Ethan opened his eyes.
He was no longer on Earth.
Gone was the sky he knew, the ground he walked, the people he once lived among. Now he stood alone on a stretch of floating land, suspended above an endless world. This was his Divine Territory—his godly domain, granted to him at the start of the hegemony competition.
The land was small. Just a few hundred feet across. A circle of smooth gray stone formed its heart, and surrounding it was lush, soft grass that swayed without wind. There were no trees, no mountains, and no sun in the sky—yet everything was lit in a soft, pale glow, as though the very space around him shimmered with divine light.
At the center of it all pulsed a white crystal embedded in the stone. It beat slowly, like a heartbeat.
"This is your Divine Core. Protect it. Feed it. From this, your power flows."
The voice was neither male nor female. It echoed in his mind like a dream, one he couldn't escape.
Then another message followed.
Welcome, Ethan. You are now a Seed God.
You have been chosen to compete in the Divine Hegemony.
Only the top ten gods will become Monarchs. The rest will fade.
Ethan stared blankly at the glowing text in front of him.
"Fade? You mean… die?"
No answer.
He stood still for a long time.
So this was real. The rumors, the stories—everyone from his world had been dragged into this impossible competition. Mortals, forced to become gods. Some would rise. Most would fall.
His fists trembled slightly. Not in fear, but in realization.
He looked down.
Beneath his divine territory stretched an endless world—Terra. Vast beyond imagination. A world made for the gods. Cities, forests, rivers, deserts—it had everything. And far below, humans were awakening, confused and afraid, just like he had been.
Each god ruled from above, in their divine territory. Each was given a chance to build their power by gaining followers on Terra. The more faith they received, the more powerful they became.
Your godhood begins now. Create your Divine Law.
The message flashed again.
Ethan exhaled slowly. "Law… my truth. What do I stand for?"
He sat beside the crystal and thought.
In his old life, he had hated lies. Betrayal. Deception.
Everyone lied. Politicians. Companies. Even the people closest to him had once betrayed his trust. That pain stayed with him longer than anything.
If he was to be a god now, he would build a world without that poison.
Divine Law: Lies are forbidden in my name.
The crystal flared with white light. The wind shifted. The very air of his territory changed—becoming sharper, cleaner, as if every hidden thing had been burned away.
You have created the Law of Truth.
Your Domain: Truth.
Your Divine Territory has awakened.
Ethan felt something inside him unlock. A presence. A strength. He stood, eyes sharper, body lighter.
He could feel the boundary of his territory now. Every blade of grass, every stone. He didn't have to walk to them—he simply knew.
And most of all, he knew the core of his being had changed.
He was no longer just a human.
He was a god.
Creating the First Temple
Ethan stepped forward and stretched his hand toward an empty spot near the Core.
"Build," he said softly.
In a flash of light, a white-stone building began to take shape. Four pillars. A slanted roof. A small altar inside. It was modest but solid—a place of worship.
Temple Created. Cost: 10 Divine Energy.
Remaining Energy: 90/100
It felt right.
He walked inside and placed a single word on the altar in glowing letters: Truth.
Casting the First Signal
But a temple meant nothing if no one worshipped him.
He stepped to the very edge of his floating territory and looked down at Terra. From this high, he could see cities no bigger than ants, rivers like silver threads, and flickers of light where other gods were beginning to stir.
He needed to act before they did.
Would you like to place a Divine Signal?
"Yes."
A glowing map appeared before him, highlighting areas where humans were gathering.
He chose a quiet valley near a forest—untouched, peaceful, and isolated.
Confirming signal location…
Signal placed.
A beam of light descended from his territory like a slow arrow, striking the valley. A symbol formed on the earth—a circle with a single eye in the center, glowing faintly.
It was subtle, but those sensitive to spiritual forces would feel it. They would be drawn to it. His presence would whisper to them.
Divine Signal active. People may now become your followers.
Below, in Terra
In a small village near the forest, a young farmer namedKairos looked up from his work.
Something felt different.
His chest felt warm. Not hot, not painful—just… calm. Still. His sister Lira looked at him, confused.
"Did you hear something?" she asked.
"No,"Kairos whispered. "But I feel something."
He turned and began walking.
Lira followed without question.
They weren't alone. That day, five people—young, old, men, women—left their homes, drawn by something they didn't understand. They walked miles. Through hills, over streams.
And when they arrived at the glowing mark in the valley, none of them spoke.
Instead, they knelt.
And they believed.
Faith Ignites
Back above, Ethan staggered slightly as a warm rush of energy surged through his Core.
You have gained 5 followers.
Faith: 5/1000
Divine Energy increased: 105/100
Territory Strength increased. Realm Power: 3%
He gasped.
It felt like a pulse of light inside his chest. For a moment, he felt what they felt—curiosity, hope, awe. Their emotions echoed through the divine bond.
They didn't know his name.
They didn't know his face.
But they believed.
Ethan stood taller. A slight smile formed on his lips. Not from pride, but from realization.
He had done it.
He had begun.
Preparing for Tomorrow
Ethan walked back to the temple and sat down.
He stared into the crystal. It was stronger now, glowing with a steady, pulsing rhythm. Every heartbeat of the crystal echoed with power.
There was much to do. He needed to understand more:
What could he build in his territory?
Could he protect his followers from other gods?
What happened if another god tried to steal them?
But for now, he allowed himself a moment to rest.
Somewhere below, five people whispered his name in their hearts.
Tomorrow, there would be more.
[End of Chapter 2 ]