???
White and glowing, everything is so white and glowing with a faint mist everywhere. That's what a man sees all around him. Confused and mesmerized by the white place he's in now, the man thinks to himself if he's in heaven or an Apple store. But since he knows that he is an Android user, the first option is more likely.
"Shit… Did I actually die?"
Trying to recall his life, he cannot find anything remarkably good in his 34 years of living. He wasn't a criminal, sure, but he definitely wasn't saint material either. Just a millennial who spends most of his time looking at a screen other than eating, shitting, working, and sleeping. Wait, actually, he's doing the first three while looking at the screen also.
He remembers his last memory was he was on a holiday in Japan. Which is quite an achievement with his so-so wages as a freelance online journalist. Even though he's not an otaku, he is quite an avid consumer of Japanese culture, so he really enjoys what is supposedly a 5-day vacation.
But on his third day, he finds himself inside a situation that he is very familiar with. A crossroad, a cat crossing by, and a truck closing fast. Knowing what will happen in the next few seconds, the man's quick thinking starts to weigh his options.
Option 1: Try to save the cat and most likely get crushed horribly with a big chance of death and a very small chance of getting isekai'ed. OR WORSE: Facing Japan's infamous medical bills with his overdue insurance
Option 2: Just watch the cat die like the other 5.4 million cats that die annually in the USA because of traffic accidents.
The man realistically chooses option number 2, he is more of a dog person anyway. He takes some steps back and stands next to an iconic Japanese red mailbox.
Meanwhile the truck driver, a Japanese driver that has passed his country's notoriously hellish driving test, realized he couldn't brake in time. So he swerved toward the mailbox instead. Getting sued by a Japanese pet owner is more expensive.
"Eh?"
The driver and the man locked eyes for one surreal split second before the collision.
---
"THAT FUCKING TRUCK-KUN!!"
Realizing that he is now in fact dead. The man's scream echoes across the glowing void.
"...Oh, you poor hero… beset by confusion."
A sweet and beautiful voice is talking to the man. He looks around and sees a glowing figure descend, wrapped in divine light and wearing what can be described as the reason most men attend a cosplay convention.
When the light fades, the man's jaws drop.
She's gorgeous, ridiculously gorgeous. The kind of gorgeous that makes a Japanese man decide to legally marry a 2D character—except this time she's 3D.
"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, that isekai shit is for real? Seriously??" The man's mind screamed frantically after seeing the poster girl for every isekai story in front of him.
With what seems to be a dramatic purpose, the poster girl slowly opens her eyes as she starts to talk.
"I welcome thee to the Goddess realm, oh my fated and divine He… ro?"
Her eyebrows lift. Her elegant smile freezes as she takes in the sight of him: a 30-something man, mild beer belly, receding hairline. Not handsome, not ugly—just painfully average, the kind of average that can be fixed if he takes care of his appearance. But that kind of care costs money, and his current appearance clearly shows his current wallet.
"O Hero," she continues, forcing her smile and divine voice back to protocol. "I am the goddess Celes. Please tell me thy name, oh fated hero."
"Uh… my name is Alex Solomon," he says. "But I prefer to be called Solo since there are already too many Alex..."
Hearing the name, her eyebrows twitch. With a flick of her finger, she decides to summon a female angel secretary that pops out of nowhere. The goddess drags her down for a frantic whispering. Solo silently judges the situation in front of him as an unprofessional, out-of-character situation.
Not long after, the angel vanishes again.
"Apology for the intrusion, ehm… O Alex Solomon, as you may know, your previous life is regretfully ended, yet the universe, in its mysterious way, bla bla bla…."
As the goddess continues her sermon, Solo thinks to himself that this is usually the part where he presses the skip button repeatedly. But boy, looking at the goddess's beauty in person sure is different, so this time he doesn't mind spending time listening to the tutorials.
With another elegant motion, the goddess summons a door-shaped portal. A massive crystal at its peak rotates and glows until the space inside is a blue-green planet that definitely wasn't Earth.
"And this is planet Talvaris," she says proudly, "a beautiful world where so many races are living in harmony with each other. That is, of course… until the Demon King and his army escaped from the Divine Barrier that was keeping them inside the Demon Territory. But after saving my divine energy for centuries, I can now open a portal to send you, O fated Hero, to save Talvaris and its people from certain doom."
Solo studies the floating planet; the continents look like they were made by an amateur novelist.
"And I guess those are the demon realm?" Solo pointing to a small continent covered with thunderclouds on the south part of the planet
"Correct, O wise hero…"
Solo exhales softly. His past life flashes by: his family, his friends, and his job. It was a simple life, but not a bad one. If this new world offered purpose, maybe it wouldn't be so terrible to start over.
