Leonardo POV

  I opened the door and stepped inside, ready to colpse on the couch for a zy afternoon. Graduation had just wrapped up, and I had no real pns for now. Tossing my keys on the counter, I made my way to the fridge, grabbed a sandwich, and as I turned around to head back to the couch, a fsh of white light burst in front of me.

  I froze. My heart skipped a beat. The light was blinding, and before I could even blink, the world around me shifted.

  One moment, I'm standing in my kitchen. Next, I'm sitting in a small café. I looked around, trying to make sense of what had just happened, but there was nothing that made sense. My mind scrambled for answers, but the only thing I could focus on was the beautiful woman in front of me.

  She was sitting at a table in front of me, elegant and composed, sipping from a teacup.

  "It's either I took too many drugs or this is some sort of supernatural encounter, because I was sure that I'm awake...and this sandwich tastes too cold and bnd for this to be a dream."

  "Welcome, Leonardo Silver," the woman in front of me greeted, "I can assure you that this is a very real encounter."

  She was beautiful. No, that's an understatement; she looked otherworldly. Her long, golden hair practically glowed, and her blue eyes...well, they were the kind of eyes you'd only see in dreams. Or, I guess, in some kind of crazy supernatural encounter, which was exactly what I was in.

  "So I took drugs?"

  "No." She replied, "But...My name is Lyra, and I have come to offer you a very important task."

  "Is it to stop taking drugs? Those are prescribed medications and I can assure you that I take them based on the rec-"

  "Can you just shut up for a moment? I'm trying to do my job here, it's hard to be graceful all the time, you know."

  "...Well, looks like someone need some bitchy pills..." I grumbled.

  "Shh, let me compose myself real quick." She said as she then took a deep breath, "You are a demigod, chosen by the fates, and you've been selected to help another world; one that's suffering under the tyranny of a demon king who has disguised himself as a god.

  "Okay."

  "I know this is a lot to take in. But time is of the essence. There is much to be done, and you are the only one who can help."

  "Is there a way that I can refuse?"

  "No."

  "Refund?"

  "...No."

  "What about a second opinion?"

  "This is not a health check-up; there will be no second opinion."

  "I beg to differ...I want my wyer."

  "I've seen your bank account, you won't be able to afford one."

  "You got me...so I have to do this against my will and...I'm a demigod, you said?"

  "Can you please set your sandwich down, you're making more eye-contact with that sandwich than me, it's rude."

  "Do I get a more delicious sandwich right after if I do?

  "That can be arranged."

  "Alright, cool, so I'm a demigod? Is it my dad or my mom?"

  "Does it matter?" she asked.

  "I guess it doesn't. So, whose child am I?"

  "I've signed an NDA."

  "Damn."

  "So, back on topic, I have to kill a demon king?"

  "The world you've been called to is called Terra," She expined, "It's a world that's been under the protection of a guardian deity for centuries. This protector was a powerful being, tasked with keeping the bance and shielding the world from threats. But there's a problem now. The demon king you've been chosen to defeat has taken the pce of Terra's guardian. He's not just some ordinary demon. Over time, he's grown stronger, consuming the power of the protector and repcing him. No one knows this, though. The people still worship the demon king, believing he is the guardian they've always known.

  "And as time goes on, the worship of his power made him grow stronger, while the people remain blind to the truth. They've been deceived. The protector is no longer who they think he is. The other gods of Terra have been silenced. Their powers stripped away and used to create a barrier around the world, a barrier designed to prevent any interference from other deities. It is a barrier that only mortals and demigods can pass through."

  "What makes you think a mortal or so-called demigod have the ability to defeat him?"

  "You can, you are a demigod, a being of both mortal and divine blood. Your power exists in both worlds. It is this unique connection that gives you the ability to fight against a god-like being. No mortal, no matter how strong, could even touch a deity. And yet, a demigod like yourself has the potential to stand against such power.

  "But first, you must understand that you cannot rely on anyone in Terra to help you." she advised, "They would never believe that their biggest deity has been repced by a demon, not even when you show them the truth."

  "Well, not everyone." I chimed in.

  "Correct, not everyone, but a majority would be your enemy if you reveal your true goals. You will have to rely on yourself as you can't reveal your true identity, but there is a way. Fame and infamy. Like the gods, your name can be your strength. The more the people believe in you, the more power you can draw from that belief."

  "Ah, so the power of friendship. So what if I can't defeat the demon king? As you said, he's been growing stronger, so what if he's too strong for me?"

  "If you find yourself overwhelmed, there is one other option. Even though we don't know how powerful he truly is, if the demon king is too powerful, you could destroy the barrier; that's the one thing we're sure you can do. Doing so would allow the other gods to intervene and eliminate him once and for all."

  "What about the silenced gods? Can I get their help?"

  "There's a chance...yes. If you connect me to them, I can try to convince them to help, but even then, their powers might be...weak...as a majority of it has been taken by the demon king, their help might not be too reliable."

  "How will I connect you to them?"

  "I'll be your handler. I'll help you as best as I can, instruct you on what you need to do, and be the one to talk to you when things get too overwhelming." She answered, "Put simply, I'll be talking to you inside your head."

  "Do I have to respond aloud and look like I'm talking to myself like a crazy person?"

  "Yes." She nodded.

  "What do I get if I win?"

  "You'll be granted one wish."

  "Can't I just wish that this demon king were dead right now?"

  "A wish that is within our power, unfortunately, that is not."

  "So do I at least get a cool weapon?"

  "No."

  "I want a gun."

  "You're not getting a gun."

  "I'm getting a gun."

  "This is why you're adopted."