Heavenly encounter

"Damn it, damn it, damn it! I should have known something was wrong! I can't believe I fell for it! I can't believe I let my guard down!" I muttered angrily, clenching my fists.

If I ever saw that smug, shiny god face again, I was going to make him regret making a fool out of me.

To understand why I was currently spiraling into a rage-fueled breakdown, we had to go back a few hours.

---

A Few Hours Earlier

Life just isn't fair.

That was my last thought before I got hit by a car on my way home.

After living a crappy life, I finally got killed in the most cliché way possible. Just another unlucky bastard added to the long list of "truck-kun's" victims.

Oh well, a trashy end to a trashy life.

I forced a weak smile, trying to hold back the tears as my vision blurred. The world around me faded, and suddenly, everything was replaced by a bright white light.

Then, a figure appeared before me. A woman, bathed in a radiant glow, her form barely visible but undeniably divine.

"How disappointing," she said, her voice smooth and elegant. "All that raw potential, lost before you could even be of use."

I felt a shiver run down my spine. Fear, surprise, and… was that a hint of excitement?

Being a huge anime fan when I was alive, I immediately recognized the setup. This… this is it! The start of my isekai adventure!

Could it be? Was she a goddess?

"So what if I am?" she replied, as if reading my mind.

I stiffened. Her face was still hidden from me, but I could feel her warm smile as she gracefully summoned a book out of thin air.

"And you must be Alex," she said, flipping through the pages of the book before glancing at me again.

I could only stare in awe, completely frozen. Then, it finally hit me—I was in the presence of an actual god.

Without thinking, I dropped to my knees, pressing my forehead to the ground.

"I can't believe it! An all-powerful god is right in front of me! Maybe fortune does smile upon me! After such a miserable life, I finally—"

Before I could finish my inner monologue, she interrupted me.

"Hmm, looking at you from a physical standpoint, you look like a shut-in who never stepped outside his door."

Her words cut deep. A girl—no, a goddess—was roasting me. My soul shattered into a million pieces.

But then, her tone shifted slightly.

"I can help you change that," she said. "I can help you unlock your potential… if you agree to play a game with me."

I perked up at that. "What might that be, your godliness?" I asked, still bowing.

She chuckled. "Seeing as you used to be a gamer who spent his whole day playing but eventually stopped… how about one more game?"

I frowned, confused. I tried looking up at her, but all I could see was her outstretched finger.

"I don't understand. What do you mean by play a game?"

She gave a soft laugh before explaining.

"We gods are all-knowing beings, watching over the world. But do you know how boring that is? We see everything—every possibility, every outcome—in a fraction of a second." She sighed. "It's like watching the same movie on repeat for eternity."

I thought about it for a moment. Even watching a movie twice in a row was exhausting—imagine watching the same one forever.

"But wouldn't playing a game be the same?" I asked, skeptical. "If you're all-knowing, wouldn't you already know how it ends?"

She seemed pleased by my question. "Ah, but that's where you're wrong."

She leaned in slightly. "You are in the heavenly plane. Even a god like me cannot predict what will happen here."

I stiffened. "Wait… you just read my mind, didn't you?"

"I may not be able to see the future," she admitted, "but I see everything that happens in the present. Your mind is no exception."

Damn. So much for having private thoughts.

Still, it sounded like a win-win situation. I get a second chance, and she gets some entertainment. I couldn't see a downside, so I nodded.

"I accept your offer."

The goddess beamed at me. A book floated towards me, hovering just within reach.

"Please sign here," she said. "Do not be alarmed—it is just a formality."

Without hesitation, I grabbed the book and signed my name. My head was filled with only one thought: After I sign this contract, I will begin my adventure with a party of powerful adventurers!

The goddess took the book and raised it into the air. Power radiated from her as she spoke.

"With this, I take custody of this lamb, Alex. I, Loki, send him to the world of my creation!"

Wait.

Loki?

As in Loki, the god of mischief?

My entire body went cold. My eyes widened in horror as the magic circle beneath me activated.

As I started to fall, the goddess—no, Loki—revealed his face, waving at me with a mischievous grin.

"Have fun, kid!"

Everything clicked.

I was so screwed.

"I AM SO FUCKED!" I screamed as I plummeted into the unknown.