Cheese's heart hammered as he looked around the amphitheater, the stone walls pressing in on him, the weight of the situation sinking deeper with each passing second. His fingers tightened around the haft of his axe, grounding himself in the only thing he truly understood. It wasn’t long ago that he was just a simple lumberman, his skill level stuck and frustrating. Now, he found himself surrounded by gods and faced with a decision that would shape the future of his world. His people were at risk. The System had changed. And he had no idea what any of it truly meant.
Dac, god of dread, leaned forward, his shadow stretching over the gathering. His gaze was heavy, full of both curiosity and calculation. "Tell me Axeman. How did you do it? How did one of your power manage to do so much to the foes at the gates?" he asked, his voice low and deliberate.
Cheese swallowed, scratching the back of his neck. "It.. Im not sure My father and me both killed the same type of foe, an undead Nekomata but I was wounded in my battle and... infected."
Dac hummed thoughtfully, the silence stretching, before another voice interrupted. Jansriel, god of magic and knowledge, spoke with an air of mild curiosity. “And your magic? How was it effected by the creature.”
“Magic?” Cheese blinked, baffled. “I am no mage sir, I've never used magic.”
Jansriel’s eyes narrowed, but before he could speak further, a new voice cut through the tension—an almost playful tone. The Blood Huntress, goddess of the hunt, tilted her head. “For one so young, you stand on the edge of what we would call the first step. And I feel a desire in you, a hunger tell me boy, what is your name.”
Cheese’s face flushed with embarrassment. “I’m Cheese, just Cheese.”
For a moment there was a disbelieving silence as the gods processed this, and then to cheeses shock the ethereal form of Rook stepped forward, and he began to speak. His words were simple, yet they carried a weight “My son is a man of skill, yet he is humble, if I may”
Cheese let out a deep breath as his father spoke, relieved to have him there, standing beside him. For all the questions and strange gods in the room, his father was the one who truly understood him.
Dac nodded his ascent, and then suddenly cheeses father weas there in the flesh. He spoke calmly as he looked at the crowd. “My son recently broke through the wall. He did so while battling a creature of fire and death. Afterwards its energies invaded him, and he fought off a sickness that killed all other similar cases. He only woke an hour or so ago.”
Cheese was... less than enthused with this characterization of him. What would it do to have the world think of him as this weird super humble standout? But he dared not speak over his father.
Dac leaned even more forward in his chair as Rook spoke, as did the other gods. Yet it was Jansriel who raised a tentative finger. Rook nodded to him, and the god spoke out slowly.
“The boy says that he bears no magic, yet I can feel it. His soulspace is singing with power. He holds a lower understanding of concepts that can only be achieved with mana. Is this new?”
Rooks lips went to a line as he considered his response. Afte a time he seemed to find the proper words and he said “We are not a magical people you must understand. However, from what I know of magic from the Masters guild, understanding at least one is a necessary step to become a master. If that is true, then my son grasped one such concept in his recent fight. What other concepts he grasped I cannot say, yet I know there was rapid growth. Before his sickness he was... a reasonably talented youth who possessed a drive that was almost fanatical. Now he is bordering on surpassing my own mastery of the concept of separation and the axe skill.
Jansriel seemed quite intrigued, but ended his questions there. The next request came from a surprising source, it was the ancient teacher. He tentatively raised his cane, and when Rook nodded the man asked “This old man humbly requests to know, have you felt it as well, the lifting of the boundary. ”
Rook simply nodded, and did not fully respond. This seemed to satisfy the old man who cast him a grateful look. As no more questions came, Rook fell back and let Cheese take point.
As his father stepped back, Cheese slowly walked over and sank onto a stone bench beside the old man, exhausted. The amphitheater grew quiet. The gods’ eyes began to glow in unison, a pulse of energy filling the air. Then, a voice—deep, resonant, and all-encompassing—spoke, filling the minds of every being present.
"Denizens of this world, the time of decision has come."
