Prodigies of Blood and Effort
Kim Jihun was stunned by the "50 years" of training time Klaus had mentioned. Sure, it was already drastically shortened, but for someone who had been an ordinary human just a few months ago, it felt like an eternity.
But apparently, that wasn't how the gods saw it.
"Wow, rising from low-level god to mid-level god in just 50 years. It's getting shorter and shorter. Back when I was a low-level god, it took at least 300 years of training. As the divine race evolves, the support from divine power has strengthened, speeding up rank growth."
Suddenly, Kim Jihun felt a chill at the thought of asking this refreshingly cheerful mid-rank combat god his age. His rank was mid-rank combat god. He must have lived through ages unimaginable to a human.
'Well, gods live practically forever. To them, 50 years must seem like a blink.'
The gods' lifespans were nearly infinite. They were bound to this universe's fate, living virtually endless lives unless destroyed by accident or battle. To them, 50 years was but a fleeting moment.
Kim Jihun shuddered at the sheer scale of the divine race.
'I can't spend 50 years in school! I have to find a way.'
He couldn't imagine dragging himself here until he was 70. True, he had half a divine rank, so he wouldn't age. But that didn't mean he wanted to be tied down here for 50 years.
'Looks like the promotion battle is the only answer. No wonder Asrie didn't tell me any other methods.'
Winning a promotion battle granted essence for early promotion. That would let him become a mid-level god much faster.
The thought of battle made Kim Jihun's mind reel.
...
"This is the Creation Department lecture hall. I can only guide you this far. A creation instructor inside will show you around. Farewell."
Klaus dropped Kim Jihun off in front of a massive building and left for elsewhere.
Jihun stared tensely at the enormous dome-shaped structure before him.
"So this is the Creation Hall."
Creation Hall. It was where low-level gods in the creation path attended classes and trained to build their divine power.
Even before entering, Jihun could feel countless waves of Creation Force rippling inside. Having only ever sensed Asrie's and his own until now, he couldn't help but tense up.
'I wonder what gods are in there.'
With a nervous expression, he stepped into the Creation Hall.
-Creeeak.
Kim Jihun cautiously opened the lecture room door. Inside, numerous low-level gods sat clustered together. The room resembled a large university auditorium, sloped downward in tiers.
He slipped into an inconspicuous seat in the corner.
Countless gazes pierced him.
"Look over there! Black hair, black eyes. Is he Ma-shin clan?"
"Nah, I heard rumors—a sapient being low-level god just enrolled."
"A sapient origin?! No way! That's possible? If he's here, he must have Creation Talent."
"Crazy, right? I can't believe it."
"Black color's so ominous."
Kim Jihun sat quietly, ears tuned to the low-level gods appraising him. A bitter expression crossed his face.
'Guess I'm the outcast after all.'
He knew he stood out starkly from the crowd before him. They all had beautiful wings and vibrant, multicolored hair. He had no wings and looked eerily like the dreaded Ma-shin clan. It was no wonder they shunned him.
'Bitter pill.'
The inferiority complex he'd forgotten since acquiring the Creator God Manual reared its head again. Negative emotions boiled inside, but he endured with patience.
He muttered to himself.
"I need to grow stronger as fast as possible."
Win the promotion battle, by any means. That's what he resolved. If they scorned him, he'd prove his power through effort.
Poisonous determination gripped his clenched fist.
As if responding to his venom, class began.
...
'This is doable?'
Kim Jihun was surprised as he followed the lesson. It wasn't as hard as he'd feared.
The class covered basic "divine power operation." And he'd handled divine power and Creation Force countless times completing Asrie's quests. Already proficient, he kept up effortlessly.
With spare time, he glanced around.
"Ah, too hard."
"Ugh! Divine power backlash!!"
"How do you even do it?"
Most gods fumbled even simple divine power control.
Jihun inwardly rejoiced.
'They're struggling? This might let me fast-track to mid-level god via promotion battle.'
He smiled at the thought.
