NOVEL WEB Chapter 3: Renaissance II
Suddenly, an explosion of light tore me from my stupor, bringing me back to a altered state of consciousness. When my eyes opened, I found myself in a vast, immaculate hall bathed in a supernatural aura. "Am I in paradise?" I wondered, my mind foggy.
It was then that the sound of heels echoed. A woman of stunning beauty materialized before me, surrounded by a golden halo. Slim and graceful, her silver hair cascaded down to the small of her back. Her pearlescent skin shimmered like pearls. But above all, her eyes captivated me. Of cerulean blue, they sparkled with a light that was both wise and mischievous.
This goddess, for she could be nothing else, was draped in a vaporous dress that hugged her perfect curves. The diaphanous and fluid fabric revealed more than it concealed the wonders of her anatomy. Beneath the veil, her ample bosom was on display, unintentionally igniting the flames of desire within me.
Enchanted by this divine apparition, it took me a few seconds to regain my composure.
"Who are you? And where am I?" I eventually asked in a hoarse voice.
"Welcome, Kazuya Ishida," she replied with a soft and soothing tone. "You are currently in the antechamber of the afterlife, a place where exceptional souls like yours are offered a second chance."
"A second chance?" I repeated, struggling to grasp her words. "What do you mean exactly?"
"As I just mentioned, here you are given the opportunity to be reborn, to live a new existence," explained the goddess.
"I see... You are probably a goddess associated with reincarnation, am I right? And then what happens?" I inquired with disconcerting calm.
"Indeed, you were an extraordinary being in your previous life, but I find you remarkably serene for a mortal facing the unknown," she marveled, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Why fight it? The die is cast!" I replied fatalistically, also flashing a slight smile.
"Hahaha... Even in death, you remain fascinating! Shall we proceed with your rebirth?" the goddess proposed, becoming serious again. "You are entitled to one wish. Choose the world where you wish to be reborn, whether it be the real world or a fictional universe."
With these words, a vast screen appeared, revealing a multitude of possible destinations. After deep reflection, I opted for the world of Naruto.
"So, your choice has fallen on the world of Naruto," the goddess noted enthusiastically.
"By the way, what is your name?" I asked, driven by curiosity. My question caught her off guard.
"Hahaha... Know that in millennia, no one had dared to inquire about the name of the goddess that I am," she declared with undisguised pride.
"Please excuse my impertinence, I just wanted to know. Now that everything is settled, may I go?" I asked wearily.
"Yes," she nodded, opening a portal. "Aishia... My name is Aishia Von Tertius," she added with grandeur, a wide smile on her lips.
"It was an honor to meet you, Aishia. I hope our paths will cross again," I concluded as I walked away.
As I was about to step through the portal, I heard the goddess exclaim, "Ryusei...". But before she could finish, the vortex sucked me in, leaving only the word "memory" echoing.
"Ah...", sighed Aishia. "I was about to warn him against blindly trusting his past memories. Well, it's out of my hands now... I will patiently await the time for our reunion," she concluded, gracefully walking away.
*******
Inside the portal
I rushed through the tunnel of shimmering souls. The goddess's enigmatic words still echoed in my mind, but alas, I had not been able to grasp the full extent of her message. Frustrated, I cursed inwardly: "Damn it! If only I had heard the end..."
Suddenly, in the distance, a brilliant light pierced the darkness, like a beacon guiding my soul to its ultimate destination: the day of my rebirth. As I neared the exit, indistinct voices could be heard, whispering in a language still unknown to me. Then, in an instant, I found myself in the open air, enveloped in the loving arms of a woman.
Suddenly, a searing pain pierced my skull, and I let out a piercing cry like a newborn. My consciousness wavered, like a flame threatened by the wind.
"What... What is happening to me? Why am I losing control?"
For the first time, a visceral fear seized my being. Was it an error during the transfer of my soul? Or something else entirely? I felt my memories unraveling, my identity inexorably dissolving. I fought with all my might to preserve my essence, but in vain. Gradually, I sank into the abyss of oblivion, until the darkness engulfed me completely.