"In accordance with the rites of integration Citizens will now have full System access," the voice continued. “Every native to this planet will immediately be granted citizenship. All former restrictions that were emplaced on local creatures during the divine tutorial period will now be reinstated. The system has detected an unsanctioned incursion and has calculated a reward to be given. As 10% of all creatures on your planet were affected there will be one gift given to a citizen level entity as voted on by all planetary citizens. As more than 50 percent of your divine beings have fallen there will be a reward of appropriate strength given to one divine representative.
Voting on these matters will take place during this assembly of citizens. Every citizen in a designated place of meeting will be able to cast vote. Gods must be physically present in the first place of meeting to vote.
Additional topics for voting by count are as follows:
None
Additional topics for voting by representation are as follows:
Due to the nature of a decision made by your planets divine beings, as well as their lackluster performance during the tutorial and their nonresident status you will be given a vote on the way your planet chooses to engage with the galaxy.
Option A: Allow your patrons to prove their power, nondivine realms will be given a grace period of 150 years during which time they will not encounter incursions. After which they will be open to unrestricted passage of nonresident beings.
Option 2: Citizens will stand alongside the worlds divine beings. All citizens will be given the ability to contact the divine beings through prayer, and pledge themselves. Pledged citizens will be summoned to defend the world at their gods behest. Power restrictions will apply to incursions. Gods will be able to summon only citizens that give them their belief, or citizens who's power they have negotiated access to. Gods will be able to converse at the cost of soul coins with their chosen. Restrictions will apply to gods directly interfering in the mortal realm.
Option 3: Citizens will usurp the divine beings. Divine beings instantly perish. Their power will add itself to the world. The system will allow limited incursions that will ramp up over 300 years. If at that time there is no divine council in place then incursions will become unrestricted. If there is at least one pantheon in place then incursions will be halted and the world will reenter a tutorial stage.
Voting on this item will begin now, all beings have 24 hours in which to cast their vote.
The systems words trailed off and there was silence.
Cheese’s mind raced, trying to absorb the magnitude of what was happening. A strange, uneasy tension filled the air as the gods, once detached and distant, became much more... mortal. They needed their people. The people did not need them. And yet, the barrier had fallen. The world was exposed to the Outworlds. Time drug on as the Ampitheater filled with a hum of activity, yet no one actually present moved.
After a time Dac sighed deeply. He slowly stood and walked to the center of the Ampitheater. He looked out over the many Citizens of the planet, and then with a slow hand Dac, God of dread took off his helmet.
And he looked ....tired. He cast his pale blue eyes across the Ampitheater, and spoke slowly as he did. “I do not claim to be any more than what I am. The best of you. I am the same as all here, I tace my line back to Nerg, world of ancients. You likely do not know this, but that is the world from where we all came. Us gods, and your ancestors.” As he spoke Cheese found himself assessing the being that so many legends had long spoken of. He was ... just a man. His aura had retracted and now Cheese saw the god for what he was, a tired, haggard man giving a lesson on their shared history.
“We, the others of this pantheon and me lived there for many lifetimes. After a great vast stretch of time we managed to each individually grasp concepts that shaped us into the forms you see today. The system that was devised by our forefathers calls us Gods, I have always hated that name. We are not gods, we are simply Ideals, concepts, that grabbed onto a mortal soul and allowed it to transcend. Yet our planets pantheon was full, so we were required to go out, to populate this rock at the edge of the galaxy. With us came your ancestors. Men and women who had served us in our mortal lives and wished to continue their adventures alongside us.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
The god froze as if remembering those faces which were now but distant memories. No one interrupted his mourning of those long dead souls, and in time he continued. Cheese was drinking in the words, as he didnt doubt many others were as well. He leaned forward in his seat. Dac voice had begun to raise as he said “That is who you are, and many of you still revere us. Yet I ask that you understand, we are not gods. We are not almighty beings, we are simply warriors, or jesters, hunters and fools who decided to try to be more than what we were. Upon entering this world, we were separated from you, and underwent a sort of trial. It was to teach us of the power we now held. We had very limited ability to view this plane, and only the most revered of us were able to gather the resources to directly effect it. That was over 3000 years ago.”
