Am I dreaming?
Sebastian Ambrose stood in a beautiful, fluorescent white crystal palace, his head turning in confusion at the sudden switch of scenery from the dull hospital room he had grown so accustomed.
An experience he didn't get often due to his bedridden state.
Or is this the afterlife... It's a lot brighter than I imagined.
"Well, that would be because you're in my realm. Your loser of a deity has vacated his position, forcing other deities like me to clean up his mess, which includes taking care of souls like you and reincarnating them—It's a pain, really."
A feminine voice echoed, radiating dominance with every word in a tone that seemed to belittle all who heard it.
"Who said that? Who are you?"
Sebastian questioned, unable to pinpoint the omnipresent voice that sounded from every direction.
A flash of light appeared in the already bright palace, and from it appeared a woman of otherworldly beauty, with long white hair that touched the floor, beautiful golden eyes that radiated divinity, and a luminous aura that made it impossible to gaze upon her form.
"How ignorant do you have to be—to be blind to the goddess before you? You should be groveling at my feet, mortal begging me for my mercy, praying for my benevolence."
The goddess declared, glaring down at Sebastian from the supremacy of her throne.
Goddess... deities? Stuff like that isn't real, there's no way... right?
And even if it were who'd let a swine like her become a goddess, she's so arrogant.
"What was that?! I should smite you where you stand for such blasphemous comments—but if you were to lower yourself right now and lick my feet, submitting to me as your goddess, then I may reconsider your fate."
Can she read my mind?
Sebastian tilted his head, staring at the goddess with a look of defiance, "Well, unfortunately for you, miss, I don't believe in gods and goddesses, stuff like that is just made up for people that cling to hope, but me—I lost my hope long ago and I no longer believe in anything.
Now, hurry up and get this over with already, send my soul to the afterlife or whatever it is that comes next."
The goddess outstretched her hand, pointing a finger towards Sebastian, and in that instant, he was forced to his knees, his head lowered to the floor, while the goddess placed her foot on top as if he were a footstool.
"How dense could you be not to recognize my divinity? Yet you still find it in you to ask for the mercy of an afterlife, I shall destroy your soul in a slow torture, and maybe then you might want to reconsider your standing, but by that time it'll be too late."
She said, increasing the weight of her foot on Sebastian's head.
Damm Goddess, I'm getting tired of that smug look on her face, it disgusts me.
I finally feel a moment of freedom from my cancer, and this is what I'm met with: I would rather go back to suffering than submit to such a narcissistic goddess.
The goddess only increased the weight of her foot, listening to Sebastian's thoughts, digging her heel into his head.
"Worry not, mongrel, I'll be putting an end to your pitiful existence."
The goddess snapped, and a black orb radiating malevolent energy appeared in thin air. It descended, implanting itself into Sebastian's being like a parasite, causing him excruciating pain beyond what he'd ever experienced before.
His body jolted with pain coursing through his every being.
And the goddess stomped on his head to stop him from rising from beneath her feet. Sebastian could only endure the pain of his soul being ripped apart.
Appearing as a flash of light descending into the realm was a stunning man, with four angelic wings extending from his back, and a halo levitating above his head.
His voice was soft and soothing, which cloaked his true sadistic nature, "My goddess, I apologize, but I believe it would be best not to destroy the boy's soul, it would go against the divine law, after all. I recommend that you reincarnate him, then once he dies in your world, you may continue with your torture."
"Very well, wouldn't want to get in trouble with those dustbag elders, I guess I'll give you a second chance at life mongrel, but just know once you die, then there won't be any afterlife for you."
The goddess waved her hand, and the black sphere forced its way out of Sebastian's body. He squirmed at the sudden increase in pain, even more excruciating than before; he felt like his body could burst at any moment while blood leaked from every orifice.
A feeling worse than the cancer that was constantly eating away at his strength, all he wanted was to be set free from this suffering, this torture called life.
"You'll be reincarnated in the wastelands of my world, where all the disgusting creatures who fail to lower themselves beneath me are cast. If you dare set foot on my territory, then I promise you'll regret it. That is if you manage to survive the wasteland."
The Goddess said, with a look of disdain for Sebastian, her eyes brutally judging his fragile state.
The intensity of her glare made Sebastian feel like he was no more than an ant like his life held no worth whatsoever.
"Unfortunately, I'm unable to send you off with no abilities—so I guess I'll gift you with the bare minimum, along with the power to understand all languages. I'd rather not spend too much of my time on an insignificant creature... Now get out of my sight."
She stomped harder on Sebastian's head, and his body fell through the floor like it began crumbling beneath his weight, and before he knew it, he was floating in a black void. He felt his bones crushing under unknown pressure, and his skin ripping away.
I swear, even if it's the last thing I do, I'll kill this woman!
Soon, his sense of time became distorted; it could've been months or days, maybe even a single second that passed, but he couldn't tell.
He began to wonder if he'd ever leave that void space until he finally saw the light peeking through the darkness.
It enveloped him, giving a warm sensation that felt as if it were healing all the damage he'd experienced up til now.
When it finally cleared, he was no longer in the abyss of darkness, floating for what seemed like an eternity, but now in a desolate wasteland of sand and stone.
And he was just as confused as when it all began.
Where am I? Why is everything black and white?
What has that damm "goddess" done to me?!
What even is this place?
This place is so barren... am I in a desert?
Rawrrr!
A monster's roar echoed from the distance, its voice reverberating across the open wasteland.
I can't believe I've been isekaied. This is like the stuff you only see in anime and light novels.
I wonder if that also means I can use magic?
Well, it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. The goddess might've been a pest, but she did say she gave me abilities, even if they're the bare minimum. Now... Status!
『Status Menu』
— Name: Nameless
— Title(s): Scum of the World, Enemy of the Goddess
— Aliases:
— Species: Unnamed
— Gender: Genderless
— Magic Affinities: Fire, Shadow
『Unique Skills』
— Pride (A skill that is outside of the regular skills system and beyond the goddess's reach. It is a part of the skills that make up the seven deadly sins and feeds off its users' pride, strengthening them as they grow.)
『Basic Skills』
— Detection (A skill that allows the user to extend their senses onto a wide area.)
— Appraisal (A skill that allows the user to learn information about anything of their choosing as long as it's within sight.)
— Universal Linguistics (A skill that grants its user the ability to understand all languages.)
『Uncommon Skills』
— None
『Rare Skills』
— None
『Superior Skills』
— None
『Ultimate Skills』
— None
Woah! I can't believe that worked. After all of those years spent locked in a hospital room with nothing but anime and novels to quench my thirst, I can't believe this is happening to me!
Though I am a little curious. What's up with these titles... I bet they're from that stupid goddess. Also, why is my species unnamed? What am I? I don't even have a gender either, or a name, this must be the work of that darn goddess as well. When she said the bare minimum, I didn't know I'd be given a complete factory reset of my being.
『Choose ASpecies Name』
Huh? Wait, I can actually choose the name of my species?
Well then, how about Dragon...?
『Name Already Taken』
I thought so. I can't just pick what species I'm creating a new one. Well, in that case, what should it be called? Hmm... how about Antichrist?
『Name Confirmed.』
『New Title Achieved: Original Antichrist』