Summoned By A Goddess.

One moment, searing agony, the next… oblivion. Then, awareness.

Michael found himself in a vast hall of pearlescent marble. An impossibly pure light filtered through stained-glass windows, each depicting celestial scenes. Rainbows, born from the light, danced across intricate mosaics on the floor. Slender columns, spiraling upwards towards a vaulted ceiling that seemed to dissolve into a shimmering haze, were adorned with carvings of fantastical beings. A low, resonant hum vibrated through the hall, the sound of a distant waterfall filling the space with a calming melody.

Michael stared at the scene, bewildered. His vocabulary felt utterly inadequate. "Divinely breathtaking" was the closest he could come, but even those words felt hollow, insufficient to capture the sheer magnificence of the place.

"Where… where am I? Is this heaven?" Michael wondered, still reeling from the shock. Had God, in some inexplicable act of mercy, brought him here? He was damn well sure he hadn't done anything to deserve paradise, at least not according to the virtues he'd been taught on Earth.

'Where are the heavenly choirs?' he mused. Every description of heaven he'd ever encountered included celestial choirs singing heart-melting melodies. All he could hear was the soothing rush of water, which, admittedly, he wasn't complaining about.

"Hello there, mortal," a melodic voice suddenly echoed through the hall, interrupting Michael's thoughts.

"What—who's there?" Michael startled, whirling around to locate the source of the voice.

Standing before him was a woman of breathtaking beauty. In fact, "beauty" felt like an understatement. Michael had seen attractive women during his life – models, actresses, the whole gamut – but none compared to the ethereal being before him.

Her eyes were the deep blue of the ocean. White hair cascaded over her shoulders, flowing down to her waist. Her face was perfectly oval, framed by full, red lips that seemed almost divine. She wore a white, semi-transparent robe that outlined her perfect figure, the fabric clinging to her breasts, her nipples subtly visible beneath the thin material.

"Bloody hell," Michael muttered, his jaw slack. He considered himself a man with considerable self-control. On Earth, he rarely reacted outwardly, even to the most stunning of women. But this… this was different. This woman was perfection personified, radiating an aura of regal beauty.

Michael found himself momentarily dazed. With a concerted effort, he managed to gather his wits and regain some semblance of composure.

'Wait a damn minute… am I naked?' The realization hit him with the force of a physical blow. He instinctively reached down to cover himself, while the beautiful woman continued to observe him, a playful glint in her eyes.

"The hell!" Michael exclaimed, feeling a surge of indignation. "Uh… lady, don't you think it's a bit perverted to stare at a bare, vulnerable man like that?"

"Does it matter?" she replied, her voice smooth as silk. "I am a goddess. I have seen multitudes of those."

"Look, lady, I don't care if you're the mother of the universe or the big bang itself. You'd better find me something to put on," Michael retorted, his anger flaring. "Or maybe it's only fair if I get to stare at you naked as well, if that's what you want," he blurted out, surprised by his own audacity.

A flicker of surprise crossed the goddess's face, quickly replaced by the same playful glint in her eyes. With a graceful gesture, a golden robe materialized and draped itself over Michael's body.

Feeling the soft fabric against his skin, Michael relaxed, though a small part of him wished she'd gone with the second option. Now decently covered, he turned back to the goddess, curiosity burning in his eyes.

"You said you're a goddess, right?" he asked.

"Yes, you are correct," she replied.

Michael furrowed his brows. "Does that mean this is heaven? Or some kind of afterlife?"

"Neither," she corrected. "This is my personal celestial space."

"Why am I here, then? Feeling lonely or something?" Michael quipped.

The goddess chuckled. "You are a funny one," she said. "But no, that is not why you are here. You are here because I summoned you. As a hero. To save my world."

Michael's brows furrowed deeper. "Save your world?"

"Yes," she confirmed.

"How am I supposed to do that? You're a goddess. What could you possibly need from me that you don't already have?" Michael asked, his confusion growing.