The last of his words hung on the air as those before him processed his words. So long had these beings endured, so long had they struggled. Few could grasp at the absurdity of that timescale. Yet some, like the teacher, realized how cosmically insignificant it was. 3000 years of strife. In that moment Cheese also connected the dots. These beings had failed to meet the systems expectations in 3000 years, what hope did they have in a paltry 300. Dac said no more as he walked to his seat and sat, leaving the stage open for any to talk.
Mel, god of war jumped up and strode to the stage. He began as he shook his head. “Your caution is your weakness, Dac. The gods need more time. Time to gain followers. Time to grow. We are far from ready to face what comes, why do you try to convince them to join us. We should take the fore.”
Dac stood and spoke. “We’ve fought before, and we will fight again. I try to convince no one; I only wish to tell them who they are. I formally vote that the gods take the fore of this battle to come.” A single tally formed on the first option in the top right corner of cheese` vision, followed by two more. Cheese instinctually knew them to be the votes of Jansriel and the god of war.
The god of war nodded and left the stage. It was a tense few minutes before anyone else spoke. The old man slowly rose and walked forward. He turned to the crowd and asked “How, then, can one such as I help? I am beyond my prime. I am an old man, barely a shadow of what I once was.”
It was Jansriel who responded. “With the System integration, you will find new life. No longer bound by the limitations of your age, you will grow younger as the days pass. The System’s power will extend your vitality.”
The god then spoke of the new System. The old limitations were no longer set in stone as the old man had hinted at. Now, with System access, the only limit was ones understanding of concepts, and the 50th rank was not where ones understanding would stop. He also made it clear that to the wider galaxy even a ranking of 30+ in one skill was seen as low for a student to have. One was expected to enter this realm by 40 at the latest. The system had imposed various limiters on them while the gods were in their tutorial so many would rapidly rise as their skills caught up to where their conceptual understanding was, but a true master had 75 points in their skill.
Quickly a single vote joined the tally for option number two, and then a number of others joined it. In no time the vote was tied, and only Cheese remained. He sat there listening to the gods and humans speak, and he simply could not decide.
As the gods and men spoke, Cheese’s mind had wandered. The god of dread, his presence dark and unsettling, fixed his gaze on the young man. “well then, It appears you have the choice.”
Cheese’s brow furrowed, his hands tightening around his axe. “I’m unqualified to make such a decision. I’m just an Axeman,” he replied quietly. “It is for the elders to decide. I don’t fear making a decision—I simply know it is not my place.”
The god of dread’s eyes narrowed. “Failure. Is that what you fear?” he asked, his tone dark and knowing.
Cheese met his gaze without flinching. “I have failed in the past. I do not fear my own failure, I shall overcome it. I simply fear the failures of those I do not know.” Cheese was shocked by the boldness of his own words, and as he spoke he cast his eyes were cast at the other gods. They had all lived for so long. They were timeless beings of immense power, and yet he saw a kindred fear there. Not of their own failure, they feared him, and the citizens that they had never even truly met. His gaze fell back on Dac.
The god’s expression shifted, a glimmer of understanding passing through the dread. “You would vote for it wouldn't you? If you could you would truly try to usurp us.”
The room was silent. Cheese had known the truth deep in his soul, yet he had not believed the truth of it until it was said to him. He actually believed that they could do better. He reflected on his thoughts, and then spoke “No, I do not wish to usurp you, however I would if the vote allowed it. Because I know that there are those among us that could attain what you attained. I know my people. I know our drive. I know that it would protect our families for all time, so I would bear that burden if It came to it. Yet i must trust you, and therefore I vote to trust you all only as much as necessary the rest we will do ourselves.” and with that Cheese choose for them all.
Result:
Your representatives have chosen Option 2: Citizens will stand alongside the worlds divine beings. All citizens will be given the ability to contact the divine beings through prayer, and pledge themselves to their cause. Pledged citizens will be available to be summoned to defend the world at their gods behest. Power restrictions will apply to incursions. Gods will be able to summon only citizens that give them their belief, or citizens who's power they have negotiated access to.
New quest activated: Clear out the riffraff
Some 30,000 entities non-native to this planet have latched onto your world. Clear them out by any means necessary.
This quest is retroactive. All previous kills are entered into the calculations. Currently there are 12,324 invasive beings' remaining.
