In the void, completely devoid of light, flames started brewing. From it, a vague figure of a human could be seen.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, the flames burnt out. Revealing the human it once contained. However, this figure now looked very far from a human.
Although, the "human" had human-like characteristics like dark skin and long silver hair. It also had features like black hexagonal scales on its cheeks, chest, and arms. A pair of black dragon horns. As well as, a beautiful but flexible masculine body.
From its back, 18 pairs of wings were folded. 9 pairs of which were dragon wings, while the latter 9 were white angelic wings. Aside from the wings, it also had a slender but powerful scaled black tail.
Atop its head, floated a shattered black crown akin to a halo.
"Where am I?" the being asked itself amidst the empty world.
"Who am I?"
"I am Sei!"
Its closed eyelids twitched, from which amber-like eyes bloomed. Had that been all, his eyes would have been nothing but beautiful. However, his eyes had black vertical slits for pupils.
From there it saw the dilapidated walls, the rusty and unkempt ceremonial ornaments, and the altar on which his "body" laid.
With a thought, his gaze left from his "body" and he finally identified where he seemed to be sealed inside of. A medallion with the symbol of a dragon.
Various vague information flowed into his mind as he tried to understand everything around him.
'I am or rather, I was a human who was still in college. I don't remember anything about dying, instead I was playing a random kingdom building game till early in the morning.'
'However, now I seem to have been reborn as a god?'
Amidst his confusion, he felt a faint call from the heavens. Countless information about the divine flowed into his mind, most of which seem to cater to his last question.
Sei found out that he was a Newborn God, in other words; a first stage god. And, he was born with three divine authorities namely; Dragon, Angel, and Metamorphosis.
In simple terms, Sei was a god with the potential of a God-king.
He glanced at the dragon medallion once more and finally figured out that it was once a "mysterious artifact". What kind of artifact it was, Sei did not know. As for its function however, Sei did know.
A divine dragon rune floated above his hands with a single thought. It allowed its user to have the life force of a dragon and even transfer said life force to heal other beings.
As for how he obtained this rune, it was all due to his [Dragon Authority]—a powerful authority that is composed of three other divine authorities. Because it also contained the [Greed Authority], which allowed him to plunder his targets. As for when he activated said authority, Sei himself didn't know.
Just as he was lost in thought, he heard the cries of a woman nearby.
"Please, God of Dawn save my children! I will give you my life, my devotion, my everything. Just please save my children!"
Boom!
Thunder crackled
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Whoosh!
The tightly shut windows flung open.
Pitter-patter!
And the heavy droplets of rain fell through.
Her children seemed to be under a heavy fever, and the current situation did not help as a strong storm was raging outside dropping the temperature to low levels.
Empathy flashed through the divine glow of Sei's eyes. With a thought, he reviewed the countless information he had just gotten in order to try and help the mother and children.
Just like that, after that one moment, he clicked his tongue and shook his head.
'A pity…'
A vague number condensed in his mind.
[0]
'I don't have enough faith power to help them…'
Faith power was a special power that allowed these so-called gods to affect the mortal world. It had many uses, but it can only be gained through gaining a believer and deepening that believer's faith to a god. Then that god will gain faith power.
As such, a newborn god like Sei did not have any faith power. As for how a newborn god could gain believers without being able to affect the mortal world, well…
"Please! If the God of Dawn doesn't wish to help us, then so be it! Please! Any god will do, just please help my children! I can sacrifice my everything to you, just please!"
The woman pleaded and pleaded. For a moment of time, she felt nothing but powerless. A fiery feeling started to rise from the depths of her heart, as she realized that no god was willing to respond to her plea. Even when she was kowtowing to the whole world.
The moment a bitter laugh was about to escape her mouth, an ethereal voice passed through her mind.
"Child, I have heard your plea…"
The woman, stunned as she was, quickly clasped her hands in order to pray. Not daring to look around, to question the god's existence, in fear of angering the god.
"God, please save my children. I am willing to sacrifice anything or everything, just please!"
"Is that so…"
With a bang, her vision went blank. In a daze, her eyes seemed to see nothing but the empty void.
"Child, over here"
Upon turning around, her body trembled in fear and she instantly felt the urge to kneel down. With a single gaze, her senses were attacked by the aura of majesty and pride that Sei naturally emitted.
"Child, look at me".
"This child doesn't dare".
Sei could only shake his head and sigh. In turn, the mother's heart tightened in fear.
"Child, I need you to examine my being. I need to know if you would still be willing to sacrifice your everything towards me—an unknown god".
The mother steeled her heart before she gazed upwards once again. There, stood Sei in his truest form.
Her eyes constricted in fear as his form did not seem to be that of a human, even though he had some characteristics of a human. This little detail was of utmost importance, as almost all the orthodox gods in this world displayed a human figure. Aside from the Goddess of the Silvermoon and the God of Spirit Beasts, which were an elf and a beastman respectively.
Hundreds of thoughts fluttered in her mind, trying to do her best to accept his image. Then, as if the final piece of a puzzle was placed, her eyes shone brightly.
'Sure he does not look like a human nor elf or beastman, but he does resemble another divine being'.
With a bow, she answered, "Yes, this child will still sacrifice her everything".
Curiosity and amusement filled Sei's gaze.
"And why is that?"
Thinking that the god already knew her answer, she did not decide to hide anything.
"Because God, you resemble another divine being known as an angel. And it is said that these so called angels had more wings in correspondence to their rank. In my memory, the highest ranked angel is someone who has four pairs of wings. God on the other hand, has eighteen pairs".
A satisfied smile bloomed on Sei's face.
"Then what if I said I was a dragon as well?"
In Sei's memory, well at least in his past life, dragons in the west were synonymous with evil and destruction. So he guessed that dragons were akin to evil beings in this world too.
However, to Sei's surprise, the mother answered this question with ease.
"Since young, I have heard many tales of dragons and the many who have slain them. Even then, I have also heard of people being saved by friendly dragons. That's why I believe dragons are not inherently evil, even if they do have many features akin to a demon's".
"Hahahahahaha!"
Sei let out a hearty laugh but this made the mother feel fear as if her answer was incorrect.
"Fear not, child. I am satisfied with your answer. Now raise your head".
Light bloomed in the vast and empty space, turning into a white world.
"Since you are willing to sacrifice everything to me. From this moment onwards, all the descendants of the Godfrey family will bear the weight of your words".
"As such, introductions are of utmost importance. I am a god who has authority over dragons, angels, and metamorphosis. You may call me—Celestial Dragon God, Sei".
Hearing his words, the mother's heart slightly wavered.
'If it can save my children, then so be it!'
"My Lord, this child goes by the name of Nana Godfrey".
Then, with a flick of Sei's finger. A droplet of fiery golden blood was flung towards her forehead.