The goddess clasped her hands; a ray of light started to descend upon him.
"And now, O hero, I bestow upon thee three gifts."
"The first gift is from the universe, also known as the 'system.' A unique skill based on thy previous life.
A glowing panel materializes in front of Solo. His heart thumps with excitement.
Attack skill? OP stats? Time stop? Anything but the rewinding time when you're killed skills. That one is too depressing! – Please, God, no.
The panel finishes loading, and Solo's face turns confused and full of disbelief. Making the Goddess worry
"O Hero, please tell me what ability thou received from the system."
"It's... It's a… Is it a Google?"
A plain Google homepage floats before him.
White background. Colorful logo. Search bar
Not even dark mode
"T-the description said… the ability to access Earth networks… Oh fuck no! No! No! This is just like the bringing-your-smartphone thingy! What am I supposed to do? G-maps my way out from a dungeon and gave it a 1-star review??"
"W-Worry not, O Hero," she forces out. "There are still two goddess gifts that I will bestow upon thee."
The goddess starts to wonder if this is a mistake. But she tries to keep her professionalism and make another elegant motion.
RPG-like icons appear before him—swords, shields, staffs, and others…
"Now Hero, choose two skills that you think will suit you for—"
Before she can continue, the angel pops back in, whispering urgently.
The goddess freezes.
Then explodes
"I FUCKING KNEW IT!!"
The goddess swings her arm. All the RPG icons vanish. The air ripples with raw magic as she stomps toward him, divine fury boiling off her like a kettle.
"You! Mortal! Tell me something! Are you Japanese?"
Solo blinks. "Uhh… no?... I was just on vacation in Japan. I—does it matter?"
"FUUUUUUCK!"
She kicks over a floating altar, showing her ungodly side, the angel tries to calm the goddess.
"B-but dear Goddess, you said this time you want something different. Not the usual Hero characters."
"YES! But it doesn't mean you can disregard the Japanese teenager's part! They are naïve! Vanilla! Virg—well… Those chuni always obey the fantasy tropes rule! My fucking rules! But this! This is a full-grown pig with 30 years of porn history!"
"Okay, rude—"
"Be quiet, you fucking pig."
The goddess blasts him with a beam of scorching divine light. He crashes into the floor. Blood starts rushing from a hole in Solo's shoulder.
"OW! WHAT THE FUCK, BITCH?!"
"You dare call me a bitch!?"
Another beam hits him dead-on, engulfing him in smoke.
When the smoke clears…
He feels wrong.
Bigger. Heavier.
And green.
"….oink?"
He looks into the floor reflection.
An orc.
He has been turned into a fucking orc.
"Oink oink! Oi—FUCK!"
The goddess laughs. "Heheh, relax, pig. You barely look different." She snickers.
Solo tries to charge at the goddess, rage pumping through his newly green veins, but a shimmering magical shield blocks him. He slams his fist against it—only a few weak flickers ripple across the barrier.
"D-Dear goddess," the angel stammers, "you shouldn't waste your power like that."
"It doesn't matter!" the goddess snaps. "We're still in the Goddess realm. It barely costs me anything. Now hurry up and find me a new hero! And execute the operator who picked this pig!"
"R-right away, goddess! But… what should we do with the current—uh—pig?
"Just erase him. I'd rather spend what divine energy I have left on a proper hero!"
Solo's eyes widen. His survival instincts kick in immediately. The space around them is endless white nothingness—no walls, no floor, just the platform and the giant portal.
So the decision is easy.
He bolts toward the portal.
"G-goddess! Look—!
"NO!"
Celes summons more angels, but Solo's already diving headfirst through the portal. The giant crystal on top starts spinning wildly, the entire structure shaking.
"YOU FUCKING PIG!! MY PORTAL!! NOOO!"
Solo begins floating automatically, pulled along a beam of light toward Talvaris. He can still hear the goddess's hysterical shrieking echoing behind him. He doesn't know exactly what he just did, but making the goddess mad is definitely the new-found talent of his afterlife.
He turns mid-flight, faces the shrinking portal, and proudly raises his middle finger.
"I WILL KILL YOU, YOU STUPID DIRTY PIG! I SWEAR I WILL KILL YOU!"
Back in the goddess realm, the angel frantically taps away at multiple floating, computer-like panels.
"G-Goddess! Portal energy will be depleted in 80 seconds. But we still have a connection—we can still erase him!"
Celes's snarl slowly melts into an evil grin. She lifts her hand to give the kill order—
Then pauses.
