Champion

"Wake up, kid."

"Hey! Wake up!"

I frowned as I heard the insistent voice. For God's sake, I had just been born; couldn't I have a bit of peace and quiet? Not to mention my first beauty sleep of this life. 

"Well, can't do that. We have much more important matters to discuss," the unknown voice replied with an air of urgency and undisguised playfulness. 

Startled, I jolted awake. "Who the heck is reading my mind?" I cursed out loud, my voice echoing with frustration.

As I tried to make sense of my surroundings, I fell into silence, taking in the scene around me. I found myself in the middle of a vast and beautifully landscaped garden. The space was adorned with a myriad of flowers in every color imaginable. Seven ornate fountains were strategically placed throughout, each surrounded by a flurry of vibrant, colorful birds pecking at the water. A gentle breeze carried the intoxicating scent of blossoms, and it brushed my face, energizing me with its freshness.

'Am I in heaven?' I wondered, captivated by the serenity and beauty of the place.

"Well, no," the voice replied again, as if reading my thoughts.

I turned my head to locate the source of the voice. There, under an elegant arbor, stood a man dressed in a butler's uniform. He was meticulously arranging tea cups and what appeared to be an assortment of pastries on a table.

"Well, come on," he said, gesturing for me to approach.

I nodded in resignation and started walking towards him. Given that this man could read my mind, there seemed little point in trying to evade him. I might as well find out what was so important that it warranted interrupting my first beauty sleep of this life.

As I began to walk, I frowned and gazed at myself in astonishment. "Is this me?" I wondered as I realized I was back to being an adult.

I approached the nearest fountain and used the water as a mirror. Reflected back was a young man with raven-black hair, rainbow-colored eyes, and peach-toned skin. I felt strange looking at myself—it seemed like me but not entirely.

"You don't have to worry. It's just your temporary adult version that I granted you so we can talk more easily," the butler explained.

Nodding, I walked over to the arbor and took the seat he indicated. He sat down as well, took a sip of his tea, and motioned for me to try some too.

I reached for the cup, feeling the delicate porcelain against my fingers, and brought it to my lips. The tea was warm and soothing, a blend of flavors that seemed both familiar and foreign.

"Who are you?" I asked, setting the cup down and looking at the butler intently.

"My name is Alaric," he replied, his eyes meeting mine with a calm but piercing gaze. "I am here to guide you through your transition."

"Transition?" I echoed, my mind racing with questions. "What do you mean?"

"You have been reborn into a new world," Alaric explained. "A world where magic is real and you have a unique role to play."

"And don't worry, I am not a denizen of the world you have been reborn into. I am the one who reincarnated you in that world, or rather helped with the process, if we are being accurate," Alaric added, causing my fear to dissipate.

To be honest, I felt scared when he mentioned "transition." I thought that in just one day, my secret had been leaked. 'Phew, fortunately that doesn't seem to be the case,' I thought, relieved.

"So, what are you, a god?" I asked jokingly.

"Yes, I am the God of Lucid Dreams and a follower of the Supreme Goddess of Soul, Dream, and Nightmares," he replied, causing me to choke on my tea. I had asked jokingly but hadn't anticipated such an answer.

I unconsciously straightened myself and asked respectfully, "Can I ask why you reincarnated me?"

"Is it because I helped and sacrificed myself for the greater good?" I asked, thinking that might be the reason. After all, at least my sacrifice resulted in something better.

"Well, no," he replied calmly, sipping his tea.

Once again, I almost choked. Clearing my throat, I asked, "Why then?"

"Hmm, well, because you have some good talent," he replied.

"As for being reborn after doing some good deed, that's just nonsense. You will indeed be rewarded in Heaven for your good karma, but not reborn. People like you are selected because of your innate talent," Alaric clarified.

I nodded, 'Well, this now makes sense as to why sometimes villains are reborn,' I thought.

"Well, anyway, let me tell you the real reason why you were reincarnated," Alaric said, placing his cup down and looking at me seriously.

I nodded and listened intently.

"People like you are chosen because of your talent, but do you know why?" Alaric began, his tone serious.

"Why?" I asked, curiosity piqued.

"Because of the Myriad Tournament of Reality," he said.

"A tournament?" I asked, confused.

"Yes, as we Gods are too powerful to fight amongst ourselves, we each choose a Champion to represent us," he explained.

"So, I am your Champion?" I asked.

"Yes, you are. But please don't take offense. This tournament is for the greater good," he nodded and added.

"Oh, then please tell me more, as I clearly see it as entertainment for you Gods," I said mockingly.

Alaric chuckled. "Well, you have a unique perspective, but it's not as simple as it seems."

"You see, for Gods to maintain existence, we need Energy of Faith, which we receive when people worship us," he continued. "But since there are now too many Gods and not enough people, the Will of Reality brought out this concept. According to it, if we can nurture a good Champion, not only will we be eligible to receive a world for ourselves, but it also shows whether we are good enough to govern a world or not."

I sat back, trying to digest this information. "So, this tournament is not just a game. It's a test to see if you deserve to rule a world?"

"Exactly," Alaric confirmed. "And by choosing you, I am placing my faith in your abilities. Your success will not only ensure your own destiny but also mine."

"That's a lot of pressure," I said, feeling the weight of his words.

"Indeed, but I chose you because I believe you can handle it," Alaric said, his gaze unwavering. "And remember, you are not alone in this. I will guide and support you through every step of the way."

"Hmm, so what's in it for me?" I asked after a moment of silence. He couldn't expect me to work for him for free.

"Well, there are many rewards, but the best is the opportunity to become a god yourself," he replied.

My eyes widened for a bit, I thought ' Maybe if I become a God, I can reunite with my Mother and Father'

Taking a deep breath I nodded and said " Well, I will be your champion" 

Alaric nodded and said " Good, you will never regret it" 

I nodded and then asked, "So, is this the place, where I can meet you if I wanted to?"

"No, this is just a one-time thing for each world," Alaric shook his head.

"For each world?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Yes, it's not the first time you'll be reborn. There are many worlds to come. You can also think of it as a Myriad World tour," Alaric explained.

Huh, I thought, this didn't seem too bad. Maybe there is another reason to take on this responsibility.

"So, will I get any cheat?" I asked, thinking to myself that all main characters receive cheats.

Alaric smiled. "Ah, you're thinking of special abilities or items to aid you, aren't you? In a way, yes. As my Champion, you will have access to unique skills and powers that others might not."

"Like what?" I asked, intrigued.