Opening my eyes, I found myself staring up into an impossibly clear blue sky. Soft grass cradled my back, but I had no idea how I'd gotten there. My head was a foggy void—my memories felt as though they'd been scrubbed clean.
"Hello again, Galio. It seems you have returned to us once more, though your life was cut short this time," a melodious, breathtaking voice called out.
I turned toward the sound. The moment my eyes locked onto the Goddess, pieces of my memory snapped back into place.
Tallia. A goddess from Yaggisdral—the Living Realm of the Gods. She sat in the grass right beside my bare body.
I had been here many times before. In these endless grassy plains, I had spoken time and again with this sensual goddess who had promised me her hand.
"What number is this, Tallia?" I asked, sitting up. "And what do you mean, cut short? I don't remember any of it."
Tallia offered a sad, delicate smile and nodded. "It was not a pleasant end, but you completed your task regardless. This marks your four hundred and ninety-ninth death... which means your next life will be number five hundred. Since this is your final test, the Nine convened and decided to place you in a very special world."
I raised an eyebrow at that. Looking into her heterochromatic eyes, I reached out and gently rested my hand on her cheek. She covered my hand with her own, leaning in until our lips met. I dissolved into the taste of my beautiful Goddess, savoring the warmth of the kiss before pulling back slightly.
"Tell me what you can about this special world. What kind of System am I working with this time?"
"I can give you the basics," she explained softly, "though your mind will be mostly wiped before you arrive. As always, you will have no outside help or contact. The world you are entering is inhabited entirely by women—it has never known a man. They don't even have a concept of what a man is, so you are going to stand out."
My eyes widened. "What?! What's the point of sending me to a place like that?" Not that I truly minded—and I knew Tallia didn't, either.
According to my fragmented memories, I'd had many relationships across my various lives, but they were always necessary stepping stones to complete my missions. I had to live each life to its absolute fullest; Tallia herself had told me that after my very first death.
"Think of it as your final chance to enjoy yourself!" Tallia smiled, a playfulness returning to her voice. "Not that I intend to bore you once you return to Yaggisdral, but this is a rite of passage for all Men chosen by the Goddesses. Still, make no mistake: this world will be uniquely challenging. The System you'll receive will help you grow, but most of your progression will rely on targeted missions."
I tapped my chin thoughtfully. "Fair enough. Do quests, get stronger—standard routine. Last question: what's the overarching mission this time?"
Tallia gave a casual shrug. "There isn't a world-ending threat this time around, if that's what you mean. Call it an experiment. Honestly, you should be thrilled! It's a once-in-a-million-lifetimes chance to walk through a world where men simply don't exist."
I let out a low sigh. "True, it sounds interesting... but I have a feeling I'm going to get into a ridiculous amount of trouble. What age do I start at?"
"Twenty years old, but your System won't activate immediately. There's no point in explaining how it triggers, since you won't remember anyway," Tallia said. "You also won't consciously remember your past lives, but you will retain all the skills and knowledge you acquired throughout them. They'll stay buried until you truly need them. Now... as much as I'd love to keep you here all to myself, you have one final life to live. Are you ready?"
Instead of answering verbally, I pulled her close and kissed her again, pressing her down into the soft grass...
...and then my lips pressed into a patch of damp, earthy moss.
I blinked, pulling back with a scowl. I wasn't in the divine plains anymore. I was lying flat on a forest floor.
Talk about a disappointing transition.
There was no time for a nap. I sat up and surveyed my surroundings, trying to figure out where I was or how I'd arrived, but my mind was a blank slate. I couldn't even identify the region, let alone the specific forest.
Had I taken a blow to the head? Was this some kind of extreme amnesia?
Grouting my teeth in frustration, I let out a long sigh. Panicking wouldn't fix anything. I stood up and took in the view: dappled sunlight filtered through a thick canopy of leaves, casting golden light over massive, twisting trees. The woodland was pristine, ancient, and completely untouched.
"You there! What are you doing?" a woman's voice called out from behind me.
I turned around.
Our eyes met, and the woman immediately froze, scanning me from head to toe. I was wearing simple grey traveling pants and a long-sleeved shirt, but the utterly bewildered look on her face told me something was deeply wrong.
"Sorry," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "I seem to have hit my head. I don't remember anything from more than a minute ago. My name is... well, isn't that great? I can't even remember my own name."
The woman had striking purple eyes, warm brown hair, and a drop-dead gorgeous face. Her fitted white shirt and short brown shorts showed off an incredible, toned figure.
"Really? You don't remember anything?" She stepped closer, squinting as she inspected me like a rare creature. "My name is Renna. I need to take you to the village so the council can see you. You look... strange. Mostly your face, and that flat chest of yours."
My flat chest? My face? What was she talking about?
"What do you mean, 'flat chest'?" I asked, looking down at my broad, firm chest through my shirt.
"Well, your chest is much smaller than anyone else's, and it looks hard," Renna said, tilting her head with genuine curiosity. "Though it looks smooth, too. Can I touch it? I've never seen breasts structured like that before. Since we're strangers, I'll let you feel mine as a fair trade."
I blinked at her, completely stunned.