Chapter: 1
Darkness.
Then—awareness.
Tyler's mind struggled to process the weightless nothingness surrounding him. He wasn't in a hospital bed anymore. No beeping monitors, no dull pain in his side—just silence.
He floated in a vast, endless gray—like the color of a storm cloud frozen in time. There was no floor, yet he wasn't falling. The air was thick, heavy, like the moment before a thunderclap.
"Am I… dead?"
He glanced down at himself—same short black hair, same dark skin, same red shirt and black pants. He even felt the toned muscles he'd worked on. It all felt real. But if he was dead, shouldn't he be somewhere else? Heaven? Hell? Something?
"Where am I?" he muttered aloud.
A voice answered, deep and resonant, warm yet commanding.
"We, my child, are in the crossroads. Or as you call it—Limbo."
Tyler turned sharply, eyes narrowing as a towering figure of light materialized before him. His mind raced through a list of possible deities, but only one fit the sheer presence before him.
"No way…"
"Yahweh," the name slipped out before he could stop it.
His eyes widened, and his hands shot up to cover his mouth. Oh, hell—wait, can I even say that here?
But instead of anger, Yahweh chuckled, the sound both gentle and powerful.
"At ease, my child. You may speak freely. Though I must say, it has been a long time since someone addressed me by that name."
Tyler exhaled slowly, lowering his hands. His gaze flicked around the empty space again, something about the scene gnawing at his memory.
This feels oddly familiar…
Then it clicked. His expression twisted in realization.
"Oh, hell no. This is just like those isekai stories…"
Yahweh smiled knowingly. "It seems you have figured out why you are here."
Tyler groaned, rubbing his temples. "I should've fought harder to stay alive. Bleeding out in a hospital after a stab wound doesn't sound so bad right now."
"Yet, you are the same one who wished for a second life, are you not?"
Tyler froze. "Okay, first of all, I didn't actually think that wish would come true. My life isn't an isekai story, and that's the last genre I want to be in. It's either ridiculously easy with some overpowered cheat or absolute hell on earth."
A brief silence followed. Even Yahweh didn't argue with that logic.
"But fine," Tyler sighed, rolling his shoulders. "I did ask for this, so I won't turn it down. That would be disrespectful. So, what's the deal? What am I going there with?"
Yahweh studied him for a moment before speaking.
"I am not giving you a job, nor am I assigning you a mission. I am granting you another life, not employing you. However, the world you are entering is far more complicated than a simple tale of heroes and villains. As for what you will take with you… a system or a powerful ability, along with the knowledge to use it." He paused. "But given your earlier reaction, I assume you have a preference?"
Tyler crossed his arms. "Yeah. I don't want a system."
Yahweh raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"I don't like the idea of an easy, guided path. I like working for what I have. Systems take all the creativity out of it."
"A fair reasoning," Yahweh nodded. "Then what ability do you desire?"
Tyler smirked. "Boundary Manipulation."
Yahweh's expression shifted slightly, the weight of his gaze intensifying. "An extremely powerful ability… but also one of the most difficult to master. Are you aware that you will be nearly defenseless in the beginning?"
Tyler shrugged. "What you call defenseless, I call more than enough."
Yahweh chuckled. "Very well."
A white and gold book with intricate designs appeared in his hands, flipping open to a specific page. Yahweh's expression became serious.
"However, your incarnation will not be a simple one."
Tyler raised a brow. "Why?"
"The world you are about to enter has strict rules. Your soul is not native to it, and if I were to implant your soul into a body from that world, it would be violently rejected."
"Okay… so why not just send my current body?"
"That would also be a problem." Yahweh lifted the book. "Your name has already been recorded in the Book of Life as deceased. If I send both your soul and body, there will be an error, and you will be forcibly pulled back. One must be altered—your soul or your body."
Tyler didn't even hesitate. "My body, no question."
Yahweh's expression was unreadable. "You may regret that decision."
"That's future me's problem."
Yahweh let out a deep laugh. "Very well. I wish you luck in your new life, Tyler Smith."
A golden light engulfed him, warmth spreading through his entire being as the space around him shattered.
Tyler groaned as he woke up, feeling cool earth beneath his fingertips. His body felt… different. Lighter, yet off in a way he couldn't quite describe.
Pushing himself up, he looked around. Towering trees surrounded him, sunlight filtering through the dense canopy. Birds chirped in the distance, the air fresh and untouched.
"A forest?" he muttered, rolling his shoulders. Something felt… weird.
Then, he noticed the weight on his chest.
A deep, unsettling feeling crept up his spine. Slowly, hesitantly, he looked down.
Two mounds.
His breath hitched.
No. No way.
With trembling fingers, he poked one. A sharp jolt of sensation shot through him.
His mind blanked.
…Not a dream.
His hands shot to his throat. His voice—softer, higher.
"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me."
Then, the realization fully hit him.
"DAMN IT, YAHWEH! WHAT THE HELL?! I'M A GIRL?!"
A flock of birds scattered at the sound of her scream.
Chapter 1: End