The God Zurique

My eyes hesitantly opened.

Where am I?

Darkness stretched endlessly in every direction, an infinite void that seemed to devour all sense of space and time. The only source of light came from… me. I glanced down and froze. My entire being emitted a faint, ethereal glow, shimmering like a pale flame.

But this wasn't my body. There was no flesh, no heartbeat—just a translucent form of light, weightless and otherworldly. The realization struck like a thunderclap.

I'm dead. I really died, didn't I?

Before I could process the thought, the void shifted. Ten colossal lampstands materialized out of the darkness, their towering forms glowing faintly at first. One by one, they ignited, their flames roaring to life in blinding, golden brilliance. The air vibrated with a presence so powerful it felt as though the fabric of reality was unraveling.

And then, beyond the lampstands, something even more overwhelming emerged. A massive throne loomed in the distance, radiating an indescribable aura. It wasn't just light—it was power, ancient and infinite, a force that seemed to pierce straight through my essence.

On the throne sat Him.

Even as a ghost, I shivered under His gaze. My form flickered like a fragile candle caught in a storm.

The being before me was vast, his presence consuming the very void itself. His figure radiated divine authority, every aspect of Him an embodiment of unyielding power and perfection. His eyes glowed with the brilliance of stars, two orbs of infinite energy that seemed to see everything—past, present, and future—all at once. It wasn't just sight; it was knowing, an all-encompassing awareness that pinned me in place.

His massive right hand rested on His chin, His expression I'munreadable yet infinitely commanding. His gaze bore into me, making me feel smaller than an insect, less than a speck of dust in the cosmic expanse. The throne He occupied wasn't just a seat—it was a symbol of creation and destruction, the axis upon which existence itself turned.

I wanted to flee, but I had no legs to carry me. If I did, they would have surely failed me, buckling under the weight of His presence. Even without a physical form, I felt as though my very soul might disintegrate under His scrutiny.

This was no mere being. This was the embodiment of divinity, a god whose essence eclipsed understanding. To look upon Him was to confront eternity itself.

And I, a mere ghost, was now at the center of His attention.

"Welcome," He said, His voice deep and resonant, cutting through the oppressive silence. His lips stretched ever so slightly, forming what I hesitantly assumed was a smile.

Was… was that a smile?

The being—Him—the one who sat on the throne of infinite authority, slowly rose. The action, though simple, carried a weight that seemed to ripple through the void itself. As He stood, something strange and unsettling occurred. His towering, godlike form began to shift, condensing, folding in on itself.

He was shrinking.

It was disturbing to watch, yet mesmerizing. Soon, He took the shape of a man—a human—but the transformation didn't diminish His aura entirely. It still emanated from Him like heat from a blazing sun, though now it felt slightly less overwhelming, as if He'd consciously restrained it.

And yet, His new appearance was… exquisite. There was a smooth, unearthly perfection to His form, a beauty so flawless it left me momentarily breathless. Awe took hold of me, and for a moment, I forgot the fear that had previously consumed me.

He moved toward me, His steps deliberate and unhurried, each one resonating as if the void itself bent beneath His will. When He finally stood before me, I realized just how human He seemed. And then, He smiled again—but this time, it was wide.

Too wide.

His face leaned closer to mine, revealing a grin that stretched far beyond what should have been possible. It was the widest, most unnatural smile I had ever seen. My awe turned to terror in an instant.

"Ahhhh!" A scream tore from my throat, and I froze, stunned by the sound.

Wait—my mouth. I could speak?

Subconsciously, my hands moved to my lips, touching them as if to confirm their presence. To my shock, I felt flesh beneath my fingers. My hands trembled as I examined them, then my arms, then the rest of my form. I was complete—whole again, yet still glowing with that faint white radiance. It wasn't a true body, but it was far more human than the ethereal glow I'd been moments before.

How had I not noticed this change? Perhaps I had been too consumed by awe—or dread.

My thoughts were abruptly pulled back to Him. His head tilted slightly, confusion flickering across His otherwise perfect face.

"What? I thought humans liked that stuff," He said, his tone genuinely puzzled.

For a moment, I could only stare at Him. Then, before I could think better of it, the words burst out of me.

"It's creepy."

The second the words left my mouth, I froze, horrified at my own audacity. Where did that come from? Confidence? From me?

To my surprise, He didn't seem offended. Instead, He studied me curiously, as though my reaction was some sort of puzzle He had yet to solve.

"Well, whatever," he muttered, shrugging his shoulders in a casual, dismissive gesture.

It was such an ordinary motion, almost too human for someone who had just declared themselves a god.

Gathering my courage, I asked, carefully choosing my words. "Where am I? And who… what… are you?" I knew this wasn't a simple being, and addressing him casually might end badly.

He straightened slightly, as if preparing to answer. "I am…" His voice trailed off, lacking the gravitas I expected. Realizing this, he cleared his throat loudly and struck a dramatic pose, his presence suddenly shifting to exude authority.

"I am Zurique, God of the universe Elyria!" His voice boomed, reverberating through the space.

I blinked. "…Eh."

