Chapter 0: Prologue

In the depths of an ancient structure, a lone figure traversed a hallway that seemed to stretch into infinity.

The corridor was hewn from pure black stones, their surfaces weathered and cracked by the relentless march of time.

Tendrils of stubborn vines had found purchase in the fissures, their green leaves a stark contrast against the obsidian backdrop.

The passage bore no conventional source of illumination. Instead, an otherworldly glow emanated from the gaps between the stones, casting an eerie chromatic light that danced across the walls. This ethereal radiance painted the corridor in a kaleidoscope of shifting hues, transforming the mundane act of walking into a surreal journey through a prism of light.

The figure moved forward with mechanical precision, each step echoing through the silent hall. Their gait was unnaturally steady, devoid of hesitation or curiosity. No wandering glances, no pause to admire the spectral light show - just an unwavering march towards an unseen destination.

At the far end of the corridor, a massive double door loomed. Carved from the same black stone as the walls, it stood as a silent sentinel. Three insignias adorned its surface: an eclipse dominated the center, flanked by a sun on the left and a moon on the right. These cosmic symbols seemed to pulse with an inner light, growing more distinct as the figure drew near.

The rhythmic echo of footsteps continued, a metronome marking the figure's inexorable approach. The air grew thick with anticipation, as if the very stones held their breath. The figure's shadow, cast by the chromatic glow, stretched before them, reaching out to touch the door long before they could.

Closer and closer they came, until finally, they stood a hair's breadth from the imposing barrier.

Without breaking stride, the figure extended a hand. Instead of meeting solid stone, their fingers passed through the door as if it were nothing more than a mirage. The grand hallway shimmered and dissolved, reality shifting like sand through an hourglass.

When the world solidified once more, the figure found their hand resting atop a large crystal ball. This sphere sat upon an altar, its surface gleaming in the dim light of what was now a vast council chamber. The room was divided into three distinct sections, each corresponding to one of the cosmic symbols from the illusory door: sun, eclipse, and moon.

For five long seconds, nothing happened. Then, without warning, the figure's heart began to race. A single, powerful beat resonated through the chamber, its echo bouncing off the walls before fading into silence.

Four seconds of quiet followed, then another thunderous beat.

Three seconds passed, then another.

The intervals between each pulse grew shorter, the rhythm quickening like a countdown to some momentous event.

As the gap narrowed to a single second, the figure's heart erupted into a frenzied gallop. Each beat reverberated through the room, and the crystal ball beneath their hand began to pulse in perfect synchronization. The sphere's glow intensified with each passing moment, building to a blinding crescendo.

In a flash of brilliant light, a small figure materialized. The boy, no taller than a child, crouched atop the crystal ball with impossible balance. His caramel brown skin seemed to shimmer in the fading light, and his short, ethereal royal purple hair defied gravity. But it was his eyes that commanded attention - majestic golden orbs ringed by black, filled with an ancient wisdom that belied his youthful appearance.

With deliberate grace, the boy extended a single finger, pressing it lightly against the figure's forehead. In that instant, everything stopped. The racing heart, the pulsing crystal, the echoing beats - all fell silent. A wave of energy rippled outward from the point of contact, filling the air with glowing golden dust that drifted lazily through the chamber.

The boy tilted his head, a smile playing across his lips. His voice, when he spoke, was filled with a mixture of triumph and affection.

"I finally found you..."

As the figure's consciousness began to fade, slipping into an inky blackness, the boy's final words drifted to them like a distant echo.

"Little Noah!"

***

Noah... Noah... Noah! Wake up!" a teacher called out to him.

Noah lay motionless in the arms of one of the teachers on the ground. His jet-black hair was tousled, contrasting sharply with his caramel skin. His lean, well-defined body remained limp, his handsome features slack in unconsciousness. The golden-brown eyes that usually sparkled with hidden mischief were closed, hiding their unique hue.

The crystal ball continued to glow with an intense golden light, capturing the amazed attention of the audience of teachers, students, and parents.

A handful of educators rushed about, performing various tasks in response to this unprecedented occurrence.

Moments later, a man wearing a white lab coat burst into the room, followed closely by a female teacher. He sported black-rimmed glasses and short, curly brown hair. In his hand, he clutched a small medical bag. Without hesitation, he approached Noah, crouching down beside the unconscious boy.

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The man placed two fingers on Noah's forehead, his brow furrowing in concentration as he used his "Inspect Condition" skill. Three magic circles appeared in quick succession between his fingers and Noah's forehead before vanishing. The man's eyes widened slightly before he cast "Heal" and "Restore Consciousness" in rapid succession.

Noah's eyes fluttered open, confusion evident in his gaze. The man smiled down at him, relief clear in his voice. "Welcome back, kid. You really gave us a surprise there. I mean, to actually awaken as a Divine-Class Awakener? You must have some real luck."

Noah looked at him, bewildered. His right hand moved to his head, a grimace of discomfort crossing his features. "What do you me-"

Before he could finish his question, the principal, still standing next to the crystal ball, cleared his throat. "Yes, I'm glad that you're alright, but please exit the platform so we can continue the Awakening Ceremony."

The man, who Noah now recognized as the school nurse, chuckled lightly. "Apologies, Principal. I'll take him to the side now so I can finish looking him over." The principal nodded curtly, his eyes lingering on Noah for a moment before returning to the list in his hand.

As the nurse helped Noah to his feet, the boy's gaze was drawn back to the crystal ball. He stared at it indifferently for a moment before looking away, his usual laid-back demeanor reasserting itself despite the extraordinary circumstances.

