Charlie stands slumped over, crucified on the cross. 6 severed heads familiarly placed on pedestals in front of him. "How many times have I restarted? I can't even remember anymore.” He shifts uncomfortably on the cross but it only makes his hands begin to drip blood from the nails driven into them. “No matter what happens, no matter what road I take or direction I run, the school will always find me. And when it does, the monsters aren't far behind. It's inevitable that I will get caught, the only thing that changes is the location and the amount of time it takes for me to get caught.” He swallows nothing, unable to speak anymore. His mouth is so dry, he can feel his tongue cracking and shriveling. “The next reset should be sometime soon. This time I'll run into the school and drink as much water from the sink in the bathroom as I can. I don't care if I'm caught, I just want water. I can't even remember what it feels like.” He groans. With the thought of water, he grows impatient, causing the wounds on his hands to reopen again and this time, blood pours like a river from his palms.
After what felt like months, Charlie finally felt the sensation of his location being changed. However, when he looked at the ground, he didn't see the cracked crater that his body had made so long ago. But a bright white marble floor. Already on his hands and knees he begins to rub the floor, and the smooth cold sensation is so heavenly, he can't help but sigh and lay down rubbing his face on the floor. The sound of a clearing throat echoes in the empty palace, however for Charlie, the sound didn't just enter his ears. It bore into his head and through his eardrum, causing blood to pour from his eyes. However, Charlie didn't scream in pain. He simply held his ears and winced at the sudden pressure he felt.
When the pressure subsides, Charlie finally looks up to see a gigantic opulent throne room. Everything, bright white and crystal clear. The throne is made of crystal and diamonds and on top, a man who looked no older than 30 sat. His white hair blends in with the blinding white of the Palace, his clothes were also white. But his clothes were out of place, an elegant suit from earth. The primary color being white and the secondary a sky blue color. The man's eyes were also blue. But a bright blue like the shimmering ocean. His face was chiseled, and handsome. However, unlike the man in the void it isn't a dangerous, seductive handsome. It was elegant, and made you want to smile and be friendly all the time. Inside Charlie's soul he could feel a slight chill as he looked at him. And the man looked right back at him. His clear blue eyes bore into the grey dazed eyes, now stained with blood.
The man simply smiled and then began to speak, you 4 have been chosen to partake in the Ascension Trial. I congratulate you on your good fortune.” He said in a clear voice, that made the inside of everyone's chest rumble. Charlie hadn't noticed it before but when he looked to his left, he saw that there were 3 other people. 2 women and a man. They looked ordinary and ragged, however not nearly as drained as Charlie. “I will announce the contestants' names and information.”
Davis Lee
Hell Level 1
Served: 835 years
Janice Freha
Hell Level 2
Served 1574 years
Cassey Clobesto
Hell Level 2
Served 2860 years
Charlie Resh
Hell Level 4
Served 4738 years
When Charlie's name was announced, all 3 people turned to him with an aghast face. They didn't say anything but their facial expressions said everything by themselves. “Who the hell is this guy?” God cleared his throat again, this time, no attack on Charlie happened. “Do not mind the details, you have all been chosen because I feel you are all worthy of redemption, despite any wrong doing in the past.
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Now, I will explain the rules of the trial.” Charlie breathed a sigh of relief when all eyes were off him again. But his mind was still whirling. “level 4 of hell? What does that mean? And was I really in there for 4000 years? What kind of cruel joke is this?” Despite Charlie's bewilderment, God did not stop his explanation. “All four of you will be sent into different worlds. With the simple task of killing the Demon Lord that is terrorizing that world. I believe it is the so called “Isekai trope” you are all familiar with. Save for Davis over there. I believe the idea of “Isekai” died out when your time in the mortal world came around. Anyway, for a brief explanation you each will be sent and you have to kill the Demon Lord. When that happens you will be summoned back here and you will be welcomed into heaven from there on out. If you should fail, by joining the Demon Lord, being killed or simply remaining inactive for your time there you will fail and be sent back to the hell from which you came. Sounds simple enough?” Everyone took a second to digest that mass amount of information. Davis Lee specifically was a bit confused. But they all nodded their heads in unison and exclaimed “Yes Father!” All at once. God nodded his head in approval and began to speak once again, “All of your memories post your death of the mortal realm will be locked away in your mind. You will not remember your time in hell nor any interactions you may have had. This is to make sure the mental scarring and trauma don't impede you on your quest for Ascension. I wish you all luck. Your trial will be broadcast to all of heaven for those who want to watch. It's good entertainment for the long boredom of eternity. Goodbye, see you soon!” With that and without letting them get another word out, he waves his hand making them vanish from the foot of his throne.
