Morning mist rolled over the battlefield ruins of Ashveil. Liam stood silently beside the shattered altar, watching the smoke curl into the skies. The charred corpse of the demonbound beast lay twisted in holy chains, its corrupted blood seared to ash.
Elira stood close behind him, clutching her tattered blanket. Her wide eyes had seen too much. Yet she stayed. She believed.
The Spirit appeared, her voice lower than usual. "You took a life in front of a child."
"I gave her justice," Liam replied. "The world took her mother. The cult would've taken her next. I stopped it."
"She gave you faith," the Spirit said. "That bond is sacred. It can be broken."
"I won't fail her."
He opened his status window.
---
GOD SYSTEM – STATUS MENU
Name: Liam Carson
Level: 3
Class: Chosen of Divinity
Faith Points (FP): 4
Followers: 1 (Elira – status: Devoted)
Title: None
STATS:
• Strength: 10
• Speed: 11
• Endurance: 9
• Divine Power: 14
• Willpower: 10
• Charisma: 5
• Perception: 8
Abilities:
• Destroy [Tier 1]
• Create [Tier 1]
• Enhance [Tier 1]
• Smite [Tier 1] – Cost: 6 FP
• Passive: +1 FP/hour (from Elira's devotion)
---
A new prompt blinked at the top of his interface.
> Follower has reached "Devoted" status. Angel/Demon Ascension available. Cost: 25 FP. Warning: Ascension is permanent. Choose wisely.
He dismissed the prompt for now.
Elira wasn't ready. Neither was he.
Instead, he turned to her. "We can't stay here."
She nodded. "Where will we go?"
"Somewhere we're needed," Liam said. "If we want to kill the roots, we follow the rot."
He sifted through the ruins until he found a torn cultist satchel. Inside was a parchment stamped with the seal of the Red Sigil—a demon cult branch operating out of a ruined fortress called Black Hollow.
"We head north," he said.
But as they moved, a rumble echoed across the land. A tremor. The ground cracked beneath their feet. The Spirit looked alarmed.
"Something's reacting to your presence," she said. "Something… ancient."
The broken altar behind them split in half with a screech of stone. A surge of light shot into the sky—visible for miles.
Liam's interface lit up again.
---
Divine Beacon Triggered
Effect: Nearby inhabitants alerted to divine activity
Incoming Encounter: 2 minutes
---
"Great," Liam muttered. "Who's coming now?"
They didn't wait long.
From the forest's edge came the sound of snapping branches—dozens of boots striking soil. A patrol. But not cultists.
Armored soldiers bearing the crest of the Iron Order marched into view, led by a man with a single black gauntlet and a scar down his cheek.
Liam stood firm as they surrounded him.
The leader raised his blade. "By order of the Eastern March, surrender. You've triggered forbidden divine magic on sacred land."
Liam's system flashed.
---
Choice Detected: Diplomacy / Defiance
• [Diplomacy] – Attempt to persuade or mislead (Charisma: Low – 28% success) • [Defiance] – Prepare to fight (Survival odds: 46%) • [Third Option Available: Divine Display]
Cost: 4 FP
Effect: Summon temporary divine wings to display godhood. May cause fear or worship.
---
Liam didn't hesitate. He reached inward and chose the third path.
---
[Create – Divine Symbol: Wings of Radiance]
Cost: 4 FP
Duration: 2 minutes
Effect: +20 Charisma, +10 Intimidation (temporary)
---
Wings of molten gold burst from Liam's back—massive, radiant, divine. Light blazed across the soldiers' helmets. The ground shook beneath him as power radiated outward like heat from a forge.
The soldiers froze. Several fell to one knee instinctively. The leader staggered, blade trembling.
"I am no heretic," Liam said, voice amplified by the divine system. "I am chosen by the true god. And your 'forbidden magic' just saved this land from corruption."
The commander's eyes twitched.
Then, slowly… he knelt.
"We… we've been searching for a sign. The old gods are dead. If you are truth, we serve."
---
New Followers Gained: +4 Soldiers
Faith Points: +12 (3 per follower)
Passive FP/hour: +5 total
---
Level Up!
Liam Carson – Level 4
STATS INCREASED:
• Strength: 10 → 12
• Speed: 11 → 13
• Endurance: 9 → 11
• Divine Power: 14 → 17
• Willpower: 10 → 12
• Charisma: 5 → 8
• Perception: 8 → 9
---
The wings faded, but the impact remained.
Liam turned away.
"Get ready," he told them all. "We march to Black Hollow next."
As he walked north, Elira and five soldiers followed behind.
And in the distance, dark eyes watched through a cracked mirror.
A voice whispered: "The Godchild rises."
[End of Chapter 5]