The Gods Are Restricted!

In the cozy confines of the study room, Austin and Ulric sat across from each other with two cups of coffee on the table between them.

Austin raised the cup to his nose and inhaled deeply.

"I can't get enough of this smell" The sweet aroma of the steaming coffee filled his nose and body with satisfaction.

Then he took a sip.

"Ahh, I can't believe I can drink this coffee again!" He remarked, happily. Unlike thirty minutes ago when he had cried after seeing Kopi Luwak coffee, this time, he was able to reign in his emotion.

Ulric snorted in disapproval. He took a sip, and said nonchalantly, "It's passable… though nothing compared to the divine brews made by the God of Coffee and the God of Tea." 

Austin's curiosity was peaked by the mention of Gods "There are Gods for coffee and tea?" He knew there were other Gods, but had no idea there were Gods for just coffee and tea.

"Indeed there are!" He affirmed, while stroking his beard, "Of course! There are Gods and Goddesses for every concept. Otherwise, my old bones would have gave out eons ago."

Austin took another sip, wetting his lips before his expression turned serious.

"Speaking about that, I have been meaning to ask, why choose me? Why not someone else?" Despite wanting to keep his memories, Austin did not understand why he was chosen out of all people. Was it because of his sacrifice? His sacrifice alone should not be enough. He couldn't be the only person in the vast multiverse, who had sacrificed their life for another.

Ulric didn't answer right away, he knew sooner or later he would be asked such questions.

In all honesty, Austin wasn't the best choice… that said, he wasn't the worst either.

Since he needed the boy, he figured being 100% transparent would be the best.

Deceit would not help his cause.

Regrettably, though, he had no choice but to deceive the young man.

Ulric, stared into Austin's eyes for a moment and his demeanor changed becoming more serious, "Frankly speaking, you are not the perfect choice… though I am sure you know that."

Austin smiled wryly. He didn't have to say that…did he? The truth was hard to swallow. Austin knew he was not the best choice to be a savior. 

Hell, he did not even know what to do. How does one even go about saving a world? He's never held a gun before. 

'No… my thinking is incorrect. The world I'm reincarnating into uses Magic, not firearms.'

Just the thought frightened him down to his feet.

Ulric continued, "Though you are not the worst choice either."

"...Huh?" Austin broke out of his thoughts, surprised by what he heard. He was unsure whether he should be happy that he was not the worst choice.

"My hands are tied. As a God, you must think I am not only omnipotent but omniscient too?" Ulric questioned, with a hint of bitterness.

Austin nodded, his brows furrowed in confusion. Was it not obvious that Gods were omnipotent and omniscient Beings? Or could it be that the people from Earth made it all up?

"Unfortunately, Gods, even I, one of the Supreme Gods, am not all-powerful." Ulric explained, his bitterness increasing with each word he spoke, "We have our limitations."

He paused.

"... That is not entirely true, once upon a time, we used to be all-powerful and all-knowing. Though that might as well be eons ago. Haah…the Gods now have several restrictions placed on them, one of them being that we are not able to directly intervene in the affairs of the worlds. Even the worlds that we created ourselves. That is why I am incapable of stopping the inevitable destruction of my world."

Austin opened his mouth but was interrupted.

"Before you ask, I am using a loophole. I know certain ways to bypass the Cycle of Reincarnation… to some extent." 

"Then… Why me? Why not someone strong? I'm sure that a weakling like me with no understanding of Magic and combat would be useless in stopping the destruction of a world." Austin was not trying to downplay his worth, he was just being honest. The responsibility of saving an entire world was too much for him. It was already good enough that he was not breaking down under the monumental pressure.

The lives of billions of people was too heavy for his tiny shoulders and frail back.

"That is because of your answers to my questions." Ulric said with a smile before continuing more seriously "Action always speaks louder than mere words. I have summoned more sentient creatures to my dimension than the number of Humans living on your previous planet. Before their deaths, some were at the apex in terms of strength, some were even saints, and some were smarter than you could ever imagine… That being said, what I am trying to say is that I have summoned every type of Being, yet none were up to my standards. Though you are lacking in some areas, your unconfident answer to my third question allowed me to see a glimmer of hope. I do not want my chosen hero to be a narcissist, but a realist."

"I see." Austin didn't know whether he should laugh or cry… He was chosen, due to his naive, unconfident answer. Even so, since he was given a new chance at a perfect life, he would ensure he lived it to the fullest.

*Clap*

Ulric clapped his hands together.

"Well then, let's get you going on your journey." 

With nervous excitement, Austin nodded heavily "I can't wait. What should I do?" He scratched his head in confusion. How was he supposed to reincarnate? Did he have to die again? No… that could not be it, he was dead.

"Hahaha, you have nothing to worry about lad, leave it to me." Ulric laughed, snapped his fingers, and soon a complex Magic Circle appeared underneath the boy's feet.

He smiled, and while stroking his beard, he guided wisely and gently like a grandfather guiding his grandson before he went out to see the world, "I hope you make the best of your new life. Remember that the mission is important, but what is the point of your new life if you do not enjoy it?"

"Do not let your past stop you from advancing. Let your past shape who you become, but don't let it control you!"

"Be the controller of your destiny. Do not fall into the whims of the Gods."

His kind grandfatherly smile then morphed into a perverted grin.

"By the way, harems are legal in the world of Arcadia. Use your new Race wisely." He winked.

Austin was speechless, so he decided to ignore the last part and focus on what mattered. However, as soon as he opened his mouth, the words he wanted to say could not leave his lips and all he could muster out was a teary-eyed nod before being engulfed in a blinding light.

*Sigh*

Ulric sighed after the young man disappeared.

"Young Austin, I apologize for lying… but I have no choice." He looked into the distance with his golden eyes, which pierced through the walls of his home and into the distant void of darkness where the insatiable tree continued to absorb the Soul Essence of every Being and even the World Essense from planets.

After sighing one last time, he took his gaze back, disappeared, and reappeared in the room the young man had woken up in.

"Father!" Luna yelled, she jumped off of the bed, and dove straight into her father's arms.

Ulric wrapped his arms around his daughter and stroked her hair to comfort her. Even so, her body did not stop quivering.

"Are you sure about this, father? Will Austin succeed? Why didn't you give him more information?" She bombarded her father with questions.

When Qliphoth finally chose someone, she became happy, yet sad at the same time. She knew better than anyone the significance of the task. It was not as simple as her father made it out to be.

Being clung to and bombarded with questions from his daughter, Ulric could only show sadness before it transformed into hatred. Despite some restrictions placed upon him, he had always believed himself to be all-powerful; however, only when disaster struck, did he fully understand his powerlessness. 

'There is always a mountain beyond a mountain!'

"My daughter, only time will tell." Ulric said with reddened eyes while hugging his daughter, who cried even louder after remembering everything that was taken from her. 'Austin, for my family's sake, please do not fail.'

'Overcome the hurdles that will try to prevent your rise. Grow into a monster that feeds upon even the Transcendents!'