Terry was on a road trip to go see some relatives in Nebraska when the world he knew ended and would never be the same. It’s one of the hottest days on record in the Midwest for the last decade, the radio reported. He switched the radio source and turned-on Pandora on his phone. Thank god I have air conditioning in this car he thought as he looked out across the fields that he was passing by. God why would anyone want to live here, there’s nothing but fields as far as you can see.

Luckily the traffic on the road was pretty light, he had only passed a handful of vehicles that morning and he didn’t see any in front or behind him so he decided to speed up a bit and try and make it to his destination a little sooner. He was going about 90 MPH when it hit. A huge flash in the sky followed by a monstrous boom. He barely had time to grab the wheel with both hands before the car swerved and locked up, throwing it into a roll that ended with it in the ditch and his body badly damaged.

It was pitch black when Terry opened his eyes. No, darker than pitch black. Did he even open his eyes? It felt like he did, but then why is there no light or anything shining. Wasn’t he in his car the last time he was awake?

“Ugh, What the hell is happening?” he moved his eyes, or at least what felt like his eyes. It was kind of disorientating when he thought about it yet he didn’t feel any vertigo or nausea. “HELLO!” He shouted into the darkness yet he didn’t feel his mouth move. The darkness seemed to just absorb the shout, or mental shout, he thought.

Just as he was about to look at a different spot, he saw a teeny tiny speck of light, or what he thought was a light, since it was so hard to tell with this blackness around him. “Hello!” he “shouted” again, “is anyone there?”

As he waited for an answer, the speck grew to the size of a star in the sky. He started to get very nervous, as he wasn’t sure where he was or what was coming towards him but he didn’t think it could be good. He tried to move or swim or mentally push himself away from the light but it was no use and the light kept approaching.

It felt like both forever and seconds as the light approached him and finally stopped just before his perceived face. The light was almost blinding in its intensity but at the same time, he couldn’t look away from it, it was so beautiful. He wanted to reach out and touch the light but couldn’t because of his condition.

“Hello, fair traveler.”

The words resounded in his mind and almost made him pass out, they were so loud. Pressing imaginary hands against imaginary ears, he tried to stifle the sound but it didn’t do any good. “Could you please turn your voice down?”

“Oh! Sorry about that, how’s this?” The voice said, and this time it sounded like an old man.

The ringing in his mind faded as the voice lowered in intensity. “Better, thank you. What are you?” Terry asked.

“I am the embodiment of death in your Universe.”

It took him a moment to comprehend what the ball of light just said. “Wait, you’re death?”

“The embodiment of death, yes. Why does everyone think that death has to be some sort of evil overlord? I’m not really a bad guy, just lonely.”

“Wait, wait, wait, so then does that mean I’m dead?” he asked as he quickly looked around again, hoping this wasn’t the afterlife and he wouldn’t be stuck here forever.

“Technically, yes. Though you died at a perfect time.”

“How?!” he screamed and started to panic. I’m dead. No, I can’t be dead I’m still talking, aren’t I?

“I said technically. Though you died at the moment of Clarity. So, you do have a bit of leeway.”

“The moment of what?”

“Clarity, that big bright flash. It’s what brought the end of the world as you know it.”

“What are you saying?” he couldn’t help but be skeptical about the whole thing, though he was dead, technically.

“The moment of Clarity brings with it the end of worlds as the inhabitants know it. Though it also brings with it many wonderful things.”

“Like what?”

“Magic, mainly. Greater technology for some worlds. Wonderous beasts. Beautiful women.”

At the last mention Terry could almost feel the ball of light elbow him and wink. “Wait, wonderous beasts? How wonderous?”

“Oh, the usual. Chimeras, hydras, sphinxes, dragons, krakens and the such.”

“What?! How are those wonderous?”

“Well they help bring lots of people to me. Though those people aren’t chatty like you.”

“So, they kill people?”

“Of course. That’s what beasts do.” The ball of light bobbed as it chuckled.

