LightReader

Chapter 2 - First Domain

Small Warning: Some infodumps (TwT) I'm very sorry!

=×=×=×=×=×=

Cold.

That was the first thing Ayuna felt.

The kind of cold that didn't just rest on the skin, but sank deep into the bones and lingered like a warning. He gasped, sitting upright in a patch of snow, his breath curling in pale mist in front of him.

White. Everywhere. A frozen landscape stretched around him—blanketed trees, half-buried stones, and the distant whisper of wind weaving through a silent forest.

He blinked hard, his head aching. The last thing he remembered—

The grocery store.

The gunshot.

The blood.

His hand instinctively flew to his chest, but there was nothing there—no hole, no wound. Only rough, itchy fabric. He looked down and frowned. His clothes were strange. A thin tunic of coarse brown cloth, loose-fitting pants tied at the ankles, and a tattered, mud-stained cloak. It looked like something a background NPC might wear in a medieval game.

"…What the hell?"

He pushed himself up on shaky legs. The cold nipped at his fingers and toes, but oddly, the numbness didn't worsen. It was tolerable. Still real, but not deadly. Like something was subtly keeping his body stable, just enough to keep him from freezing. Then—

DING!

A sound echoed—not in the air, but inside his head.

A glowing text appeared in front of him, floating and pulsing softly in the air like a projection no one else could see. Ayuna unconscious took a step back as he stared at the screen.

[SYSTEM BOOTING...]

[GOD MAKER SYSTEM ACTIVATED.]

[Welcome, Ayuna. You have been chosen.]

He staggered back a step. "Wha—"

[Do not be alarmed.]

[You are now an Architect Candidate: a being entrusted with guiding a faithless world toward salvation.]

[The gods have fallen. Evil demons vye to conquer this world. Chaos spreads where order once ruled.]

[You will become the foundation of belief. Through divine roles, you will restore hope—or reshape it entirely.]

Ayuna stood motionless, his breath visible in the cold air. The words were emotionless but carried weight. Like reading something holy in a dead language—but still understanding every word.

"Why me?" he muttered. "First of all, I'm not even religious. Second, I'm just an average joe. So why choose me? Why not those teens filled with heroic justice or something?"

[You were chosen based on a strict criteria.You possess creativity. Resolve. Imagination. All required to carry burden of Salvation. Please trust the System's judgement.]

"I'm flattered but that doesn't lessen my annoyance about this whole situation." Ayuna said with a hint of displeasure. But still, he took a deep breath and calmed himself down.

"First things first, what are you and what are your goals? I mean you can't expect me to cooperate with you without knowing anything."

[Let me properly introduce myself. I am the God Maker System, a divine construct designed to guide the chosen candidate toward godhood. As my host, your purpose is to assume the roles once held by the fallen gods, manifest miracles, and rekindle humanity's faith in the divine. Through your actions, you will not only restore belief—but also save the world of Alzet from its looming destruction.]

"That sounds so complicated," Ayuna can't help but release a deep sigh. He run his fingers through his hair, clearly frustrated.

He turned to the panel in front of him, "I'm assuming that you have fantasy-like abilities in your arsenal right? You call yourself the God Maker System and gods are omnipotent and omniscient."

[Of course. If you work hard enough, omniscience and omnipotence is not impossible.]

"That's quite reassuring," Ayuna said. "How do I start?"

[Before you begin your divine journey, it is essential that you understand the functions available to you. As the God Maker System, I have been equipped with a series of integrated features that will serve as your primary tools for growth, survival, and influence. But first, let me explain the foundation of your divine progression: Faith Points.

Faith Points (FP) are the core currency of your ascension, generated by mortal belief, worship, and awe directed toward you. Earned through miracles, worship rituals, and the spread of your name, FP can be used to purchase items from the Divine Shop, upgrade your skills, summon divine beings, and expand your God Space. They are also essential for increasing your Divine Rank, unlocking new abilities, domains, and privileges. The more people believe in you, the stronger you become—but should their faith fade, so too will your power.