Her grin widens.
"No… I don't want to make it that easy. I have a better idea."
She taps her temple. "We still have enough divine energy to grant him the two Goddess Gifts, yes? Listen closely."
"For the first gift—make him unable to level up."
"…Done!"
"And the second—make him unable to die unless he's killed by a Hero Weapon."
"…Done."
"Good. Also change his summoning coordinates to the Demon Territory."
"Updating… and done. Portal energy depletes in 3… 2… 1."
The crystals slow to a stop. The portal dims. The light fades. Silence fills the realm.
"We've lost connection to Talvaris, goddess," the angel reports softly. "May I ask… what is your plan?"
Celes chuckles darkly.
"Fufufu… It's simple. By making him a weak orc who can't level up, he'll be helpless in the demon territory. And since he can't die unless struck by a hero weapon, he'll be used as an infinite food source by demons. Over and over. Hahaha!"
"What magnificent genius, O Goddess! So that is why you sent him to the Demon Territory."
"Well, also because I don't want him stumbling into elf territory and finding a hero weapon to kill himself with. Now—give me the recalculations. When can I activate the portal again?"
"One moment… calculating… You will have enough divine energy to reopen the portal in approximately… 130 years."
Celes freezes.
"…Wha-WHY? Why so fucking long?!"
"G-goddess, since we did not disable the divine barrier over the demon kingdom this time, there will be no demon invasion. And without world-scale war, divine power replenishes very slowly."
"Oh dear me… what a blunder…"
She clicks her tongue, then exhales.
"Fine. At least I know that pig will suffer way longer than I planned."
Her eyes narrow, voice dripping with venom.
"Alex Solomon… No one calls me a bitch and gets away with it. Enjoy your 130 years of suffering. In the end, you will pray to me to end your pathetic life."
130 years later
Malvorath Continent, 1312 EC
Ravendawn Kingdom
King Luxtor stands on his balcony, watching his troops scramble through their so-called "war preparations." There's no fire in his eyes anymore—just resignation.
Once, Ravendawn was respected for its tough and battle-hardened army. Feared, even. The first line of defense against demon invasions. Whenever the Demon Kingdom attacked, the rest of Talvaris would flood them with new weapons, food, gold, and reinforcements.
But 130 years ago, Divine Barrier was held for the first time—a miracle that happened during Luxtor's great-grandfather's reign—and the world changed. No invasion came. Ever.
The church oracles claimed it was thanks to the people's prayers powering the goddess. Everyone celebrated.
Then the bills came due.
Kingdoms had drained their coffers preparing for a war that never arrived, and to refill them, they take other kingdoms' coffers. Ravendawn was one of the victims, stripped down until all that remained was a southern territory no one else wanted. They were "allowed" to rule it… as vassals of the Vandoria kingdom, their neighbor.
"Father, I'm leaving now."
"Please, my son, reconsider. You don't need to be on the front line."
"I do. If no one from the royal family is present, the other kingdoms won't acknowledge anything we achieve."
"Achieve what?!" Luxtor gestures at the camp. "Look around you! These 'reinforcements' are slaves with rusted gear and clueless low-rank nobles who don't know shit about command!"
Prince Luxius only smiled sadly.
"Vandoria promised to end our vassal status if we help stop the Demon Army. This is our chance. Maybe the Goddess will bless us again and no invasion will happen. Goodbye, Father. May I return with victory?"
Luxtor watches his son leave, eyes wet.
"Oh goddess… I've cursed you so many times. But please… please bring my son home."
Solis Continent
Divine Empire of Celeste, Celestial Palace Main Hall
Far from the Demon Kingdom border, in the Celeste palace.
The main hall shimmers as a large magic circle activates.
Isabel, a young priestess with absurdly saintly-looking chants, as officials wait nervously behind her.
A burst of blinding light fills the room, everyone inside the hall covering their eyes from the dramatic bright light. When it fades, a young man in modern clothes stands in the center. The only black hair in the room, attractive but pretending not to know it. Obviously your cliché Isekai MC.
"Wh-where am I?" He says.
Hell yeah. Isekai time! He thinks.
"O Hero from another world," Isabel said, making sure she's the first person the summoned man sees. "Welcome to the Divine Empire of Celeste."
"I never heard about that country before." He said.
Yay! Cute saintess. He thinks
The Celeste emperor steps forward.
"O Hero, I am King Gregory. I welcome you to my humble castle. Please tell me, what is your name?"
"I'm Nobuyuki Sora, a high schooler from Japan."
