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Chapter 02 Part 2: "Wish Come True"
Nathaniel's POV
I wasn't mistaken about what I heard. This mysterious girl, Koko, who introduced herself as a servant of God, was offering me the chance to become a god.
Shock coursed through me, mingled with persistent doubts about the true intentions of this enigmatic being. Her sharp, knowing smile hinted at secrets, and her words felt like a game I couldn't fully grasp.
"What do you mean I'll become a god?" I asked, my voice trembling with confusion and unease. "I don't understand you."
My mind was reeling. I knew Koko possessed extraordinary powers—her vanishing acts, her shape-shifting—so it was plausible she could grant any wish. But to become a god? That was beyond anything I'd ever imagined. Yet, she was serious, her confident grin suggesting she could indeed make it happen.
"You see, I'm the kind of creature who gets bored easily," she said, her tone as casual as if she were discussing the weather. "So I thought, what would happen if I gave you the chance to be a god? I think it'd be fun."
Despite the simplicity of her delivery, her words were complex, almost baffling. Wasn't she an angel, bound to serve the Creator? Why did it feel like she had her own agenda, one that might defy divine orders? It was deeply suspicious, but as she said, this was my final opportunity to change my life. Why should I hesitate?
"Wait, is that even possible?" I asked, my voice a mix of skepticism and cautious hope.
Koko's smile widened, her eyes glinting with a knowledge I couldn't fathom. "I can do anything," she declared with unwavering confidence. "I can make the impossible possible for anyone."
According to her, her plan wouldn't pose a problem for God. The power of the Sacred Book, she claimed, couldn't interfere with the Creator's supremacy, and even if I became a god, I'd never rival His greatness. She reiterated that she knew me well. She said that even if she showered me with worldly blessings like wealth or fame, it wouldn't satisfy me because I was different from others.
She had a point. Deep down, I knew I craved more than money or popularity. The idea of something greater—a rare, unparalleled opportunity—set my heart racing.
"I know what you want," she said, her voice brimming with anticipation. "A new, exciting life. What if we turned your fantasies into reality?"
Her words grew stranger, more surreal. Her animated gestures and sparkling eyes were like those of a child eager to play a game. "Become a superhero who saves the world from evil forces!" she exclaimed, her voice alive with energy. "A great person admired by all, like the protagonists in your anime!"
Her words were music to my ears. What man could resist the chance to be a superhero, like Captain Barbell? But beneath the allure, there was danger. I hesitated, my mind racing. "My God, are you serious? What if I get hurt? What if I die in your plan?" I said, fear creeping into my chest.
She smirked, a hint of irritation in her expression. "Of course, every adventure comes with trials, obstacles, and dangers," she replied, her tone almost scolding. "What are you, Nathaniel? Every great thing has a price."
I frowned. It wasn't that I disliked the idea, but I wasn't ready to face pain or peril. That just wasn't me. It's normal to fear harm, isn't it? But Koko's reaction? She seemed even more disappointed in me.
"I'm not surprised," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "You're a spineless, weak, pathetic loser."
Her words stung. It hurt to hear such things, especially from a girl who looked no older than ten. Yet her insults didn't faze her. After a deep, exasperated sigh, she snapped her fingers, and a new object appeared before her—a golden quill, like a pen from ancient times.
She plucked it from the air and opened the floating Book of Life. That sharp smile returned as she began writing. Each movement was deliberate, confident, but it sent a chill down my spine. Based on her earlier words, I couldn't let her continue unchecked.
I saw the letters glow as she wrote, each one pulsing with life. Panicking, I grabbed her arm to stop her. "What are you doing?" I shouted, my heart pounding.
"Writing something interesting," she replied, her smile unwavering. "Want to know what it is?"
I had no idea what was written there—the letters were unlike anything I'd ever seen. But my gut screamed that something bad was coming. "Shouldn't I be the one deciding what goes in there?" I protested, my voice rising.
"Hmm, true enough," she said, but then she yanked her arm free from my grip. I thought we'd reached an understanding, but I was wrong. "But why should I care?" she said, her tone mischievous. "It wouldn't be fair if you were the only one having fun with the Sacred Book."
I furrowed my brow. Her words were playful, but there was a rebellious edge to them. She claimed there were no rules forbidding her from meddling with the book's use. I couldn't believe I was hearing this from an angel of God—beautiful, seemingly innocent, yet speaking like a cunning child with endless excuses for mischief.
"Don't worry," she said, her voice steady with assurance. "I know you can do this. Not because you're a loser, but because you were destined for it."
Her words cut deep, especially her repeated jabs at my supposed failures. But despite her taunts, she promised a favorable outcome. "I told you, stop worrying. Learn to trust your cute little angel," she said, flashing an OK sign, as if it were all a trivial matter.
Even though she told me not to worry, the unease in my chest wouldn't fade. I had countless reasons to fear—I was certain I'd end up in danger. And if I died because of her reckless plan, would God grant me another chance at life?
When I asked, Koko burst into laughter. "Who are you to be revived by the Creator?" she said, her laughter laced with scorn. "Even holy saints weren't given that chance."
She explained that if I died, my soul would go to a place with other ordinary souls, to be judged. It was baffling—she'd given me the chance to wield the Sacred Book, yet in the end, I was still insignificant in God's eyes.
