The Three Absolute Commandments
The Dimensional Lord found the contents of the Goddess Department's guidebook increasingly disagreeable. Still, as a High Lord, he could hardly ask lesser gods to teach him how to recruit followers. 'For the time being, I plan to focus solely on raising my Innate Divine Power, which can be amplified through sorcery, so followers aren't particularly necessary. It's not that urgent for me. However, as Chief God of the God Realm, this is a form of basic education. Shouldn't I understand the struggles of gods who recruit followers if I am to lead them properly?'
The support of the War God and the battle gods was irrelevant; the Chief God of the Divine Realm stood above them. But the administrative gods would find conversation impossible if he remained ignorant of divine realm management or follower recruitment, and friction would inevitably follow. 'A superior must be more competent than their subordinates and thoroughly understand the work if an organization is to function without flaws. You can delegate areas where you're weaker, but that is precisely where corruption begins. Therefore, one must possess at least foundational knowledge in every field and continue learning.'
The Dimensional Lord convinced himself with this logic and, despite his reluctance, kept reading. The book's tone was gradually shifting into that of a female teacher addressing young students.
"Commandments that align with one's attribute, huh."
He mulled it over carefully. 'My authority is dimension. My sorcery is black magic. My inclination is that of a War God.'
The authority of dimension was fundamentally built upon vast domains of power and comprehensive knowledge, carrying the nature of expansion rather than isolation. Black magic pursued the attribute of challenging laws by making the impossible possible. His 'War God' inclination had been acquired during his days as a mercenary god and carried the attributes of 'victory' and 'survival.'
'Because you must win battles to live, and death is the end.'
Combining all these attributes produced a single clear statement.
"Pursue vast power and knowledge, make the impossible possible, and seize 'victory' and 'survival.'"
Vwoong—! Vwoong—! Vwoong—!
The moment the Dimensional Lord precisely defined the attribute for his divinity, his divine power began to converge with tremendous force.
'The humans who just swore to live righteously and became my reserve followers are having my divine inclination engraved into them right now.'
The divine imprint bestowed upon followers developed and reinforced inclinations that matched the god's attribute. Followers and popes of the War God grew specialized and powerful in warfare, while those of the Goddess of Life lived long, healthy lives.
'The stronger their faith, the greater the effect. In the case of the Life Pope, some even surpass human limits and occasionally live beyond two hundred years. That is precisely why popes of the War God who cannot even reach 7-Circle are doomed to die.'
Those who had just become followers of the Dimensional Lord saw their intelligence, physical stamina, willpower, and vitality raised to the absolute limit. Having become reserve followers of a High Lord, their base abilities had been elevated to the very peak of human potential.
'More than double that of ordinary humans, and those with truly exceptional talent display up to triple the improvement.'
Every physical capability, intellectual faculty, and aspect of health had been reinforced. 'Does this seem too generous? If the benefits granted to followers are this substantial, do you not understand how heavy the corresponding obligations must be?'
Followers of the War God had to live amid war and life's brutal struggles. Followers of the Goddess of Life had to bear many children and propagate life all around them. 'If a follower of the War God grows weak and abandons the fight, or if a follower of the Goddess of Life remains single, that is apostasy.'
Failing to live a life of faith appropriate to the god one served was immediately classified as apostasy and subject to punishment. Changing or abandoning a god once sworn to was unforgivable, so no one even dared attempt it. The obligations were as enormous as the benefits, which was why followers maintained a certain standard.
In the Middle World, many humans preferred to live freely—even if it was harder—rather than wield great power while being bound by 'good' attributes. Therefore, as the Dimensional Lord, a black magician, and a War God, he intended to make clear exactly what his followers must do.
Since the connection to his followers had been established, he transmitted the basic knowledge about their god without alteration. The faces that had been glowing with joy over their restored bodies and strengthened physiques all twisted as though they had turned into rotting meat.
'Like my former self, they now understand what kind of being I am and the weight of the promises they made. However, I have no intention of showing mercy. Humans who treat promises with gods lightly—let us all regret having such careless mouths and actions together.'
He spoke with precise divine speech.
