eternity or be reborn

I stare at Zilla, my mind racing. Judgment? Consequences? My life was perfect, sure, but I earned it, or at least, I thought I did. My looks, my brains, my wealth, it all felt like a natural extension of who I was. But now this chubby, Santa-like guy is telling me it was "too much luck"? What kind of cosmic scam is this?

"Consequences?" I snap, leaning forward. "What are you talking about? I lived my life the way it was given to me. You're saying I’m being punished for being born lucky?"

Zilla chuckles, that deep, rumbling laugh again, but it’s not as warm this time. "Not punished, my boy. Judged. There’s a difference. Everyone gets their moment at the table, and yours is now." He leans back, folding his hands over his round belly. "You see, the universe has a way of balancing things out. You were given a lot, more than most. The question is, what did you *do* with it?"

I scoff, crossing my arms. "What did I do? I lived! I aced school, partied, dated, traveled, hell, I was planning to start a business after college. I didn’t waste my life!"

Zilla raises an eyebrow, his smile unwavering but sharp. "And the pencil? The one you stole, not because you needed it, but because you *could*? Or the times you used your charm to manipulate others? The people you stepped over because they weren’t as ‘perfect’ as you?"

My jaw tightens. How does he know about the pencil? Or any of that? "That was nothing," I say, but my voice wavers. "Kid stuff. Everyone messes around when they’re young."

"Perhaps," Zilla says, tilting his head. "But small choices ripple. You had the world at your feet, yet you chose to take more than you needed. Why?"

I open my mouth to argue, but the words don’t come. Why *did* I steal that stupid pencil? Or toy with people’s feelings just to see if I could? It wasn’t about need, it was about power, about proving I could bend the world to my will. I shift in my seat, suddenly uncomfortable.

Zilla’s eyes soften, but there’s a weight to them. "You’re not here to be condemned. You’re here to choose what comes next. The universe doesn’t care about your anger or your perfection, it cares about balance. So, tell me, what do you want now?"

I blink. "What do I want? I want my life back! I don’t want to be dead, sitting in some creepy white room with a guy who looks like he moonlights as a mall Santa!"

He laughs again, louder this time. "Oh, I like you. You’ve got spirit. But your old life? That’s gone. The truck saw to that. What I’m offering is a choice: stay here, in the in-between, and face the void of your own making, or take a chance on a new world. Not quite the isekai you’re thinking of, mind you. No harems or cheat codes guaranteed. But a chance to start fresh, to prove you’re more than your luck."

A new world? My heart pounds. It’s cliché, sure, but the idea of a fresh start, somewhere I could be more than just the guy with the perfect life, stirs something in me. But I’m still pissed. "And if I say no? If I don’t want your stupid cosmic deal?"

Zilla’s smile fades, and for the first time, I feel a chill. "Then you stay here. Forever. Just you, this table, and the white. No pain, no joy, no nothing. Eternity’s a long time to be angry, kid."

I swallow hard, glancing around the endless white. The thought of being stuck here, alone, makes my stomach twist. But a new world? What if it’s a trick? What if it’s worse than this? I lean forward, locking eyes with him. "What’s the catch? You’re not just handing me a shiny new life out of kindness. What do you get out of this?"

Zilla grins, and there’s a glint in his eye that makes me uneasy. "The universe gets its balance. You get a chance to earn what you were given so freely before. And me? I get to watch. Call it... entertainment."

I clench my fists. This guy’s playing games, but what choice do I have? Stay in this void or roll the dice on some unknown world. My perfect life is gone, and as much as I hate it, I’m not ready to give up. Not yet.

"Fine," I say, my voice steady despite the storm in my chest. "I’ll take the new world. But I’m not doing this for you or your ‘balance.’ I’m doing it for me."

Zilla claps his hands, the sound echoing like thunder. "That’s the spirit! Oh, this’ll be fun." He leans closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Just one thing: don’t expect it to be easy. The universe doesn’t do ‘perfect’ twice.

Not your typical isekai with harems and cheat codes, mind you. This one’s... different.”

“Different how?” I ask, suspicious. “What’s the catch?”

Zilla grins, and there’s a glint in his eye that makes my skin crawl. “Your old life was too perfect, too easy. The universe doesn’t like that. So in this new world, you’ll get *some* debuffs, think of them as... handicaps to level the playing field. You’ll still have a shot to shine, but you’ll have to work for it. No more coasting on luck.”

“Debuffs?” I growl. “Like what? You gonna make me ugly or broke?”

He laughs, loud and booming. “Oh, I won’t spoil the surprise. Could be physical, mental, social, maybe all three. The universe decides, not me. My job’s just to watch the show.”

I clench my fists. Stay in this empty void forever or roll the dice on a new world where I’m not guaranteed my usual perfection? I hate this. My life was mine, and now I’m being punished for it? But the thought of eternity here, with nothing but this table and my own thoughts, makes my stomach churn. I’m not done yet.

“Fine,” I say, glaring at him. “Send me to the new world. But I’m not doing this for your ‘balance’ or your entertainment. I’m doing it for me.”

Zilla claps, the sound like thunder. “That’s the spirit! Just one warning: those debuffs? They’ll make you earn every victory. No more perfect life handed to you on a silver platter.” He leans in, whispering, “Good luck, kid. You’ll need it.”

Before I can snap back, the white room blurs, a gust of wind engulfs me, and everything goes black. Zilla’s laugh echoes as I’m pulled into the unknown, my perfect life gone and something tells me this new world’s gonna be a lot less forgiving.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***