Chapter 1 - The God of Light

I, Damian Suryana, am currently trapped in an obsession playing my favorite soulslike game in my apartment room which is full of trash.

(Note: Soulslike games are a video game genre inspired by the Dark Souls series developed by FromSoftware.)

It's been three days since I didn't sleep and only drank energy drinks to keep trying to beat this incredibly difficult game! I don't even know why I'm so obsessed with finishing this game.

You may be wondering if I have a job. Yes, I used to have a job, but that was two years ago before I got hooked on this game.

At that time, I decided to quit my job as a salesperson and used all my savings to buy this game and the paid items in it.

I know what you guys are thinking, that I was really careless to quit my job and become unemployed just because of a game.

'Congratulations'

Seeing the announcement, which appeared on the monitor screen in front of me, I heaved a sigh of relief and sat back in the comfortable gaming chair.

While staring at the ceiling of my apartment, I muttered in satisfaction, "Finally, I cleared this game too..."

"I have to eat now," I continued, planning to get up from my gaming chair.

But suddenly, I felt weak. My vision became blurry, my head felt dizzy, and without waiting long, I immediately fell on the floor of a messy apartment room.

Lying weakly on the floor, I muttered, "Ah... Am I going to die...?" asked myself.

Yes, if I'm really going to die, that's fine. I have no one in this world, no family, friends or girlfriend. I have nothing.

However, now I deeply regret it. If I knew that death would come to me so quickly, I would live more gratefully and accept my circumstances as they are.

But now it's too late. It's all my own fault for getting addicted to playing this game to the point of forgetting to eat and only drinking energy drinks.

"Damn... I don't want to die yet..." I muttered while crying feeling my soul leaving my body.

Now that I've changed my mind, I really don't want to die. Only this time, I beg for one more chance. I will live better.

However, with my vain hopes, my eyes started to close by themselves, and this soul left my body. I'm really dead now.

...

"Dark, very dark. Where am I now?" I have no idea. All I remember is that I'm dead.

I feel no more sensation, all my senses seem to disappear. "Am I in hell? But, the hell I know is a place of torment for sinners."

I paused for a moment before continuing, "I'm also a sinner. I don't even believe in gods."

After saying those words, I attempted to move my body or whatever form I currently had. However, I was only able to move a few centimeters after trying so hard.

"Haah, never mind. If this is indeed a place to punish me, I will accept it willingly," I said resignedly.

After I gave up, several hours or maybe days passed. I don't know for sure. What is clear, time goes on without me doing anything, just staying in this dark room.

However, the sound of someone's voice suddenly echoing in this dark room, startled me.

"Hohoho, you lost soul... What are you doing in my territory?" the voice asked me.

I frowned, even though I had no face. "Soul? So I'm currently in soul form, huh... However, what does this soul form look like? And what does it mean by a lost soul and its territory?" I thought in astonishment.

"Hohoho, that's right. Right now you're just a faint light, that's the shape of your soul. You're in my realm, which is the realm of a god," the voice said as if it knew what I was thinking and replied.

"Gods? Hmm... I wouldn't blindly believe without solid evidence," I said firmly.

The voice that claimed to be a god just laughed with an echo filling the room. After a while, the voice stopped laughing and said, "O lost soul, if you want proof... Fine, I will show you the power of a god."

With those words, the once dark room became brightly lit before me, even though I had no eyes. The dazzling light gradually dimmed, revealing a scene of tall mountains, flowing rivers, and even a waterfall.

And at the top of a very high mountain, I saw a grandfather in his 80s with a long beard and a head that was bald in the middle. The grandpa was wearing a luxurious looking robe.

I am so amazed by this sight. Without thinking much, I painstakingly approached the old man who was standing tall on the top of a high mountain. However, my movement felt very slow.

The grandpa saw me struggling to approach him, then smiled at me. With a flick of his finger, I suddenly teleported and appeared before him in an instant.

I was shocked by the incident, but in my heart, this makes sense for someone who claims to be a god.

"Now I believe that you really are a god, Grandpa," I said while looking at Grandpa who was indeed a god.

"Hohoho, that's how it should be, you lost soul," replied the old man while stroking his long white beard.

After we looked at each other in silence, I decided to ask because my curiosity was unbearable. "Um, so... Grandfather, why am I here in your territory?"

The Grandpa God smiled and replied in a hoarse but firm voice, "Hm… I don't know myself, O lost soul. However, a divine friend of mine had a similar experience and he explained that a soul that is stopped in the divine realm like this is a divine soul. who feel remorse and refuse to accept their death."

I nodded in understanding to the Grandfather God's words, even though I was basically headless. "That makes sense Grandpa . I did feel a refusal to die, I never expected that the result would be that I would be trapped in your territory . I apologize if my presence is troubling you."

The Grandpa God chuckled in response, then said, "It's alright, you lost soul. I'm even a little pleased by your presence here. It seems you have a good heart."

"Ahaha, alright, thank you Grandfather. So, is there a way for me to be sent immediately to the afterlife now?" I asked, full of curiosity.

Grandfather God's face looked sad at my question, then he replied reluctantly, "I can't do that, you lost soul. And if I could, I don't know how to do it."

