As I watched my followers disperse throughout the village, I felt a steady stream of divine energy flowing toward me. Every prayer, every whisper of my name, every gesture of gratitude for the blessed harvest—all became power. My status shone before my eyes, the numbers rising slowly but steadily.
Believers: 487
Divine Power: 7,200/10,000
Mary had become a fervent evangelist. She went from house to house, showing the golden rose and telling of the "Miracle of Spring." Some laughed, others doubted, but when they saw the once-barren fields now filled with nearly ripe fruit, their hearts wavered.
And then they began to kneel.
An elderly woman, whose calloused hands knew the hunger of past winters, was the first. She touched the damp earth, felt the vitality pulsing beneath her fingers, and murmured my prayer.
"God of spring, bring us the harvest and chase away the darkness of winter…"
A thread of golden light rose from the earth, twining in the air before dissipating. Her faith was pure, sincere—and worth twice as much as the others.
+20 Power of Faith
It wasn't long before others followed suit. Men, women, children—they all echoed Maria's words, their voices forming a soft chorus that echoed across the fields. The rose in the center of the village glowed brightly, its red petals releasing a new wave of energy.
And then, something unexpected happened.
A child, no more than five years old, reached out to the rose and sang.
It wasn't a formal prayer, just a garbled lullaby, but her innocent voice carried such pure faith that the rose responded. A green shoot sprouted from the ground beside her, quickly growing into a tiny sunflower.
The crowd fell silent.
Even I was surprised.
"System, analyze this phenomenon."
[New mechanic unlocked: Spontaneous Miracles.
Description: When an individual's faith reaches an exceptional level of purity, it can trigger divine effects without the need for direct intervention from the god.
Effect: Generates an additional amount of Faith Power and can create small spontaneous blessings (plants sprouting, wounds healing, etc.).
Requirement: Sincere Faith (Level 3 or higher).]
I smiled. This was perfect. The more miracles that happened without me having to act, the more my influence would spread—and the faster I would rise.
The First Priest
As the village transformed into a center of worship, one man stood out from the rest.
It was Lorenzo, a former hunter who had lost his wife to the harsh winter the previous year. He had been one of the first to doubt, but when he saw his daughter—the same child who had caused the sunflower to bloom—smile for the first time in months, something inside him snapped.
Now he stood before the rose, his calloused hands holding a handful of dried seeds.
"Lord Florian," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "If you are real… if you can truly bring back spring… then I give you my life. Use me as you will."
Sincere Faith (Level 4) detected.
System Suggestion: This individual has the aptitude to become a priest. Do you wish to grant him a blessing?
I did not hesitate.
"Yes."
A beam of golden light descended from the sky, enveloping Lorenzo. The crowd recoiled in alarm, but Maria—wise in her faith—simply smiled.
"He has been chosen," she said.
When the light faded, Lorenzo was different. His eyes, once dull with pain, now glowed with a golden glow. In his hand, a small flower had sprouted—a pink Tulip, the symbol of his new position.
New title acquired: "First Priest of Spring."
Effect: Can perform small miracles in your name (cure minor illnesses, speed up plant growth, etc.).
Lorenzo fell to his knees, his tears watering the earth.
"Thank you, my Lord," he cried. "I swear... I will do everything I can to spread your light."
Threat on the Horizon
But it wasn't all roses.
As my influence grew, I sensed a distant presence—something ancient, something hungry.
It was just a premonition, a shiver at the edge of my divine consciousness, but the System confirmed it:
[Alert: A Rival Deity has detected your rapid growth.
Identification: "The Winter Eater"—a minor deity associated with hunger and cold.
Status: Potential Enemy.
Recommended Action: Strengthen your faithful before he takes notice of you.]
My fingers clenched.
Fine.If this "Devourer" wanted war, I would give him one.
But first, I needed more power.
And fortunately, my small village of faithful wouldn't be the only place where my influence would grow.