[Where am I? I can't feel my body. I can't see or hear anything. It's all pitch-black and dead silent.]
Thalor drifted through the void, lost in his thoughts. He was in an imaginary space crafted by Sovern, the god he had devoted himself to. Suddenly, a massive glow of light began to emanate, piercing through the darkness. At its center stood Sovern, radiating an immense light. His voice echoed with divine authority.
"You have kept your faith in me until the end," Sovern spoke, his tone reverberating with power. "Even though it wavered for a moment, you chose to believe in me. Because of that, I shall bestow upon you the power to reclaim the fallen glory of our faith. My apostle, Thalor Casteller, may the knowledge you possess spread far and wide."
With those words, Sovern returned to his place, where he was joined by visitors Zephry and Clark. Though curious about Zephry's intentions, he couldn't bring himself to ask.
"So, what are you going to do now?" Zephry inquired, observing Sovern closely.
"I'll wait for Thalor to conquer the continent and wipe out the other faiths," Sovern replied, his voice tinged with a calculated resolve.
"So, you want it all for yourself?" Zephry smirked.
"…"
"Why not advance your world instead?"
"I need to be the sole god of this world to accelerate its time and move it to the next era."
"That's not your only option," Zephry retorted.
"Otherwise, I'd need the cooperation of the other two gods. But after all the conflict they started, how can I expect them to agree…"
Sovern paused, a thought forming in his mind.
"You're suggesting a truce after Thalor becomes powerful enough, so we can accelerate the world?"
"I didn't say anything," Zephry replied enigmatically, "but it sounds like a solid plan to me."
[That's true. As the world is still in its early stages, the combined population of all species is less than ten million. Due to the lack of advancement, they are highly vulnerable to disease outbreaks and natural disasters, which could lead to a significant reduction in the population.] Sovern fell into deep thought after his conversation with Zephry.
---
A year passed in the mortal realm. Thalor grew stronger, amassing an army of loyal followers. Using the wisdom granted by Sovern, he trained scholars and molded soldiers with potential into seasoned war generals, ready to strike at the forces of the other faiths. But just as he prepared for battle, he received a revelation from Sovern.
[Wait for my command before shedding any blood.]
Meanwhile, in the divine realm, Sovern received an invitation to a meeting with the other two gods. They used the system to send him a notification. This system was initially created to govern their world, but Sovern had been stripped of his privileges when they weakened his faith, seizing almost all his control over the world. Only small miracles using divine power were still allowed. Now, seeing his system privileges restored, Sovern prepared to join the meeting.
In a room with a round table surrounded by three chairs, Sovern arrived to find the other gods already present. Hana, the goddess of love and youth, sat gracefully across from him, her ethereal beauty and commanding aura a sharp contrast to the intense, battle-hardened presence of Kali, the god of war, seated beside her.
"Thank you for accepting our invitation, Sovern," Hana began, her tone smooth yet cautious. "We understand that the past has left its scars."
"Scars?" Sovern's voice held a bitter edge. "You mean the betrayal of our alliance? You both conspired to weaken my control over the system, all while plotting behind my back. I deserve more than empty pleasantries."
At his words, Kali clenched his fists and growled, "So what now? You want to take this to the battlefield? We can settle this with a fight!"
Hana quickly intervened, her voice calm but firm. "A war now would only weaken us all. We should focus on our world's growth; it's still in its early stages."
Sovern knew that without his apostle, the other two gods might not have considered peace. Finding a loyal apostle with unwavering faith was rare, and it gave him a distinct advantage. Begrudgingly, he nodded.
"Very well. For the sake of world development, let's agree to a truce and accelerate the passage of time."
With their combined will, the three gods initiated an acceleration in their world. Time sped forward, carrying the world from the early stages of the Middle Ages to its late stages. Yet, it failed to enter a modern age, the lure of technology overshadowed by the abundant presence of magic.
Just then, a notification flashed before the three gods.
[The world has reached the required potential. The system has been upgraded from System 1 to System 2. You may now invade nearby worlds for resources and other gods' divine possessions.]
[Your world will now be visible to nearby worlds for invasion.]
The gods stared at the notification, stunned by the implications.
"What is this about invading other worlds?" Sovern demanded.
"We're as surprised as you," Hana responded. "When our former master upgraded the system from System 0 to System 1, nothing like this happened."
"So we can invade worlds now. What's there to worry about?" Kali interjected.
"And if other gods invade our world?" Sovern countered, his tone tinged with concern.
Kali shot back with a mocking laugh. "You're supposed to be the god of wisdom. Shouldn't you know the answer?"
[Note: Invaders may take resources, divine relics, divine creations, and apostles in some cases.]
"So as long as we protect our followers, we can keep ourselves safe," Sovern reasoned.
"Then let's strike first," Hana proposed, her eyes gleaming with a newfound determination. "System, show us the nearby worlds available for invasion."
---
In the mortal realm, Thalor stood on a hill overlooking the empire he had built. In this time, he had conquered kingdoms and made peace with other faiths. He had also received the blessings of the goddess Hana, the goddess of love and youth, which granted him slower aging similar to that of elves. All the while, he waited for a mission from his god to prove his faith once again.
[Thalor, my apostle. There is a sacred mission at hand. The time of reckoning will soon be upon us, not only for our world but for worlds beyond. I shall guide you in preparation for battles of a scale beyond your imagining.]
Thalor's heart raced. "I am ready, my lord. Guide me, and I will carry out your will."
[In time, you will lead an army not against the other faiths here but across realms. You will face opponents unlike any you've known—beings who follow other gods and wield different powers. But through me, you shall rise above them all.]