On the third day of the realm of Vale, everything seemed to be progressing well.
Each resident had begun to settle into their respective tasks.
Lettuce was being planted outside Loven's house. Thomasu had started splitting tree logs into manageable pieces and hauling them to his house for storage. Zerlos was practising with his blade and familiarising himself with the lay of the land.
I, on the other hand, had experienced no desire to sleep, confirming that my ascension to godhood had rid me of the need to rest as frequently as humans did.
I had also yet to feel hunger or thirst, a convenience I appreciated greatly.
Most of my time was spent training—a habit I'd rarely indulged in during my life on Earth. Yet now, in this new, enhanced body, I felt an intense urge to push myself, to discover its limits and capabilities.
I ran and sprinted, stretched, and performed bodyweight exercises. I jumped, climbed, and even dove into the river, testing the peculiar ability I had discovered—the ability to alter the speed of my descent.
The first time I dove from the waterfall, I had floated down instinctively, out of fear and unfamiliarity. But upon further attempts, I found myself falling at normal speed. Mastering this ability and learning how to slow my descent manually would take time, but the potential intrigued me.
Overall, I was pleased with the realm's progression, even if only a few days had passed.
---
Later that day, I sat in the crimson field, watching my five disciples as they worked which was a sight that brought me great peace, when a familiar voice spoke into my ear—Osidon.
"Hello, Vale. It seems things are running smoothly in your world. Yes, yes, that is good to see," the god said.
His praise filled me with a sense of accomplishment, hinting that perhaps I was faring better than some of the other gods.
"I hate to spoil such a tranquil day, but an important moment nears. The survival event will take place within the next 24 hours."
My heart skipped a beat, fear momentarily gripping me. I quickly pushed it aside, regaining control of myself.
I can no longer act like a scared human.
"Am I allowed to ask for more information about this event?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.
"Yes, yes, I would have elaborated anyway," Osidon replied in a mocking tone.
"The survival event is simple, though heavily influenced by chance. As you may have guessed, not all gods are thriving. Some fail to grasp the concept of godhood, leading to their demise or a decision to abandon their worlds entirely. Any god can choose to leave—they need only ask."
I thought on his words.
Do I have any desire to leave this world and return to my former self?
The thought lingered, but I realised I wasn't even certain if returning was an option. Perhaps leaving would simply mean ceasing to exist.
No. I am enjoying this life. I decided
"When a god abandons their world, their disciples are left behind in a collapsing, corrupted realm. These inhabitants are then allowed to attempt a forced migration to another worlds. That is the premise of the survival event. Every living god must fend off such a migration.
"Keep in mind, not all gods will have the same number of disciples during their time of death or desertion, so the size of the invading group will vary. But the numbers cannot be overwhelming, as none of you have had much opportunity to grow your populations yet."
The concept was concerning, but I immediately noted one key point—I wouldn't have to battle other gods, only humans.
I had tested my physically capabilities in many areas during my time as a god, so I was confident that no human could match my prowess.
Instead, my mind, turned to the potential opportunities this event might present.
"I cannot tell you exactly when or where the event will occur, only that it will be within the next 24 hours. Prepare yourself, though I doubt that needs saying. Remember that if you survive this event without suffering any losses, you will be rewarded. We will speak again soon... hopefully."
Osidon's voice faded, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
---
After my conversation with Osidon, I gathered my disciples in a circle, sitting with them on the crimson grass.
Sera took her place closest to me.
"My wonderful disciples, do not let fear take hold of you when I tell you this: we will face an invasion within the next day."
Their expressions shifted to worry, but they remained calm as I had requested.
"This invasion will consist only of humans," I continued. "No gods will step foot in our realm. You have all seen me train, even if only in passing. I assure you, I will allow no human to lay a finger on you."
Their faces relaxed, gratitude shining in their eyes.
"Blessed you are, Vale!" Dyliana exclaimed, her face alight with joy. I shrugged off the praise.
"Still, we must not remain defenceless. It is crucial we prepare for the worst. We will craft wooden swords for each and every one of you to wield. It matters not if you know how to use it or if the weapons are poorly made. Even an unremarkable blade can intimidate an attacker."
In truth, I doubted my disciples would need to use the swords, but as their leader, I knew it was my responsibility to ensure they were armed.
I assigned Thomasu to craft the weapons, with Zerlos providing guidance on design and functionality. Thomasu's woodworking skills, paired with Zerlos's knowledge of weaponry, would ensure the best results that we could manage.
I also instructed everyone to remain in the settlement. If the invasion began while they were away, it would leave them vulnerable.
Osidon had given no clues about when or where the attack might occur, so I needed to keep my people within sight at all times.