The chicken—no, he—sat in the corner of the coop, beady eyes scanning his surroundings with a new sense of clarity. Every straw, every speck of dust, every cluck and squawk now seemed... beneath him.
[System Notification: Host has awakened partial divine consciousness.]
He fluffed his feathers with all the majesty of a dethroned emperor sitting on a pile of mud.
"Okay," he thought. "I'm a god. A chicken-shaped god. This... this is fine."
> [Tutorial Quest Unlocked: Gain your first worshipper.] Reward: 100 God Points + "Basic Flame Flicker" Skill.
The divine fragment of the Phoenix God narrowed his eyes. "How the cluck am I supposed to get worshipped in this feathering form?"
As if summoned by fate (or perhaps comedy), the coop door creaked open. A small child peeked in—a grubby, wide-eyed girl no older than seven. She was holding something wrapped in cloth.
"Mom said we should eat you today..." she whispered.
The chicken stiffened.
"...But you're too funny-looking. Like a boss monster from that game my brother plays."
She waddled over and placed the bundle in front of him. Inside was a half-eaten cornbread muffin.
"I'll feed you if you do something cool, mister chicken."
Something ancient stirred.
[Optional Bonus Objective Detected: Impress the child.]
> Skill Unlocked: "Flicker of Flame" – summon a harmless spark of divine fire.
He focused. Somewhere deep in his soul, he found it—a dying ember, waiting to roar.
He raised one claw like a wizard wielding a staff, stared hard at the muffin, and—
Pop.
A tiny flame flickered into existence, hovered in the air, and then exploded into a puff of glittering golden smoke shaped like a phoenix wing.
The child gasped, eyes sparkling.
"You're MAGIC!"
[Quest Complete: First Worshipper Gained!]
> +100 God Points
Title Earned: "The Muffin Flame"
Worshipper Count: 1/1,000
She dropped to her knees in the straw and bowed low.
"I worship you, Lord Fluffy!"
The chicken twitched.
"…Lord what now?"
[System Update: Host has been named by first worshipper. Name: Lord Fluffy. Name locked until 10,000 God Points are reached.]
"No, wait—"
[Name registered.]
The coop echoed with the ancient sound of one forgotten deity shrieking in denial.
But deep down, beneath the fluff and indignity, a single ember of pride warmed his heart.
The flame had been reignited.
And Lord Fluffy was just getting started.
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