The final bell rang.
A deafening roar erupted from the crowd as the opponent crumbled to the canvas, unconscious and unmoving. The arena shook with thunderous cheers, the victory undeniable.
Standing in the center of the ring, chest heaving and arms raised high, Lukas Valentine let out a triumphant yell. His sharp dark blue eyes scanned the audience, a smug grin spreading across his face. His jet-black hair, slick with sweat, clung messily to his forehead. And his face, arrogant, proud, untouchable.
He looked down at his fallen rival and, crouching slightly, shouted with venom:
"HOW DOES IT FEEL, HUH?! TASTE THAT! NOW YOU'RE LYING BENEATH ME!"
The stadium shook from the explosion of applause. The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers:
"And the winner... the undefeated champion... LUKAS VALENTINE!"
A ring girl approached gracefully, carrying the golden championship belt. Her smile shone, and the spotlight followed her footsteps.
But just as she drew close—
Crreeeaaakk...
A strange sound echoed from above.
Lukas narrowed his eyes. "...Eh?"
And then—
CRASH!
A massive spotlight snapped from the ceiling and plummeted. It struck the ring with brutal force.
And just like that, everything went dark.
The undefeated champion... died not in battle, but crushed under a falling light.
"NOOOO!!"
Lukas screamed into the void. His fists pounded the smooth, white floor beneath him, an endless, featureless space with no ceiling, no walls, no horizon.
"I came this far!" he growled. "I fought warriors, champions, bled for every match, and I die to a SPOTLIGHT?!"
He rose, breathing hard, fury in his eyes.
"Damn this life! I haven't even tasted my golden era yet!"
His arrogance, however, refused to die.
"HEY! WHO'S IN CHARGE HERE?!" he shouted into the empty whiteness. "I'm Lukas Valentine! I demand to be brought back, I'm not DONE yet!"
From the distance, soft footsteps echoed. A woman appeared, beautiful, elegant and ethereal. Her long dress shimmered like mist, her posture regal, and her eyes calm, but with a faint glint of amusement.
"Oh dear... we've got a noisy one this time," she said casually.
Lukas turned sharply. "You! Are YOU the one in charge?"
She gave a nod. "Correct. This is the realm between life and death. I assess your sins and virtues… and from there, decide: heaven, hell, or reincarnation into a new form."
"Hell no!" Lukas barked. "I don't want any of that! I want to go back! I just won, I need to celebrate my victory!"
She raised a brow. "Impossible. You've died. There's no turning back."
Lukas growled. "I died from a SPOTLIGHT! A CHAMPION like me, crushed like a roach?! My old opponents will laugh at this!"
The goddess bit her lip, then burst into laughter.
"Pffft... HAHAHAHA!! I'm sorry, hah, this is... this is truly the most ridiculous death I've seen!"
Lukas clenched his fists. "Hey! You just laughed! Stop it!" His cheeks flushed with shame. "Damn it, what is happening here?! At least give me a rematch!"
She doubled over in laughter.
"A rematch...? With the spotlight?" she gasped between fits of laughter.
"AHAHAHAHA! Oh no, I can't take it anymore!" She held her stomach, tears in her eyes.
"No one's been this unlucky before, I swear!"
"SHUT UP!!" Lukas roared, red-faced and humiliated. "Stop laughing!"
The goddess finally wiped her tears, still chuckling.
"Someone set me up," Lukas said darkly. "They were jealous of my success. They must've rigged that spotlight... a trap!"
She shook her head, grinning. "Sorry to disappoint. There was no trap."
"You just had really bad luck."
Lukas stood there in stunned silence.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
The goddess wiped the last of her tears, still chuckling softly.
"Ahh… it's been so long since I laughed like that," she said, placing a hand on her chest, amused and radiant.
Lukas scowled and muttered under his breath, "I'll get you back for this, you damn goddess..."
She tilted her head with an amused smile. "You're lucky. I'm in a good mood today, so… I might actually bring you back to life."
Lukas snapped upright. "Wait, seriously?! Finally!" he exclaimed, eyes wide with excitement.
"It's about time! Do you have any idea how long I've been yelling in this void? Terrible service! Ridiculous!" he added, complaining like an entitled customer at a bad restaurant.
But before he could finish—
"Oh, and I'll be reincarnating you… into another world," the goddess said smoothly.
Lukas froze. "...I'm sorry, what?"
"You'll be revived in a different world," she repeated elegantly.
His jaw dropped. "NO! Absolutely NOT!"
She blinked innocently. "Didn't you say you wanted to live again?"
"Yes, but on Earth! My world! Not… some medieval goblin-infested fantasy dump!"
The goddess sighed, almost bored. "I've already told you, returning to your original world is impossible. But look on the bright side…" She raised her hand.
"You'll receive an ultra mystic legendary rare skill, [Devour]. Just hearing the name should make your heart race."
"I'm not interested!" Lukas barked. "I'd rather go to hell than be dumped in some backwater magical world! So choose, Earth, or Heaven!"
Suddenly, a glowing magic circle lit up beneath his feet.
"Wait, what's this?!" Lukas shouted in panic, trying to step away, but the circle held him firmly in place.
The goddess smiled sweetly, raising her hand like a conductor of fate. "Enjoy your new life… Champion."
"NO! Don't you DARE send me! DAMN IT! I REFUSE!!" Lukas thrashed wildly.
"Send me back! You damned goddess! Ugly witch! You fake divine bimbo!!"
The goddess, unfazed, tilted her head with a mocking tone.
"Hmm? I didn't catch that. Are you saying thank you for this second chance?"
Lukas screamed as his body started to fade in a swirl of light.
"I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS!!! YOU DAMN GOOOODDEEEEESSSSSSS!!!"
FLASH!
Welcome to the new world.