But Koko clarified that I shouldn't fear death. "You won't die until the destiny written in the Book of Life is fulfilled," she said. The book, she explained, recorded the past, present, and future, and what she was doing now was dictating what would happen in my life.
"You won't die until you complete the mission I've written here," she said, smiling. "Yes, even if you're a loser."
"Can you stop calling me a loser?" I shouted, my frustration boiling over.
In that moment, she stopped writing. A glowing circle, like a magical rune, enveloped her. Shimmering specks, like enchanted dust, erupted from the book, illuminating the entire room.
"It's done!" Koko declared, her voice brimming with excitement. "Get ready to face your new destiny!"
I froze, panic consuming me. How could I prepare for something I didn't want to face? "Wait! Wait!" I yelled. "I know I want a new life, but does it have to involve danger? Can't I choose a safer path?"
She didn't respond. She just looked at me, her eyes filled with disappointment. Call me a coward, but I saw no logical reason to embrace danger when there could be an easier way. Before I could argue further, a blinding light erupted from the book, engulfing the room. It was so intense I could barely see.
"What's happening?" I shouted, my heart racing.
Koko radiated energy, her body glowing with an otherworldly aura. "Feel the power of the heavens!" she proclaimed, her voice resolute. "I'll make sure you never forget this!"
In a flash, she leapt forward and delivered a powerful kick. "Dragon Kick!" she shouted.
The attack was so sudden I couldn't react. I found myself airborne, hurled across the room by the force of her strike. Before I could crash into the wall, a dark, swirling portal appeared in front of me, and her kick propelled me straight through it.
An endless void swallowed me. All I felt was the sensation of falling, with nothing to grab, no sense of how far I'd plummet. I screamed, my voice echoing in the darkness, terror pounding in my chest. Just seconds ago, she'd assured me I had nothing to fear, but now I was certain this rogue angel would be my end. I never should've trusted her!
As I fell, Koko's voice rang out, clear as if she were beside me, though I had no idea where it came from. "I'm sending you to the world you dreamed of," she said. "Where you'll meet the beings you created, along with the fates you designed for them."
At first, I couldn't process her words, overwhelmed by the fear of falling. But when she mentioned a place—Endoryo—my attention snapped into focus.
"Endoryo? Don't tell me—"
"Yes, exactly," she said, her voice brimming with confidence. "The world you built in your comics."
I couldn't believe it. Was this what she meant by becoming a god? Sending me to the world of my own comics? How was that possible? And if it was real, how could I possibly save that world?
"That's up to you," she replied to my unspoken questions. "Your fate will be shaped by the decisions and actions you take there."
She didn't specify how it would end, but she gave me a starting point—a game I had to join, created by a powerful being named Crimson. She said that by participating and winning, I could save Endoryo.
She began recounting details from my comics—the eight warlords who slaughtered over ten million lives to win the game, and the countless beings who died daily in battles they had no choice but to fight. "Isn't that horrific?" she said. "It's unjust for you and for the creatures who didn't choose this fate."
Her words made me pause. I knew I'd created that world, but it was just fiction—a story in a comic. I never imagined it would carry such weight. According to Koko, if I defeated the eight warlords, I'd become a "true" god for the beings I'd created.
"But remember," she warned, "it won't be easy. You're just an ordinary human, not a powerful deity."
She clarified that I wouldn't arrive there as a god, but as a mere mortal with countless limitations. I'd need to blend in with the characters there and use my knowledge to win the game. Her instructions were overwhelming, too complex for my mind to grasp. Even in my wildest dreams, I never imagined saving lives.
As I fell, golden pages swirled around me, like sheets torn from the Sacred Book, dancing in the air. Koko must have sensed my fear in my silence, because she spoke again. "Even if you refuse and cower from your responsibility, everything will unfold as I've written," she said. "The only things not set in stone are the people you'll meet and the number of lives lost to the warlords as time passes."
"Their fates, their right to live in the world you created, are in your hands," she added.
My mind was a whirlwind of confusion and fear for my own survival. This was all absurd. But before I could sort through my thoughts, I noticed my fall slowing. The darkness began to fade, replaced by a blinding light. The golden pages dissolved, melting into the air.
Within the light, a strange peace washed over me. I closed my eyes, enveloped by a gentle warmth, as if floating in a void. But that tranquility vanished, replaced by a heaviness in my body. I felt something solid beneath me, and a sweet scent—like flowers—filled the air.
"Wait, are my eyes closed?" I muttered to myself.
Slowly, I opened them, and a vast, awe-inspiring place unfolded before me. A familiar scene—Agatha's Tower. The hub where games were held, where duels and trials were conducted for participants in the Crimson Game. From the walls to the chairs to the guards standing watch, every detail was exactly as I'd drawn it in my comics.
Shock propelled me to my feet, not out of wonder, but out of fear. Everything we'd discussed was real. "What is this madness?" I shouted. "That crazy angel was serious? She actually brought me to the world of my own comics!"
I didn't want to believe it. Frantically, I scanned my surroundings, and that's when I noticed something strange about my body. I was younger, but as Koko had said, I was merely an ordinary human in this world. No powers, no special traits.
All I could do was stand there, stunned, clutching my head in disbelief. I never expected this. Yes, I wanted change in my life, but not like this—not in a perilous world born from my comics.
How great a sinner must I be for heaven to punish me like this?
"Wait! Send me back to my old world!" I screamed, but I knew no one would hear.