Chapter 403
Chapter 403
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 403
Chapter Title: Netherworld Demonic Path (1)
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# 403
Netherworld Demonic Path.
The Path of the Hell Demon.
There were various similar interpretations, but it was commonly regarded as one and the same with what was called Surado.
This name—which would come to signify the footsteps of one destined to become a great conqueror and cruel ruler—could already be seen as foretelling the birth of a hero.
"For now... Time Acceleration, 10,000x."
[Time Acceleration x10000 activated.]
[Total Divinity consumed for 1 day: 100,000.]
But one couldn't fill their belly with the first sip.
Rokan checked the remaining Divinity he had available and lightly activated Time Acceleration for starters.
The Divinity cost of 100,000 was modest compared to what he'd used so far, but considering this was the expense per unit, it was no small sum.
[World: Acquired 1 Divinity from Netherworld Demonic Path.]
[World: Acquired 1 Divinity from Netherworld Demonic Path.]
Compared to the 100,000 Divinity flowing in per day, the acquisition was a mere 1 per day at pre-acceleration speeds.
In the world of Netherworld Demonic Path, with 365 days in a year, that meant only about 27~28 Divinity supplied daily.
Later, as annual Divinity gains increased, he'd earn more than he spent, and lowering the acceleration multiplier would reduce consumption even further—but for now, it was time to invest, so he gritted his teeth and pushed through the ache.
"...Tighter than I expected. Did I bite off more than I can chew?"
Given the situation, it was hard to believe he'd only just reached the Majesty Master realm, as Rokan—despite having amassed a colossal amount of Divinity—had already burned through most of it.
What remained was barely over 10 million.
That was enough for others to build an entirely new world from scratch, but for Rokan, who planned to establish a Divinity generation model in one go, it was woefully insufficient.
At least he could be grateful that Time Acceleration, which sped up the entire world's time rather than a specific race's, had relatively low consumption.
And so, Rokan watched—burning through substantial Divinity—as humans crumbled pathetically and were trampled underfoot.
"As expected."
Humans were weak.
They couldn't overcome not just other races, but even ordinary flora and fauna. A slight dip in immunity, and they'd fall ill or die in droves—utterly frail.
But they had grit.
Their survival instinct and drive outstripped any other race, and their learning ability was unparalleled.
Humans, who at first had low intelligence, no weapons, and not even the faintest idea how to fight, gradually learned over time: how to battle, how to wield tools and weapons, and how to hunt and gather from the surrounding plants and animals.
They recognized their own shortcomings and learned to band together against threats.
It mirrored the real world, but at a far superior pace.
The [Quest] system derived from [Game Settings] pointed them down the right path.
Like a game newbie following a tutorial, as long as they did as instructed step by step, they'd at least grasp basic survival—and thus, their growth outpaced any other race.
"Tch, did I aim too far out?"
Rokan scratched his head after watching the process for quite a while.
The world's settings were up to the demigod creator and administrator. The same went for the level of civilization development.
Most worlds started at a point where civilization had advanced somewhat, but Rokan had set his with humans from a pre-evolutionary era.
It accounted for Time Acceleration and Quests, but even so, he couldn't shake the feeling that it was taking too long.
But what could he do? The Divinity was already spent, and the settings locked in.
Besides, rice doesn't cook without time to boil and steam.
Would humans, already blessed with civilization and comfort, even seek out gods? Sure, some might—but they wouldn't be the absolute majority.
That was part of why Rokan had set the background this way.
After watching for a long stretch, until they banded into tribes and began tentatively claiming territory, Rokan dumped his remaining Divinity into the first indirect intervention.
[Setting potential for a specific individual.]
[Consume 500,000 Divinity?]
He spent Divinity to tweak the potential of a newborn baby.
For humans and their tribes to grow substantially, they needed a 'hero.'
From what he'd learned, interventions that defied plausibility cost more Divinity even for minor changes—so rather than altering an active human, he modified a newborn's potential.
"Tch, it devours a filthy amount."
Even so, 500,000 Divinity vanished.
It cost surprisingly little up to a point, but once potential crossed a threshold, each level-up gobbled Divinity in huge chunks.
Stopping to conserve would just yield a half-baked hero after all that spending.
Knowing this, Rokan invested heavily.
[1,000,000 Divinity consumed.]
A whopping one million.
In response, the system announced the birth of a truly special being.
[A heroic figure has been born in your world.]
[Acquired 10,000 Divinity.]
"Oh ho, there's this too."
