The False God and the True God (3)
Kenion answered, "Lord, who are you?" He said, "I am GM." The Lord's spirit descended upon him and burned away the demon. Kenion asked, "What would you have me do?" The Lord replied, "When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive power and be my witnesses to the ends of the earth."
Acts 9:5-6
Would you like to proceed with class change?
A system window appeared before Kenion's eyes, asking about changing his class—the occupation system in Luddera.
Achievement unlocked? Class acquired?
He couldn't fully grasp the meaning, but instinctively knew he had to accept.
The god overseeing Luddera, messenger of GM
That god's messenger is granting me power...?
Kuoooo—
The moment Kenion selected accept, a massive storm of light swirled around him.
The grand hall filled with light in an instant—so blinding that anyone witnessing it might mistake it for the sun rising.
"Wh-what is this?!"
The vampire squinted and retreated, overwhelmed by the dazzling brilliance that threatened to blind him.
Kuung
Fragments of light gathered before Kenion's eyes.
Tiny shards connected, forming the shape of a hammer.
"This is..."
Kenion slowly raised his hand.
And grasped the hammer prepared for him by the god.
Pajijik
The instant he gripped it, electricity coursed through his body.
A sensation that his body no longer felt entirely his own.
Kenion thought:
'Has it descended upon me.'
The feeling of a god dwelling within him.
GM's exclusive weapon granted to me.
Kenion felt vitality surging through his body.
He slowly rose to his feet.
Weapon-exclusive skill: Thunder God Descent (Öku-Þórr)
Pajijik
Lightning power seeped into the space around him, corrupting it.
"H-how can you still move...!"
The vampire staggered back in terror.
"What is that power...!"
Kung
Kenion took a step forward.
Jijijik jijijik
Kwaaaang kwaaaang
Lightning began striking around the grand hall.
"The power of lightning...? Impossible! This castle is a natural fortress that blocks mana flow! Large-scale magic can't activate here! Unless that's...!"
The vampire's face hardened as he realized the source of the lightning.
"Indeed."
Kenion strode toward the vampire.
"This is the power of god."
Pajijik
Lightning gathered in the hand gripping the hammer.
He had thought himself abandoned by god.
That his entire life thus far had been denied.
That this was the end—that he would wander the underworld as another undead, unable even to honor his departed comrades' souls.
Pajijik
But no.
"The divine power bestowed upon me by GM."
Even though he wasn't his own follower—even as a paladin of another god—He had granted him power.
A divine power that no mere human could possess, wielded only by gods.
"No! That can't be! No god would aid a mere human!"
The vampire screamed, spreading his arms wide.
Guwoong
Countless blood spears rose behind him.
"If so, my daughter wouldn't have died like that! Gods don't save humans!"
Woooong
Spears too numerous to count launched toward Kenion.
As if facing an entire army's arrow volley alone on a battlefield.
"No."
Kenion calmly raised his hammer amid the overwhelming sight.
"He does save."
And swung it forward.
"The almighty and merciful One."
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
Pure white light enveloped the grand hall.
Thunder tore through the air.
Holy lightning erased the corruption.
Shwaaaaaaaa
Rain poured fiercely over the grand hall as its ceiling collapsed.
Amid it all, only Kenion stood.
Jeobuk jeobuk
He walked toward where the vampire had stood.
The one who had brutally slaughtered his comrades and driven him to despair—but where divine lightning had passed judgment, only scorch marks remained.
"He who received no answer from god."
The vampire who cursed god and wailed for his daughter.
He had probably cried out to his god for her salvation, only to be abandoned and fall into vampirism.
Kenion looked up, surveying the ruins of the grand hall.
The dismembered corpses of those who lived in this castle.
Victims sacrificed as dark magic fodder by the fallen lord.
Kung
"Why have you saved me, GM?"
Kenion knelt in the rain.
"Why have you shown me this sight?"
He lifted his head toward the sky.
"What would you have me do?"
At that moment—
Labyrinth Tower Floor 5, "Apostate's Stronghold," cleared by player 'Kenion' and 12 others.
Ownership of "Apostate's Stronghold" granted to player 'Kenion,' with the highest main quest contributions.
"...Ownership?"
The system message filled Kenion's vision.
Adjust access permissions for other players in "Apostate's Stronghold."
He asked GM, who had saved him and granted divine power.
Why he had saved him, what he desired of him.
Yet now, to decide the fate of this world of evil?
'What could this possibly mean.'
Kenion knew this window appeared upon clearing a Labyrinth Tower floor, but in this context, it felt like a message from the god conveying something to him.
'Could it be...'
A thought flashed through Kenion's mind.
The vampire's world, fallen to corruption after being abandoned by god and losing his daughter.
There must be a reason He showed this world to me.
If so.
"To ensure such tragedy never repeats, you wish me to proclaim in your name."
Kenion slowly rose.
"I shall obey. I will change this world. So that no more tragedies like that vampire's occur, I will establish your kingdom. I will spread your word far and wide, beyond this world to the entire continent."
Pajijik
Electricity flowed through Kenion's body.
The weapon skill Thunder God Descent had ended as the weapon's duration expired, but the power of the applied class lingered.
'God is with me.'
Kenion didn't know.
That the vampire and stronghold's backstory were just flavor Albus added when generating the map, based on dark fantasy games from his past life.
That acquiring the Thunder God's class was mere coincidence from achieving the achievement "Defeat 10+ non-living enemies level 100+ with a hammer within 10 seconds."
That the thrilling sensation coursing through him wasn't god's presence, but just electricity.
Kenion moved his hand toward the system window.
Due to player 'Kenion's' choice, all maps in "Apostate's Stronghold" are now open to all players.
"Watch over me, my savior. I await the day you descend in person and prepare the way for you."
I am no longer Kenion, servant of the false god.
Thus began the tale of the second holy site for GM believers—the Church of the Faithful—and Kanion, apostle of GM.
The holy knights thought slain by demons were revealed alive, leading Kanion to believe GM had personally revived them—further solidifying his faith. But that is another story.
The same time.
Labyrinth Shop
Maze Shop
"Mmm! This is way too delicious!"
Beyond the bustling crowd, a woman shoveled ice cream into her mouth.
"Ice cream, was it? How can food like this even exist?"
Deus gulped down a huge spoonful, behaving nothing like the chief god of the continent's greatest religion.
"Hidden items and Miracle Spring Water weren't the real deal! This is food!"
As a deity, she couldn't carelessly intervene in the mortal realm.
Only oracles or occasional divine messages, while sucking her thumb and watching events unfold.
But Luddera was different.
Here, she could wander freely and enjoy life.
That was why she'd issued an oracle, expending precious divinity, demanding her followers fetch hidden items.
"When I get back, should I tell the kids to farm coins and offer me some ice cream?"
Of course, knowing it would shake their faith and cut off her divinity supply, she kept it as a happy fantasy.
All while blissfully unaware that her most cherished follower had become someone else's.
Her new owner was equally oblivious.