" A man can be himself only so long as he is alone, and if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom, for it is only when he is alone that he is really free. "
As the contestants prepared to enter the room to challenge the gods, they each made their choice and were teleported away—except for Kaito, who stayed behind with his hand on the cold stone globe. He turned to the announcer and called out, "Hey, announcer."
The announcer quickly turned around and responded, "What do you need, Master Void? And please, call me Christine."
Void was pleased to hear someone call him "master," but he kept his composure and asked, "Just out of curiosity, are people with no connection to primordial qi allowed here? And if they are, can I summon someone?"
Christine was surprised by the question but answered, "First, no, mortals without the essence of primordial qi aren't allowed in this realm. Second, you can't summon someone. If you did, your souls would become linked."
"Good to know," Void replied, holding back a grin.
Kaito then slowly moved to the spot he was before and said, "I am Kaito Fujimoto, and I want to battle Hermes in a game of my creation."
The globe emitted a red light, indicating an error. Christine approached and asked Void what he had said. He repeated, "I only gave my name, the god I want to battle, and the game I want to play." Christine then asked, "What's your name?" Void replied, "Kaito Fujimoto, also known as Void."
Christine checked the list again and noticed that there was no mention of the name Kaito Fujimoto. Suddenly, she felt a presence in her mind, instructing her, "Don't tell him anything except what I say."
She then repeated, "I'm sorry, Master Void, but it seems this place only accepts code names. Would you please try again using your code name?"
Void said, "I am Void, and I want to battle Hermes in a game of my creation." The room then glowed green, indicating that the error was resolved, and the game was ready to start.
Kaito found himself in a dark room with light coming from a throne made of an unfamiliar type of wood. The throne was crafted from rare sandalwood, adorned with intricate carvings, and the cushions were made of midnight velvet with golden embroidery. The throne was bathed in golden light, waiting for its ruler.
Hermes appeared behind him and said, "Mortal, would you mind not drooling over my throne and getting back to where you should be?" Kaito wanted to confront Hermes but knew better than to challenge his power. He stepped back, and Hermes took a seat.
"So, are you the one I'm going to fight today? This will be easy. At least try to entertain me," Hermes said smugly. Kaito felt his anger rising but took a deep breath to stay calm.
"Alright, this is a game I invented called 'God's War,'" Kaito said. He then explained the rules:
Gather Resources: At the start, gather resources like wood, stone, and gold to build your civilization.Build Your Citadel: Construct your citadel and villages, placing them strategically to protect your resources and defend against attacks.Train Your Legions: Train an army with different units, such as cavalry and archers, to prepare for battle.Research Advancements: Invest in research to unlock new technologies and improve your civilization's abilities.Forge Alliances or Wage Wars: Choose to ally with others or declare war to achieve your goals.Strategize on the Battlefield: Maneuver your armies wisely, using the terrain and your units' strengths to outsmart your opponent.Secure Victory Conditions: Aim to achieve victory through territory, technology, or cultural influence.Adapt or Perish: Be flexible and adapt your strategy as the game progresses.
Kaito added, "You're also allowed to summon one person to help you." The scenery changed, and they were each in their respective castles. A notification popped up:
[You have one month to defeat the god Hermes.]
Kaito realized Hermes also received the notification. Even though Kaito had just invented the game, he knew he wasn't the best strategist. So, he decided to use his summon slot to call the god of war. But a message appeared:
[Mortals are not allowed to summon gods.]
As Kaito tried to come up with another plan, another message appeared:
[Hermes has just summoned the god of war.]
At that moment, Kaito realized he had no chance of winning alone. He decided to search for a mortal with strategic abilities nearly equal to a god. He concentrated deeply, searching his world and beyond until he finally found someone named Yui. Kaito spoke, "O mastermind of war, whose strategic skill rivals the gods, I beg you to answer my call. Your brilliance in battle is unmatched, and I need your wisdom. As the God of War watches, join our battle, and let your strategy lead us to victory."