I will now explain each of my primary features in detail.

1. ATTRIBUTE PANEL

This panel provides a complete overview of your current status. It displays your fundamental attributes—such as Strength, Intelligence, Vitality, Agility, and Charisma—as well as your acquired Skills, Titles, and current Faith Points. As you grow in power, your attributes will increase, unlocking new capabilities. This panel will also log all passive effects, buffs, and debuffs that are currently active.

2. BELIEVERS

This section records and monitors the total number of beings who have placed their faith in you. It is divided into two categories:

General Believers: A numerical count of all individuals who offer you faith, whether consciously or passively.

Notable Believers: These are individuals whose faith is exceptionally strong or influential. They may become Champions, Saints, Prophets, or serve as your direct agents within the world of Alzet. Their actions can have profound effects on your divine reputation and your Faith Points generation rate.

3. WHEEL OF FORTUNE

A divine mechanism based on probability and chance. By using a Wheel Ticket, you may spin this wheel to obtain random rewards. Possible rewards include:

Skills (active and passive)

Weapons and Artifacts

Tamed Beasts and Summons

Divine Titles or Blessings

Rare Resources

Higher-tier tickets increase your chances of obtaining rare or god-grade rewards.

Note: Results are bound by the laws of cosmic balance. Cheating is impossible.

4. DIVINE SHOP

A universal marketplace connected to all known planes and dimensions. Here, you can exchange Faith Points for anything you might need:

Equipment

Materials

Skill Books

Territory Upgrades

Worship Tools

Even concepts, memories, or fragments of forgotten powers

The Shop is vast and constantly updating. However, more powerful items may require special currency, quests, or reputation unlocks.

5. GOD SPACE

Your personal divine domain. The God Space exists outside the flow of Alzet's time and reality. It serves several purposes:

A safe area for rest and planning

A customizable base of operations

A storage space for items, beings, and even certain structures

As your divinity grows, so too will the scale and features of your God Space. It may later be transformed into a temple, a pocket dimension, or even a self-sustaining realm, depending on your path.

These are your initial system functions. More features may unlock as you progress and evolve. Use them wisely. Your ascension—and the fate of this world—depends on it.]

Ayuna squinted at the floating panels, watching the golden words shimmer against the frozen backdrop.

'This all feels like some twisted RPG. Except there's no start menu, no difficulty setting, and I sure as hell didn't hit "New Game."'

He exhaled slowly, steam puffing from his lips. The System's presence hummed faintly in the back of his mind, like a calm voice on standby. Waiting.

"Okay," he muttered, turning in place again. "God Maker System… or whatever you are. You've told me all the bells and whistles. But I'm still standing in the middle of an icebox with no real direction, no weapon, and—might I remind you—no divine powers yet."

[Correct. As per protocol, you have yet to receive your First Divine Gift.]

"See? That's what I'm talking about. That seems like something we should've started with." Ayuna waved a hand dramatically. "How can I become a god without god powers?"

[The First Divine Gift is not given arbitrarily. It is chosen by the Host.]

"Wait. I get to pick?"

[Indeed. All candidates must choose the domain through which their divinity will first manifest. This Gift determines your divine identity's foundation. It will affect your early miracles, followers, and faith generation rate.]

Ayuna froze mid-step. 'A divine identity... like a class?'

"…So I'm choosing a class. That's what this is."

[In simpler terms, yes. A God's Domain defines their starting path.]

Ayuna crossed his arms, cloak flapping in the wind. "Alright. Lay it on me. What are my options?"

A new panel appeared with a faint chime:

[CHOOSE YOUR FIRST DIVINE GIFT

Each Domain will grant you a minor passive ability, one basic active skill, and a Divine Symbol.

Choose wisely. This cannot be changed until much later.

DOMAIN OF FLAME

The god who brings destruction—or warmth.

Passive: Fire Resistance – higher resistance to fire and heat

Active: Ember Spark – ignite flammable materials or weak enemies

Symbol: A burning feather

DOMAIN OF LIFE

The god of renewal and growth.

