Chapter 3: You're telling me I can't stop them from?
'How on earth did I end up getting such a title?! And what the hell, I never recalled applying for such a job in the first place!'
I was in a state of total shock, my mind racing to find some kind of rational explanation for what was happening.
Sure, my old job was a special kind of torture, and my boss was a nightmare in human form, but becoming a Devil God? I didn't even know what a title like that truly entailed, but I was definitely sure of one thing.
The name "Devil" obviously didn't mean anything good, and adding "God" to the end of it only made the whole situation feel infinitely more dangerous.
I looked at the floating screens, my heart hammering against my ribs, wondering if I had finally just snapped under the pressure of my miserable life.
*******
The holographic screens continued to hang in the space before me, their violet light casting long, ethereal shadows across my form as I drifted in the weightless expanse.
The system didn't seem to care in the slightest about whether I felt emotionally or mentally prepared for this transition, nor did it pause to ask if I felt up to the monumental task it was laying out for me.
Instead, it continued its briefing with a mechanical indifference that was both frustrating and terrifying, its words vibrating through the void and settling into my mind like heavy stones.
It was as if my previous life in that cramped cubicle had been erased in an instant, replaced by a set of cosmic rules I didn't understand and responsibilities I never asked for.
[As a newly born Devil God,]
The system intoned, the words appearing in sharp, glowing script across the main panel.
[You have been granted three of the former Devil God's essential skills to facilitate your transition and ensure your survival in the initial stages of your reign.]
I watched as the text shifted, scrolling upward to reveal the first of these gifts.
[The first skill: Projection.]
[1. Projection: As a newly formed deity, it goes without saying that your true form is of such a concentrated essence that it is not allowed to descend upon the mortal plane unless a very specific and suitable circumstance occurs.
[To bypass this restriction and interact with the world beyond, you can use this skill to create an avatar. This projection will serve as your physical manifestation, allowing you to carry out your will and influence the mortal realm without causing a cataclysmic imbalance.]
I stared at the description, my mind trying to wrap itself around the idea of having an "avatar" like some character in a high-end video game.
It was a lot to take in, but before I could even formulate a question, the screen flickered again to display the second skill.
[The second skill: Domain.]
[2. Domain: As you can already see, this vast, silent space all around you is none other than your very own personal domain. It is your sanctuary and your seat of power.]
[All those who choose to follow you in the near future will be cut off from the standard cycle of heaven upon their death; they will instead be drawn here, where they shall reside for all eternity until they are called upon by you to serve.]
[Moreover, within the confines of your domain, you possess the authority to add any modifications as you see fit, shaping the environment to your desires.]
[ Additionally, your inherent strength is far greater within the boundaries of your domain than it is anywhere else in the multiverse.]
A cold shiver raced down my spine as I looked out at the endless, dark void that surrounded me. The thought of being stuck here alone was bad enough, but the idea that people would be "forced" to spend eternity in this empty blackness just because they followed me felt incredibly grim.
The system, however, was already moving on to the final piece of the puzzle.
[The third skill: Immortality.]
[3. This skill functions more as a passive trait than an active ability. As a deity, it stands to reason that you are immortal, existing outside the typical boundaries of life and death that govern mortals. However, you must bear in mind that your current level of immortality is not absolute.]
[ While you cannot perish due to the natural effects of time or age, if you were to be attacked by a being possessing a certain level of power, your death is still a very real possibility.]
[You are timeless, but you are not invulnerable.]
"Hold on just a minute!" I finally found the courage to speak up, my voice echoing through the nothingness as I tried to halt the system's relentless flow of information.
I couldn't just sit there and let it keep talking as if this was all perfectly normal.
Did it really expect me to just take all of this at face value and move on? Immortality? Projections? These were concepts that belonged in myths and legends, not in the life of a guy who spent his mornings worrying about spreadsheet deadlines and his afternoons being berated by a manager in high heels.
The part that left me the most stunned and deeply unsettled was the explanation regarding the domain. The thought that people who devoted themselves to me would be snatched away from whatever "heaven" existed and dragged into this dark void was terrifying.
I stared out into the vast, empty space, imagining rows of souls standing in the darkness with nowhere to go. The sheer weight of that eternity made my skin crawl, and I wondered what kind of monster the previous Devil God must have been to find such an arrangement acceptable. But upon recalling the systems words were I could change this space to meet my desires, I felt a bit relieved, though still pressured nonetheless.
[Notice: As the successor, your predecessor always advised me to warn you to quickly gather your strength,]
The system continued, ignoring my outburst entirely.
[It appears his plan toward retirement was one kept in a state of absolute secrecy, meaning that the other gods of the world you will be using to recruit followers, e.g, a sort of starter pack, are still entirely unaware of your existence and your current lack of experience.]