"I am very sorry to have you taken from your world, Nobuyuki Sora, but our world is in great peril. Right at this moment, in the far south of the world, the army of humanity is preparing to hold the dreaded Demon Army invasion… but not many of us feel that the army of humanity will fare well… including me."
Great Demon Gate
As the so-called army of humanity, there are not many humans included in the ranks. Most of the soldiers are beastmen from various races, wielding old and outdated equipment. On the rear, Crown Prince Luxius of the Ravendawn Kingdom inspects the formation of what is supposed to be:
3000 Foot Soldiers800 Archers150 Magicians400 Cavalry80 Wyvern riders120 Avian warriors35 Ballista
A messenger running fast to report to Luxius
"Sir! All of the mercenaries have disappeared! They're most likely running away during the long march!"
"Those gold-grubbing cowards! And what about the Vandoria army? Where are they?"
"Uhh… they are here now… But their messenger said that their regular army is being occupied by an unforeseen event. So instead they send their brave militia who volunteered for this war."
Luxius looked at the corner of the formations, a bunch of peasants trembling and terrified while holding a pitchfork, shovel, or whatever household things that they could use as weapons.
"Those are just villagers being rounded up for war!"
And now, the army of humanity consists of
3000 2200 Foot Soldiers800 500 Archers150 Magicians400 250 Cavalry80 60 Wyvern Riders120 Avian warriors35 Ballista+300 Peasants Militia
The Demon Kingdom borderline is easily distinguished by the Malvorath Mountain range, a colossal line of spiky mountains splitting the Malvorath continent into two. In the middle of it is the entrance to the Demon Territory, the Great Demon Gate, an ominous gigantic gate with demonic sculpture carved all over it. Modern man will easily remember the Gate of Mordor by looking at it.
Everyone at the Army of Humanity is praying for the goddess to keep the gate sealed. No one wants to fight the Demon Army.
"Look up there!!"
A bright blue sphere forms in the sky and descends—only to smash into the Divine Barrier. The collision causes the entire invisible wall to start disintegrating.
"The barrier… it's collapsing."
When the last of the Divine Barrier disintegrates, all of them look at the Great Demon Gate with fear.
VOOOOOOOOOMMMMM
The sound of an otherworldly trumpet blaring from behind the gate, followed by a loud clunk of the gate being opened. The massive gate starts splitting in two and pushing outward.
Some of the soldiers start to run in fear, especially the peasant militia, leaving their formation behind. Luxius has no interest in handling the deserters and chooses to rally the remaining soldiers instead.
"Everyone! Ready your weapons!"
Huge dust clouds start forming due to the friction of the massive gate with the ground below. Making the spectacles even more ominous. The gate is now fully open, leaving only dust clouds covering whatever is behind. Every soldier is now being sweaty from fear.
Then-
HRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMM
CHOP-CHOP-CHOP-CHOP-CHOP
Otherworldly noises were coming from behind the gate. Followed by the silhouette of a massive army. Both of the sounds and the silhouette are getting bigger and bigger.
Divine Empire of Celeste
A messenger interrupts the emperor:
"Your Highness, our comm crystal just received a report from the Army of Humanity."
"Let me hear it."
"The Divine Barrier has fallen, and the Great Demon Gate is being opened."
All the audiences in the hall are gasping.
"From behind the Great Demon Gate, the Demon Army are coming with big and hellish-looking monsters and contraptions that they have never seen before. Hundreds of demon folks wearing the same uniform wielding strange demonic staffs, dozens of hell chariots and demon elephants with demon folks riding them, and also some hell dragonflies floating in the sky."
Isabel is shivering from the report.
"Demon elephants? Hell… dragonflies? There's never been a record about those kinds of demons or demonic beasts. Is the Demon King summoning a new species from hell?"
"A-and the one leading the demon army is… none other than one of the Demon Dukes himself, L-Leviathan."
All the audience are panicking and murmuring, hearing the name of one of the legendary Demon Dukes.
Sora watches the reactions of the crowds and starts feeling a bit worried; he wonders if the isekai world he's in is a nightmare mode.
"And here is the message from Leviathan himself," the messenger continued.
Great Demon Gate
"Heed my words! Heed my words! My name is Leviathan, and I am here to deliver upon you the message from the Demon Kingdom!"
A tall man wearing sleek clothing and glasses, walking calmly toward the terrified army.
He doesn't wield any weapons, but behind him is a company of demonfolk infantry, brandishing M4A1s, accompanied by dozens of Humvees equipped with .50 cal M2 Browning machine guns, a platoon of M1 Abrams tanks, and four AH-64 Apaches.
Leviathan clearing his throat
"People of Talvaris! We come in peace."