“Game Over” flashed across the screen in bold, bloodied letters. Uzume sighed and tossed the controller aside. Where was Brass? The mortal was never this late. Since arriving in Japan a week ago, he’d visited her shrine every day, showing more respect and genuine appreciation than most of her followers these days. The rest only seemed to go through the motions.

She replayed the memory of their first meeting as easily as a mortal would turn on a TV, recalling the encounter with sharp clarity.

It had been an unusually bright day for the season—Amaterasu must have been in a good mood. Uzume briefly considered inviting her sister over to play a trick or two on the mortals but dismissed the idea with a shrug. Saru-kun would only get annoyed; he was still far too strict about who he let “play” with the humans.

She sat up and looked around, taking in the sight of her shrine. It hadn’t changed in the last hundred years. Why hadn’t they expanded it? she thought, a spark of irritation flaring in her chest.

Mortals today were more revelrous than ever, filling every day with some form of celebration. She could sense their energies pouring into their entertainment, like sweet nectar, yet she wasn’t the most influential god on this tiny rock. It didn’t make sense. She had returned to Earth half a century ago to find out why she wasn’t thriving as she should, and here she had stayed, trying to uncover the mystery.

They still danced, attended theaters, painted, and meditated. So what was she missing? She’d even consulted Tajikarao, and he was having the same problem, so it couldn’t be sports or competitions that were drawing all the reverence away.

Her musings were interrupted by a sudden snap of a camera shutter, followed by a quiet murmur, “Nina’s gonna love this.”

Uzume glanced down from her perch on the roof’s edge and spotted a striking young man standing below, his posture confident, his gaze steady. He was a rarity in this age—someone who had clearly sculpted his body with time and discipline. She watched as he moved through the ritual of praying to her, a reverent yet casual motion in the way he clasped his hands. Most of those who came to her shrine these days were dancers, their movements graceful but this was clearly a fighter.

Interesting, she thought, her curiosity piqued.

Brass approached the shrine, glancing around for any sign of life. The place felt untouched by time, save for a few fading decorations. Then he noticed a young woman perched on the shrine’s roof, watching him with an almost mischievous smile. She had rich lilac colored hair and seemed to radiate beauty, wearing a deep blue outfit with pink accents.

“Oh! Hey there,” he called out, startled. “Didn’t expect to see anyone here. Are you… the shrine maiden?”

Uzume gave a wry smile, tilting her head. “That’s right. I look after this place.” She hopped down from the roof with a graceful ease, landing before him. “And you are?”

“Brass,” he replied with a grin, taking in her traditional appearance with curiosity. “I just got to Japan last week. Wanted to check out some real shrines.” He surprised himself how easy it was to talk to her; normally he could barely say a thing to beautiful women, something in the air just seemed to put him at ease.

She raised an eyebrow, amused. “Well, welcome to my shrine, Brass. So, do you find it… exciting?”

Brass shrugged. “It’s cool. Definitely different from what I’m used to.”

Uzume let out a sigh. “I suppose that’s something. I must admit, I expected more from this world myself.” She gazed out over the quiet grounds. “Mortals seem to spend so much energy, so much passion on things these days—but I can’t understand what they’re all so devoted to. People come to my shrine, but… it feels like they’re only going through the motions.”

Brass considered her words, then chuckled. “I get that. People are, uh, into a lot of stuff these days. But what do you mean? What do you do for fun?”

Her eyes glisten as she begins describing all the things that bring her joy—the intricate dances she’s choreographed, the playful tricks she’s pulled, the festivals she’s inspired. Each story she shares brims with energy and vivid detail, as if she’s reliving each moment. Brass listens with rapt attention, laughing at her playful antics and nodding thoughtfully at her musings, chiming in with comments and questions at just the right moments.

After a while, she pauses, tilting her head with curiosity. “What about you? What’s your passion?”

Brass blinks, a little surprised by the question, then gives a small shrug. “Oh, me? I love fighting. Used to do it just for fun, but now it’s more of a full-time thing. When I get some downtime, though, I usually unwind by gaming.”

