The hero ys on his deathbed, surrounded by his companions and loved ones. He’s drained, literally, he looks like a skeleton wrapped in skin. The hero looks at his closest companions.

  The Warrior, she stands strong and at attention even during this tragic time, but her face betrays her proud stature. She weeps like a baby trying not to make a sound while her tears streak across her face and fall to the ground between her feet.

  The Mage, shuffled off to a corner crouched in a ball and decided to ball her eyes out there. She doesn’t scream but the sobs can be heard across the room.

  The Bard, he hangs his head low while clutching his Lute tightly, can’t think of any good songs that would fit the moment. He’s trying to hold his tears back, but some slip through anyway.

  The Archer, he stands off to the side near the mage leaning on the wall with his arms crossed, he’s the only one in the room not crying but the look on his face seems like he really wants to.

  The Hero party is old, they have been fighting the evil Demon Empress since they were teenagers. And they finally won the battle a couple years ago, but with a price of The Hero's declining health.

  The Hero-”Don’t let me stop you… from enjoying the rest of your lives. Despite the circumstances… this is a happy occasion.” He gives a hopeful smile to his friends and he closes his eyes for the st time.

  He wakes up in a white void, his body still as shriveled and drab just like when he died, but his body feels a lot better than on his deathbed. He stands up and walks around, nothing gets accomplished since he doesn’t even know what direction he’s going in.

  Goddess-”Welcome Hero.” A giant voluptuous woman floats downwards from apparently nothing with a sly grin on her face. Her hair flows like rushing water and her eyes shine with a light like the brightest stars.

  The Hero-”Are you a God?”

  Goddess-”I am.” She speaks in a soft, soothing voice. Instilling a sense of calm in the Hero.

  The Hero-”I’m dead I assume.”

  Goddess-”That would be correct. But for your great selflessness and service in saving the world you left behind. You are now given a choice, a choice of where you would like to go for your next life.”

  The Hero-”Does it really matter?”

  Goddess-”Of course it does, this is the start of your new life, the decision is very big.” She pulls out a miniature notebook and starts flipping through its pages. “We have here a world of Pirates and the Government controls the world, where they eat fruit to gain powers. Then we have a world ruled by Shinobi and Ninjas, but to be completely fair they don’t act like Ninjas so be careful with that one. Or we have one of my favorites: Pnt world. A pce where its inhabitants are the prey and the predator is the pnet itself.” She squeals with excitement and does a little dance.

  The Hero-”To be completely honest,” He rubs the back of his head. “None of those sound appealing to me. I’ve spent almost my whole life fighting and if I’m getting another chance at this I would like to live my life in peace, something I couldn’t enjoy previously.”

  The smile leaves her face and she stares directly at the hero unmoving, even her hair has seemed to freeze in time. The non-existent air around them grows thick with tension. The Hero can’t move almost like he’s submerged in lead.

  Goddess-”But that’s so boring, besides it’s not like you can’t live a normal life in any of the ones I mentioned.” Her voice is still soft, but no longer soothing instead it agitates The Hero. All of his instincts he accumuted over the years are on fire screaming at him to do something. Against his better judgment and own instincts he stands with his own convictions.

  The Hero-”That’s just what I feel right now I don’t know what else to tell you. If it really bothers you that much you can just forgo the special treatment and let me pass around the wheel naturally.” His voice matches her and he doesn’t back down. Eyes never leaving hers and vice versa. For the little time has passed The Hero feels like he’s been frozen here for years, centuries maybe, just trapped in her gaze. But he doesn’t falter. Then he’s finally able to move again.

  Goddess-”Ughhhhhhhh fine.” In this moment she doesn’t look like the Goddess she is instead like a teenager begrudgingly having to be the bigger person. She turns her back and starts mumbling to herself. “This is stupid, of course the best hero in the “Party World” is such a bore in the afterlife, just my luck.” She flips through her notebook furiously.

  The Hero-”So how long will-” He gets cut off with a gre from her.

  Goddess-”I found a world you might like,” She speaks quickly like she’s trying to get this done. “It’s called Earth. It has no magic, dragons, demons, pirates, ninjas, or a homicidal pnet. Technology may be a problem, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” Feeling like she said that all that needed to be said she flicks her hand out to begin the process of reincarnation.

  The Hero feels like he’s floating courtesy of the Goddess. Then he gets sent flying backwards the Goddess quickly leaving his field of view. There is no air here but he feels the rushing wind in his ears and rams his back. Through the white void and disorientation he hears the Goddesses voice.

  Goddess-”You got your perfect little boring world, but don’t expect your life to be so boring! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

  The Hero tries to keep his eyes open but their forced shut and the manic ughing of the Goddess is the st thing he hears before he’s back in complete darkness. He doesn’t know how much time has passed but he feels like it hasn’t been that long. He tries to move but his body feels weak and like it’s trapped between something. He tries to wiggle but to no avail.

  (Parenthesis are a persons thoughts)

  The Hero-(Seems like it’s impossible to move, better to just get the y of the nd first anyway.)

  He slowly forces open his little eyes, and as they slowly open the first thing he is met with in this world is the glint of a knife shining in the darkness. Held up high by someone in a mask.

  The Hero-(Huh?)