9 Steps to Godhood

Ryan followed the two men out of the garbage-filled area and walked for an hour, eventually arriving at a sprawling slum. In the distance, he saw the city walls and passed through the city gate, where guards were checking other people's identities but allowed the two men to pass through effortlessly.

Inside the city gate, the area was significantly cleaner and more organized, with a steady flow of people and a sense of relative cleanliness. The residents of this area seemed more affluent than those living in the slums outside the city walls.

After a while, Ryan passed through another wall, which he overheard someone refer to as the "inner city." This was where the wealthy and noble classes resided. The inner city was even cleaner and more grandiose than the outer city.

Their destination was a magnificent mansion surrounded by lush gardens and patrolled by guards. As Ryan walked, his mind wandered back to his past life. He had been a recent graduate, having just landed a job and begun his journey toward financial freedom. He had dreams of finding a girlfriend, saving for a down payment on a house, and moving in with his parents to make them proud.

Ryan was an average young man with humble ambitions. Like many of his peers, he enjoyed hanging out with friends, watching movies, listening to music, and following anime. His last memory was of driving with friends after a few drinks, only to collide with a truck on the road.

Ryan's thoughts turned somber as he reflected on the accident. He wished his friends had survived. At least he had an elder brother to take care of their parents.

During the escort, Ryan tried to gather information about the place and its people from Sam and Rei. He learned that they worked for Viscount Andrew, and that the city was called Pearl City, located in the country of Uruk. However, he couldn't glean any other useful information.

After entering the mansion, they led Ryan to a training camp located in a nearby forest. Sam and Rei took him to the largest tent, where he saw many teenagers training under the supervision of adult instructors. The instructors wielded thin bamboo sticks, using them to correct the teens' mistakes with painful-looking strikes.

Inside the tent, Ryan saw a middle-aged man seated in a central chair, flanked by instructors dressed in identical attire. Rei stepped forward and announced, "Lord Viscount, we have captured the deserter who escaped from the camp."

Viscount scrutinized Ryan, noting his dull and disoriented appearance. "What happened to him?" he asked Rei. "Why does he look like an idiot?"

Sam explained, "Lord Viscount, this man appears to have lost his memory. I observed him during our journey here, and he seemed unfamiliar with the city and everything around him."

Ryan's eyes widened in shock as he thought to himself, Although they may be from an ancient time, it doesn't mean they're idiots.

Viscount pondered the situation, then asked, "Is he genuinely suffering from memory loss, or is he feigning it to escape punishment?"

Sam replied, "No, sir. From my observations, he truly seems to have lost his memory. He's acting differently from the Ryan we previously trained."

Viscount's expression remained unreadable. "Even if he has lost his memory, it won't excuse him from punishment. Give him 25 strikes. If he survives, train him as a new candidate. If he dies, dispose of the body."

Rei and Sam acknowledged the order with a "yes, sir." They dragged Ryan out of the tent and into the center of the training ground, forcing him to kneel.

Rei shouted, "Stop the training for a while! Listen up, everyone! This will be the outcome if you try to escape or fail to complete your mission!"

With that, Rei raised a slightly thicker bamboo stick and struck Ryan's back. The pain was excruciating, causing Ryan's soul to momentarily leave his body. He felt numbness, followed by a burning, itching sensation. Tears and snot streamed down his face as he cried out in agony.

The strikes continued, each one landing with precision and force. Ryan's body began to lose sensation, his head feeling light as his soul struggled to remain connected. He knew he was dying.