2 His tenth life

Amid pain and suffering, a light appeared in front of Liam, holding the rope tied to his neck.

"Welcome young one."

A man greeted him with a smile on his face. He looks odd because of what he's wearing, which seems to be a man's dress.

"I see; you could have been forgiven if you had not killed yourself for the ninth time in your life!"

Liam removed the rope from his neck, holding onto his knees to find the strength to stand up. From what he remembered, his blood should be scattered around the place. He should have wounds all over his body. But the site is all clean and white. A mirror appeared before him, letting him witness how clean he was. He felt no pain; his skin was smooth like it was never severed. And now he is wearing white sando and pajamas.

"Lucky you had caught the attention of one true God from another world! Congratulations, you shall be given another chance to live in a different world filled with exciting adventures. If you're willing to accept the offer."

Liam's mind, full of curiosity, asked the man, " Are you, God?"

The man was stunned for a moment until his reaction changed, bursting into laughter. "No! I'm only a guide. But you will meet God after this."

The man reached for his staff, and a gate appeared within his footsteps, leading to his fall. It was profound for the man's voice echoed, shouting, "Follow me."

He was not even thinking if he should trust him. He complied, falling and being blinded by the light.

From what seemed to be an endless fall, Liam promptly landed on a plateau. Vast green color welcomed his sight, and a woman with extravagant clothing approached him with a hug.

"Let's get straight to the point, shall we?" The woman whispered when she hugged him.

"I am the one true God of this world, Time. I have summoned you to offer a delightful, undeniable request. On the other hand, think of it as a trial. Ready to hear it?" The Goddess smiled cheerfully as if she were a mother talking to her child.

Liam could never believe what he was seeing. Variables of information with questions running through his mind that he can no longer argue if everything he saw is true. And so, he replied - "What is it that you wish for me to do?"

The ambiance changed, and Time began to discuss:

"A bloody war will soon unfold in this vast land. Fake Gods will assemble, demons will appear, nightmares will hunt all living creatures, and everything will be shattered. All my efforts as the creator will disperse into dust within thin air. That is where you enter. Prevent the Chaos, and you shall be rewarded." She exaggeratedly told the story.

"I thought you're the one true God. Can't you do it yourself?" A straightforward reply from Liam made the Goddess sulk.

"I could save this land. But Gods from another world will come to me instantly before I can restore everything. And I assume you'll know what will happen." She turned and glared at him.

"I am powerful, and so as the other Gods!"

"Let me ask, why is it a trial? What's the reward?"

The Goddess pointed her finger at Liam; his clothes changed to armour at that moment. Time continued, "A person can reincarnate ten times as the universal law. You'll have your tenth life in this new world; after completing your mission, you can live peacefully. And if you die, I'll reward you the eleventh life. And by this life, you'll no longer torture or kill yourself."

"You can't save your world, but you can disobey the universal law?" He argued.

Time pouted at Liam as she stamped his chest. "The contract is done; you shall save my world, and you'll be rewarded after."

"I did not accept your trial; therefore, you can't force me." he sighed

"I told you, haven't I? It's a delightful, undeniable offer. You weren't allowed to agree or not. My request ended as a command. A trial in which you can only obey. The contract is sealed; look at your chest. That is my sign.

Time uttered a few words. What the Goddess recited made Liam sleepy. He blinks several times as he comes to a realization. He's drowning!

He gasps for air. The Goddess disappeared; the place is no longer the plateau. It was dark, cold, and salty. Realizing he was so deep in the water and gasping for air, he swam, trying to hold on for dear life. Alas! It's the ocean. 'This might be the world of Time.' He thought to himself.

The place is nothing but the ocean; no island can be seen. "Seriously!? Am I in the middle of an ocean? Is that the best way to transport me, Time!?" He shouted in exasperation.

"So, I'm supposed to swim to find an island all the way? Can't you handle me with care, at least?" Using both of his hands, he splashed the water in anger.

Left with no other option, he continued to swim, praying that sharks or other predators won't eat him.

Hours have passed.

The splashing of water can be heard. Liam is about to collapse in this extreme heat, he's exhausted from swimming, and there is no definite direction to go. All he can do is struggle. "I might as well search for my goal."

He pauses and floats to rest his muscles. Bubbles started to form on his right side, and with a splash! a girl appeared in front of him!

