The Royal Amphitheatre of Caeloria Summoned a Noob

"Mortal! Be not afraid." A disembodied voice called out to me.

I can't believe it.

Dead.

A second time.

And just as I was getting to the good part too.

I had a whole life set up and in motion and all it took was a giant-ass spider to literally crush my dreams.

Unfair if you ask me.

"Totally unfair!" I cried out to no one in particular.

"What's unfair, mortal?" A goddess with auburn hair and a long black dress suddenly appeared before me, a curious tilt to her brow. Her smile was warm.

I stared at her.

Another beat of silence.

"You're not Luluthiel." I scoffed.

"Forgive me mortal for I do not know of this Luluthiel you speak of, was she someone from your past life on Altherion?"

"What? No, she was the goddess of my past-past life on earth, you know Japan? Small island nation? Rising sun?"

"My file indicates no mention of Japan or Earth. I know nothing of these things, mortal."

“This mortal’s got a name, y’know. And it sure as hell ain't ‘mortal.’”

"Apologies Mr. Sato." The goddess bowed.

"Takumi's just fine."

"Then please, Takumi. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Rhea. Goddess of Death, the Final Judge of All Things. It is my duty to guide you to the next life."

What?

Did she just say next life?

That implies that Altherion has an afterlife…

That also implies that I’m not stardust yet and still somehow allowed to keep existing?

That can't be real can it?

Then again, every manga I've ever read only ever covers the main character's adventures in the afterlife but they never really address what happens when they die in the afterlife and are sent to a void for a second time.

Crap I am seriously underprepared for this right now.

I should be selling Wherep pelts.

"Let me get this straight? Altherion has an afterlife?" I said, scratching the back of my neck.

"Affirmative, Takumi." Rhea nodded.

"Even though I had already died on earth to get to Altherion in the first place?"

"Negatory, my records do not contain any mention of a world before Altherion."

"Don't gaslight me goddess," I sighed, exasperated. "I'm pretty sure you're missing something big there, what else does my file say?"

Rhea looked surprised. "Your file? It mentions very little of you for some reason. That cloak you're wearing has an invisibility buff though it is unclear to me where this buff came from, you have infinite storage as a divine blessing, though I don't see from whom, data on your buffs and existing skills seems to be corrupted. Unreadable."

Good lord, are they messing with me right now or something?

"That's all?"

"You were slain by a Gargantua, a most valiant effort."

Sigh.

Ok clearly, this goddess has no idea about my previous life on earth or how I even got to Altherion in the first place.

What's even more interesting is that somehow, my infinite inventory along with all those buffs my dearest Fiora gave me are sticking to me like super glue.

"Your skills," Rhea beamed, "you wielded a weapon capable of destroying large beasts, questionable fighting style, but impressive nonetheless. I can work with that."

"What do you mean you can 'work with that'?" I laughed.

She stared at me blankly.

"Look lady, I'm not exactly proud of my past life. Can we just cut to the chase here and get to the point, whatever it is."

The goddess smiled gently, "Very well." She started.

Suddenly, a massive hologram of information enveloped me.

It was like looking at hundreds of travel brochures at once.

"Your second chance at a new life in Caeloria awaits you, Takumi."

Rhea announced.

Another image popped up in front of me, centering itself.

"This is the city's heart, and you must protect it. That is why the gods have chosen to grant you this power, in exchange for protection from the monsters, monsters you shall slay, or at least slay one monster each day."

She outstretched her hands and granted me a few abilities.

"If you are to be the noble hero that Caeloria's oracles foretold of, you'll need this!"

I opened my mouth to speak but immediately got blasted with divine void glitter.

It tasted like soap... and sorrow.

I coughed, spitting sparkles. “You could’ve just told me to check my inventory screen, lady.”

"You have been blessed with the ability to control darkness and light, this will serve you quite well during your first days here in Caeloria, it is a gift I am giving to you as a reward."

Great.

I'm a terrible swordsman with wizard powers, who would've guessed.

I guess I can live with that.

"So this dark and light magic, is that like, unlimited?" I asked, still tasting cosmic soap.

Rhea's smile wavered. "Divine gifts have... parameters. Overuse fractures reality."

I die twice and live to tell the tale in what's now 3 separate worlds, I'm pretty sure my reality is fractured enough as it is.

Welp.

Groaning about it isn't doing anything, looks like I'll have to take another faceplant into dirt as she pings me off to who knows where.

"Thanks for everything Rhea.” I try my best to play along.

"I'm a goddess, Takumi. I can sense you are mildly displeased with change. But you see, change is inevitable. And the gods themselves created it. Do not fear, you will become familiar with it soon enough." She raised an eyebrow.

With that, the goddess disappeared with a crackle.

"Hey!" I yelled after her.

No answer.

Great, just great.

No orb hurled at my face this time?

I guess different goddesses have their own way of doing things.

Let's hope this one doesn't involve a mouthful of grass, leaves and dirty puddle water.

Then, without notice the void spun around me, a slurry of colours had clouded all around me.

I nearly fell over, trying to stay upright.

I heard voices calling out.

Hundreds of voices.

“Wait! He’s alive!” They shouted.

"Is that him!?" Another voice called out.

"It worked! Haha! I knew it!" A gruff voice boomed.

The colours steadied and I blinked a few times as my vision cleared.

I was standing before a crowd of people.

Actually the word 'crowd' here is an understatement.

A stadium of people is more accurate.

I was in the midst of some sort of amphitheatre.

Underneath me, a sigil.

I get it now.

They summoned Rhea and begged her for a hero...

Massive shame they got me.

Can't wait to see how long it's gonna take before they figure that out.