“Gaming?” Uzume’s brow furrows, clearly intrigued. “Is that one of those…newer pastimes I keep hearing about?”

“Yeah, you could say that,” he laughs, glancing at his bag. “Actually…if you’re curious, I could show you.” He pulls out his Switch, holding it up like he’s revealing a precious gemstone. “It’s pretty different from the old stuff, but I think you’ll get a kick out of it.”

She leans in, fascinated. “Oh, please do! Anything that brings people this much excitement is worth a look.”

Brass reached into his bag, pulling out a small black-and-blue device and holding it up. “It’s all on this. A Nintendo Switch. Here, check it out.” He handed it to her carefully, his face lighting up with excitement. “It’s like… well, a whole world you can carry with you.”

Uzume took the device, eyeing it with fascination. “This little box holds a world?” She examined it as if it were a sacred artifact. “How do mortals fit their passions in here?”

“Easy. I’ll show you.” Brass grins, already flipping the Switch on. “Alright then, get ready—this is where the magic happens.” He quickly brings up the most recent game. He then guided her fingers to the controls. “Try moving this stick. That makes the character move.”

Uzume pressed the joystick to the side, and a mustachioed figure on the screen leapt forward, collecting a row of coins. She stared, eyes widening in wonder. “Astounding! I’m controlling him… like a puppet.”

“Exactly! That’s Mario. The goal’s to get him past obstacles, avoid enemies, stuff like that.” Brass grinned, thrilled to see her so interested. “It’s all about timing and reflexes.”

She leaned in, fully engrossed as Mario dodged a few more enemies, only to tumble off a cliff. Bold red letters flashed across the screen: “Game Over.” Uzume let out an indignant huff, her pride slightly bruised.

“This Mario doesn’t seem to enjoy heights,” she muttered, looking at the Switch as if sizing up a rival.

Brass chuckled. “Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it. There are all kinds of games, too, so you can find one that fits your style. Some are even about dancing and music.”

Uzume’s eyes sparked with renewed interest. “You mean there are more of these… worlds?”

“Oh yeah. Tons,” Brass replied, smiling at her excitement. “I’ll even bring a few next time if you’re up for the challenge.”

Her lips curved in a playful smirk. “You have no idea what kind of challenge you’ve offered. I accept.”

He laughed, studying her with a bit of admiration. “So, you really watch over this place? All on your own?”

“Yes,” Uzume replied smoothly, a touch of mystery in her smile. “I’m devoted to its care.”

“Well, I’ll have to visit more often then. Maybe we’ll even find a game that’ll win your devotion,” he teased.

She glanced at the screen with new determination. “Perhaps. For now, though, I think I’ll start by conquering this… Mario.”

After that first meeting, they had talked for a while longer before Brass had to leave, making excuses about needing to train for some fight or another. Seeing how intrigued she was, he decided to leave the Switch in her care—figuring it would be too distracting for him to keep around anyway.

From that day on, their bond only grew stronger. Brass would visit her shrine after long hours of training, each time bringing a new game for her to try. They’d talk about this and that, laughing and challenging each other as they played. Uzume found herself becoming fond of the lively mortal with his easygoing nature. And these games he introduced her to—ingenious creations, really! She marveled at how all these experiences were captured in numbers and pixels. If only magic were as systematic as this! The idea lingered in her mind, nudging her toward thoughts of how she might blend magic and these mortal inventions… but only after she’d mastered the games herself.

Tonight, though, Brass was late. Hours passed, and the sky had grown dark with no sign of him. Uzume frowned, tapping her fingers restlessly. There was no way he’d leave the country without seeing her first—she knew enough about him by now to trust that. Then, it dawned on her—the fight was today.

Could he still be locked in battle? She considered, but quickly dismissed the idea; mortals lacked the stamina for prolonged combat, after all. Deciding to find him herself, Uzume held the Switch in her hands, focusing until a vision of his red string of fate appeared before her. Her expression shifted as she noticed the string’s color had faded to a blackened thread with no tension. A grim sign. It seemed his enemies had claimed him.

