Chapter 4 - Adventure through time and space

Under a sky of boundless clarity, sunlight danced upon the figures of two beings, their reflections shimmering on the pristine surface of the water.

"Seeing you hesitate, let me introduce you to the hierarchy of gods."

took on the role of a mentor to a fledgling deity.

With a casual snap of his fingers, a chalkboard materialized behind him, suspended steadily in midair. A pair of classic spectacles appeared on his face, conjured in an instant, and he began to explain:

"Gods vary in strength, ranked from the pinnacle—High Gods, to Mid-tier Gods, and finally, Low-tier Gods. One key factor in determining a god's rank is the faith they amass from their followers."

"Every god starts as a Low-tier God. Over time, as their renown grows and their faith accumulates, their power strengthens."

He pointed at the chalkboard, and it promptly displayed three keywords: Time, Renown, Faith.

"So, as a newly ascended god, you're currently a Low-tier God."

adjusted his glasses with a teacherly air, his gaze settling on Felix through the thick lenses. His overly serious demeanor was almost comical, nearly causing Felix to break into a grin.

Who would've thought the solemn "High God" could have such a whimsical side…

Felix couldn't help but muse to himself.

"Secondly, a god's memories are deeply tied to their power. The memories forged on your path to godhood form the core of your strength. Without them, your power cannot grow."

"It's like a person without substance—they cannot progress. Do you understand?"

extended a finger toward Felix, prompting a question. Felix raised his hand, voicing his doubt:

"But why me?"

"Because you were chosen. Otherwise, you wouldn't have died after reading that message."

placed a finger to his lips, making a "shh" gesture, then winked with eyes as enigmatic as the deep sea, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"You know why I died? Can you tell me?"

Hearing that knew the reason, Felix's heart stirred with waves of curiosity. He fixed his gaze on , eagerly pressing for answers, desperate to unearth the truth.

"But first, you must accept my deal."

looked at him, shrugging helplessly as he reminded the eager Felix, whose thirst for knowledge was barely contained.

.

.

.

Hmm…

Felix mulled over 's words, analyzing his situation: In his current state, without the support of memories, his strength was meager, and he had no allies. He was clearly ill-equipped to stand among other gods. To others, he'd be seen as the weakest of deities.

Ugh… I don't want to be alone in the [Temples], scorned and isolated.

Felix imagined himself ostracized in the divine halls, then quickly shook off the thought.

"Fine, I'll accept your deal."

After some deliberation, he decided to agree, concluding that memories were indispensable for a god's growth.

"Excellent. I'll share your memories once you fulfill the conditions."

gave a cryptic smile and extended his hand. Felix, without hesitation, clasped it, sealing the deal.

"Next, I'll guide you on how to use your [Divine Authority]."

"Do you still remember your [Ability]?"

's glasses glinted as he adjusted them again, posing the question to Felix.

"My [Ability] was [Time Control]… Wait, that's odd. I still have my basic personal info and knowledge, but my past memories are gone."

As Felix answered, he grew puzzled, sensing something amiss—a blind spot he couldn't explain, leaving him baffled.

"You'll understand in time."

offered no further explanation, only a mysterious smile.

"Let me continue—"

He tapped the chalkboard behind him.

"When you become a god, your [Ability] ascends into a [Divine Authority]. So, your [Time Control] has now become [Time Traversal]."

"Beyond that, I've checked, and you possess a few other [Divine Authorities]: [Divine Guide] and [Phoenix Rebirth]."

The chalkboard glowed, revealing words that listed Felix's [Divine Authorities].

"As for how to use them, you'll get the chance to practice during your upcoming travels, so no need to worry."

"Alright, I understand. Let's begin."

After a moment of thought, Felix nodded firmly and stepped forward, signaling a resolute decision.

"Using a [Divine Authority] is simple—just like how you used your [Ability]."

"Like this?"

Felix cautiously tried, waving his hand. A rift in spacetime appeared behind him. Surprised, he examined it closely, looking left and right.

"Exactly. Don't worry about creating another 'me'—a 'parallel god.' I'll linger in that timeline to help you fulfill my deal's conditions."

"Go ahead first. I'll cover the energy cost of the traversal. Good luck."

offered a faint smile and waved, gesturing for Felix to proceed.

"See you soon."

Felix returned a warm smile, their farewell like that of old friends. He then stepped into the rift, embarking on his spacetime adventure.

.

.

.

At that moment, a female voice echoed:

"All living beings in this world possess a unique energy, stored in the amygdala, akin to a superpower."

"This energy system is encoded in our genes, driven by emotions—a powerful force that defies scientific explanation. It's called [Super-Sensory Energy], or simply [Ability]."

"When intense emotional fluctuations reach their peak, they can awaken an [Ability]. [Abilities] awaken in two stages: the First Awakening and the Second Awakening."

"And at the end of awakening lies godhood!"

"But emotional instability doesn't only bring awakening. One misstep, and it can drive someone to lose their sanity, becoming a [Mad Fiend]—"

The voice's owner paused.

"Felix? Felix!"

The female voice called out to Felix.