Liam felt lost, as if drifting aimlessly in an ocean where no concept of light existed. All around him was nothing but darkness.
But suddenly, he felt an inescapable pull. The force behind it was as strong as an immovable mountain.
And then, suddenly, he saw a source of light in the distance. The light was small, yet it shone so brightly that it overwhelmed his senses.
"Hehehe, welcome, my champion. Welcome!"
He finally found his footing, but with it came an amused, intriguing laughter.
When his vision returned, he was met with a surprising sight.
At first glance, he saw a man floating in midair in a supernatural display.
Moreover, calling the figure a mere "man" would be an understatement. His physique was massive, easily as large as a five-meter-tall giant. But what was even more astonishing was his complete lack of a face, skin color, or human features—except for a single, enormous eye split open on his forehead.
"Who are you? Where am I?" Liam asked, suppressing the fear and astonishment rising within him.
The figure chuckled, his lips curving into a wide arc, revealing rows of gleaming white teeth.
Then he spoke kindly,
"No need to panic, Liam. I am called the Almighty One, the Omnipotent One, the Graceful One, the Eternal One… the Faceless One. Choose whatever name you like, Liam," he said, crossing his legs midair.
Liam absorbed the information and muttered,
"So… you claim to be God? Well, I didn't expect to meet a so-called deity today. Certainly not in this form."
The faceless god let out a strange, amused laugh before replying,
"Heh… I have another name as well—the Formless One. Does that answer your question?" He smirked, almost childishly.
"Ah… huh…" Liam merely shrugged. "So, am I truly dead? And am I finally going to learn why my life turned out the way it did?"
"Hahaha… Indeed, Liam. You're dead," the god confirmed. "As for the tragedies happened in your past life? That was merely fate, the balance of karma at work. It's a natural process, Liam. Everyone must accept it."
"Anyway, if you're done expressing your resentment and anger toward me, shall we discuss real business?"
Liam frowned, his cold eyes narrowing as they remained glued to the Faceless God.
Suddenly, his lips curled into a disdainful sneer.
"Heh… Karma and fate? That's just a pathetic excuse. You're certainly not coaxing me with that nonsense. And I have no intention of doing any business with you."
His voice dropped into a chilling monotone.
"I only want peace. To rest in eternal slumber. Whether it's Hell or Heaven, I don't care. I just want rest."
His gaze darkened, his tone hollow and lifeless, devoid of emotion, except for an unforgiving rage simmering beneath the surface.
"Or else… as things stand now, my heart is itching to see everything burn."
Yet, even as fury consumed him like Hell's flames, he knew the truth. Against the entity before him, he was powerless. Utterly insignificant.
He could feel it: he was weaker than an ant..
"Heh, don't be so quick to refuse, Liam. You haven't even heard the deal yet."
Liam glanced at him, a flicker of curiosity sparking in his otherwise cold gaze. What could this so-called almighty being possibly offer him?
The Faceless God smiled, clearly pleased by his reaction.
"Good… You still have the will to live, Liam. I can see it," he said. "Tell me—do you want another chance at life? A completely different existence? Or perhaps… do you wish to relive your past and change your fate by preventing the accident?
"Or maybe… you crave power. The Power beyond any mortal's reach. The kind that would make you a figure of respect, envy, and fear?"
His voice deepened, reverberating through the small room.
"I can grant you anything. But you will get a single wish. All you have to do is complete a job on my behalf."
The god leaned forward slightly, his massive eye unblinking.
"So, tell me, Liam… do you want to do it?"
His words carried an unsettling certainty, as if there was nothing beyond his grasp.
"I.. I can go back in time and change everything?"
Liam murmured, as if possessed by the sheer weight of the possibility.
The thought left him momentarily stunned.
He could return to the past. Prevent the accident. Re-live his life. Change his fate. And finally have a healthy, happy life he wanted.
"Yes, you can, Liam," the Faceless God affirmed.
"But… I must say, I'm surprised. You didn't even consider choosing power," he mused with slight curiosity. "You could have anything you desire, with power beyond comprehension. Yet you overlooked it... I am intrigued. You're not dumb… you're interesting."
Liam let out a small, dry chuckle.
"You wouldn't understand. It's just who I am."
Then, with a shrug, he met the god's unblinking gaze.
"Now, tell me—what is this job that the Almighty One needs an ordinary man like me to handle?"
The Faceless God smiled.
"It's nothing too difficult, actually. I'm going to send you to a forsaken world… to guide its people back onto the right path."
He chuckled before adding, "And no, you don't have to make them worship me."
His tone then grew solemn.
"The world I'm sending you to is a forsaken one, where Summoners once thrived, coexisting harmoniously with nature for ages. They used to form contracts with magical beasts, drawing power from these bonds. Their hearts used burn with aspirations—to reach the peak of Summoners path."
His expression suddenly darkened.
"But… everything began to crumble with the emergence of something called Mech-Science."
He practically spat the word with disdain.
"With the discovery of science, people became lazy. They forgot their aspirations, their purpose. They turned to machines, forsaking the natural order. And with every passing day, their reliance on artificial creations has only grown. The consequences?"
His massive eye narrowed.
"Nature is dying. The magical beasts—the heart of that world—are on the verge of extinction."
His voice echoed through the void, heavy with unspoken wrath.
"So, Liam, your job is to revive the Age of Summoners."
His lips curled into a wicked grin.
"You must erase the artificial comforts they've created. Crush their machines. Remind them that Summoners are far superior to lifeless steel. Let all your fury, all of resentment unleash upon them, Liam."
He leaned back, his voice carrying an eerie finality.
"I won't stop you. Do as you please. Just make sure the job gets done."