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Uzume’s mind spun with options, yet she found herself unwilling to let him go so easily. Their connection was rare, and she could sense that he had the potential to achieve great things. No, she couldn’t leave this to chance. Determined, she slipped the Switch into her robe and headed for the heavenly road, intending to speak first with Omoikane, then with Izanami. She had much to prepare for—and perhaps, a soul to retrieve.

~~~

Brass opened his eyes, then shut them instantly as a blazing light flooded his senses, searing through his eyelids with an intensity that seemed to burn his retinas. He raised his hands to shield his face, but somehow the brightness still pierced through, like sunlight driven right into his bones.

“Ah, sorry about that,” a melodic voice sang out, soft and rich, almost like laughter in the air. Familiar, yet somehow different. “There—is that better?” The voice held a warmth that eased the sting in his eyes.

Slowly, he opened them again, blinking as his vision adjusted. This time, he could make out his surroundings without feeling like his sight was under assault. He sat at the center of a stunning garden, encircled by towering sakura trees, their pink blossoms drifting like tiny whispers on the breeze. A still pool of water mirrored the blossoms and the soft, pale light filtering down. In its center was a small, lush island, and on that island—Uzume.

“Uzume!” he exclaimed, the questions spilling out in a jumble. “What are you doing here? And where is here, for that matter? Why am I not bleeding out somewhere? And…” He paused, glancing down, “Where are my clothes?”

He ran his hands over his body, half-expecting to find wounds, yet his skin was unscathed, his limbs whole. The last thing he remembered was taking down the guy who’d shot his sister. His heart pounded as he realized—Nina. “My sister! She was with me! If you saved me, then she must be…” He looked at Uzume, eyes wide, hoping for something—anything—in her gaze that would reassure him.

Uzume’s laughter was light and silvery, a sound that shimmered in the air and seemed to hum within him, sparking an unexpected warmth that traveled up his spine. Just as she opened her mouth to respond, though, he blurted out, “And why do you…sound so different? And look so…much…hotter?”

He felt his face flush, heat spreading up his cheeks as he took her in. Uzume seemed almost radiant, her form wrapped in a silken robe that seemed woven from moonlight itself, her features sharper, more striking than he’d remembered. His blush deepened as he remembered he was, in fact, completely naked. He quickly moved his hands to cover himself, feeling his skin prickle with both embarrassment and an inexplicable thrill.

Still covering himself with one hand, his cheeks reddening. “And your voice, it sounds… I don’t know, like it’s echoing right in my head. What’s going on?”

Uzume’s eyes sparkled with a bit of playful mischief. She tilted her head, leaning in slightly, and whispered, “Well, that’s because I wasn’t entirely myself before, Brass. You were meeting me as I appear to mortals.” She straightened, the air around her shimmering with a subtle aura. “I’m not some shrine maiden. I’m Ame-No-Uzume, goddess of laughter, revelry, and the dawn.”

Brass blinked, mouth opening slightly. “You’re… you’re a goddess?”

She gave a light laugh, the sound like wind chimes dancing in a breeze. “Yes. And I’m flattered that you think this form is ‘hotter.’” She winked. “Now, would you like me to explain why I brought you here?”

Brass squinted against the lingering brightness, his eyes finally adjusting to the soft, golden light filtering through the branches of blooming sakura trees around them. The air was sweet with a subtle fragrance, and the distant sound of water flowing over stones added a calm, almost surreal serenity. He felt the warmth of the ground beneath him and the cool whisper of a light breeze brushing over his bare skin.

Brass shifted uncomfortably, keeping his hands strategically placed as he watched Uzume with wide, uncertain eyes. “What… what happened to me? I should be dead, right?”

Uzume offered a faint, mischievous smile, her eyes glinting. “Oh, you were. Absolutely dead. Completely and thoroughly,” she replied, sounding almost too cheerful about it.

Brass blinked, his face paling. “Wait, were dead?”

