1. Finn the Golden Retriever

It's funny when you think about the meaning of life while being rushed to the hospital, I mean my life is literally slipping away right now and I can't help but think it's a complete waste of time. Everyone is stuck in routine and those not stuck in routine are stuck searching for one, no one is happy with life at all. Something was taken from us, something vital, we didn't face any challenge besides those designed to drain us, we treated each other no different from livestock and enslaved ourselves to goals and the so called 'dreams' when nothing more than a moment of introspection would highlight the uselessness of it all, I guess it's fortunate that I'm dying, to go back to nothingness is better than this wretched peace we have.

...

That should have been it, I died meaning I shouldn't be capable of thought or emotion, the mechanisms of which alludes me without the devices that granted such function, instead I find myself in darkness with nothing else but my mind intact it seems, funny how I've become my own prison, I chased enlightenment to only find it at the cost of the bliss ignorance had granted me.

Where was I? Was I truly dead or is this some form of a coma? That would explain my thoughts and emotions in which case I would indeed be a prisoner to my own vessel, I would have rather died. Someone would say that's selfish as others would wish to live, how life was precious and all but not acknowledge that if it was really that precious would it be snuffed out by a miniscule creature simply drinking a drop of blood then leaving a disaster in its place, would it end by choking on food cause you talked while eating or just from unconsciously breathing a microscopic organism that you couldn't even see, it's disturbing to know the sacred nature humanity places life in yet slaughter other creatures without blinking an eye, such a sad existence we are.

Regardless, I'm in quite a predicament, am I dead or simply asleep, if the former then where I am, non existence is supposed to be like that, non existent, which eliminates that possibility, is this hell, it would be fitting considering my lack of faith, after all it's either an insult to insinuate that such a flawed creature otherwise known as the human being is a creation of a god or an insult to humanity itself to worship a being who created them with such imperfections and suffering yet expect adoration in return but I guess that's dictators for you. I wonder if I'd meet the devil, the guy whose only 'wrong' was asking a for a freedom and being good enough to be a scapegoat in an absurd fairytale that somehow managed to make perfectly educated members of society believe in an invisible stalker who created your 'ancestors' and gets away with mass murder and suffering simply cause he is 'god' and he created your 'ancestors' and labels it as divine punishments. Wonder if that'll work in court, 'Your Honor, I did not rape an underaged teenager who was already betrothed, I merely blessed her with the honor of carrying the future saviour of humanity to save you from my wrath' , yeah right, I don't even need to think about it deeply and I already know the answer.

It's hard to tell time here and the silence is kinda creepy, I mean I thought my only worries after going to hell would be the high temperature and lack of relief stitch, what's with trying to drive me insane by isolation in a dark place, if this is a coma I'm definitely jumping off a building as soon as I wake and end my suffering, where is a Thanos when you need one.

"Hi there"

Great, here comes the insanity, I'm hearing voices now, there's nothing here, oh well I guess a voice to keep me company isn't that bad aft- oops, almost gave in to insanity there, hell no, I like all my screws tight.

"Oh right, let me fix the place, don't get that many visitors in this place"

As soon as those words fell onto my still missing ears I found the darkness twisting and suddenly I was in a park next to a golden retriever, what the-

"is this better?"

"It spoke. I spoke? wait what?"

I look around to see myself in possession of a body and now I'm sure I'm dead and my first encounter in the afterlife is a dog, I don't even know how to think about this.

"It's alright, it takes a little getting used to, just relax" the dog said

Taking a moment to breath I ask "Why?"

"Why what? why is a dog speaking to you or why are you here, well, of the first question I simply took a form you would not guard against and you're here as you have guessed because you are dead and I have a proposition for you"

"Who are you?"

"I'm Finn" the dog said

"Not that, what are you, where am I, how is this possible, why do you need my guard down" I ask distancing myself a bit from the unknown entity

"Your first question's answer would be found in associating me with a being you would call a god but even that is far from the truth but that's the only term you could understand that comes close, you are in an old office of mine, don't need your guard up coz it would take time before you've calmed down and actually listen to what I have to say" Finn the dog answered patiently

"As for the proposition, I'm tired and I wish to retire and you're one of the chosen candidates to replace me, of course after training and if you do choose to accept it the job in the end"

"And if I refuse?" I ask

"I'll simply reward you for your time and look for another candidate"

This sounds suspicious but when you literally have nothing on you you'd take a poisinous apple for lunch.

" What job is it?"

Seeing my interest Finn has a smile on his face, it's just not fair to be that adorable, I was tempted to pet it but no, I am stronger than these petty urges.

" Hanging on the understanding that I'm sort of a god, you can say I'm a god of destruction, it's my job to judge which Pararealms, Omniverses or Multiverses have fully matured and are ready to be destroyed and recycled and the means of destruction which suit each realm" Finn says looking like a salesman pitching a sales strategy

"...uhm, ok, why me though and you said candidates meaning there are others?"

"Yes, you see, it's a choice whether you want this job in the end or not and as such some of the candidates might forfeit or even die before they get the job, I don't hold a grudge, I'm simply trying my luck to see if there's someone willing to replace me, as for why I chose you it's cause as a god of destruction you can't hold life in sacred regard and you just happened to die around the same time I was seeking for candidates and met the criteria"

"How many are there and will there a competition or battle of some sort to decide who gets the job?" I ask because it's important to know you're not gonna end up in the middle of a bloodbath just for taking a job.

"There's 9,900 candidates in total, none of which you will meet until it's the time to decide who gets the job provided that they remain alive, the decision on who gets the job will be decided on an interview" Finn says as if he could read my mind

"If they remain alive?" That was the second time Finn had mentioned death and it was getting to me because job training that could result in death was not a good incentive.

"Yes, although it depends, you see, each candidate gets to pick a realm they would start in and granting them abilities that would ensure their growth I sent them on their way, whether they survive their encounters is up to them and their fortune hence the high number of candidates, it's better that they rise close to my position on their own to find their own paths" Finn answer

It seemed similar to a R.O.B of stories I used to read if the said being was trying to get a trainee under their wing so they can retire. Which was surprising to find out that I still had memories of those books I read decades ago before my naive world view collapsed and I focused on the wrong things, ah, those were good times.

"So I pick a world to be placed in and you give me abilities to survive, do I have a choice on said abilities? will I be reincarnated or transmigrated and what happens if I reject your offer"

I somehow look forward to something for once in a while after having known hope before to only have thoroughly butchered before my very own eyes will helplessness being my only comfort, pity.

"Your choice and nothing happens if you reject it, after all, it's merely a job offer, you still choose your realm and abilities and if someday you change your mind, I'll reach out to you if you meet the standards" Finn answered

"Great, I want to be reincarnated, how many abilities do I get and which realms are available, are the the fictional world I knew from my world available?" I asked with my expectations a bit high at the moment