1 Meeting a Goddess

I awoke today. I was asleep, but that couldn't be right. You dream whenever you sleep. Here, there were no dreams. No ill-conceived fantasies. No projections of imagination.

There was nothing.

You don't notice anything until its gone; The lack of feeling, of mind, the lack of everything, and most terrifying of all you don't—Exist. There was no I.

You close your eyes then you open them, feeling again, noticing something wrong with your very existence. Because you feel like you were nothing. Yet, here you are. Awake again.

Where had I gone, and how did I end up here? Then the answer had dawned on me. Oh god...I was dead. No, I couldn't be dead.

What about my family? My sick mother? Who is going to take care of her? Pay her medical bills?! Then there was my son. Who would pay for his future, especially after his mother died?

They couldn't live with my sister and that abusive jerk. Please let this be a dream. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wa-

"Calm down, tranquility, peace, serenity," A soft and motherly voice said.

"W-Who is there?! You better not be pulling a prank on me. Get me out of this darkness."

"Child, you will have your answers, calm down for me, Okay?" She, it was definitely a she. A very mature and soft voice. Calming.

"O...Okay."

"You died a tragic death. Body and Soul crushed under the strain. The last vestiges of your existence were left to wander the Void for eternity, aimlessly. Lost and hopeless had I not noticed your most delicate glow. Your kindness was your lifeline, Child."

"Void? Eternity? Soul? What of heaven and hell?"

"My existence is not allowed to speak of such things. Everyone has rules they must follow. But I can tell you that death trapped your soul, making it impossible to move on."

Unable to comprehend what was being said, he changed the subject lest he loses her attention.

"How did I die?"

"What do you remember?"

"I o..only remember reaching out towards something or someone. Screaming at them; warning them to run away."

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"How surprising, you remembered your final moments! That is quite unusual. Now, you died protecting your child from criminals that broke out of the prison in your city. You did well. Your child lives because you bought for him a few moments to call for help. Unfortunately for you, by the time he and help came, you were already beyond recovery. Your soul was crushed due to a cosmic accident of epic proportions. Consequently, I am not allowed to speak about it either."

She sat there watching this last shred of existence cry—or at least what would be considered crying. He was a small cluster of particles that glowed a different color with each emotion evoked. Now light red waves of emotion rolled off him.

Feeling pity for it, or him, she guessed; the goddess extended her hand to caress him and bring him closer to being, exuding comfort and calmness to cease his crying.

"I will give you two choices. One has more options and the other has none. Do you want to hear them?"

"Yes, mothe..." Turning pink at his obvious mistake, she watched as he gathered himself and continued, "I mean Ye-Yes!" Laughing at his slip of the tongue and the effect of my aura, she continued,

"Well, your first choice is ... to go to the next plane. To true death. There you will not have options from me, for it is beyond my power."

"What?! What is the second option?"

"The second option is a second chance at life." Noticing the bright white light of hope, she waits to break the news to him slowly. She didn't wish for him to crumble.

"A second chance? I.. I will get to see mother and my son? Yes, I accept! Please send me back."

Feeling horrible, she spoke while exuding a vast amount of Tranquility. "Listen, child. Let me finish. I cannot send you back to your world, though I can send you to a different one."

"A diff..."

"Don't interrupt me."

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Being chastised for talking back made him feel like a child. He quietened down and allowed her to continue.

"You will get a second chance at life in a new world filled with magic and awe-inspiring things, but also death and destruction. You will be able to redeem yourself and protect your family without dying again. I would advise you to choose this path; it is a far safer choice."

Feeling helplessness and sadness being overtaken by serenity and calmness, he basked in the embrace of this being. Taking her word of advice, he answers,

"Okay, I choose option two. I am willing to reincarnate to another world. May I get a mother as caring as you and my mother in my old world?"

"Well, that will likely not happen..."

"What? But, you gave me the options. How…?"

"You have interrupted me again, little one."

"S...Sorry" feeling ashamed at his outburst once again, he reined in his emotions and listened to her,

"While you will not be reincarnated, you will still be transferred to that world alone and in a random location. This will happen because of your damaged existence. Without a full soul, you will not be able to be sent to another world."

"If I am damaged, then how will I go?"

"Well, that's where your other options come in. I will give you some of my power, which will unlock the system within you. Using my power, which will give you a set number, you will be able to purchase attributes and skills to complete your soul. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but what do you seek in return? Or will you give me a part of you for nothing?"

"I ask one thing of you ...build me a cathedral. A mighty one for people of all races and ethnicity to seek out my guidance, filled with my worshipers!"

Noticing her enthusiasm, he could not help but be drawn in as well.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! I will do it for you! It will be marvelous!"

"Good, Good. Once you are done choosing my name the title will be clear for you to see. Use it to build a cathedral for me, then lead my worshipers!"

Feeling unease creeping in stronger than the calmness, he responded, "Umm, well, I will build you a majestic cathedral and all, but uh... well, I can't worship you. Please?"

"What? Why not, am I not giving you a part of my existence?"

"Well, Yes, and I am grateful and willing to build you this cathedral, but like I already said I can't worship you. You know my beliefs and I .. I can't. Sorry!"

"Hmm. I will allow this, but in exchange, you must build me three cathedrals, deal?"

"Of course!"

"Good, let me unlock your system and give you the needed existence to be a full soul again." Without warning, a creeping cold grabbed him. Crying out in pain as his existence flickered. He could not handle it in his state, he lost consciousness.

Once he woke up, he could not find the being anywhere. Only a screen floated in front of his face.

System Unlocked -

The Goddess's Gift - 10,585

Build -

Skills -

Attributes -

In Life Benefits -

Traits -

Resistances -

Modifications -