She nodded, folding her hands with a satisfied air. “Indeed. But I’m Uzume, goddess of joy, merriment, and some very persuasive negotiation skills. I pulled a few strings, called in a favor or two, maybe even did a little dance.” She gave a soft laugh, as though all of it had been a casual effort. “And here you are, as good as new.”

Brass’s jaw dropped, his eyes widening. “So, I’m alive… again?”

“Not quite,” Uzume replied, still smiling, though her eyes softened with something like regret. “I’ve brought your soul back, but we’re in an in-between place. You’re here, whole, but I can’t put you back in the same world you came from. Earth is… off-limits now.”

The rich scents of cherry blossoms and fresh earth surrounded them as he struggled to grasp her words. He lowered his gaze, a fresh wave of panic and confusion rising. “But… if I’m here, what about my sister? Did you… did you save her too?”

Uzume’s smile faded just slightly, and she exhaled softly. The petals above them rustled in a gentle breeze as if echoing the gravity of her words. “When I found you, I didn’t realize she had also passed. My… arrangement was only for you. I’m so sorry, Brass. But I can promise you, her soul is at peace. She’s beyond pain, beyond suffering.”

Brass swallowed hard, his chest tightening. “But she’s my sister. I can’t just… leave her like that.”

Uzume nodded, her expression gentle and almost sorrowful. “I know. But she is beyond your reach now. She is safe, Brass. And you…” She gestured to the lush garden around them, the verdant world beyond the cherry blossoms. “You have a future ahead of you, if you’re willing to accept it.”

He shook his head, still reeling. “A future? Uzume, I don’t get it. I’m dead.”

She tilted her head, a twinkle returning to her gaze. “True,” she replied with a faint smile. “But as it happens, I’ve decided to grant you a second chance. Just… somewhere else.”

Brass’s confusion deepened, his brows knitting. “What do you mean, ‘somewhere else’?”

“Well, let’s just say Earth is… complicated. There are forces at play there that even I can’t ignore.” She waved a hand dismissively, then gave him an almost conspiratorial look. “So, I’ve decided to drop you somewhere new. A world where I think you’ll have plenty of adventures, plenty of opportunities.”

He blinked, inhaling the soft floral fragrance again as he tried to process. “A whole new world?”

“Yes,” she said, her voice like the gentle lull of wind through leaves. “Like I said Earth has its own rules, ones even I have to respect. So, I’ve chosen a new world for you—a place where I think you’ll fit in quite well. Full of magic, mystery, and danger. Somewhere that will let you forge a path forward.”

Brass furrowed his brow, feeling the strange mix of grief, hope, and excitement wash over him. “So, you’re just… dropping me into a whole new world?”

Uzume chuckled, nodding. “Your starting to repeat yourself. And don’t worry, I’ll be keeping an eye on you.” Her tone softened, the words carrying a hint of promise. “You have the potential to accomplish remarkable things, Brass. And I think you will.”

He took a steadying breath, the weight of his loss for his sister merging with this sense of possibility, of purpose. He nodded. “Alright… When do we start?”

With a wave of her hand, the garden shimmered, the light intensifying. The cherry blossoms above began to swirl around them like a delicate, otherworldly storm. Uzume’s smile brightened, her voice lifting above the quiet hum of magic filling the air.

“Right now. First things first, character creation,” Uzume said, sounding all too pleased with herself.

“Wait, what? Character creation? What the hell do you mean?” Brass asked, squinting at her as if she’d gone a little mad.

“Well, I was thinking,” Uzume began, tapping her chin thoughtfully, “why just bring you back and toss you into a new world? It would take you years to catch up to everyone around you—the study of magic, the manipulation of ki, chakra, the spirit… whichever path you choose, each takes a lifetime to master. That is… unless you have a system.” She grinned mischievously, and a metallic sphere floated above her hand, spinning slowly.

The device was unlike anything Brass had seen before. It looked like a mashup of a Nintendo console, a PC tower, and every other gaming console he’d ever seen, molded together into a single solid object, complete with a central eye-like lens that seemed to watch him.

