"Even the mightiest must bow to fate, and I am not above it." -Zeus

Ethan never imagined heaven to be real. He used to believe it was as simple as a coping mechanism for people who feared the emptiness after death. At least that was before he, well, died.

"So this is what happens post mortem?" He whistled, looking around.

The well-muscled man stood in an area reminiscent of the sky above the Earth. The ground was clear, clouds floated around him, and the place was lit by daylight despite there being no sun visible anywhere above.

He walked around for a bit, aimlessly playing with clouds, enjoying the sheer beauty and sheen of the afterlife. It was too surreal for his brain to really make sense of it—of the weightlessness to his body, of how every need of his seemed to have been muted to a dull, permanent feeling of 'mission accomplished'.

Suddenly the world around him zoomed past, stopping in a sudden movement.

Ethan was now standing in front of a large golden chair, more than ten times a normal chair's size. On the chair seemed to sit a person, a normal-sized person.

—Now isn't that an odd sight...

"Ethan Armstrong." A voice reverberated impossibly around Ethan, shaking him to his core as if it attacked from all areas at once.

—T-This couldn't possibly come from the person over there... could it?

"I assure you it could."

The person was now standing beside Ethan, placing a careful hand upon his shoulder.

"You won't find your weapon there, is something I can also assure you of."

Ethan's eyes widened as he noticed his hand gripping at the air by his hip, where his rifle usually hung idly.

—Right. I died. Makes sense.

"You take death lightly, mortal. One could say you are not even surprised."

The figure's voice kept its volume, causing Ethan to raise an annoyed eyebrow.

"Would appreciate it if you cut that out. It's mildly infuriating."

"Right, right. Apologies. I do get told I enjoy hearing myself a little too much. Now then,"

The figure appeared in front of Ethan this time, allowing him to examine further.

—Young male, twenty-one at best. Baby-face. Slim, tall, and an athletic build. Golden locks, clear blue eyes. Annoying smirk. Overconfident. Wearing a white robe and--

"I would appreciate it if you stopped creating my criminal profile, please. I assure you it can be no further from the truth."

"So you can read my thoughts, move at super-speeds, and manipulate the environment. Is there something you can't do?"

"Yes, a singular infuriating little thing. What I brought you here for, actually."

"Well, you've certainly got my attention."

The white-robed man snapped his fingers as the area around them zoomed out, warping impossibly at the edges almost like a fisheye lens. To call it disorienting would do it a disservice.

The area stopped moving as the two found themselves standing in a grand office, made of some sort of oak, perfect white marble, and accents of gold shining in the lamplight. Between the two was a large wooden table upon which rested a map with numerous continents Ethan had never even heard of in geography 101. In fact, there wasn't even one that resembled anything he knew.

—I'll never get used to that experience, that's for sure...

"I assure you, it's the last time." The figure offered a smile.

"Right."

"Oh! How rude of me, I completely forgot to introduce myself!"

The godlike man took a confident bow, one hand on his stomach, the other behind his back.

"My name is Lord Savior Leopold. I go by many names gifted upon me by the mortals of many worlds, but you can call me Leopold."

"So what does a god such as yourself need a mere man such as myself for?"

Ethan was curious, sure, but something smelled fishy. And he didn't like fish, especially when they gave off the aroma of being forgotten in the desert sun for a little too long.

"This map is a world under my jurisdiction. The locals named it 'Edengard' — usually abbreviated to just Eden — anyway! A vile, disgusting evil is threatening to overtake my precious world. A-and its inhabitants, of course."

"Right, and why can't you just go down there and stop it from happening? It's clearly within your capabilities."

"Well, I did say there was one infuriating, tiny, insignificant thing I couldn't do."

Ethan just crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.

"Under the law of us gods, we do not allow each other or ourselves to meddle in matters of mortals. I mean, just look at what happened with the Greek gods, sheesh."

The sheer look of shock on Ethan's face was unmatched. He examined the lines of Leopold's face. He wasn't joking.

—You gotta be kiddin' me.

"Nope, they were completely real. We took care of them, no worries there. Zeus sure was a handful though..."

"I keep forgetting you intrude upon my thoughts."

"Sorry, right, back to the matter at hand. While we aren't allowed to intrude upon our creations, we are allowed to summon others to do so in our name and on our behalf."

"And what do I get out of it? What if I don't want to be reincarnated? I've had plenty of trouble with my prior life, and would appreciate some rest in heaven with all the other senile old men."

Leopold burst into a laughter so loud it shook the whole room, sending Ethan to his knees as if gravity was multiplying over itself. The pressure was immense, and his lungs felt like they were about to burst.

—H-holy crap!! T-this pressure!?

Ethan shook under the presence of the god before him.

The pressure receded, but Ethan was left kissing the marbled floor, his soul nearly forced out of him as he heaved lowly, his chest rising and falling in a controlled manner.

"Heaven? YOU? Don't make me laugh."

Leopold stepped closer, looking down at Ethan who managed to regain his grit.

"There won't be heaven for you, nor any of your comrades. I mean, you killed people. Many people. That certainly isn't a heaven-permitting statistic, is it?"

"But we did it in the name of good! We killed innocents only when absolutely no other choice was presented-- You can't expect someone to protect their country without taking lives that endanger it!!"

Leopold suddenly appeared on the office chair at the end of the room, laying lazily atop it, his bare legs hanging over the armrest.

"I mean, you're not wrong." He finally replied, taking a bite out of a juicy grape. "However, the rules are the rules, and unless killing in the name of your god, heaven's gates are closed."

"Some of my men did do it for a god!"

"Wrong."

Ethan was suddenly flung into the wall, his breath leaving him once more as he certainly cracked some vertebrae. He landed on the floor, spitting blood, unable to move. Only able to slightly rest his head on his chin to look up at Leopold.

"They killed in the name of a fictitious god."

—W-what?

"Well, as I explained, your gods were reckless and had to be taken care of. Your world has been ungoverned by a god-like entity since. That means all of the dead from your world join the void. We call them lost souls. Quite poetic, isn't it?"

—That's some bullshi--

Even thinking caused pain, as Ethan's head was exploding with several migraines attacking from different locations. His vision was hazy and his body numb. Apparently, one can die even post death. He coughed up a bit more blood, giving the lavish white marble a paintover. The thought made him cackle in pain.

"Ready to hear my offer now?"

Ethan only raised his chin in spite.

"Perfect!"

Leopold appeared once more standing over Ethan, pressing his palms together in victory.

"Do as I command--serve me in Edengard, tend to my troubles there until your second death—and I shall take Earth beneath my wing. Your comrades shall know heaven, and all who dwell upon Earth will share in that grace. Aren't I so merciful? Heh~"

—Why me?...

"Well, you have a very particular set of skills. You were a master tactician in your life, and an even better combatant. With the right knowledge and powers (granted by yours truly~) I believe you will be able to care for the problems presented with relative ease."

The quiet permeated throughout the room.

"Deal?"

"D-...deal...!"

Ethan let out a final grunt, as darkness enveloped his world.