Was this a variant of The Lord's achievement system? It rewarded the hero's birth with a lump of Divinity.
[The hero Garun has acquired the title 'Son of God.']
[Acquired 10 Divinity.]
[World: Faith in the god spreads in Netherworld Demonic Path.]
[World: Acquired 3 Divinity from Netherworld Demonic Path.]
"This is fun."
And that was just the start. The more this invested figure—created with Rokan's Divinity—accomplished, the more extra Divinity trickled in, however slightly.
Even baseline world-wide generation increased.
The emergence of a hero called the Son of God made humans more vividly aware of the divine.
"Cancel Time Acceleration."
[Time Acceleration canceled.]
Rokan immediately deactivated it.
In that short span, the newborn had already become a boy—but that was just right.
[Bestowing a divine artifact to the mortal realm.]
[100,000 Divinity consumed.]
Rokan spent more Divinity to send down an item.
With very simple theatrics.
'This should do it.'
Rumble!
It was lightning.
On a day when rain poured in torrents, a massive bolt struck the center of the human village.
"What the—?!"
"Whoaaa! It's a weapon from the heavens!"
"The god has sent a weapon for his son!"
Once the lightning faded, what remained was a hefty axe.
Infused with lightning attributes, it was merely Rare-grade Battle Axe—but Rokan had prepped it with heavy option enchanting, granting overwhelming power for low levels.
Bestowing a divine artifact cost hefty Divinity, and one had to possess the item personally.
So why lightning and an axe, of all things?
Rokan had agonized over this too.
Lightning and its attributes were chosen for the most dramatic flair.
He could have spawned a flame-attribute relic from a sea of fire or unearthed a neutral one from ruins or rock crevices—but his goal wasn't mere delivery. It was securing faith in the god, so theatrics were essential.
'An axe has drawbacks, but plenty of strengths too.'
Spears and swords were easiest to handle. But this wasn't about hunting frail herbivores—Rokan chose the axe.
To slice thick monster hides and pacify regions, didn't it demand not just brute strength, but a sharp, sturdy blade that cleaved tough leather with ease?
By Rokan's standards, nothing fit but an axe.
Moreover, his first avatar—the Son of God—was a hero strong in strength and stamina, just like him.
No direct skill inheritance, but with superior physical prowess, handing him an axe would let him intuit the right way to fight.
"Time Acceleration, 10,000x."
[Time Acceleration x10000 activated.]
[Total Divinity consumed for 1 day: 100,000.]
For now, that was it. Having confirmed Garun—the Son of God—hoisting the lightning axe triumphantly, Rokan finally tore his eyes from his world.
"Time flew already...?"
Chasing "just one more" had let hours slip by.
The petty dramas of wriggling humans were surprisingly addictive; without Time Acceleration, he'd have been glued to it, oblivious to time.
"Like a time machine."
It felt just like a simulation game, and Rokan had gotten completely immersed.
But he forcibly pulled away.
Lower the acceleration and peek slowly, and he could issue minor Quests to his people, bestow artifacts, or send oracles—but in truth, that time might be better spent hunting to refill Divinity.
Later, with major world growth, it might differ—but for early game, at least.
'Staring like a fanboy could just waste Divinity pointlessly.'
With that in mind, Rokan moved to the next plan.
The one he'd prepared while eagerly awaiting Majesty Master.
If this worked as intended, recouping spent Divinity would be a breeze.
"Whew, it'll work out somehow."
Flash.
Rokan's next destination was none other than the surface.
The capital of the human kingdom—and its imperial palace.
Seated on the throne, from which only the emperor could issue commands, he executed one.
"Proclaim state religion."
[Select the faith to proclaim as the Restonia Kingdom's state religion.]
[The state religion may influence the kingdom's disposition.]
[Proclaim 'Rokanism' as the state religion?]
[Rokanism disposition: Violence, Iron Fist, Strength, Struggle, Combat]
State religion proclamation, straight away.
Religions centered on specific gods inevitably bore one's name, which felt a bit embarrassing, but there was no choice.
This was the most direct, immediate way to generate Divinity.
"I proclaim Rokanism as the state religion."
[Unbelievable feat! You have become both emperor and the center of faith.]
[Acquired title 'I Am the God.']
[I Am the God][Unique]
You are the emperor of Restonia and now an object of faith. Those who hear of your legendary feats have begun deifying you.
This title's rank evolves as more people embrace your religion.
[Effects]
More believers in Rokanism = More Divinity acquired
Forced conversion of Restonia-affiliated NPCs
Political outcomes influenced by faith