“Behold, the Great System!” Uzume declared, lifting the strange device higher with pride. “With it, we will reshape the universe, starting with you.”

Brass’s eyebrows shot up. “Did you… did you seriously make a living console?”

“‘Alive’ isn’t exactly accurate,” Uzume said, rolling her eyes playfully. “It’s more like an entity that directly interacts with the digital realm. Through your experiences, this system will learn to make everything work like it does in the game worlds you showed me.” She looked delighted, her eyes practically glowing. “You’re going to be the first to use it, and from your experiences, we’ll expand the system until it encompasses all reality—even superseding us deities.”

Brass chuckled, though a shiver ran through him. “You’re sounding a little… intense there, Uzume. What’s this digital realm, anyway?”

She laughed, the sound making Brass’s heart race despite himself. “That’s what catches your attention?” Her laughter faded to a smile. “The digital realm is a very real place. Your human technology managed to tap into it, manipulate it, and even create within it. To the denizens of that realm, you humans are almost like gods. It’s thanks to that discovery that this plan can even work—the mechanism is already in place. The cosmic background radiation that you mortals consider mere noise? It’s actually the energy of this digital realm.”

Brass opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Uh… I’m really confused.”

Uzume patted his arm, reassuring him. “Don’t worry about it too much. Here.” She gestured, and the strange sphere floated closer to him, hovering just inches from his face. The central lens blinked and then spoke in a high-pitched, almost comically enthusiastic voice.

“Hello there! I am the Great System, destined to shape the macro-verse!” it squealed, vibrating with excitement.

“The what?” Brass muttered, eyes wide.

“Don’t worry about it, dear,” Uzume chimed in with a smirk.

The System ignored him, beaming with a pride that was somehow visible in its lens. “Now, it is your honor to be the very first to select your class and race!”

Brass smirked, crossing his arms. “Pretty full of itself, isn’t it? Okay, but what do you mean by race? I can change races?”

“Of course!” Uzume said, leaning in, her eyes dancing with amusement. “I made sure to include every option in the universe, in case you wanted to try something out. After all, you’re an avid gamer, right? Didn’t you say you liked games where you could transform into different things?”

Brass chuckled, nodding. “Well, yeah, you’re not wrong… So, how do I choose?”

At his words, the Great System’s lens blinked, and a floating screen popped up in front of Brass’s face. Rows of options, each one labeled with a race or class and descriptions, sprawled out before him. He could feel his pulse quicken as he scrolled through the list, realizing the sheer possibilities that lay before him.

Brass was used to options—he’d always been the type to replay RPGs just to try every race, see every interaction from a new angle. But this? This put every game he’d ever played to shame. Thousands of classes, millions of races—some variations on others, some entirely unique. The sheer depth of choice felt dizzying.

He scrolled through options for what felt like hours, barely registering the soft sounds of Uzume laughing at the game she’d picked up. She was cute, focused, making little exclamations whenever she beat a level. Meanwhile, Brass’s frown deepened as he tried to wrap his head around the choices and… well, everything. Was this real? The last thing he remembered was the brutal sensation of bullets ripping through him, the cold, fading edges of life slipping away. He shivered, the memory raw enough to make him recoil.

“Yeah, I definitely died,” he muttered under his breath. “So… I guess that means life after death is real? And… reincarnation?”

He looked back at the screen, still struggling to process. There were just too many choices, his mind spinning. Finally, he threw his hands up in frustration and tapped the “random” button.

Uzume looked up, her eyes widening. “Wait! We weren’t done talking yet, don’t—”

Her words were cut off as a swirl of energy spiraled around him, engulfing him entirely. The bright ribbons of light filled his senses, crackling against his skin and sinking deep into his muscles, his bones. Every nerve felt electrified as the energy filled every part of him, his vision flashing bright, then… darkness. Everything faded to black.