You have 14 days to clear these beings out and complete the quest. Divine transportation will be unavailable for this time. All citizens who wish will be given an indicator that will point them to the nearest invader.
In 14 days the first incursions will be made into your world, they will last for 14 days. Incursion level will be limited to legendary ranked creatures.
Cheese took in yet more information and then cast his view to Dac. The Gods helmet was still off. He looked even older than he had speaking, as if the vote had deflated him. Rook nudged his son and said “Well, We have work to do boy.”
Cheese nodded at his father and then considered what was to happen next. The system chimed as he thought
Next vote:
Every citizen will get one vote, you are to determine a champion, who will lead you. This being will receive a system granted boon appropriate to their powers. You have 3 minutes to decide.
“Three minutes?” Asked cheese. “Why so little time?
Yet as he spoke he understood. The system believed it knew who would be chosen already. The king of that far away people stood and then addressed the masses saying. “I Legate Dominic Halrix beseech you, please my loyal subjects, and those in the sister kingdom of Alr. Vote for me. Long has there been strife on our continent, yet you all know I have always led from the front. Three weeks ago I was simply a Legate, and yet now I am a Cesar, with this power I would be able to continue in these new times of strife and I swear I shall protect you. ”
As he finished speaking over 25% of the votes were quickly cast. Rook leaned to the right, as if listening to an unseen voice and then cast Cheese a glance. With a frown the old man stood and walked to the fore of the Ampitheater. He spoke out as all listened. “I would like to express my support for this man. I do not know him, but he is positioned to help clear the most foes for us. As are his people. If there was another king here I would vote for them, yet I cannot. He is what the system has given us, and he leads the most people on this planet, therefore I cast my vote for Legate Dominic Halrix.”
No one else stood, no words were exchanged, and at the close of the three minutes only 75% of those who were able to voted. The result was overwhelmingly in favor of the Legate.
Result:
You have voted for King Dominic the Bull. He will be granted a boon befitting his traits and needs.
A king deserves a crown, the king will be given the following item
Crown of Belief (Legendary): As your people's belief in you grows, so does your realm of influence, and your burden. Further details are hidden to all but the owner
New vote:
The gods must choose a being as champion. Time allotted 24 hours. Each god will be given a single vote, each god will be given votes in proportion with their tutorial ranking. Each god will be given votes in proportion with their devotees and prayer counts. Gods may purchase votes with faith coins.
Unlike the earlier debate this one was all chaos. Instantly Jansriel stood and screamed out “What drivel is this, votes can be bought with faith coins? The absurdity.
Many parroted the gods' words. It appeared that not all gods held these coins. Or at least some held far more than others.
As they all spoke out Dac stood, and then walked to the fore. He was accompanied by a small blonde god who had spoken little during the procession. Cheese knew her as Damiel, goddess of hearth and home. Dac looked out at his fellow divine beings and said “Many of you know that if we wished it me and Damiel could win the vote. The confluence of faith coins that came during these past few days was enough to ensure that. Yet I do not wish to go that route. Additionally, why would we gain a boon for ourselves? Therefore, I ask you to cast and confirm for the mortal”
His eyes bore down on Cheese, and then suddenly the system announced
Results:
The gods have chosen to gift the mortal realm with their power. Their champion will be given a boon in their stead.
Cheese felt his skin begin to burn, and as he was teleported to the center of the stage he began screaming and writhing from the pain in his back and arms as the system spoke on.
Due to this beings recent interactions with divine entities and rapid rise in power he will be given the following boon.
Brand of the rising Heretic (Divine): As your faith is shaken, so are your shackles dashed. You are unable to be bound to any divine entities power well. You can accumulate soul coins and faith coins. You gain access to a heightened version of the system shop (Divine Circle 1). Access to unique quests. You gain access to the Deity Pannel (Limited).
Cheese stopped his screaming as the soul deep burn lessened. He could feel the marks on his body healing themselves as smoke rose from his form. Yet as he quieted the system continued.
Unrestricted system access is now granted. Thank you for your time and patience. This concludes the first Planetary assembly.
And then cheese and his father found themselves back at Timberbrooks Ampitheater, surrounded by the silent gazes of their people.