He paused, clearly expecting a stronger reaction. His glowing eyes narrowed slightly. "You don't seem that impressed."

"You're one strange god, you know that," I said, before my brain could stop my mouth.

"Strange?" His voice sharpened, tinged with irritation.

Panic flickered in my chest, but I pressed on. "I mean, you seemed really scary at first, but now… now you've got this other side to you. It's kind of… not-so-scary anymore."

For a moment, his expression darkened. Then, to my surprise, he scratched the back of his head awkwardly, letting out a cracked laugh that echoed through the void. "Oh… really? Hehehe." The sound was so unexpected that it completely shattered the tension.

"So," I began, letting out a cautious breath, "what am I doing here?" My eyes wandered to the massive pillars surrounding us, their golden brilliance illuminating the vast expanse. They were breathtaking, each one a masterpiece of craftsmanship, etched with intricate designs that seemed to shift and shimmer when viewed from different angles.

For the first time, his demeanor changed. He dropped the theatrics, his voice neither playful nor overly serious. It was calm—almost thoughtful.

"You," he said slowly, "are here because your time in the mortal world has ended. But your journey… is far from over."

"Okay?" I said cautiously, unsure of what he was about to reveal.

"I do need your help," Zurique began, his voice calm but edged with urgency. "There's so much about the universe that you don't know. The world you came from is very different from the one I will be taking you to."

I tilted my head slightly, a flicker of hope stirring. "I'm getting reincarnated?" I asked, trying not to sound too eager. Deep down, I braced myself, knowing there would likely be a catch.

"Yes," he confirmed, but his tone made my heart sink slightly. "But it's not that simple."

Of course, there's a catch.

"There's always a catch, little one," he said, his words eerily mirroring my thoughts.

I froze, my eyes widening. "Wait… how did you know that's what I was thinking?"

His lips curved into a faint smile, the glow in his eyes softening. "You're no longer in the mortal realm, little one, and neither am I mortal. Your thoughts are like whispers to me."

My stomach tightened. Great, so now my thoughts weren't even private. "Alright…" I said hesitantly, "so, why am I here?"

Zurique straightened, his towering form exuding an aura of command. His voice took on a weighty seriousness. "I brought you here because I need you to find me a successor."

"A successor?" I echoed, the word hanging in the air.

"Yes," he said, nodding. "Someone who will fill my position when I'm gone."

I blinked, confused. "But why would you need a successor? You're a god. You're practically immortal… right?"

A heavy silence followed, the gravity of the moment palpable.

"Indeed, I was immortal," Zurique finally admitted, his voice quieter, almost regretful. "But immortality does not come without rules, and I… I broke some. Unforgivable things. For that, I was punished."

I frowned, trying to process his words. "Unforgivable things? You got punished? You're practically a god!"

"I am," he replied, his tone tinged with weariness. "But as you never stop pointing out, there are other beings like me. Myths and legends to mortals, but real all the same. And just as in the world you came from, we have laws. Rules that bind us."

I raised an eyebrow, starting to piece things together. "Oh, you broke a few, didn't you?"

His expression darkened slightly, but there was also a faint smirk, almost self-deprecating. "You could say that," he said, his voice heavy with meaning.

"I'm even breaking one now, bringing you here," Zurique said with a chuckle, as if it were no big deal.

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

He laughed again, the sound oddly casual. "Your soul was going to cease to exist eventually, so it's not much of a big deal."

What?!

"Don't look so surprised," he continued, his glowing eyes fixed on me. "You didn't make much impact in your life. You were eventually going to be forgotten and fade away."

"That's not funny," I said sharply, my chest tightening with indignation.

"It's not," he admitted, his tone turning serious for a moment. "That's why I'm giving you a second chance. Will you take it?"

I stared at him, my mind racing. "Do I have a choice?"

"You do," he said confidently. "And I know you'll make the right one."

For a moment, I hesitated, the weight of his words pressing down on me. My gaze dropped to the dark floor beneath me. "What if… what if I don't want to live? What if I just want to stop existing?"

The second the words left my mouth, a pang shot through my chest—a sharp ache that felt more emotional than physical. I placed a hand over my heart instinctively, surprised by the sensation.

Zurique's expression softened, a knowing look crossing his face. "We both know that's not true," he said gently but firmly.

My lips parted to argue, but no words came out. He was right. Somewhere deep down, I didn't want to stop existing—not really. I bit my lip, trying to steady my thoughts.

"What happens if I can't find a successor in five years?" I asked, needing to change the subject.

Zurique's expression darkened slightly, his voice firm. "Then you—and everyone in that world—cease to exist."

I took a deep breath, processing his words. "In that case…" I said, lowering myself to sit cross-legged on the shadowy floor. My arms crossed as I looked up at him. "I need to know everything."

His brows raised in surprise, as if he hadn't expected me to demand so much.

I quickly backtracked, waving a hand. "I mean… the important stuff."

His expression softened, and he gave a small nod. "Ask."

I hesitated for a moment before deciding on my first question. "What rules did you break to get this kind of punishment?"