But soon, he admitted it wouldn't be that simple.
"Whoa! Amazing!"
"As expected of the direct heir of a high creation god!"
"Incredible!"
One of his peers possessed monstrous talent.
Stunned, Jihun observed her. Radiant golden blonde hair and wings larger than her peers'. A mysterious low-level god with a youthful 15-year-old appearance exuding intoxicating allure and charm.
She flaunted her divine power operation for all to see.
Tensing, Jihun watched.
'She's the direct heir of a high creation god, huh?'
He'd learned upon arriving at school: most gods above general god rank clustered at the low-rank stage. The vast majority never broke through to mid-rank.
Low-rank creation god, low-rank combat god, low-rank management god... Aside from rare talents, nearly all bore low-rank titles.
Thus, becoming a high creation god was arduous, making her exceptional display mark her as from an elite lineage.
With sharp eyes, Jihun analyzed her divine power operation.
'No waste, precise. But she seems showy.'
Her skill was extraordinary for a low-level god. Delicate yet bold control, high computational power handling fluid calculations effortlessly.
Jihun then scanned the others.
'Some others aren't pushovers either.'
Not matching the golden-haired girl's level, but several showed notable ability, surpassing typical low-level gods in power operation and computation.
Gazing at them, Jihun guessed.
'Those must be direct heirs of mid-rank creation gods.'
Divine abilities were hereditary. Strong divine power or Creation Force passed with high probability to direct descendants.
Thus, the divine society obsessed over bloodlines even more than human realms.
But Kim Jihun hailed from ordinary human stock, no divine blood. So he pushed harder.
'I'm no slouch either!'
Before school, he'd cleared Asrie's myriad quests. Not born a low-level god, he'd risen solely on one talent.
Thus, no one here rivaled his experience wielding divine power and Creation Force.
Jihun decided to show his true skill.
-Whumm.
His fingertips glowed white-hot. With fluid gestures, divine power danced delicately.
The low-level gods whipped around at the sudden high-level power wave.
At its source: Kim Jihun, the half-baked low-level god without wings.
-Whumm!
His fingers moved even more gracefully, divine power fulfilling the assignment flawlessly. Clearly superior to peers.
He wielded his power freely: swift then slow, strong then weak.
Like conducting music, he shaped it.
Finally, completing his designed divine power circuit.
"Hm."
Jihun opened his eyes to stunned gazes from the low-level gods, fixated on his work.
They couldn't help it. His control rivaled a mid-level god's delicacy.
Inwardly pleased, Jihun thought:
'See this? This is my power. My origins may be lesser, but my effort and drive surpass yours!'
He refused to lose to these inferior low-level gods. Their scornful eyes ignited his competitive fire.
'Let's see who becomes the greater god.'
His fighting spirit blazed.
...
Low-level god Leila, direct heir of a great high creation god. Blessed with superior talent and lineage, she assumed no peer could match her.
Her expectations held true. No one at school handled divine power better.
'Hmph. Inferiors.'
Thus, she wielded it flamboyantly, deploying every trick from her mother. Soon, peers gazed in admiration.
'Idiots!'
Admiration? They should compete!
Frustrated, she'd chosen Allei School hoping for a rival.
But no worthy talent appeared.
She recalled her mother's words:
"Leila, school is vital. Build your faction there early. It'll help when you establish your own divine realm."
"And find a rival. Competition isn't bad. Sparring sharpens weaknesses, hones strengths, accelerating mutual growth. Remember, your father and I were rivals once?"
"Build a faction and find a rival. We believe in you."
'Faction's fine, but no rival, Mother.'
Disappointed. She'd expected rivalry at this prestigious low-level school, unaware none matched her prowess.
Sighing inwardly, she resolved:
'Gotta shelve finding a rival here. Win promotion battle quick, early-promote to mid-level... Huh?'
As she planned ahead, high-level divine power flow emanated from a corner man.
'That guy's... the sapient being?!'
The moment she discovered her rival.