you guys can start to cultivate another Champion. So, for when I ultimately decide I am for sure done with this, you have a contingency. It suits both of our needs.”
Yando bit his lip, “There is a slight problem my friend, only one person can have the Champion’s power at time. We would need to, in your terms, fire you to allow someone else to use it.”
Great. Anton wanted to grab the table and snap it like a Kit-Kat, but he calmed himself. It was never easy was it. Everytime he wanted something done it was behind a wall. A wall that was the four Gods before him. Getting fired, that reminded him of his life on Earth again, the time he had gotten fired as an intern during the whole Covid-19 pandemic, only for the same company to ask to hire him again right after.
Wait.
“What if you do fire me?”
Ren shook his head, “Not happening, then the mortal plane will be left unprotected.”
Anton waved him off, “I was not done. What if you fire me, let whoever you decide to pick as the future Champion to cultivate and be blessed. Then to rehire me after my vacation and give me my powers back.”
That left them awe struck again. Two good ideas for Anton in a single day was almost unheard off. It usually takes decades for him to come with anything worthwhile. That meant he really did want to quit. If he was so pleased, he could walk out at any moment, and if they did not compromise now, then in a few decades he might just do exactly that. If they did what he said, then his departure would be gradual and smooth.
They would not have to leave the mortal plane alone for long. A hundred years was nothing in the grand scheme of things. Well, hopefully that was all he wished for…
“Done and Done.” Elder Ul proclaimed aloud. “Although, we need you to do some final jobs to ensure while you are gone the mortal plane can fare better.”
Anton smiled wide again, “I don’t mind cramming some work in before a vacation, makes the time that much more worth it.” He paused, a question rising in his head. “So how long should that take?”
Elder Ul kept his fake smile, “Maybe a few hundred years, we can search for a candidate while you finish up.”
Anton lost his smile.
Great, of course it had to be a few hundred more years.