Story by: Rhenhwa.
Virtual God's Online
Chapter 4: Deification
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, organizations, and settings depicted are entirely fictional and created for storytelling purposes.
***
Deification ranking.
A ranking that deciphers where a deity stands, be it in strength or influence.
It mostly worked based on strength.
For Eathen-ranked deities, it is their wish to climb the ladder.
Even if they feel it is impossible to become strong enough to enter the upper rankings, being in the upper ranks would be a dream come true for anyone.
Still, it's no easy feat for an Aetherial deity to grow stronger, as it is thought.
Most have even given up and are satisfied with where they stand.
Even those with minimal strength are struggling to use the simulation battlespace to their advantage.
Unknown Star Cluster
Inside an opulent quarter.
One where desire practically filled the room.
The walls were adorned with gilded mirrors reflecting the lush, flowing draperies and soft satin couches.
Venus-like artwork in vibrant tones depicts a beautiful goddess in various scenes of sensuality,
her golden hair cascading over her shoulders in luxurious waves.
Massive, flowering vines climbed the columns supporting the canopy of an elaborate chandelier, casting a soft, shimmering glow across the room.
Through a lavender curtain, one can see the visage of a man and a woman inside.
The woman sat on her plush couch while the man knelt before her.
In a world like this where power is dominant, it was only natural that those at the bottom would bow to those at the top.
"It's a surprise. A surprise, really."
"Blackstar was it...? I thought I told you to handle things like this... Mr. Number One Ethern deity."
The male deity shivered at her words.
He attempted to open his mouth to speak; however, before he could say a word,
"Silence, Hailen."
Naturally, it wasn't Hailen's fault.
There was little the deities could do when the Akashic System created their systems.
That would include battles that allowed Blackstar to enter the 3-digit deification ranking.
"Akashic...."
Said Goddess repeatedly tapped her fingers against her soft couch, humming for a moment.
"The rankings that exist for me alone haven't been changed in a long time, before the Deification update. Do everything in your power to suppress him, Hailen."
"I want no mistakes."
"However, if he is willing to serve under me... then I shall happily welcome him to my bosom."
Throughout the entire time, the male did not speak. Nay, it is safe to say he was not allowed to speak.
Despite his being a control freak, the goddess in front of him was high-ranking.
Naturally, that was not anything impressive, as even amongst them, she was a low-ranking member at best.
But even then, compared to him, she could crush him in more ways than one.
However, seeing as she wasn't strong enough to keep up with true monsters, goddesses like her resorted to spreading their influence to deities below them.
He was a prime example.
"Yes, my lady."
On the other hand, the person being spoken about was currently strolling across VVC.
Virtual Vice Central - Akashic Transit.
A main hub space created by Akashic, with a sprawling cityscape, buildings, facilities, and several districts.
Being new here, he had seen it via v-net; this place is a central attraction.
Far different from his almost-destroyed piece of a star.
A place comparable only to Ageha's or Elysia's grand structure.
Dressed in black, long clothes—inner shirt and trousers—with even black footwear, he walked about curiously, like a newborn.
"So, this is V-Net's main hub."
V-Net is the main network source for all virtual applications connected to the Akashic network.
It is, in a sense, closest to the Akashic System, its capital.
The hub itself spanned the virtual size of a supermassive star, rendered flat and scalable, expanding outward into layered districts.
"So, this is main....?"
Alcor muttered, walking along a walkway lined with uniformly spaced trees and manicured grass lawns.
A neat green strip separated the path from the main road where transport units zipped past soundlessly.
Just as Alcor muttered that,
"Ya. Hello there, couldn't help but notice you. Are you newly formed?"
It was a youthful-looking teenage male deity, blonde-haired, clad in a fantasy-style outfit that blended green, white, and subtle hints of red.
His entire aesthetic leaned more toward "holiday mascot" than divine entity, especially with that million-digital-cash smile beaming from his face.
Something about him radiated disarming charisma, easygoing, open, the kind of personality that could wedge itself into any conversation without effort.
Alcor blinked at him, tilting his head slightly. "Hm… how did you know?"
The man chuckled, actually clutching his stomach as if Alcor's question had been the funniest thing he'd heard all day.
"Haha—well, every deity's been here at least once. Only the newborns wear that wide-eyed look like it's their first sunrise."
Alcor gave a small nod, taking in the information.
For beings like them constructed from data, awareness came quickly.
Intelligence was a given. The only thing they lacked was experience.
The blonde deity seemed mildly surprised at how quickly Alcor processed that, but recovered swiftly.
Straightening up, he placed his left hand over his chest, right arm behind his back, and gave a courteous nod.
"Deific name: Lute. Middle-class virtual deity, aligned with the Order of Light, in service to Master Illion. Pleased to meet you."
Alcor blinked at his introduction, then returned the greeting.
"Alcor. That's all I know about myself currently. Pleased to meet you."
"Woah, wait, wait, wait, you needn't introduce yourself the same way I did. It's just the bare minimum courtesy on our side."
