In a tavern, various gods had gathered to celebrate and make merry.
Among them was Ares, who was currently challenging another deity to a drinking contest.
Ares slammed an empty jug onto the counter.
"Another one, Bacchus!" Ares shouted enthusiastically, slightly drunk.
"Right away!"
Moving with astonishing speed, Bacchus handed a full jug of beer to Ares, while the other god struggled just to finish his own.
"That's enough! I'm out!"
"I win!"
Ares jumped to his feet to celebrate alongside the other deities, who let out a roar in his honor.
Someone hurried over to help the defeated god.
"Come on, Thor," he said with a smile as he looked at Thor's lifeless expression.
"Thanks..."
The two were about to leave the tavern when Xihe opened the door from outside, catching them by surprise.
After understanding the situation, Xihe stepped aside to let them pass first.
"Thank you, Great Xihe."
The two gods moved aside to clear the way for the goddess, who entered the tavern under everyone's gaze.
Xihe walked deeper into the establishment, observing her surroundings.
Inside, the tavern overflowed with life. The mosaic floor depicted feasts and drinking contests, while amphorae and smiling theatrical masks hung from the walls.
The air was thick with the scents of grape must, honey, and spiced roasted meat.
Behind an olive-wood counter stained by spilled wine, Bacchus served his fellow deities, laughing and singing between one toast and the next.
Xihe approached the main counter and took a seat. The moment Bacchus noticed her, he came over to serve her personally.
"It's been a while, Great Xihe. Shall I bring you the usual?"
"Yes, thank you."
Bacchus smiled and walked away, while Ares approached her.
"Xihe! I never took you for the kind of goddess who frequents taverns like this!"
Xihe looked at Ares with disapproval and caught a whiff of such a terrible stench that she instinctively covered her nose.
"Greetings, Great Ares. Drunk as usual at this hour of the day, I see."
Ares sat down beside Xihe.
Xihe immediately slid her stool a little farther away from him.
Ares burst into loud laughter.
"This is the proper reward for managing my followers all this time!" he declared, raising his beer jug.
"Well, I can't exactly disagree. At least you take the matter seriously... unlike certain others."
"The Plaza of Thrones is always empty. Hardly anyone goes there to see what's happening below. The only active ones are the gods with fewer followers!"
Bacchus placed a glass of wine in front of Xihe.
"Here you are. It's always a pleasure having you in my tavern. You're one of the few deities who truly appreciate my wine."
"Thank you very much."
Bacchus glanced at Ares with barely concealed disdain.
"Unlike that walking beer barrel with feet."
Bacchus walked away, while Ares didn't seem to register the insult at all.
"I like your beer, Brother Bacchus!"
"We're half-brothers!" Bacchus shot back.
Xihe looked at Ares with resignation.
He's far too drunk to realize when someone is insulting him...
The goddess picked up her wine glass and took a sip.
"In part, it's also humanity's fault. I understand them, but they're dreadfully boring... they're always on the defensive."
"In the end, we knew this would happen. It's only a matter of time. Many followers are learning quickly how to deal with even the most difficult situations. Sooner or later, they'll become serious threats and take the upper hand, forcing the rest to wake up from their complacency."
Xihe looked at Ares with a puzzled expression.
"It's strange hearing that coming from you... weren't you supposed to be the undisputed God of War?"
Ares immediately froze at Xihe's words, as though he had momentarily forgotten his drunkenness.
"You're not entirely wrong..."
"Great Xihe is right! But I still think you're the greatest among the war gods!" another deity declared as he approached the two.
Xihe noticed him, and he met her gaze without hesitation.
"Still, I'm not surprised that Great Xihe would say something like that... after all, we're talking about the deity with only a single human follower, who nevertheless managed to become the very first person to kill someone in this tournament! Not to mention that he's still alive!"
Every deity in the tavern turned toward Xihe and immediately began whispering among themselves.
Xihe shot them all a sharp glare, silencing the entire room.
"Whoa, that's one terrifying look... I wouldn't want to be in your shoes right now, dear Geb," Ares remarked sarcastically.
