Nathaniel's POV
I hadn't misheard. Koko, the mysterious girl who claimed to be a servant of God, was actually offering me the chance to become a god myself.
Shock coursed through me, tangled with deep suspicion. Her sharp, knowing smile hinted at secrets I couldn't grasp, and her words felt like a game where I didn't know the rules.
"What do you mean I'll become a god?" I asked, my voice trembling. "I don't understand you."
My mind was reeling. I knew Koko possessed extraordinary powers—her vanishing acts, her shape-shifting—so it was plausible she could grant a wish. But becoming a god? That was beyond anything I'd ever imagined. Yet, she was serious, her confident grin suggesting she could make it happen.
"You see, I'm the kind of creature who gets bored easily," she said, as casual as if we were discussing the weather. "So I thought, what would happen if I gave you the chance to be a god? I think it'd be fun."
Her simplicity was baffling. Wasn't she an angel, bound to the Creator? Why did it feel like she had an agenda that defied divine orders? It was deeply suspicious, but as she'd said, this was my final chance to change my life. Why should I hesitate?
"Wait, is that even possible?" I asked, caught between skepticism and a fragile hope.
Koko's smile widened, her eyes glinting with a hidden knowledge. "I can do anything," she declared. "I can make the impossible possible."
According to her, this wouldn't be a problem for God. The power of the Sacred Book, she claimed, couldn't interfere with the Creator's supremacy; even if I became a god, I'd never rival His greatness. She insisted she knew me well, noting that even if she showered me with wealth or fame, it wouldn't satisfy me because I was different from the rest.
She had a point. I knew I craved more than just money or popularity. The idea of something greater—a rare, unparalleled opportunity—set my heart racing.
"I know what you want," she said, her voice brimming with anticipation. "A new, exciting life. What if we turned your fantasies into reality?"
Her words grew stranger. She gestured wildly, her eyes sparkling like a child's. "Become a superhero who saves the world from evil forces!" she exclaimed. "A great person admired by all, like the protagonists in your anime!"
It was music to my ears. What man could resist the chance to be a hero? But beneath the allure, there was danger. Fear crept into my chest. "My God, are you serious? What if I get hurt? What if I die in your plan?"
She smirked, looking irritated. "Of course, every adventure comes with trials, obstacles, and dangers," she replied, her tone scolding. "Every great thing has a price, Nathaniel."
I frowned. It wasn't that I disliked the idea, but I wasn't ready to face peril. That just wasn't me. It's normal to fear pain, isn't it? Koko just looked disappointed.
"I'm not surprised," she mocked. "You're a spineless, weak, pathetic loser."
Her words stung, especially coming from someone who looked like a child. After a deep, exasperated sigh, she snapped her fingers. A golden quill appeared in the air, and she opened the floating Book of Life. That sharp smile returned as she began to write. Each stroke of the quill pulsed with life, sending a chill down my spine. I couldn't let her continue unchecked.
I saw the letters glowing and, panicking, I grabbed her arm. "What are you doing?" I shouted.
"Writing something interesting," she replied, her smile unwavering. "Want to know what it is?"
I had no idea what was written there—the script was alien. But my gut screamed that trouble was coming. "Shouldn't I be the one deciding what goes in there?" I protested.
"Hmm, true enough," she said, then yanked her arm free. "But why should I care? It wouldn't be fair if you were the only one having fun with the Sacred Book."
I furrowed my brow. She claimed there were no rules forbidding her from meddling. I couldn't believe this was an angel of God—beautiful and seemingly innocent, yet speaking like a cunning child.
"Don't worry," she assured me. "I know you can do this. Not because you're a loser, but because you were destined for it."
She promised a favorable outcome, flashing an "OK" sign as if my existential dread were trivial. Even so, the unease in my chest wouldn't fade. I was certain I'd end up in danger. If I died because of her reckless plan, would God give me another chance?
Koko burst into laughter. "Who are you to be revived by the Creator?" she scoffed. "Even holy saints aren't given that chance."
She explained that if I died, my soul would be judged like any other. It was baffling—she'd given me the power to wield the Sacred Book, yet I remained insignificant in God's eyes.
But Koko clarified that I wouldn't die until the destiny in the book was fulfilled. "You won't die until you complete the mission I've written here," she said, smiling. "Yes, even if you are a loser."
"Can you stop calling me a loser?" I shouted.
She stopped writing. A glowing circle, like a magical rune, enveloped her. Shimmering dust erupted from the book, illuminating the room.
"It's done!" Koko declared. "Get ready to face your new destiny!"
"Wait!" I yelled. "I know I want a new life, but does it have to involve danger? Can't I choose a safer path?"
She didn't respond, her eyes filled with disappointment. A blinding light erupted from the book, intense and overwhelming. "What's happening?" I shouted.
Koko glowed with an otherworldly aura. "Feel the power of the heavens!" she proclaimed. "I'll make sure you never forget this!"
In a flash, she lunged forward, delivering a powerful kick. "Dragon Kick!"
The strike caught me off guard, sending me flying across the room. Before I could hit the wall, a dark, swirling portal opened, and her momentum hurled me straight through it.
An endless void swallowed me. I screamed, my voice echoing in the darkness. Just seconds ago, she'd assured me I had nothing to fear, but now I was certain this rogue angel would be my end.
As I fell, Koko's voice rang out, clear as if she were right beside me. "I'm sending you to the world you dreamed of. You'll meet the beings you created, along with the fates you designed for them."
"Endoryo?" I realized, my heart pounding. "Don't tell me—"
"Yes, exactly," she said. "The world you built in your comics."
I couldn't believe it. Was this what she meant by becoming a god? Sending me into my own story?
"That's up to you," she replied. "Your fate will be shaped by the decisions you take there."
She explained that I had to join a game created by a powerful being named Crimson. If I defeated the eight warlords who had slaughtered millions, I would become a "true" god for the beings I'd created. But she added a warning: "You won't arrive there as a god, but as a mere mortal with countless limitations. You'll need to blend in."
As I fell, golden pages from the Sacred Book swirled around me. "Even if you cower from your responsibility," Koko warned, "everything will unfold as I've written. The only things not set in stone are the people you'll meet and the number of lives lost."
"Their fates... are in your hands," she added.
My mind was a whirlwind of confusion. But as I plummeted, the darkness began to fade, replaced by a blinding, gentle light. I felt a solid surface beneath me, and a sweet scent—like flowers—filled the air.
I opened my eyes. A vast, awe-inspiring place unfolded before me: Agatha's Tower. It was the hub where the Crimson Game was conducted, and every detail—from the towering walls to the stone chairs—was exactly as I'd drawn it.
"What is this madness?" I shouted, scrambling to my feet. "That crazy angel was serious! She brought me into my own comics!"
I scanned my surroundings and froze. My body felt different—I was younger, but just as Koko promised, I was entirely ordinary. No powers. No special traits.
I stood there, stunned, clutching my head. I wanted a change, but not like this—not in a perilous world of my own making. How great a sinner must I be to be punished like this?
"Wait! Send me back!" I screamed, but the only answer was the cold, indifferent silence of the tower.