Warlord's Deal with the God

In a world where everything looked like fluffy clouds and a clear sky, Arthur slowly opened his eyes. Memories flooded him with images of bloody wars, weapons firing from all directions, and mushroom clouds caused by nuclear explosions. In all these memories, he had been at the forefront.

"So, I died?" Arthur asked himself. He could remember coughing up blood and lying on his bed. Despite the countries he conquered and the billions of dollars he earned through less than lawful means, nothing could save him from cancer.

"I'm pretty sure this isn't how hell is supposed to look," Arthur mumbled, looking around. He found himself in the form of a bright orb of light, surrounded by a void of life.

"This isn't," suddenly, Arthur heard a gentle yet powerful voice. Soon, an old man with pure white hair, wearing robes that appeared to be made of clouds, materialized before him.

"Who are you?" Arthur asked, genuinely curious. The old man smiled, appearing almost surprised.

"For a man who just died, your words are remarkably calm," the old man remarked.

"There's really no point in panicking. I died, and I assume this is where I'll be judged," Arthur replied, his fear replaced by acceptance.

"Yes," the old man affirmed.

"So, you're the judge? A god? What are you?" Arthur inquired. Once again, the old man smiled.

"I am everything. Deep down, you think of me as a god and an old man. Hence, I have taken this form," God explained.

"I have been watching you since you were born. You were an orphan, growing up in the streets, committing all the crimes a child shouldn't. You rose from a nobody thief to a killer, and eventually, to a warlord," God said, his voice tinged with both pity and remorse.

"Yes, that is me," Arthur agreed.

"Do you have no regrets for the life you led? The millions of lives you and your actions took?" asked God.

"The only regret I have is not living past fifty and enjoying everything I built. But there's no point in talking about that. If you expect me to beg for mercy, don't. In fact, I blame you. As a god, you should have given me a better chance and circumstances. In a sense, all my actions, all the lives I took, are on you," Arthur's audacity knew no bounds as he placed blame on the god himself.

In response, the god did not strike him down. Instead, he let out a gentle smile.

"The universe will never understand the meaning of God, and you are not an exception. Since you have no regrets, I can offer you only two choices. You can be sent to hell, and your soul will spend an eternity there," God said before snapping his fingers.

The moment God snapped his fingers, the scenery around Arthur changed. Fluffy clouds transformed into fiery lava pits, and extreme heat assaulted Arthur. He felt his flesh melting, unimaginable pain and suffering hitting him all at once. Then, Arthur heard the snapping sound again, and he returned to God. The scenery changed.

"What... what just happened... it felt like... I was stuck there for years..." Arthur mumbled, the shock of being sent to hell still lingering in his mind.

"What you felt is just a glimpse of hell. If you choose to go to hell, that is how it will feel for eternity," God said, his voice grave.

"What's the other option?" Arthur asked.

"The second option is reincarnation. You will be reincarnated into a whole new world and pay for your sins, redeem yourself. A second chance at life. But," God raised his finger.

"The amount of sins you've committed requires much redeeming. Thus, I will send you to a world that is destroyed by magic. To redeem yourself, you need to rebuild that world before dying, unless the creatures in that world kill you first. If you die this time, you will be sent to hell directly," God said, his voice turning authoritative and powerful.

"This doesn't seem like a better option. Let me get this straight, spend eternity in hell or be reborn into a hellish world and attempt the impossible task of rebuilding it before I get killed. I sense this is the part where you will give me something to help me," Arthur asked, as the god smiled upon him.

"Yes, you can ask for one thing, except immortality or anything that makes you unkillable," said the god.

Arthur expected the god not to grant him immortality, as that would render the entire deal meaningless. So he asked for the next best thing.

"I want a system. A system capable of aiding me in my quest to rebuild the world, strengthen myself, and build my army," Arthur requested.

The god looked surprised, but Arthur couldn't tell if it was a surprise at his request or something else.

"I will grant you a system with certain locks and requirements in place," God agreed.

For a few moments, silence enveloped them. More precisely, Arthur lost his ability to speak.

"Now, I will send you to that world with all your memories intact, including what you felt in hell—a reminder of what's waiting for you if you fail," God said, his face devoid of a smile.

"You will be reborn into the body of an orphan who died of hunger, with no memories of the orphan. You will need to start from scratch, just as you did on Earth. It is up to you to rebuild that world, not as the warlord you were, but as a savior," The god's voice echoed through the sky as Arthur absorbed every word.

"Now, be on your way, Arthur. Make good use of your second chance," said the god before waving his hand. In the next moment, everything around Arthur turned into pure, bright light. He felt as though his body was being torn apart.

After a few long moments, everything turned dark. Arthur felt something familiar—the sensation of limbs. This was followed by hunger, thirst, and weakness.

"Arrgh..." Arthur growled as he struggled to open his eyes. The memories from the moment he died on Earth to his conversation with the god flashed across his mind.

Ding!

Suddenly, Arthur heard a bell ringing in his mind.

[Apocalyptic System Activated…]

[Warning!]

[The host is dying. Please find shelter and sustenance for the host's body]

[Warning!]

It hadn't been more than a few seconds since Arthur arrived in this apocalyptic world, yet his mind was already filled with warnings and challenges.

With great struggle and determination, Arthur forced his eyes open, eager to take in the sights of his new world.