The blinding light seared through me, a white-hot forge hammering against my non-existent eyelids. One moment I was… nothing. And the next, I was something. A cacophony of sensations assaulted me: a rush of power, the feeling of marble beneath my bare feet, the smell of blooming jasmine and something else… something ancient and electric.
Panic, a familiar friend from my previous life, clawed at my throat. Where the hell was I?
I forced my eyes open. The sheer scale of the room made me dizzy. Colossal pillars, carved with intricate depictions of celestial events, stretched towards a sky-painted ceiling. Sunlight streamed through massive archways, illuminating mosaics that shimmered with gold and lapis lazuli. This wasn't some hospital, or some afterlife waiting room. This was… a palace.
And it was mine.
The realization slammed into me with the force of a lightning bolt. Memories, not my own, flooded my mind – visions of constellations being born, of the first spring thaw, of the unwavering gaze of a ram etched against the night sky. Aries. God of War.
Me?
No. No fucking way. The last thing I remembered was… well, nothing pleasant. The details were hazy, a swirling vortex of chaos and explosions. But I knew, with a bone-deep certainty, that I, Bakugo Katsuki, was dead. Or at least, the Bakugo Katsuki I knew was.
Now, apparently, I was some glorified sheep herder with a penchant for yelling and a very, very large house.
I stumbled forward, my legs shaky beneath me. My reflection in a polished bronze shield confirmed my worst fears. The spiky, sun-kissed blonde hair was still there, thankfully. But the rest… my build was leaner, more sculpted, almost…godlike. My eyes, once a fierce crimson, now held a spark of celestial fire.
"Well, this is just great," I muttered, my voice echoing in the vast chamber. "Fucking fantastic."
A melodic chime cut through the silence. A figure emerged from the shadows, clad in flowing white robes. He was tall and slender, with hair the color of spun moonlight. An aura of serene calmness radiated from him, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within me.
"Welcome, Aries," he said, his voice like the gentle murmur of a stream. "I am Apollo, god of music and light. I am here to assist you in acclimating to your… new existence."
"Assist me?" I barked, my hands clenching into fists. "Assist me in what? Pretending I'm some goddamn immortal? I was a hero back there! I had a life!"
Apollo remained unfazed. "Your previous life is over, Aries. You have been chosen for a greater purpose. You are a protector, a leader. You will guide the constellations under your watch, and defend Olympus against any threat."
"Olympus? What is this, some Disney movie?" I scoffed. But the feeling of power thrumming beneath my skin, the inherited memories, argued otherwise.
"It is your new reality," Apollo said, his gaze unwavering. "Come, let me show you your responsibilities."
Over the next few weeks, Apollo became my reluctant guide. He showed me the sprawling lands under my protection – fields of wildflowers that bloomed year-round, ancient forests teeming with mythical creatures, and bustling villages where mortals whispered prayers in my name. He introduced me to the Nymphs who tended my gardens, the Satyrs who guarded my forests, and the constellations themselves, personified as ethereal beings who held the fate of the mortal world in their glittering hands.
It was overwhelming. And boring. And infuriating.
I missed the chaos, the challenge, the feeling of pushing myself to the absolute limit. Ruling over peaceful fields and whispering constellations was a far cry from battling villains and striving to be the best.
"Is this it?" I demanded of Apollo one evening, as we stood on the balcony overlooking my domain. "Is this all there is? Just… existing?"
Apollo sighed. "There is more, Aries, but it requires patience. You must learn to control your power, to understand the delicate balance of the cosmos. You must learn to lead."
"Lead?" I scoffed. "I don't need to learn to lead! I am a leader!"
"A leader must also inspire," Apollo countered, his voice gentle but firm. "You cannot simply command. You must earn their respect, their loyalty."
He had a point, and it made me grit my teeth. Back in my old life, I'd earned respect through power, through sheer, unadulterated force. Here, that wouldn't cut it.
One day, while inspecting my territory, I stumbled upon a group of young Satyrs, arguing fiercely near a bubbling river.
"It's my turn to guard the sacred grove!" one of them shouted, his voice cracking with frustration.
"No, it's mine!" another retorted. "I can summon the wind, and I know the animals better!"
Their bickering was grating on my nerves. "What the hell is going on here?" I roared, startling them into silence.
They looked at me, their eyes wide with fear and a hint of resentment. I was a god, after all. They were expected to obey, not argue. But I saw in their eyes a reflection of my own frustration, my own longing for purpose.
"We are arguing about who should guard the sacred grove," one of them explained hesitantly. "We both want to prove ourselves to you, Lord Aries."
An idea sparked in my mind. "Alright," I said, a grin spreading across my face. "Let's settle this the old-fashioned way."
I organized a competition – a series of trials that tested their strength, their cunning, and their connection to the natural world. I didn't give them orders, I gave them challenges. I didn't demand respect, I earned it by judging fairly and pushing them to their limits.
The Satyrs, initially wary, thrived under the pressure. They discovered hidden talents, forged new bonds, and learned to cooperate to overcome obstacles. And for the first time since arriving in this strange, new world, I felt a flicker of something akin to… satisfaction.
The winner of the competition, a young Satyr named Lycus, was overjoyed. He approached me, his eyes shining with pride and gratitude.
"Thank you, Lord Aries," he said. "I learned more in these trials than I ever could have in a hundred years of guarding the grove."
And in that moment, I understood. Being a god wasn't just about wielding power, or commanding obedience. It was about inspiring others, about helping them realize their potential. It was about leading.
I still missed my old life, the rush of adrenaline, the camaraderie of my classmates. But I was starting to see a purpose in this new existence, a reason to embrace my role as Aries.
I still had a lot to learn, a lot to adapt to. But I was no longer just Bakugo Katsuki, the hero who died in the mortal world. I was Aries, God of War, protector of the constellations, and leader of my people.
And I was just getting started.