Passive: Fast Recovery – regain vitality faster than an average healthy young man

Active: Touch of Mending – heal shallow wounds and cure basic illness

Symbol: A blooming bud

DOMAIN OF TRICKERY

The god of mischief and trickery.

Passive: Evasive Footwork - slightly higher dodge rate

Active: Minor Illusion – create a brief visual illusion

Symbol: A split mask

DOMAIN OF KNOWLEDGE

The god of wisdom, foresight, and learning.

Passive: Keen Insight – slightly higher critical thinking and perception

Active: Truthsense – ability to know if a person is lying or not

Symbol: An open eye

DOMAIN OF STORMS

The god of fury, skies, and storms.

Passive: Shock Resistance – higher resistance to shock and stun effect

Active: Storm Pulse – release a short-range electrical pulse

Symbol: A thunderbolt]

Ayuna stared at the choices, lips twisting thoughtfully.

"Flame's tempting. Fire's always cool. But if I'm going to help people—assuming I will—Life makes sense. Then again... Trickery sounds fun. Knowledge could be useful too, especially if I'm stuck in another world."

He paced in a small circle, arms tucked against his sides.

'This isn't just about stats. It's about image. How I come across to people in this world. Am I the warm savior? The clever god? The destroyer who punishes the wicked?'

He closed his eyes, breathing in the cold, listening to the whisper of wind over the snow.

After a long pause, he spoke. Quietly.

"…I want to help people. I think I do. Not like some hero saving everyone, but… I don't want to stand by while things break."

He opened his eyes again, clearer now.

"System. I choose the Domain of Life."

[Domain confirmed.]

[Initializing Divine Gift…]

[Please be advised: this First Divine Gift is granted freely, as part of your initiation.]

[Future Domains will not be granted so easily.]

Ayuna blinked. "Wait, what do you mean 'future domains'?"

[To connect to a new domain beyond this one, you must first complete a divine trial: a complex quest tied to that domain's essence. Only upon successful completion will the System allow integration.]

"So… no free power-ups next time?"

[Correct. Only the First Gift is exempt. Progressing your godhood demands proof of worth. Strength alone is not enough—your choices, sacrifices, and influence must align with the Domain you seek.]

Ayuna rubbed the back of his neck. "Great. So the tutorial was free. Everything else is locked behind skill checks and suffering. Nice."

[Such is the path of divinity.]

"…Figures."

A warm pulse slowly spread through Ayuna's chest.

He staggered, eyes wide, as a faint green light spiraled up from the snow beneath his feet. Leaves—tiny ones, made of light—spiraled in the air around him like a slow breeze had stirred them.

It wasn't blinding. It wasn't explosive. Instead, It was gentle. Like morning sun warming frozen soil.

[You have received your First Divine Gift.

Passive Unlocked: Fast Recovery

You regain vitality faster than an average healthy young man.

Skill Unlocked: Healing Touch (Rank 0)

You can heal minor wounds or ailments through direct touch.

Divine Symbol Manifested:

A pale green bud appears faintly on the back of your right hand.]

Ayuna stared at his hand, where the symbol bloomed like a faint tattoo. It pulsed once, matching the rhythm of his heartbeat.

He flexed his fingers, the cloak shifting around his shoulders. "It feels… warm. Like it's alive."

[Your connection to the Domain of Life has been established. You are now eligible to perform minor miracles. Your journey begins.]

"Yeah," Ayuna said, looking up toward the distant white sky. "It really does."

He glanced around again. The trees. The snow. The silence.

Then, after a pause, he added dryly, "Now can I please get out of the cold before my newly awakened divine ass freezes off?"

[New Objective Available: Locate Shelter]

[Optional Objective: Use your Divine Gift in a non-combat scenario.]

Ayuna laughed—short, almost bitter. "You know what? That actually sounds doable."

He tightened his cloak and began moving through the snow, this time with a faint green glow guiding his path.

More Chapters