Game of Divines (GoD)

Chapter I: Shadows of Fate

Lord, my life feels so empty and meaningless. Why is it so dull, so stagnant? What am I lacking? What could I be missing that makes everything so lifeless? What is your grand plan for me? What purpose does my existence serve in a world teeming with magic when I don't possess any power myself? I feel like a mere shadow in a world of gods.

"One week before the Game of Divines officially begins, a fierce battle between god candidates has already started. Based on the intelligence we've gathered, there's a high probability that the first target will be the god candidate from the Judas District. And in other news..." – News Reporter

"Wow, have our rival districts really become this desperate? Why can't they just accept that our district has earned its place as a legitimate contender in the Game of Divines?"

The voice belonged to Jehoram, my closest friend. In fact, I'd say he's more like a brother to me now. We grew up together under the care of the same priest, who raised us as if we were his own. They say I was only a baby when I was entrusted to the priest's care. My father couldn't take care of me himself—too wrapped up in his duties in the district to be a proper parent.

"You know what kind of place our district is, right? It's basically the dumping ground for society's filth—rapists, murderers, and thieves. Do you honestly think the rest of the world would ever accept a god emerging from a district like ours?"

"Hah, just admit it. The real issue is that King Judas is a massive threat to them, and they know it."

I froze for a moment, hearing that name. Jehoram noticed my sudden reaction.

"Sorry, Judah. I didn't mean to bring up his name."

"It's fine, Jehoram." I forced a smile, trying to ease his guilt. I could see the concern in his eyes as he waited for my response.

"Hey, Judah, meet me back here later, alright? You promise?" he said with that familiar carefree grin of his.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be there."

"No, seriously. Even if the god candidates invade our district, I'm not going anywhere. I'll wait right here for you."

"You're insane. If they show up, we probably won't even be able to meet up anyway. Fine, I've got to head inside now."

"I mean it! Even if everything's falling apart around us, you still need to come."

"Yeah, yeah. I get it. Take care."

"You too!"

The Game of Divines... It feels surreal, knowing that so much is at stake. Sure, my life has always been dull, and it's felt meaningless for as long as I can remember. But never—*never*—did I ever dream of becoming a god candidate. I never wanted to be a god, not even in my wildest dreams.

"God candidates from the Peter, James, John, Andrew, and Philip Districts have been detected in the area."

Wait, god candidates are really going to attack??"

"We need to find a place to hide. Maybe the school's bunker is safe enough!"

The classroom erupted in chaos. The panic was palpable—everyone around me was frantically trying to process what was happening.

Damn it. Not just one district, but five? Five districts against ours? How the hell is our god candidate, along with his disciples, supposed to stand a chance against them?

"This is not a drill. Please evacuate to your nearest shelter. I repeat: god candidates have been—"

The announcement blared over the loudspeaker, cutting through the rising noise. People started rushing out of the building, and soon enough, structures across the Judas District began sinking underground, retreating to the safety of the hidden bunkers.