"I stood beside Father as he sat upon his throne, gazing out over the countless lives of mortals. Why did he cherish them so dearly? What had humans done to warrant such value? I stepped forward, my curiosity getting the better of me, and asked, ’Father, why do you place such importance on mortal lives? They are filled with hatred and strife; surely they deserve to be eradicated. We could create a new world, one built on love and harmony, rather than the darkness that plagues this one.’

"Father’s expression turned solemn as he replied, ’Son, human lives are the very sustenance that keeps us alive. We cannot simply destroy them. This is precisely the outcome I feared would come to pass.’

"And then, I awoke in a place I had never known. As I rose to my feet, I felt an unfamiliar weakness. I approached a mirror and was met with the reflection of a masked figure, adorned with intricate, rounded patterns. My hair was as white as snow, and the mask had only one opening, revealing a single eye. I removed the mask, and beneath it, I found a face of striking beauty. Perhaps this was a curse."

As I gazed at my reflection, I donned the mask once more and noticed a set of rustic farmer’s clothes. I dressed in the attire and stepped out into the unknown, pushing open a new door. The sounds of merriment and laughter filled the air as people indulged in drinks and revelry. My expression darkened as I muttered, "Mere mortals."

A young woman with a warm smile approached me, her eyes locking onto the single opening of my mask. "Such rare eyes," she said, her voice filled with curiosity. "I’ve never seen anything like them. Do they possess some special ability? Would you care to demonstrate, my handsome stranger?"

I replied, my tone cool and detached, "Sorry, madam. I don’t associate with mere mortals."

The woman’s grin only widened, and she retorted, "A feisty one, I see. I’m assembling a team. Care to join us, handsome?"

After a moment’s consideration, I decided that joining her might provide the opportunity to uncover answers about my presence in this world. "I can assist you," I said, "but only if you help me find answers about why I’m here."

The woman’s eyebrow arched in surprise, but she agreed to my proposal. Little did she know that I was uncertain about my own abilities in this unfamiliar world.

As I stood beside her, I wondered what skills she thought I possessed that would make me a valuable asset to her team. She handed me four gold coins, instructing me to purchase armor, as we would be venturing into treacherous territory. I acquired a samurai-like outfit and dual-wielded swords, despite my lack of combat experience.

We made our way to the nearest forest, where she intended to assess my abilities. I drew my sword, aiming for a powerful strike, but she effortlessly sidestepped and placed her blade against my neck, her laughter echoing through the trees. I attempted various techniques, only to be defeated each time, her strength surpassing my expectations.

Frustrated and desperate, I raised my arm, hoping to awaken the golden army that had once obeyed my every command. However, nothing responded, and I realized I had lost my divine powers. Overwhelmed, I let out a scream, and she chuckled, remarking, "For a man to cry in front of a woman, you are certainly a peculiar one."

Just as she spoke, we were ambushed, and she vanished into the fray. Attackers closed in on me from all sides, and I struggled to draw my sword, paralyzed by fear. As I faced the prospect of losing my head, one of my eyes glowed, and a fierce beast emerged from nowhere, slaughtering our assailants with ruthless efficiency. In the chao

s, I lost consciousness.