"You can interfere with my world, while I cannot," she explained. "The universe operates according to certain orders, and everything within it is bound by these orders. We celestials cannot directly interfere in mortal affairs. We need a mortal vessel to act on our behalf. And in my case, that vessel is you."

"Well, that's understandable," Michael muttered. The goddess's explanation, coupled with his fondness for fantasy novels back on Earth, painted a clear picture of his current predicament.

"But I'm still confused. What am I supposed to do? What am I saving your world from?" Michael asked, his brow furrowed.

"From the hero of the world," she replied.

"Huh?" Michael blinked, thoroughly confused.

"You see, some years ago, when my world was in dire need of a hero, I summoned one to help solve its problems. But afterwards, the hero went rogue. Now, my world is on the verge of destruction if his actions are left unchecked. That's your job. That's all I can tell you for now."

Michael's brow furrowed deeper as he listened. It didn't quite make sense. There seemed to be a gaping hole in the story. Why would a hero destroy the world he was supposed to save?

His questions would have to remain unanswered, as the goddess didn't seem inclined to offer any more information.

"Your task is to help me kill this hero. Don't worry, I have something prepared for you to aid you in accomplishing this task. So, what do you say?" she asked, a playful glint in her eyes. She seemed strangely unconcerned about the potential destruction of her world.

Michael understood why. The goddess had mentioned this was just one of her worlds. Clearly, she possessed multiple realms, so the destruction of one wouldn't be a matter of great urgency.

"I accept," Michael said, a smile playing on his lips. A second chance at life? He'd take it. And he got to kill one of those pretentious heroes? Even better.

He'd always harbored a simmering resentment towards the self-righteous heroes who always triumphed in the novels he read. Their virtuous posturing disgusted him. Now, he had a chance to take one of them down.

"I'll accept, but on one condition: I don't play by the hero's rules. I'll kill your hero for you, but don't expect me to replace him. I'll live the life I want. If that's acceptable to you, then let's do it," Michael added. He wanted a second life, but not one where he was forced to follow in the footsteps of a sanctimonious hero. He'd much rather be the villain.

The goddess chuckled. "You are an interesting specimen. Any other mortal would have cowered before me, eager to please. But you…" she paused, her lips curling into a slight smile. "You want to be a villain in my world? Do you think I dare not strike you down this very instant?"

Michael's brow furrowed. He wasn't surprised she'd picked up on his thoughts. Mind-reading wasn't exactly shocking for a powerful celestial being.

"Lady, I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm dead. Like, I blew a hole in my own head. A really, really big hole. After a lot of deliberation, I made that decision. So…" His lips curved into a confident smile. "Do you really think death scares me?"

The goddess's expression remained unchanged. She'd anticipated his response. Her lips curved into a wider smile. "You've got a deal. As long as you pose no threat of destruction to my world, you are free to do as you please." Her voice was nonchalant, almost indifferent.

"Good. Then we have a deal, Goddess…"

"Lila," she supplied.

"Nice," Michael smiled. He wanted more information about the rogue hero, but he knew it was futile. Lila was deliberately withholding details, perhaps for a good reason. Not that he cared.

"Good," Lila said. "Prepare to be sent to my world. You will be granted the power necessary to defeat the hero."

"Nice. Hope it's at least cool," Michael quipped.

"Of course it will be," the goddess replied with a playful glint in her eyes.

"Great, then send me."

Without hesitation, Lila extended her hand towards Michael. His form dissolved into motes of light, vanishing from the celestial space.

Goddess Lila stood gazing at the spot where Michael had been. "Interesting," she murmured, a smile playing on her lips. She turned and walked deeper into her realm, the soft, melodic sound of the waterfall echoing behind her.

---

"Alright, monkeys! Enough of your chit-chat! Settle down! Your awakening ceremony will begin shortly!" A stern-looking, middle-aged man with gray hair and a scarred face barked. The scar, a jagged line running from his nose to just below his left ear, added to his intimidating presence. His voice, filled with the confidence and authority of a seasoned warrior, boomed across the crowd of teenagers, aged sixteen to eighteen, seated before him.