Geb merely stroked his short beard without losing his calm smile. His sturdy build and broad shoulders made him appear reassuring rather than intimidating, while eyes as deep and patient as the earth itself settled on Xihe.
"Haha... I'm used to it by now."
Xihe composed herself and turned back toward the counter.
"How do you know that?"
"Well, it's obvious. The one who achieves the first kill receives a title and a unique skill."
The goddess tightened her grip around the wine glass in her hands.
"I meant, how did you know that he was my follower?"
"Let's just say I have my contacts. But don't worry—for now, I haven't done anything inappropriate."
After that exchange between the two deities, a deathly silence fell over the tavern.
"You were talking about how little involvement the gods have and how unwilling they are to follow their followers, correct?" Geb asked, breaking the silence.
"Yes! Do you have something to say about it?" Ares replied immediately, eager to keep the conversation going.
"I believe this situation exists because the gods aren't required to do anything beyond answering their followers' consultations."
"That does make sense..."
"Forgive my interruption, but I simply couldn't resist eavesdropping."
Another deity approached the counter, casually brushing a strand of long golden hair behind his ear. A bright, confident smile rested on his face, almost infectious in its warmth.
"Oh, Apollo! Brother, what a pleasure!"
"The pleasure is mine, Brother Ares!"
Apollo and Ares shook hands.
"It seems everyone here has exceptionally good hearing," Xihe remarked irritably, not even sparing Apollo a glance.
Apollo pretended not to notice.
"Good evening to you as well, Great Xihe and Great Geb. As I was saying, somewhere between one cup and another, I found myself listening to your thoughts... and I believe I have the solution to this problem!"
"We're all ears," Geb said enthusiastically.
"My idea is a game! Or rather... wagers!"
"What kind of wagers?"
"Bets between us gods concerning the possible events of Aetherion. For example: who will be the next human to kill someone, who will be the next to die, or simply who the final winner will be... and let's say there are no limits beyond your imagination!"
Apollo's words reached the other deities as well. Intrigued, they gathered around him.
"Interesting... do you already have rules in mind?"
"Not exactly, but we can come up with a few right now!"
Ares wrapped an arm around Apollo's shoulders.
"In the end, you are the God of Games!"
Apollo smiled.
"Let's start with the basics. A wager requires at least two deities."
"That seems fair," Geb commented.
"And there will be no maximum number of participants. If ten gods want to join the same bet, they're free to do so."
Several of those present nodded in agreement.
"Next, I'd say that bets can be placed on anything related to the tournament."
"Anything?" asked a deity from the back of the tavern.
"Anything, as long as everyone agrees on the terms."
"I like this already!" Ares exclaimed.
Apollo gestured toward the gathering of gods around the counter.
"The stakes themselves will also be unrestricted. Each participant may decide what to offer and what value to assign to it."
"That part already worries me..." Geb muttered.
A few deities laughed.
"Finally, to prevent cheating, every wager must be verified by a God of Games. Only then will it become official."
Apollo looked around the room.
"For now, I believe these rules will suffice."
"Wow, that's more than just a few rules!" Ares said, impressed.
"Yes, but there's still room for improvement... it will take time."
The gathered gods seemed genuinely excited by Apollo's proposal.
Apollo himself, however, appeared thoughtful, and Geb noticed.
"Great Apollo, is something troubling you?"
"There's something incredibly important missing..."
"Huh!? What is it!?" Geb asked in alarm.
Apollo's smile widened.
"This game needs a name!"
Geb looked at the God of Games in confusion.
"I think we could decide that later..."
"No! A game this important needs a name right away! Otherwise, what kind of impression would I make on the other Gods of Games!?"
Geb looked even more perplexed.
"It feels like he went from acting like a mature adult to behaving like a child in the span of a second..."
"Doesn't he remind you of someone?" Bacchus said as he passed by with a goblet in hand.
The two of them then turned to look at Ares, who seemed genuinely confused.
"You mean me?"
Xihe stood up.
"Apollo, may I suggest a name?"
Apollo was visibly surprised by Xihe's willingness to participate.
"Yes, of course. Why not?"
"I was thinking of using the lingua franca spoken throughout the mortal world: English."