I felt sad and panicked hearing Grandpa Dewa's answer. "So am I going to be stuck here forever?" I said, not wanting to really be stuck in this place forever.

I'd rather disappear than stay in a place I can't access while I'm here. And even I don't know how much time will pass if I continue to stay here.

Grandfather God was silent at my words, it seemed he was thinking of a solution for me, then after a while, Grandfather God looked at me with a bright expression and said, "I know, you lost soul! How about I reincarnate you to Another World?!"

I was taken aback by the Grandfather God's suggestion and then thought, "I will be reincarnated? Then, that means… I will be able to live again?"

Because this Grandpa God could hear my thoughts, he immediately replied, "Yes, you will be revived, you lost soul, hohoho."

"But Grandpa, if it's like that, won't I trouble you?" I asked hesitantly.

Grandfather God waved his arm and replied, "Hohoho, what do you mean by troubling me? I'm a god so how could I feel like that, it's so easy for me who's a life god!"

I was happy with Grandfather God's reply, if I really revived and reincarnated in this Otherworld, I promised myself that I would live a better life.

I then said excitedly to that Grandfather God, "Then, I accept that grandfather's offer!"

____________________

I am now floating beside Grandfather God as he performs something. He chants a strange incantation, and suddenly a circle of golden-white magic appears. The circle bears inscriptions and symbols that I cannot comprehend.

"What is that hole, Grandfather?" I ask curiously, keeping my eyes fixed on the opening.

"Hohoho, that is the hole that will transfer you into the body you will inhabit, oh lost soul," Grandfather God replies, stroking his beard.

"I see, so this hole is used to transfer me, who is currently just a soul, right?" my thoughts spin after receiving Grandfather God's explanation.

"Not just any hole, oh lost soul. It is magic, and the world where you will live also has its own equivalent," Grandfather God corrects me with a smile.

I nod my non-existent head and eagerly ask, "Will I be reborn right away now?"

Grandfather God shakes his head and answers, "Not yet. We must find someone suitable for you. It is even better if that person's soul has already left their body."

Upon hearing Grandfather God's words, a slight disappointment arises within me, but it quickly fades away as I hear his next statement.

"I have found someone suitable for you, oh lost soul. And their name is exactly the same as yours!" exclaimed Grandfather God after seeing a child on his magical screen, appearing frail and weak.

I quickly glanced at the magical screen that Grandfather God used to display the person who would become the host for my soul. My heart felt heavy as I saw the condition displayed on Grandfather God's magical screen.

The child was around 10 years old, with long black hair covering their empty and lifeless eyes. Their body looked thin, covered in bruises from head to toe. Yes, as Grandfather God had mentioned, the child had already passed away, and their soul was shattered.

"Has their soul truly vanished, Grandfather?" I asked Grandfather God to make sure.

"Yes, oh lost soul. You don't need to doubt or burden yourself with such thoughts. By inhabiting their body, the shattered soul will feel happy and grateful that after their death, they can still be of use to others," replied Grandfather God, smiling as he gazed at the child on the magical screen.

I took a deep breath, even though I didn't have lungs. Then, with determination, I said, "Alright, I will take over their body. I promise that after I inhabit the child's body, I will seek vengeance against those who have harmed them. That's for certain!"

Grandfather God nodded and said, "Hohoho, make sure it happens."

"Alright, Grandfather. Now, can I enter the child's body with my soul?"

"Of course, in this form as a soul, I will send you to the child's body using my magic."

I felt the urge to jump for joy, but as a soul, I couldn't do that.

And following Grandfather God's instructions, I positioned myself in the center of the magical circle that had been created and floated right in front of the dark purple hole that had appeared earlier.

Grandfather God then asked, "Are you ready, oh lost soul?"

I nodded, even though I didn't have a head, in response and exclaimed, "Yes, Grandfather! And please call me by my name from now on!"

Grandfather God nodded and said, "Hohoho, in that case, call me by my name as well, oh young one named Damian."

While continuing to gaze at the hole that was beginning to suck me in as a soul, I asked, "What is your name, Grandfather?"

Grandfather God smiled and replied, "I am Protogonos, the God of Light or the God of the Sun. That is the title often used by the people of this world to refer to me."

I also smiled and exclaimed, "Alright, Grandfather Protogonos, I will remember your name until the day I die!"

"Hohohoho, you have a way with words, young one, Damian," replied the God of Light, stroking his beard.

"Very well, enjoy your second life, oh Damian," he continued.

I felt a bit sad hearing Grandfather God's words but still smiled, even if it was only in my heart. Then, as a soul, I was immediately sucked into the connecting hole.

"Until we meet again..." Grandfather God said as I looked back from within the hole.

...

Protogonos, the God of Light/Sun, now fell silent after witnessing the soul (Damian) that had accompanied him earlier vanish from his sight.

"I shall watch over you from here, oh Damian, hohohoho," murmured the God of Light with resounding laughter.

Then, with a wave of his finger, the view of the towering mountains and flowing river instantly disappeared, replaced by the dark void as it was at the beginning, the place where Damian's soul had previously resided.