Zaydan stared at the ring on his finger, his mind still reeling from what had just happened. His heart pounded as he reached out to grab the TV remote—only to find a small wooden box suddenly appearing in his hand.
"What the—?" Zaydan's eyes widened.
Before he could react, something brushed against his leg.
"AAAAHHH!" he screamed, jumping up like a cat that had just stepped on water.
A beam of golden light burst from the ceiling, illuminating the room.
Rehan, equally startled, looked down at his hands. "Bro… why am I holding chocolates?!"
Zaydan glanced at himself. He, too, had a Five Star chocolate bar in each hand. The wooden box had vanished, replaced by candy.
Then, a deep chuckle echoed through the room.
A figure stood before them, casually munching on a chocolate bar.
Zaydan's jaw dropped. "No… freaking… way."
It was the same old man from the dam.
Only now, he looked completely different. Instead of his tattered clothes, he wore a long, elegant robe embroidered with golden patterns. A majestic golden staff rested in his hand, and his eyes gleamed with mischief.
The old man took another bite of chocolate, chewing happily. "We met yesterday, boy… and now you summon me with chocolate? How generous!"
Zaydan and Rehan blinked.
They rubbed their eyes.
The man was still there.
Zaydan's voice cracked. "Uhhh… WHO ARE YOU?! And WHY do you look like you walked out of a fantasy movie?! And WHY are you holding a giant golden stick?!"
Rehan, still holding his chocolates, tilted his head. "Yeah… and more importantly, can I have some of that robe material? Looks expensive."
The old man smirked. "Ahh… where are my manners?" He straightened up and twirled his staff.
"My name is Azzad, the God of Creation. And I come from the world of Aetherios."
Zaydan and Rehan exchanged glances.
Zaydan: "The world of what now?"Rehan: "Wait. Wait. WAIT. You're telling me—you're a GOD from another world? Like, with magic and swords and monsters and—"Azzad: "And dungeons, dragons, and shiny treasures, yes, yes."
Zaydan staggered back, gripping his head. "Nope. This is too much. I think I need a nap—"
THUD.
Zaydan collapsed onto the couch, unconscious.
Rehan and Azzad stared at him.
Azzad sighed, poking Zaydan with his staff. "Weak mortal."Rehan shook his head. "Yeah… He wasn't ready for this level of main character energy."
Azzad chuckled. "Understandable. But you seem quite… composed, young one."
Rehan grinned, his business mind already at work. "Well, I've read enough novels to know that when a god appears, there's always an opportunity to make money. So tell me, what kind of help do you need?"
Azzad smirked, intrigued. "Clever boy. You see, Aetherios is a world of magic, but it lacks knowledge. I can create anything—skills, spells, even technology—but unless the people understand it, I cannot implement it. I need someone to introduce new ideas to my world."
Rehan rubbed his chin. "Interesting… And what kind of currency does your world use?"
Azzad chuckled. "Ah, the golden question. We use bronze, silver, gold, and platinum coins."
Rehan's eyes widened. "Wait. Gold and platinum coins? As in real gold and platinum?"
Azzad nodded.
Rehan suddenly clutched his heart. "Bro. Bro. Bro. Zaydan! WAKE UP! WE'RE ABOUT TO BE RICH!"
Zaydan snored in response.
Azzad laughed. "Yes, but wealth alone won't help you. Aetherios is dangerous. If you wish to thrive there, you need more than just money—you need power."
Rehan grinned. "That's what I was hoping you'd say." He leaned forward. "How about a deal? We help you update your world with knowledge, and in return, you grant us skills and powers to survive. Sounds fair?"
Azzad's eyes twinkled. "Interesting proposal… Very well. I shall grant you abilities befitting your talents."
Suddenly, Azzad paused, his gaze drifting toward a plate of leftover pizza on the table.
His entire demeanor changed.
"Wait a moment… Is that what I think it is?"
Rehan blinked. "Uh… pizza?"
Azzad's face lit up like a child on Christmas. "By the heavens… I thought I'd never see it again!" He rushed forward, grabbed a slice, and took a dramatic bite.
The god closed his eyes, savoring the taste. "Mmm… that perfect combination of cheese, tomato sauce, and dough… Earthly food is truly divine!"
Rehan and Zaydan exchanged a glance.
Rehan smirked. "So, uh… you like Earth food, huh?"
Azzad nodded vigorously. "Not just food! I adore Earth's fashion, technology, and entertainment! Oh, the wonders of television! The thrill of roller coasters! The bliss of a perfectly made cup of chai!"
Rehan grinned. "Sounds like you've been here before."
Azzad chuckled. "Oh, many times. When I get bored of divine duties, I travel to different planets. But Earth? Earth has always been my favorite." He waved his staff, and suddenly, a small golden notebook appeared in his hand. "I even have a list of my favorite things!"
Zaydan, who had finally woken up, groaned. "Okay… hold up. You're telling me you're a god from another world, but instead of doing godly things, you come here to chill, eat food, and watch TV?!"
Azzad took another bite of pizza. "Exactly."
Zaydan facepalmed. "This… this is insane."
Rehan, meanwhile, was deep in thought. "So… if you like Earth so much, what's stopping you from staying here?"
Azzad's expression darkened slightly. "As much as I love this world, I cannot remain here for long. My divine power weakens when I stay too long in foreign realms. That's why I need help bringing Earth's wonders to Aetherios."
Zaydan sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright, let me get this straight. You're a god, you want us to help modernize your world, and in exchange, we might get skills and powers?"
Azzad nodded. "That is correct."
Zaydan exhaled. "I… need time to process this."
Azzad grinned. "Take your time, boy. For now, let's enjoy a good meal."
And with that, the God of Creation reached for another slice of pizza, looking completely at home in their world.