2 Average Outcast

My life has always been one of an outcast. In school, I was the epitome of a textbook student - good grades, decent at sports, but ultimately just average. And I was content with that because being in the spotlight was never something I enjoyed. With attention came expectations, and the higher they were, the harder it was to meet them.

In college, however, my life took an unexpected turn. Now I find myself questioning whether what I am experiencing is real or simply a dream.

As my senses returned, I noticed the heavy air pressing down on me. The thought that this was no mere dream entered my head. In front of me stood a grand castle, made of black basalt with gargoyles and flashes of lightning. Stained glass windows depicted constellations, while creatures similar to but different from mortal ones scurried about.

Beings flew above, like Stygian birds, perched on archways and taunting those below. Nearby huts clustered together and wildlife roamed freely, but none dared challenge the power within the halls. Torches burned in dimly lit antechambers.

Did I come into the game that was on my laptop? This must mean I'm in the Underworld. I look down at myself and sucked in a breath as I realize that everything about me had changed. My clothes were now black robes with silver embroidery that seemed to shimmer in the flickering light. My hair was long, jet black, and unkempt, falling in waves around my face. And as I looked closer at my hands, I saw that my nails were now long and sharp, like claws.

I approached the castle gates tentatively, feeling the weight of the enormous doors as I pushed them open. The sound reverberated through the halls as I stepped inside, my heart pounding in my chest. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, and I instinctively reached for a weapon that wasn't there. The sight of the creature before me made my blood run cold.

It was a demon - towering over me with skin as black as coal and eyes like molten gold. Its teeth were jagged and pointed, and it spoke with a voice that seemed to emanate from deep within the earth.

"At last, your majesty, you have been reincarnated. Welcome back to your rightful home, my lord."

The demon bowed deeply before me, but I had no idea what it meant by "Your Majesty" or being reincarnated. My mind raced with questions as I tried to form coherent sentences to ask the demon standing before me. The feeling of unease creeping up my spine was too strong to ignore.

"Who am I? What do you mean by 'Your Majesty'?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly. The demon chuckled, revealing its sharp teeth in a macabre smile.

"You are the rightful heir to the Underworld, Your Majesty," the demon explained, still bowing. 

I try to recall what the game said before it brought me here. It says, I'm Hades and I'm his reincarnation. Since this is a game, some weird virtual reality one, I should play the game or pretend to know what I'm doing.

Since my college life wasn't that exciting, nor did I have a girlfriend, I played some games in my down time. So, I guess I can play along for now.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded my head and stepped forward to the demon. "I understand," I said, trying to exude confidence. "What is my first task?" The demon rose from its bow and gestured for me to follow.

"Your Majesty, you must take your rightful place on the throne and begin your rule over the Underworld," it explained. "There are many challenges that lie ahead, but with your power and guidance, we can overcome them all." 

My mind was racing as we walked through the halls of the castle. This was crazy - I wasn't a reincarnated ruler of the Underworld, was I? But something inside of me felt right like this was where I truly belonged.

As we finally reached the throne room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. The room was grand and dark, with flickering torches casting ominous shadows across the walls. And in front of me was a throne made of black obsidian, with intricate designs etched into its surface.

"Your Majesty," the demon bowed once more before stepping back and allowing me to take my place on the throne. As I sat down on the cold stone seat, I couldn't help but feel a sense of power surge through me.

"Now, what is it that you require of me?" I asked, feeling more confident as I spoke.

"Your Majesty," the demon said as it knelt before me. "There are many factions that would seek to overthrow your rule. They see you as weak, as untested."

I frowned at this news. "What do they want?" 

"They want power," the demon stated.

As I rub my face, I remind myself to keep a low profile in this game. All I wanted was to live a quiet life, but for now, I'll have to assess the situation as it unfolds. The last thing I want is to draw attention to myself. What happened to the other students from my class?

My gaze settles on the demon in front of me and I clear my throat before speaking up. "What became of the reincarnation of Zeus?" I only know about Levi being the reincarnation because he made a big announcement in class before we were all sucked into this game.

The demon looked up, surprise flickering across its face.

"Ah, Lord Zeus," it said. "He was reincarnated some time ago and has already established his rule over the heavens."

I nodded, a sense of disappointment creeping into my heart. It seemed like I was already behind in this game, but I couldn't let that deter me.

"I see," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "And what of the other students from my class? Have they been reincarnated as well?"

The demon cocked its head to the side, its molten gold eyes flickering with curiosity.

"Other students?" it echoed. "I am not aware of any other souls being brought to the Underworld, Your Majesty."

That was odd. I distinctly remember being in class when the game started and there were several others around me. But when I looked around the throne room, there was no one else there except for me and the demon.

"I see," I muttered, feeling a sense of unease settle in my stomach once more. "Well, we must deal with these factions that seek to overthrow my rule."

The demon rose from its kneeling position and nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. My scouts have reported that the biggest threat to your rule comes from the rebel group known as the Sons of Chaos."

"Tell me more about them," I commanded, leaning forward on my throne.

"The Sons of Chaos are a group of rogue demons who wish to bring chaos to all the realms. They believe that your rule over the Underworld is too strict and they want to overthrow you so that they can establish their own chaotic rule," the demon explained.

I thought for a moment, weighing my options. It seemed like I had no choice but to act if I wanted to keep my throne.

"Very well," I said, determined. "Prepare my armies. We march on the Sons of Chaos at dawn."

The demon bowed before turning to leave but then hesitated for a moment before turning back to face me.

"Your Majesty, there is one more thing," it said carefully. "The Sons of Chaos have a powerful ally - a witch who has been aiding them in their plans."

"A witch?" I repeated, surprised. This was getting even more complicated than I thought.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the demon confirmed. "She goes by the name of Lilith, and some say she holds an ancient magic that could turn the tides of battle in their favor."

I wanted to quickly eliminate the rebel army and move on, but it looks like I'll have to deal with Lilith first. Once they are all taken down, I just want to finish this game peacefully and hope that Levi, or rather Zeus now, can win and I can return to the real world.