First. Survive. Any death after the age of one hundred from any cause other than natural death shall be deemed apostasy. All vitality shall be confiscated and the offender will be sent to the lowest floor of the four realms to reincarnate as something less than a worm. Accidental death or death by illness shall receive no mercy, for it proves the individual was weak. However, death in battle shall be an exception; additional vitality shall be granted according to the merits achieved.
Second. Devote yourself to the training of power and knowledge so that the present is stronger than the past. Those who regress shall be punished as apostates.
Third. Set a goal to advance both yourself and the world in ways that are currently impossible, and strive to achieve it. Giving up midway or failing to accomplish it before natural death shall likewise be treated as apostasy.
"Complying with these three commandments is the price for forgiving the sin of attacking me, a god, and allowing you to live. Fulfill your life of faith faithfully as my reserve followers."
"……."
The ordinary humans who had answered so readily earlier now had nothing to say. 'Did you think anyone would overlook it just because you stay silent? Life isn't that easy. Since you dared challenge me and made promises so lightly, you must pay the price, however small. It isn't merely because I find it unfair that only I suffered.'
The mental barrier of this holy ground was far too weak for these ordinary humans. They were so frail that if gods intervened and bestowed miracles directly, most would be driven mad by the resulting waves of divine power. That was why this preliminary work was necessary.
'These one million humans have become my reserve followers. They must proselytize diligently. The Dimensional Lord has no time to personally circle the entire planet gathering believers, so I require faithful followers.'
The commandments imposed on his reserve followers were things he himself was currently carrying out, so there could be no objection. Neither the Main Divine Realm nor the Creator God could call it excessive. Since he did not strictly need followers, he could abandon the endeavor if it proved troublesome. With that in mind, he poured abundant divine power into all eleven circles and expanded his authority.
The divine power and authority of a High Lord swept across the city.
Wiiiiiiing—!
Type: Necromancy / Undead Resurrection / Limited Law Magic — Universal Wide-Area Attack
Effect upon activation: One of the supreme magics that transcends 9-Circle and interferes directly with karma. Summons vengeful spirits so filled with grudge that they willingly abandon accumulated positive karma. In exchange for materializing and exacting revenge, the caster receives karma.
Those afflicted are slain by the materialized spirits in proportion to their accumulated negative karma, then resurrected through undead magic. They suffer endless revenge until the spirits are satisfied. Once revenge is complete, excessive resurrection destroys the soul entirely. Nothing remains but purified vitality and memories steeped in endless agony.
The satisfied spirits ascend to the heavenly realm, while the positive karma is granted to the caster, allowing them to re-enter the cycle of reincarnation in the Middle World. Because grudge recognizes neither good nor evil, no one can escape. It is known as the cruelest and fairest of magics, feared by all beings.
The only way to avoid it is to never create vengeful spirits.
— Protagonist's words after first use: Let's avoid using it if possible.
Having become reserve followers of the Dimensional Lord, they had gained some resistance to divine power. They could now endure the aftermath of 9-Circle magic. If they refused, he would simply eliminate them all and raise at least a little karma in the process.
The Dimensional Lord's true intentions flowed directly into every reserve follower in the city. 'Because I already gave them the basic knowledge of what it means to be a follower, they understand exactly what Anti-Karma is. In the end, they all chose to become my reserve followers.'
The followers were crying, but surely those were tears of emotion at having submitted to their god. 'When I received an 8-Circle magic tome from him, I shed quite a few tears in gratitude myself.'
Since they were followers, such a reaction was only natural. However, with this level of grace and these commandments, it seemed unlikely they would become truly faithful believers. 'As expected of humans—full of suspicion and discontent. The faith being transmitted is still too weak.'
Flip.
He opened the book once more: 'Guide for New Chief Gods Creating a Divine Realm on Follower Recruitment.' The followers who had been weeping with emotion fell deathly silent at his action. Only the sound of nervous swallowing could be heard.
'I am merely following the Main Divine Realm's guidelines faithfully as a god of light. So watch closely.'
The voice from the recruitment guide rang out again.
"Trials? Excellent. They're the fastest path to power—as long as you survive them."
The more the Dimensional Lord immersed himself in the chief god's guidebook, the more the blood drained from the faces of the reserve followers watching him. The forced trials of hardship were about to begin.