He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. How could something so bad be a good thing. Oh, wait, I forgot who I was supposedly talking to. He could almost feel his hand smacking his forehead as he remembered this was supposed to be death. “Ok, so back to me, how did I die at a perfect time?”

“Well, you see there are rare instances when someone died but they weren’t supposed to. Before the Clarity, I would’ve done something else with their soul but because of the Clarity, I can actually talk to you and put you back in your body.”

“You’re going to resurrect me?”

“Basically, yes.”

“I didn’t know death could do that.”

“Oh, I’m not just death, I’m also what you may call an administrator of the Clarity.”

“So, you brought the Clarity to my world?”

“Oh, no. It was just your world’s natural time to get it. I just administer some disputes and sometimes help the people of the worlds. Which reminds me, how would you like your own special class?”

“My own class?” Terry’s gamer brain kicked in and he couldn’t help but feel giddy at the mention of getting a class. What would it be? Death’s Reaper? Soul Snatcher? Doom Knight? Oh man, he couldn’t wait to find out. The excitement pushed the thought of what happened to the back of his mind.

“Well, you have been kind enough to talk to me. It’s been so long since I’ve had a good conversation with someone who wasn’t an embodiment. They just get so boring. I do have some powers that may benefit you, if you agree to do something for me.”

“Anything! Well almost anything.”

Death laughed. “Just come visit me sometimes and talk with me.”

“Wait, how can I come visit you? Wouldn’t that mean I would have to die?”

“Technically, yes. But with the class and a few other things I’ll give you, it should help with the transition.”

“Well, if that’s the case, then count me in.” He felt like he had just won the lottery. Being able to visit death, getting a special class, even maybe becoming friends with death. What a time to be alive. Well, dead. Undead? Floating dead? Whatever he was at the moment he was glad it had happened.

“Awesome! I can’t wait to rub this in the others’ faces.”

“Wait, you guys have faces?”

“Of, course. I’m just in this form so you don’t have your eyes burned out and your mind scrambled.”

“Oh… well thank you then. So, what class do you have for me?”

“A Necromancer!” Death said excitedly.

“Hmm, a necromancer huh?” he thought about that and even though he liked playing them in his games, he wasn’t sure if being one in real life would be all that fun. “Aren’t Necromancers usually more magical?”

“They are! Which is why they are so cool. I haven’t been able to use my class much, since it does require some special circumstances. But they can raise skeletons, have bone armor, command zombies and even steal health from their enemies. What’s not to love about them?”

“Could you maybe tweak it a bit and allow it to be a balanced class of magical and fighter? Like still have all those things but also have some fighting abilities, like summoning a weapon, damage reduction, maybe even throw in a couple curses? Okay that last one was magical but still. Kind of make it an all-around utility class? When I play games, I usually like to be able to do it all, tanking, healing and damage.”

“Well… I don’t see why not. I do have some give with it and I’m always up for something new. Okay, agreed. I’m also going” he could feel the ball grow quiet and look around like someone might be listening. “throw in an unlimited inventory and a resurrection ability, so you can come visit me. Just don’t go using it willy nilly.”

Terry mentally arm pumped when he heard the unlimited inventory and rez ability. How awesome will it be to resurrected things. And himself. “I will try not to abuse it.”

“Well I suppose it’s about time I send you back, don’t want you to fall behind.”

“Wait, so how will I come visit you? Or talk to you?”

“Oh, thanks for reminding me. I’ll also add in an ability for us to talk and as for visiting you’ll come to this place when you die and you’ll stay here until your resurrection ability is available so you can resurrect or until you decide to leave. Though just so you know it’s hard to tell time here so just keep an eye on your ability. I’d hate for you to miss a whole year just visiting with me.”

“How long have I been here then?” He started to panic a little as he thought he might already be behind the rest of the world.

“Oh, not long, a few seconds in your world, this time. I will also send with you a few health potions to help with your injuries when you get back. Just pop the top and chug, you’ll be good as new in seconds. I’ve made a few changes to the class and added the inventory and other abilities, so I think you’re ready to go. Be careful and make sure you trust the right people.”

“Wait, what?”

With that Terry lost consciousness and the ball of light vanished.