Divinity

"Divinity" by Joseph Samachson is a science fiction story about Bradley, a small-time crook from Earth who runs from his past and stumbles upon an alien world where he's worshiped as a god. He wears a helmet that makes him look like a god. At first, he enjoys the fame and power, taking advantage of the aliens' beliefs. However, he soon realizes being a god is not as easy as it looks as dangers emerge. He has to deal with scary monsters and his own feelings, like his love for an alien woman and the fear of being found out. Over time, Bradley changes from a scared runaway into a strong leader but eventually finds out he must go through regeneration.