Lute waved his hand at Alcor.
Well, he couldn't deny that Alcor was slightly different, being newly formed without much personality yet.
Thinking of that, a soft smile tugged at Lute's lips.
"Well then, since you're new here, how about I show you around?"
With his back turned to Alcor, he said that, looking over his shoulder at Alcor.
"I'd appreciate it."
Before he could say more, Lute had already grabbed his hand and was dragging him forward with way too much enthusiasm for a mid-tier god.
The whole place mimicked cities seen in lower worlds: galleries, theaters, museums, and a bunch of other places.
Firstly, they dropped by a commercial shop not far from where Lute dragged him.
It was a shop selling stakes; its owner was a resident—a virtual being.
Much like them, there were natural residents of this dimension. However, these residents needed the deities' power to function.
They could not use the Akashic System, nor could they travel across realms, even within this dimension.
If anything, they served to populate this virtual plane of existence.
Naturally, even the residents themselves knew this.
"Yo, Mr. Lute."
The intelligent shopkeeper greeted the male deity, who greeted back with a smile. Along with, "Give us your recommendation."
"Oh! Sure thing! One special coming up!"
Alcor blinked, looking at the interaction between the two, ultimately closing his eyes for a moment without a word.
In no time.
"Here we are! One special, piping fresh!"
A small tray slid onto the counter.
Virtual cream puffs, dusted with shimmering powdered sugar that refracted faint digital hues.
Of course, deities didn't need to eat. Their systems didn't require sustenance.
But deities like Lute indulged anyway, not for need, but for nostalgia.
For the sensation. For the joy of flavor in a world where flavor didn't matter.
Lute bit into one casually, letting out a soft satisfied hum.
Alcor hesitated, then mimicked him—taking the offered puff and raising it to his mouth.
CRUNCH~
He blinked, lifting his head. "It's… sweet."
"I know, right? I come here all the time just for these. Super addictive."
Alcor couldn't speak to the addictive part but he nodded quietly, still chewing, the sweetness lingering in his mouth like a fading waveform.
The shopkeeper chuckled from behind the counter, pleased by the compliment.
But Lute, true to form, was already moving.
"C'mon! Still a ton more to see!"
He grabbed Alcor's wrist again and practically yanked him away before the Blackstar could even finish his bite.
Lute gladly took him on a tour of the entire place.
Since, in the upper dimension, time was simply a simulation for them, they had eternity to themselves if they wished.
After much fun, which Lute mostly enjoyed, they came to a rooftop.
From a distance, there was a billboard advertising something.
[Amaterasu-Ōmikami wants you to join the Shinto pantheon today.]
It was accompanied by the stern image of a hulking deity—definitely not Amaterasu—pointing directly at the viewer with crossed arms and an intense glare.
Alcor stared. "…"
"You eyeing that billboard?" Lute asked, leaning his elbows on the railing. "Don't take it seriously. It's mostly a joke."
"A joke?"
Lute nodded. "Yeah. I mean, no offense to the Shinto structure—same goes for mine—but those ads don't tell the whole story."
He gestured toward the billboard lazily.
Naturally, a pantheon couldn't house hundreds of thousands of lower-ranked Eathern deities.
One would need sufficient strength before that.
It could seem cruel… but that was just how this world worked.
"That's why most deities at your rank look for assistance from higher-classed gods," Lute explained casually.
Alcor began to have a growing understanding.
In other words, because he was weak, even if he wanted help, he would not get any.
And because his status was low, he would receive no attention.
He understood that this world is a strength-rules-all world, and he took it to heart.
But then,
"If that's the case, then why approach me?"
Leaning on the railings of the rooftop, Alcor asked that, much to Lute's surprise.
"Hey, hey, you're already developing a rebellious attitude towards me. I was glad enough to sponsor your expenses, you know."
"Haah. Quit playing around. I simply want to know."
Curious, are we now? Lute thought.
"Well, let's just say it's kind of my job to show newly formed ones like you around. You can say it's one of the jobs of people like me."
"The Order of Light. Known for their benevolent attitude. I see, this was the attitude they were talking about."
Alcor muttered, and Lute beside him gave a wry smile. So he'd done his research beforehand…
Though Lute couldn't blame him.
They looked toward the horizon when a screen suddenly flashed before Lute's face.
His eyebrows shot up for a moment before glancing over to Alcor, who was already looking at him.
"Haha… something's up, and…"
"Go, don't worry about me. I was already getting tired of this place."
"I see… then how about we add each other on V-Net? You know how to use the system, right?"
"Yeah."
[User 'Binial_Official283' has sent you a friend request. Accept?]
[Yes] [No]
With a click, Alcor accepted.
Lute's grin widened.
"Catch you later, then. If anything comes up, shoot me a message."
He gave a casual salute, then his form fragmented, dissolving into threads of golden light before vanishing completely.
Alcor was left alone on the rooftop.
He turned his gaze toward the distant skyline. The simulation displaying evening scenery, the light shifting slowly from coral to indigo.
"…Well. Time to head home too."