Chapter 45: Adequate Merit (Patreon)

[Introducing Adalmar, the god of the Bellicose Hammer]

Suddenly, I was outside, standing next to a large fire. It was night and there were people of all kinds sat in a large circle around me, holding drums. They wore animal skins and their bare chests and faces were painted black and white. Looking past them, all I could see was an ocean of tents stretching out in every direction.

“Welcome to my war camp,” said a leathery voice.

On the other side of the fire sat a man unlike the others. This man was ten feet tall with long dirty blonde hair that hung loosely over his face as he stared down at the ground. He wore nothing except trousers and boots. A wiry body, but covered in tight, sinuous muscle. There was a large scar across his left cheek and the handle of a war hammer leaned against his leg. The hammer was made of a silvery metal with one flat end and a wicked-looking spike on the other side. It was covered in runes that burned red and looked hot to the touch.

I wasn’t trying to become the enemy of five gods today, but I had no idea how to respectfully decline this meeting.

“The hammer wants to know if you’re here to fight,” he said.

The men in the circle around us beat their drums once.

“No, I was just here to commune with some gods about patronage,” I replied.

Adelmar looked up at me and calmly asked, “why would I offer anything to someone who isn’t willing to fight?”

Another drum beat rang out.

“I saw one of your fights,” he continued. “Saw the rage and the passion. Where is that man now?”

“You expect me to try and beat you?”

Adelmar stood up and grabbed his hammer. “No, I expect you to try.”

Instinctively, I drew my sword and knife. Not that it’d do much. Unless the System was being very liberal with who can call themselves a god, this would be like an ant trying to fight a mountain.

He approached slowly, but that was just to throw me off balance. His hammer swung towards me at lightspeed. I barely had time to dodge under it before striking back when a series of frenetic cuts using both sword and knife. My Heart Strike and Savage Rupture abilities were used as well but none of the attacks did anything. Neither of my blades could penetrate his skin.

I backed off and looked at his followers and considered whose blood I could take to replenish my energy.

Instead, the god dropped his hammer and returned to his seat.

“Adequate. You have earned further consideration. I will continue watching you, but do not call upon me,” Adelmar said before waving his hand and returning me to the black void.

It was only then that I realized that I hadn’t carried my weapons into this place until now. They were back at the church with my physical body. I’d just manifested a version of them here with my will.

I didn’t have much more time to think before the next System message appeared.

[Introducing the Great god Roan]

No title this time, just a name. He’d already bestowed a blessing on Hugo and given him one of his tenets in a loot box, but I didn’t know if that would work for or against me. All I knew was that it enhanced Hugo’s power. Maybe this god is related to spellcasting?

“Well, are you going to say something?” a smooth male voice asked in the darkness.

My heart nearly leapt out of my chest. As far as I could tell, I was still in the black void, but he sounded like he was standing right in front of me.

“I don’t know. So far, me talking has always resulted in violence,” I said.

He richly chuckled. “Yes, we can be a capricious bunch. But this is still a valuable learning opportunity for you that you should be taking advantage of.”

“Why are you called a Great god?” I asked, going with the obvious question first.

“Because I’m older than the others you’ve met.” There was no bragging in his voice. It was just a statement of fact.

“And more powerful?” I probed.

“Perhaps. Is that what you come looking for then? Power?”

“No, I don’t want to be tied to any god. I want to be my own man.”

“Admirable but foolish. The ties need not be permanent or there at all. Some gods deliver gifts and blessings with no strings attached, hoping it will entice you to join with them of your own accord. That’s the important part to remember. No one can force you into their service. You have to give yourself willingly.”

“Like Hugo?”

“Exactly.”

“What do you want with him?”

“If you recall correctly, you’d remember that you were also offered my mark. As to what I want? Right now, it is to simply find the best in this latest System integration to nurture to their full potential.”

“You make it sound so altruistic.”

“There are battles and wars being waged in ways and places that you couldn’t even imagine, child. I’m in over a three dozen other places doing other things while having this conversation with you. I am looking for soldiers and servants to fight for me in the future. You have earned a fraction of my attention because your conduct and that of your companion shows merit.”

“That’s what the other gods more or less said.”

“The problem is that you have won battles too easily, and it has made you overconfident. You feel yourself invincible and have no reason to enlist my aid or that of any other god. You are wrong, but only experience can teach you this.”

“Is that what you’re going to tell Hugo?”

“We have already spoken and now he waits for you to awaken back at the church.”

“What happens to me and Hugo if I chose to serve one of your rivals?”

“It would be most unfortunate.”

I’m guessing he means for us.

“Is there anyone in particular I should avoid?” I asked, but didn’t get a response.

He’d left without showing his face or telling me anything of value. Yet somehow, I felt that he’d gotten all the information he’d wanted by speaking to me.

Moving swiftly along, the next System message appeared.

[Introducing Yakeshi, The Heaven’s Blade]