On what seemed like an average day in an unremarkable time, Luka found himself knee-deep in his routine at the local pizza shop. He was greasing pans—an unglamorous job, but a necessary one. Luka wasn’t in great shape, often teased as "fat" by others. But despite his physical shortcomings, he had a redeeming quality: he wanted to make the world better for everyone he cared about.
Luka wasn’t working this job for personal gain. He had big dreams fueled by love for his family. His father, deeply impoverished and aging, had always wanted to taste wealth before it was too late. Luka hoped to save enough money to help make that dream come true. Beyond that, he envisioned buying a massive plot of land to build homes for the homeless, provide them with electricity, and offer them jobs. His dreams extended to combating global issues like hunger, thirst, and disease.
As Luka went through the repetitive motions of greasing pans, the lights began to flicker before plunging into darkness. The power had gone out—a familiar inconvenience in his line of work. He continued, knowing it meant five hours of cleaning and greasing dirty, hot pans.
But this time, something was different.
The usual clatter of pans and chatter from the next room fell silent. Luka frowned and looked up just as a voice echoed, unnatural and metallic:
“UNIVERSE ASSIMILATED. PLEASE STANDBY.”
The lights flickered back on, but Luka was gone.
---
Luka's Perspective
I was greasing pans during a power outage when I heard that strange announcement about a “universe.” Before I could react, a bright light flashed, and everything went dark. When I woke up, a glowing screen floated in front of me.
“You are your universe's chosen deity. As such, you cannot remain in your universe until you gain enough belief points. Starter believer and family package has been granted. Please choose those you want to port over to the new universe with you. This includes deceased individuals who will be restored to their prime with memories intact. You may also select three soulmate bonds. They will not count toward your believer total and will slowly fall in love with you the more you interact. You cannot choose anyone who already has a soulmate. Begin selection.”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
I blinked at the screen, convinced it was some elaborate prank. “IS THIS A JOKE? WHO’S DOING THIS?” I shouted into the void.
No answer came.
Eventually, I realized this was no joke. My disbelief turned into a mix of panic and determination. If this was real, I needed to make the most of it.
---
I scanned the list and picked my family: my mom, dad, two sisters, my cat, my recently deceased dog, and my grandparents on my dad’s side who had passed away. I was even allowed to bring friends. Naturally, I chose Dominic, my only real friend.
For the soulmate bonds, I went with people I’d crushed on forever: Emily, who’d friend-zoned me; Cathryn, who I avoided pursuing because my friend Tim liked her; and Elliot, who transitioned to male but still looked feminine enough to catch my eye.
Once I confirmed my choices, everything went dark again.
---
I woke up on a grassy field surrounded by my chosen companions. A voice greeted me:
“Congratulations on taking your first step toward godhood. To grow stronger, you must gain followers. Begin by making them believe in your divinity. GOOD LUCK.”
Everyone stirred awake. I explained the situation to them, omitting the soulmate part for obvious reasons. They were skeptical, and honestly, so was I.
Fortunately, I now had new instincts, an innate understanding of my abilities. I could perform miracles, view stats, and check a "belief menu." I started small, summoning a tiny raincloud about three inches wide.
When I explained that their belief in me would fuel bigger miracles, something incredible happened—I gained 100 belief points in an instant.
---
With the points, I learned I could briefly return to Earth, armed with a $5 million budget. I explained the plan to my companions and tore a hole in the dimensional barrier.
Back on Earth, I sprang into action. I rented a U-Haul (well, technically, I stole it), cleared out my room, and raided stores for supplies: solar generators, DVDs, food, tools, and mattresses. I even grabbed McDonald’s family meals before my time ran out.
I returned to the grassy field, where my dad helped set up a makeshift shelter. That night, we watched DVDs and ate fast food under the stars.
---
The next morning, I woke up to find an actual house standing where our flimsy shelter had been. Apparently, while I slept for an entire month, my companions had worked together to upgrade our home.
A series of notifications flooded my mind:
“LEVEL UP. LEVEL UP. LEVEL UP. Congratulations! You’ve provided for your followers far ahead of schedule. You’ve reached Level 12. Please select two major and two minor domains.”
I chose Space and Miracles as my major domains, and Time and Money as my minor ones. These would make my powers more efficient and versatile.
---
Suddenly, a voice filled my head, raw and desperate:
“I’m not fine... I can’t move the mountains... I’m waiting on a miracle...”
The prayer came from someone named Mirabel Madrigal. The pain in her words was palpable, and it hit me hard.
I couldn’t ignore this.
“No, Mirabel,” I whispered, determined. “You’re not too late. I’m coming
for you. Just hold on a little longer!"