"Lost?" The girl asked. Liam was shocked! He immediately swims away from the girl, only to discover she is faster than him. A mermaid! The upper half is the human body, and the lower half is fish.

"Liam, you're supposed to swim underwater to find your way."

Liam knitted his eyebrows. "Your name?" Liam asked bossily.

"Serene, Ruler of this Waters. I can't believe Time sends someone like you here." Serene proudly introduced herself, then pouted while using her hands to comb her turquoise hair.

"You know the Goddess?"

"She is our ruler, creator of this world."

"Still, can you please leave now? Who knows if you're here to eat me"?

Serene's eyes widened in surprise as she laughed. "Straightforward, aren't you? The mermaids from the Sea of humans do that. You're in Sanctus. The place where we noble followers of time live. We don't eat your disgusting flesh and drink your blood. Too filthy if you ask me."

"Then how did you know my name? Serene, Ruler of this Waters." Liam imitated Serene's way of introduction. The mermaid raised an eyebrow and continued to act like she was unbothered.

"There is one reason: Only the Goddess knows this place. Humans below don't know that noble mermaids exist above their land. To elaborate, you were invited by our Goddess. So off you go, under this water!" Serene pounced at Liam and swam aggressively while she pushed him under. It may look like she's drowning him, but no.

They're getting more profound in the water. Liam is about to lose consciousness; He tightly holds Serene's wrist; he needs to breathe. Liam keeps swaying, signalling the mermaid that he can't take it anymore. He feels like his guts and lungs, his whole body, is about to explode.

But it never happened.

He felt the coldness of air embrace him. He's laying his back, no longer in the water but falling to the sky. The mermaid was centimeters apart from him. As he opened his eyes, she was smiling. Serene seems to be enjoying his landing!

A loud splash was heard. The water welcomed his fall. This time, he's already near the Island. His body aches, and he feels water in his nose and ears that makes him gauge and scream in pain. It was the worst experience ever!

"I'm honestly exhausted from all these fantasy scenarios!" He exclaimed as he aggressively swam to reach the side of the island. Reaching the shore and land, Liam's body was in extreme pain. The water stung his skin and gave him a headache.

People looked at him, astonished. Who wouldn't be curious? He fell from the sky, wearing armour while he swam.

A group of fishermen gathered to help him. "Are you all right young man? We saw you falling from the sky!"

All Liam could do was nod that he was all right. He accepted their help, and he finally touched the sand. This seems to be a port. People are buying fish from fishermen as they glance at him every moment.

Surrounded by people, he seems like an average person who has been a part of this world.

He walks, not knowing where to start. "She told me to save her world, but there's no other information. Where? When? And how? Am I supposed to stop that war?" He settled on the bench facing the ocean. He sighed in frustration until information popped in front of him like some info in a video game. It says:

Name: Liam Ren

Age: 18

Talents: unknown

Currency: 10,000 aurum

"She should have included the mission. But I'll think about it later, are aurums like the money here? Because I am famished, I need to eat something."

Inside the Inn

"How much is for one night?"

"five argenti for one night, Sir!" The girl answered brightly. She's one of the staff.

"How would I know if argenti is a higher value or lower from aurums?" Liam whispered to himself. He looked at the girl, and she was smiling at him. What Liam can't handle is those bright extroverted people. He always feels exhausted whenever he's around them. They're like the sun that burns your skin and absorbs all your energy.

He placed one aurum on the table. "I received one aurum; your change is fifteen argenti." She holds and forms his hand making it look like a basket ready to receive his changes. Liam shivers in surprise. "T-thank you," he muttered.

"Follow me, and I'll show you to your room, sir."

Liam's Room

He felt sleepy as he clings to his bed. It was midnight when he started to dream:

"Prohibere Tempus," The woman asserted

Two people keep on appearing in his dream. A woman was holding a staff and walking towards the other bright side. She continued to walk while speaking the words "Prohibere Tempus" A man came out of nowhere, trying to stop her from going to the other side. But then they slipped and fell into the deep abyss.

Liam's eyes opened like he had witnessed a tragedy.

He gently scratched his eyes as soon as he woke up, but he teleported to somewhere else. Luckily, he's still wearing his armour because he fell asleep.

The place seems like a mine. It's full of glittering diamonds. He stood up and observed the inside. There is no mine railway, so he is unsure of which direction to go.

How is he supposed to go back to the inn? He suddenly teleported. He tried scratching his eyes once again, but it did not work.