Apollo's face immediately lit up.
"Yes, I love that idea! As a tribute to our followers!"
"I was thinking of... Divine Games. What do you think, God of Games?"
"It's perfect! This game shall be called Divine Games! What does everyone think?"
The deities present erupted into a thunderous roar of approval.
"Thank you, Great Xihe!" Apollo said with the delighted smile of a child.
Xihe was about to return to her seat when Geb walked past her.
"Great Apollo, everything's settled now, correct?"
"Yes, there are no more issues to resolve."
"Then I'd like to propose a wager."
"Go ahead. Who would you like to make it with?"
"I would like to challenge our dear Great Xihe."
Hearing her name, Xihe turned toward him with curiosity.
"What kind of wager?"
"I'd like to bet on the total number of kills achieved by our followers."
"Hey! What's the point of that? Xihe only has one follower!" Ares protested, annoyed by the apparent imbalance of the wager.
"I accept on one condition."
"What condition?"
"We'll compare the kills of my follower with those of your follower who has accumulated the highest number of kills."
Geb thought it over.
"Great Geb, it's still a huge advantage for you. There are far more chances that one of your followers will survive longer and accumulate more kills. If I were you, I'd accept!" Apollo suggested.
Geb laughed.
"That works for me!"
"Excellent, then—"
"Wait! I want in too!" Ares interrupted Apollo.
Xihe and Geb exchanged glances.
"Fine by me," they said in unison.
"Understood. However, Ares will also have to abide by Xihe's conditions," Apollo explained.
"Of course!"
"Then all that's left is deciding the stakes."
"Great Geb, what shall we wager?" Xihe asked.
"I was so caught up in the excitement that I didn't think that far ahead..." Geb admitted awkwardly.
Ares and Apollo stared at him blankly.
"So even he overlooks details like that..." Ares remarked.
Ares, Apollo, and Geb fell silent as they pondered the matter.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to make another suggestion," Xihe said.
"Of course. I'm willing to bet on anything."
"Likewise. I won't back down either!"
Xihe looked at Geb and Ares, both completely resolute.
"So even if I suggested wagering our thrones and our divine titles? Whoever loses... loses everything."
Xihe's proposal sent shockwaves through the entire tavern.
"What!?"
"Did you hear that!?"
"She wants to bet her position as a deity!"
Geb stepped closer to Xihe, his expression turning serious.
"Are you certain? Do you truly have that much faith in your follower?"
"Yes. I'm certain."
Geb burst into laughter once again.
"Apollo, I accept both the conditions and the stakes! What about you, Ares? Are you going to take back your words?"
Ares responded with a determined grin.
"Not a chance! I accept as well!"
"One final proposal: since there are three of us, let's do it this way. The one who finishes last loses their title and throne. The second place participant keeps theirs. The one who comes first inherits the title and throne of the loser."
"Works for me."
"Excellent."
Apollo stepped between the three participants.
"Very well! All the terms of this wager have been agreed upon! I, Apollo, God of Games, hereby declare the first official bet of the Divine Games between Geb, Ares, and Xihe!"
A deafening cheer erupted throughout the tavern once more.
"May fortune smile upon you... you'll certainly need it!" Apollo declared as he walked away to officiate other wagers.
"What's done is done. I apologize, Great Xihe. I've seen your follower in action. I've witnessed his potential and understand why you place such faith in him... but you won't walk away from this wager as a goddess anymore. Because in the end, he's only human, and like every human, sooner or later he'll make a mistake!"
After finishing his speech, Geb looked at Xihe with satisfaction.
However, she was already walking away, not even bothering to listen.
"Hey! At least hear me out!"
"No. I'm tired. I'm leaving."
Xihe walked out of the tavern, while Geb let out an irritated huff.
"Relax, dear Geb!"
Geb turned toward Ares, who was motioning for him to sit beside him and share a drink.
"Bacchus! Two jugs of beer!"
"Right away!"
Geb sat down next to Ares as Bacchus handed them their drinks.
"A toast to our wager! May the best one win!"
"May the best one win!"
The two clinked their jugs together and began drinking.