Now alone in the Palace, God smirks slightly. Out of nowhere, the sound of the void cracking and breaking entered the still palace. God glances over to see a well dressed and dangerously handsome man. “Hello Lucy” God says calmly “What brings you here? You know you're not allowed to be here anymore.” He says gently and a bit stern, but the sparkle in his eye contains a bit of parental love. “Oh don't give me that Old Man, you know why I'm here.” He says arrogantly as he strides around the crystal throne. “Let's make a deal.” He says in a velvet smooth voice with a devilish smile.
Charlie finds himself back in the dark void. He breathes a sigh of relief. “So, that was actually hell. What does level 4 mean?” Suddenly a voice echoes in the void. “You need not worry yourself about that.” Suddenly, the man on the throne appears before Charlie's eyes. However, this time his eyes weren't as gentle as before. His eyes held disgust, resentment and what seemed to be pity. Charlie falls down to his knees, “L-Lord, I didn't mean anything by it,” Charlie immediately began to say. But in his mind he was confused. Why am I kneeling? What is going on? God seeing through his thoughts only chuckles. “Beings like you, are unable to stand in my presence when I am so close. So I will make this quick. I am here to seal your memories and to give you the ability to use Hero Magic.” Before Charlie could respond he places his hand on Charlie's temple, and just like that all of Charlie's memories of the past 4000 years vanished. And in place of it, the average isekai trope of meeting a god and the explanation of the demon lord. Then being sent to kill said demon lord. Charlie, with his eyes glazed over, is unresponsive. God takes his hand from his temple and places it on his shoulder, a bright golden light surrounds his body. And a string unravels from God's dapper white suit. It slowly burrows into Charlie's eye socket, he simply shifts comfortably on his feet. Seemingly unaffected by the pain. God looks at him curiously, up and down. “It seems your time in Lucy's play has done some damage to your soul. This just got more difficult.” God slowly scrutinizes Charlie's soul. “Very shoddy. And fragile. What poor work.” God says disdainfully “Oh well, it isn't terrible. He will be unconscious for a few months but it should be fine after that.” With that final diagnosis, God plunges his hand into Charlie's chest, and pulls out a pink crystal, ethereal blue mist floats inside. Charlie lets out a howl of pain, clutching his chest. God looks at him in surprise. “Oh? You actually stayed conscious, well doesn't matter. See you later.” He then pushes Charlie off into the void before disappearing.
Charlie regains consciousness only to feel pain which he never felt before. It feels like he was being sawed in half from the inside. He screams out loud clutching his chest. He hears a voice but can't focus on what it said from the pain, then he is pushed off into the void. After floating for a little while, he regains the ability to think. “S-so that was God? Not as loving and benevolent as I thought.” He mumbled out loud. Looking off into the distance, Charlie sees a light. When it enters his eyes, like being caught in a river current he is drawn towards it. He begins gaining more and more speed. Suddenly something wraps around his ankle and begins to pull him towards the light. Charlie begins to struggle but it is too strong. He is pulled into the light, and suddenly all he felt was a heart penetrating cold. Looking around, stone walls enter his view, a bright light floats above his head, and holding him is a massive human. Old wrinkled face with a clean cut face. His dark green eyes shimmer as a smile breaks out into a smile. “Its a boy!” He declares. Charlie blinks up at this man, confused. He reaches out with his hand but finds it way too short. His chubby and short arms enter his view as well. And his tiny fingers wiggle in the air. When Charlie looked at his hand, a look of confusion crossed his face, causing the old man to burst out laughing. Then he looks to his side and hands Charlie to another person. When Charlie looked up at his person, he was mesmerized. Bright green eyes enter his vision, along with snow white skin and bright blond hair. Her smile was pure and radiant as she gazed down at Charlie. “My son,” she whispers quietly as tears begin to prick at her eyes. “Ill name you Charles. Charlie for short.” She declared. Suddenly Charlie felt very sleepy, and with this beautiful woman who is supposedly his mother in view he closed his eyes. “Why doesn't he cry father?” The woman asks with a bit of worry in her tone. “Don't worry darling, he is awake and coherent so it shouldn't be a problem.” He says calmly. Little did they know, the newly born child wouldn't open his eyes for a long time to come.
