Some groups leave the dining car after eating to go to a lounge car or explore. Emrys wonders if he should try to join a group, but considering his weak-looking build and the fact that he’s a totally new player, no one is willing to take on such a burdensome teammate.

Emrys ends up simply wandering around the train alone. He’s not the only player investigating what he can, but most players are hostile towards each other so he is limited to what he can investigate without stepping on others’ shoes and gaining their ire. Many large groups monopolize whatever newspaper clippings or books are lying around.

In the end, he gains most of his information from the halls of the train. He observes many homages to several gods in the form of statues, paintings, and the like. Most have titles or descriptions that come with each, such as: “Sethlans, God of Fire.”

Emrys is able to count at least eight gods of different elements. Some are more lowkey compared to others, and Emrys could only find one obscure statue paying homage to them. On the other hand, some gods have a painting or sculpture placed in every visible place possible, the most prominent being Tinia, God of Thunder, and Veltha, Goddess of Force.

Hathli’s voice sounds through the train’s intercoms to announce they’ve arrived at their destination.

Upon leaving the train, Emrys can see there are many more players in this instance than he saw in the dining car. At least 50 people file out of the train cars, and likely more have yet to exit when his group is led away by an attendant.

They enter a large, high-rise building and are led to their rooms. Each room is equipped with screens broadcasting the program the players are taking part in. The host gives a brief explanation of the history and goal of the so-called “annual tribute”.

This tradition started many years ago as a sacrificial tribute to the gods they worshipped. In exchange for showing their faith and pleasing the gods, they would bless their society with bountiful harvest and good weather. On the other hand, if the gods were displeased, they would send down natural disasters. Eventually the sacrificial tributes evolved into the survival games today, made to entertain both high society and the gods.

There are two phases. In the first phase, every contender must survive within a virtual reality arena. Should the gods favor any contenders, they may send down their graces and grant the favored contender an ability, giving them much greater chances of surviving and clearing the real game. Each contender can gain at most, two gods’ graces. Getting killed sends contenders out of virtual reality and they lose their chance to gain gods’ graces after that.

In the second phase, the real survival game begins. There are two ways to win and leave the game alive. You may win by default by being the last contender still alive, or you must reach the place where the gods reside on the peak of the highest mountain.

After giving the rundown, players are called in and interviewed in batches of about ten people, so they can introduce themselves and possibly gain some interest from the gods early on.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

In his room, Emrys listens to the interviews playing on the screen without much interest. The other players in the room, meanwhile, are watching intently, noting potential allies or threats.

Eventually, Emrys and several other players are called by an attendant for their interviews.

As introductions proceed, the players each highlight their skillset, boasting about their speed, aim, or other abilities. Then it’s Emrys’s turn.

“I’m Emrys.”

Everyone: “...”

Hathli laughs to ease the awkward silence. “Hello, Emrys. You must be a shy one, hm?”

Emrys: “...”

Everyone: “...”

Hathli quickly moves on, “Do you have any special skills you’d like to share, Emrys? What separates you from the others?”

Emrys: “...Nothing really.”

He is aware that he’s weaker than the average person. He feels sore after cleaning up when the cafe closes. Don’t even mention doing anything more strenuous.

At least I’m far better than before, he comforts himself.

Hathli laughs awkwardly and graciously continues to the next player.

After all introductions are complete, Hathli asks, “So what are your thoughts on the gods?”

The players eagerly sing the gods’ praises, some specifically naming gods they especially admire. Evidently, these players read up on the gods from the books in the train. The host nods approvingly to their responses and finally prompts Emrys, who hasn’t spoken yet.

Emrys looks down thoughtfully. The camera moves to him as he’s the last to respond.

“Truthfully…” Emrys looks up and says, “I think the title of ‘god’ is pretentious.”

Hathli lets out a horrified gasp, unable to keep her cool after hearing such blasphemous words. The other players there also look at Emrys as if he’s crazy. It’s obvious just from looking around the train a little that this society greatly values the gods, especially because the gods directly reveal their might and presence in these annual survival games.

The cameras zoom in on Emrys as he continues, oblivious to their reactions, “Gods are no better or worse than humans.”

The players watching him on the screens in their rooms shake their heads at his bold statement.

“He’s got a death wish.”

“He’s totally given up on living.”

Even the gods are now fully paying attention to this one contender who dares to talk about gods as if they are equal. Several of them are angered and the weather changes from clear, bright skies to dark, stormy clouds within moments. One quiet figure among the gods, however, silently watches him and smiles slightly.

After the interviews, players avoid Emrys like the plague.

They are led to a place filled with sleek, cylindrical chambers that will connect them to the virtual area where the first phase will begin. Emrys watches as other players follow instructions to lie down and let the chamber close around them before getting in one himself. Once he has fully slid into the cylindrical pod, the lid closes down on him and he hears a soft whirring start up around him. He slowly sinks into the jelly-like surface beneath him, as it reshapes to completely hug his form.

As the machines come to life and connect them to the virtual arena, they hear Hathli say, “May the gods grace you all.”