Jason locked the door behind him. They knew this could be a last-stand type of defense, but even when you are told that and acknowledge it, hope still pervades your thoughts.
Unlike his recently killed fellow defenders, Jason was very religious. When things were looking good, he thanked God for the blessings. When they turned against them, he prayed for salvation. He had one particular God that he prayed to, but as his mates got killed one by one, he found himself praying more generally.
Jason lived in a multicultural community and had exposure to many different religious beliefs. As this horrifying experience continued on hour after hour, with death a certainty, he found himself praying less specifically. His prayers became more widespread, this is what made the difference and would go on to change the very foundations of the game.
He was in a high-end hotel lobby now. Their defensive line started in a parking garage. The front entrance was blocked off, and their entrance in and out was on the 5th and top floor of the parking garage. They had an intricate series of hidden entrances and ladders that could be pulled up.
Yet, all good things come to an end. The monsters that dominated this part of Chicago found a way up. They had wings but didn't seem to fly. No one knew what type of monsters they were, but they resembled demons—humanoid demons with wings and red skin. Around 4-5 feet in height and small but muscular, they resembled generic B-movie demons.
There were about 100 people in total who called the hotel home. Besides all the supplies already there, some enterprising staff members begged, borrowed, and stole much more stuff early on. Food, drink, medicine, gas, generators—they had it all.
Diversity pervaded their stronghold: diverse professions, races, strengths, and weaknesses. When monsters started to flood the cities, these people decided to stay. They set up strong defenses, barricaded doors and windows. Due to the accommodations everyone lived in luxury, for a time at least.
They all had jobs and responsibilities, and things were going well for a while. Until the demons found a weak point on one of the garage levels—a stairwell, actually. The details are not important; what you need to know is that the monsters broke through the first line.
The people were still confident. They had multiple lines of defense. Still, Jason prayed—to his God, but also to the world, to fate, to karma, to whatever cosmic force that seemed to help nonbelievers numerous times in their lives. He had witnessed it with his own eyes, and while Jason never lost faith in his God, he thought it prudent to expand his prayers.
Now, though, as he held a knife and locked the door leading to the stairs, he knew it was over. The path leading to the upper floors was sealed from the inside. He had alerted everyone else that all lines of defense failed. Part of him hoped they would send a rescue effort, but he knew they wouldn't.
Not because they didn't care—no, they still had weeks or months left to hold out after he died. But they would all fall eventually.
Still, Jason prayed. “Please send me salvation. I have lived a good life, even though I'm imperfect. To err is human, though, my lord. Stop these abominations from killing me and everyone else in this building. I have always done good works and praised your name.”
To Jason's utter shock, a voice boomed a reply, “You have done no such thing! For my name is unknown to you.”
*****
The entity felt very strange. As if he was plugged in for the first time but still didn't have enough energy to manifest. How he knew what a plug or energy was also left him puzzled.
He saw a man, a human man, muttering words over and over. Each time he did; wait, what was my name? The entity thought. He knew instinctively that he did not yet have one. He could wait for his followers to name him, as would happen in other parts of the world, but he was the first.
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People, humans, did not know they had to praise a name to be rewarded. He would name himself. “I shall be known as Beltazar,” he said, though no one but him heard it.
As he was saying this, each time the human muttered words, Beltazar felt more alive. Not alive, more powerful. Yes, these humans could give power to Beltazar through prayer, yes, that was it. This human, Jason, was not praying to Beltazar personally but was praying for any divine help.
Jason would be forgiven since he could not know of the existence of Beltazar, but in the future, he might not be so understanding.
Jason dropped to his knees, “Forgive me, what deity do I have the supreme honor of being in the presence of?” Jason was smart; he also was a gamer. Add to that his religious fervor, and it made some sense that he would be the first to draw out a deity.
“I am Beltazar, and you will be my first follower. As you are already kneeling, I bless you. Now I must go and make myself known.”
If Beltazar knew how to transport himself instantly, as he had the power to do, he would have, and his first follower would have probably died. Although his prayers may have drawn the novice deity back.
“My Lord Beltazar, am I not worthy enough to be saved from these god-hating demons that break down my defenses even now?” Jason almost questioned the god's ability to help but thought better of it—a good move by him. Balthazar was fickle but loyal to his followers, as most of them would find.
“Yes, of course. You called on me to help you from certain death. Show me the door in which these evil beings seek to break through.”
Jason ran over to the side stairwell and pointed, “Here, my lord.”
“Stand back!”
Jason did; he ran back to the lobby desk. He thought he could see the outline of a man but was not sure. It was very faint. The door blew off its hinges.
The demons were surprised. They had been banging on doors and barricades for days now and were getting tired of it, but this one just blew off. They would not look a gift hellhound in the mouth though, so they charged in.
That's when they saw one lone human. There were about seven demons that made their way inside and another 30 or so in the stairwell. In total, there were a couple of hundred looking for other ways in.
These creatures did not work in teams. They wanted to torture, belittle, eat and destroy humans no matter what. That was not conducive to team building and complex plans.
As they came in, each one started to mock the human. Early on, they found out that you could get humans to do stupid things if you insulted them. If not that, it was still so much fun.
These beasts had learned enough human speech to call Jason some of the worst things he had ever heard. The deity heard them as well and was appalled by these filthy creatures.
Humans will debate for years after today if Beltazar is one of the ‘good’ gods, with many saying he is neutral at best.
Yet this particular deity HATED wanton destruction and mayhem. He loathed watching the weak be bullied and killed by the evil. He thought the weak should serve, but with respect and dignity; they should not be chopped up and eaten. It is much better for them to chop up the food of the powerful so it can be eaten, then be given food too. Yes, they must eat as well.
Beltazar could see the actions of a group if he got close enough, and the things he saw from these abominations made him sick. Without even knowing he could do it, metal spikes rose up from the ground and skewered every single one of the creatures.
Then, seeing what Jason and the less fortunate others had been through, sent his aura (™) through the building and skewered every other one of those disgusting beings within his range. Hundreds of them died in an instant.
The deity felt immense satisfaction as his lone follower got on his knees and thanked him. Beltazar thought it his right to be treated so but still honored the human for his worship.
“I must go and find more followers.”
“Lord!” Jason didn't mean to scream so loud. He felt an icy presence around him now and lowered his head.
“Do not become bothersome, human. What is it? Have I not done enough?!”
“More than enough, Lord. But if it is followers you need, then why not allow me to introduce you to the people here. You did not just save me, O blessed one (he was running out of ways to kiss ass. He meant it but didn't want to repeat himself), you saved close to 100 souls. Children as well.
As the cold pressure left Jason, he felt a warm benevolence now, well a benevolent power, so he continued. “Some will need to be convinced; they are ignorant. But, Lord, many will fall to the knee once I tell them what happened.”
It turned out much of the remaining humans were watching what was happening over an old analog security cam, one that did not go out with the rest of the technology. Oddly enough, the camera showed the outline of the god more so than human eyes did.
Jason heard a door he didnt know existed open and people started streaming out. Once they reached the counter almost every single one of them fell to their knees. To a person they all gave themselves over to their new God.