“25 is back!”
The residents of Avalis ran to the spawning area as one of their best employees finally appeared. They cheered like there was no tomorrow as 25 stepped out of the capsule.
“Make way,” he said, and they parted like the Red Sea.
25 massaged the bridge of his nose as he walked past the crowd. Amidst that, they continued to murmur about his arrival.
“It’s my first time seeing him.”
“They were right. He is handsome.”
“He doesn’t talk to anyone here, though.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that he’s one of the best employees on this planet. That’s why we rarely see him; he is given the most missions.”
“Isn’t he pitiful, though? Considering he has the shortest time limit among all of us.”
“Ah, whatever. I’m not idolizing a friendless Rennis.”
25 paused as he heard those words.
He turned to the side and saw a new face. Then, he glanced at his badge ’47.’ He scoffed and walked away, not bothering to spare him a glance after that.
He wasn’t friendless! The people he considered his friends just disappeared after non-compliance to their missions. Since then, he has never bothered to make any new ones.
Avalis—a planet dedicated to completing the unfulfilled desires of humans. Each employee, collectively termed ‘Rennis,’ had a wish-granting system designed solely for Earth, the most inferior planet of them all. Humans, weak and foolish, constantly found themselves in miserable situations, often by their own doing.
And yet, despite their flaws, they were the galaxy’s favorites. The gods, for reasons beyond comprehension, wanted the best for them. Why else would Avalis exist?
Through Avalis, those who had given up and surrendered their fates were given a second chance.
Some missions were easier than others. Lose weight or maybe open a small business. While others were bordering on impossible. This was the reason why 25 found himself all alone. He was one of the first ones on the planet, and among those he spawned with, he was the last one left.
Most of the time, Rennis were dispatched in the bodies of newborns, gifted with a clean slate. Other times, the Ascendants, or the rulers of Avalis, made them spawn in the most ridiculous situations.
25 could still remember the time he spawned as an Eunuch in the middle of castration.
He cursed the Ascendants then. However, he quickly realized that going against them, even through words, wasn’t a good idea. Let’s just say he was sore for a good few months after that.
He looked around, observing the land he had grown to memorize. Each of them had a code—a number that corresponded to the age they had to accomplish a mission.
47 had 47 years.
72 had 72 years.
And yes, you guessed it. 25 had only until 25 years.
He had the shortest time limit out of everyone in Avalis, which meant he got a lot of praise and pity at the same time. The next employees with the shortest time limit were the 35s, and there were approximately 15 of them.
25 was all alone through and through.
Once a Rennis finished their mission, they were sent back to Avalis. And if they didn’t…
Well, no one truly knew what would happen if they didn’t finish their mission. They just… disappear.
He finally arrived in front of the Ascendants’ headquarters and waited for the gates to open.
“Rennis 25, you may now enter,” the robotic female voice said.
25 sighed and made his way inside. He was greeted by the sight of the clouds and nothing else. Of course, it has always been like this. The Ascendants made their presence known but never truly discovered.
“25,” the voice of the Greatest Ascendant, otherwise known as Apex, said.
25 bowed. “I am back.”
“Ah, 25. One of our greatest employees. It is great to see you back. Your last mission was a close call. A minute more, and you wouldn’t have made it.”
25 pursed his lips and didn’t respond.
“You have been here for such a long time, and you have been working non-stop.”
‘It took you centuries to realize that?’ 25 spat in his mind.
“Which is why the Ascendants have decided to give you a reward.”
25’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Retirement? Could he finally be free from his missions and just lounge in their 24-hour buffet all day and night?
“After your 25th mission, we shall grant you a long break of ten years.”
It wasn’t a retirement, but it was good enough. The longest break he had was 3 years, which was after his very first mission.
“25th mission?” he muttered.
Not even a second after he said those words, a holographic display appeared before him.
[Next Mission: Found]
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” 25 exclaimed.
[Subject name: Zeno Han]
[Mission: Live an ordinary life.]
And with that, he was automatically transported to a capsule and onto his next mission.