Reborn With the Infinite Gods System

Axel's eyes adjusted to the strange light of the world he had just entered. A second ago, he had been counting down to zero, and now he found himself in some kind of astral realm. The atmosphere around him shimmered with a bizarre luminescence, making everything appear surreal and otherworldly. The sky above was a vast expanse of stars, shining with an intensity he had never seen before.

Strange, swirling patterns of light danced among the stars, and a weird mane-like aura enveloped the sky, overwhelming his senses.

He moved, feeling the air around him. It was as if he was moving through water, yet he could breathe without difficulty. There was a sense of weightlessness, but no buoyant force pushing him up, a sensation completely unlike anything he had experienced before. "Wow, it feels so surreal," he whispered to himself. "So this is the realm of awakening."

Remembering his purpose, Axel realized he needed to select his statue of awakening. He glanced around and his jaw dropped. Statues, hundreds, no, thousands of them, filled the space. Each statue was intricately carved, standing on its own stone podium. His heart raced as he tried to grasp the sheer number. "How are there so many?" he gasped, placing his hands on his head.

The daunting task of choosing one statue among thousands loomed over him, each choice possibly altering his destiny.

Without wasting any more time, Axel hurried toward the statues, eager to find the one that resonated with him. He recalled his training: *Which one looks powerful? Look at the scribbling on the statue that describes what it is.* He approached the first statue, a wave of familiarity washing over him. As he got closer, he could read the inscription on the podium: *The Emperor of Chaos, Chronos*.

Axel's eyes widened in recognition. "This statue is from a god of my time before reincarnation," he muttered, the revelation sending a chill down his spine.

He continued exploring, spotting statues of Eros, Boreas, the North Wind God, Hermes, and Artemis. Each statue depicted a deity from Greek mythology, gods he knew well from his previous life. It was as if he had stepped into a museum of ancient history, one where the exhibits were the very gods of legend. Axel's excitement grew with each discovery.

"If that's the case, then my choice won't be as hard as I thought," he mused, a smile spreading across his face. He could almost see his future as the top student at the academy, armed with a power that stemmed from the mythology he loved as a child.

His father had bought him CDs of mythology stories, a cherished memory that now seemed prophetic. Those stories were about to become the foundation of his strength in this new world.

After what felt like an eternity, Axel finally found what he was searching for. Three statues stood in a straight line, each spaced three feet apart. They were unlike the others; instead of stone, these statues were made of gold, shimmering with a divine aura. Axel's breath hitched as he recognized them: *Poseidon, Zeus, and Hades*. The three most powerful gods of Greek mythology.

Axel grinned widely, his gaze shifting between the statues. The golden sheen made them stand out, their divine presence palpable. He approached them, feeling a mixture of awe and apprehension. This was it; his decision was imminent. "Poseidon," he muttered, "that one is scratched off the board. But Zeus and Hades?" He sighed, contemplating the choice before him.

Zeus, the king of the gods, was the obvious choice. Known for his power, leadership, and numerous exploits, he seemed the safest bet. An average person would have chosen Zeus without hesitation. But Axel wasn't looking for the obvious. He was drawn to Hades, the god who ruled the underworld, shrouded in mystery and rarely interfering with the affairs of the other gods.

Hades had always intrigued Axel, not because of his power but because of his enigmatic nature. He barely got into conflicts, and little was recorded about him, likely due to his introverted lifestyle and deep, contemplative nature.

Axel pondered this, weighing the pros and cons. Hades' obscurity made him unpredictable, potentially powerful in ways others couldn't foresee. "To me, Hades is the only god buried within his own world," Axel thought, "barely involved in the surface's affairs. He's an underdog, and that's why I believe he's the strongest."

After a moment's hesitation, Axel made his choice. He reached out and placed his hand on the statue of Hades. As he did, a notification screen materialized before him, startling him.

**[Special message]**

**[The Gold Statue of Hades can be tricky at times. Binding to this statue might mean the risk of receiving a useless skill from him or gaining everything.]**

Axel's breath hitched. The risk was immense. A single useless skill could ruin his entire career, just as it could with Zeus. But the potential reward was equally great. This was a gamble, and Axel knew it. He clenched his fist, steeling himself.

"I just have to take this leap," he whispered, nodding with resolve. "Yes."

**[Synchronization has begun]**

There was no turning back now. As the synchronization process started, Axel felt a surge of energy coursing through him, a connection forming between him and the god of the underworld. He closed his eyes, bracing himself for whatever came next.

**[Done]**

**[Your statue binding has been completed. You can now leave.]**

Axel opened his eyes, a sense of calm washing over him. This was it—the beginning of his journey to becoming the strongest. He had chosen the path less traveled, and now, he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. As he stepped away from the statue, he couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation.

"This marks my journey to becoming the strongest," he murmured, a determined smile on his face.