"Congratulations to Noah Ark for becoming a Divine-Class Awakener," the principal announced, his voice echoing through the room. "Next up, Juliana Shanta..."

The nurse lowered Noah into a chair at the side of the room. Noah's eyes remained fixed on the stage, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. "So... what happened?" he asked, his voice carrying its usual drawl despite the underlying confusion.

"Hm? Oh, from what I heard, you blacked out after the crystal ball glowed golden," the nurse explained as he rummaged in his bag. "But don't worry, from what I've heard, that's normal for Divine-Class Awakeners." He pulled out a stethoscope and put it in his ears. "I think they said it has something to do with your class type. You should have seen a vision or something similar that has to do with your class."

As he spoke, the nurse placed the end of the stethoscope on Noah's chest. "Breathe in and hold your breath." Noah complied, his mind racing as he tried to recall any visions. "Alright, great. Now breathe out slowly."

After a few more checks, the nurse removed the stethoscope and packed it away. "Good news: you're perfectly fine and haven't been cursed by a constellation. Bad news is that you're a Divine-Class Awakener."

Noah raised an eyebrow, his usual sarcasm creeping into his voice. "How is that bad-"

Before he could finish, loud cheers erupted throughout the room. Noah turned his attention back to the crystal ball as the principal's voice boomed, "Congratulations to Juliana Shanta for becoming a Combat Class Awakener. Next, Samuel Deez'N..."

Noah paused, waiting for the noise to die down before continuing. "How is that bad? Aren't Divine-Class Awakeners powerful? Shouldn't it be good?"

The nurse shook his head, his eyes following Samuel as he approached the crystal ball. "It's... complicated," he began, his voice low. "Yes, Divine-Class Awakeners are incredibly powerful. You've essentially awakened as a god-class, which means you have immense potential. But that power comes with severe restrictions."

He leaned in closer, his expression serious. "First off, you're immortal now. You'll stop aging at 21 and have an enormous amount of health points. Sounds great, right? But here's the catch - you can never directly participate in combat. You're limited to a supportive role, no matter how powerful you become."

Noah's eyes widened slightly, the implications sinking in. The nurse continued, "And if anyone tries to attack or harm you directly, even if jokingly then the world itself will retaliate. We're talking lightning bolts from a clear sky, potentially turning the attacker to dust. It's not something you can control."

He paused, letting the information sink in. "There's more. Your growth is entirely dependent on worship or actions related to your specific class. If you're a god of war, for example, you'd only gain experience from war-related activities. It's a narrow path."

Noah's usual lazy demeanor slipped for a moment, revealing a flash of intense focus. "What about skills and abilities?"

The nurse nodded, appreciating the question. "That's another limitation. You can only learn skills directly related to your class. A god of space might learn spatial manipulation, but they could never pick up healing skills. It's a trade-off - immense power in one area, but severe restrictions everywhere else."

As the nurse finished his explanation, another cheer went up from the crowd. Noah glanced back at the crystal ball, his mind racing with the implications of his new status. For once, his thoughts weren't on gaming or how to avoid effort. Instead, he found himself confronting a future far more complex and challenging than he'd ever imagined.

Noah scrunched up his eyebrows in annoyance, his fingers making a swiping motion in the air. A translucent blue screen materialized before him, its edges shimmering with a subtle golden light.

'God of Idle? What kind of joke is this?' His eyes narrowed as he scanned the information displayed before him.

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[STATUS SCREEN:

Name: Noah Ark

Title: N/A

Rank: »Null«

Health: [25,000/25,000]

Mana: [10,000/10,000]

Class: »Divine« God of Idle

Level: 1

Experience: 13/100

[ATTRIBUTES]

* Strength: [25] (Affects physical power and carrying capacity)

* Agility: [30] (Determines speed, reflexes, and flexibility)

* Endurance: [20] (Increases stamina and durability)

* Intelligence: [30] (Affects spell power and mana efficiency)

* Wisdom: [30] (Enhances mana recovery and perception)

* Vitality: [25] (Determines overall health and resilience; for every point add 10 additional health.)

* Luck: [50] (Influences critical hits, rare drops, and unexpected events)

Unallocated Attribute Points: 10

*Notice: Due to your divine domain Vitality, Agility, and Strength have been restricted; please level up to see improvements in these areas.

[SKILLS]

* Summon Smartphone: Summons your Divine Relic

[TITLES & EFFECTS]

* [Empty Slot]

[STATUS EFFECTS]

* Immortal: You are a Immortal Divine Being of the Human Race, Rejoice!

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His eye twitched at the restricted attributes notice. 'Even my physical stats are limited? This has to be some kind of sick joke.' He scrolled through the sparse skills list, his irritation growing with each passing second. 'One skill. A smartphone. Great.'

The nurse's voice droned on beside him, "But it's not all that bad, you are still able to live a long life so you'll eventually be able to build a following of some kind to harvest faith for experience points and level up..."

Noah quietly stood up, his movements fluid and silent. He'd heard enough. The nurse continued speaking, completely absorbed in his explanation, not noticing as Noah slipped away toward the exit.

"But don't worry, it's only the early stages you really have to worry about; so just focus on building connections, providing aid, or a service where you can to build a following related to your class."

The nurse finally looked over to the now-empty chair, his friendly smile freezing in place. His eye began to twitch as he began to silently curse. "When did this stinky brat wonder off?"