NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: Chapter 2
"I want to be an Outer God like you..." I said softly, the words trembling as they left my lips.
The lizard froze mid-step, its glowing eyes narrowing. For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Then, with blinding speed, its tail lashed out, striking me hard across the head. Pain exploded in my skull as I cried out, clutching at my throbbing head.
I looked up at the lizard, fear gripping me as its form loomed over me, its aura suffocating.
"Did I not just tell you," it growled, its voice laced with fury, "that an Outer God is a god born from nonexistence? I do not like repeating myself."
"S-sorry!" I stammered, my voice trembling. "I didn't mean to insult you. I-I just meant… I want to become a god, and if possible, lower the price by only gaining the potential to become one through my own effort…" My words trailed off, barely audible by the end.
The lizard paused, its malevolent gaze fixed on me, considering. After a long moment, it finally spoke. "Three souls of an MC," it said, its tone calm but cold, "plus their entire universes."
I nodded slowly, my mind scrambling to think of three MCs. It was difficult, but after digging through my memories, I managed to recall three that fit the bill. With a heavy heart, I agreed.
"What type of god do you wish to be?" the lizard asked, resuming its pacing around me. "Understand this: it must be an animal-related god. The animal you choose will shape your authority and power. Everything that creature symbolizes will become part of your dominion."
I hesitated, the weight of the decision pressing down on me. "Would the price change depending on the animal?" I asked, trying to gauge the limits of this deal.
The lizard shook its head. "No," it said flatly.
"Then… a crow," I said, the word leaving my mouth faster than I intended.
The lizard stopped in its tracks. Its glowing eyes burned with fury as it stared at me, its anger palpable. For a brief, terrifying moment, I thought it might lash out again. But then its rage vanished, its expression smoothing into an unsettling calm.
"Okay…" it said in a slow, chilling tone, its voice almost a whisper.
A shiver ran down my spine. I knew I had angered it. After all, the crow wasn't just a symbol, it was a gateway to immense power. Death. The afterlife. Wisdom. Intelligence. Adaptability. Prophecy. Fortune. Destiny. Transformation. The future. By choosing the crow, I had claimed dominion over concepts that spanned realms far beyond most gods' comprehension.
"Your next request," the lizard said coldly, its voice edged with caution now as if it were bracing for more boldness.
The air between us crackled with tension, the stakes higher than ever. I knew every word from here would carry the weight of my soul.
"Can I become the god of more than one animal for the same price as before?" I asked hesitantly, my voice uneven.
The lizard's face darkened instantly. Its glowing eyes burned with fury, and its jaw clenched in an expression that promised violence. It stared at me, the silence suffocating, as if daring me to repeat the question.
"I-I meant to say," I stammered, my words tumbling out in a panic, "Can I be a god that doesn't need faith or worship to grow stronger?"
The lizard's gaze narrowed further, its anger simmering just beneath the surface. "For that to happen, you would have to reincarnate in your next life," it said through gritted teeth. "Not much of a request since it requires little effort on my part."
I nodded quickly, relieved to have deflected its wrath, but my curiosity got the better of me again. "Can I… have the ability to decide what my authority would be?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
That was the wrong move.
The lizard exploded in rage. "What do you think authority means?" it roared, the sheer force of its voice shaking the very air around us. I fell to the ground, trembling, my body instinctively curling inward as if to shield myself from its wrath.
"I-I didn't know, oh great deity without equal!" I cried out, my forehead pressed against the ground in desperation. "Forgive this foolish mortal for their ignorance!" My voice shook as I groveled, pouring every ounce of humility I could muster into my plea.
The lizard loomed over me for a long moment, its rage still palpable, but I could sense its satisfaction as it soaked in my subservience. Its voice, though still harsh, softened slightly. "Is there any other request?" it asked, its tone a clear warning. It didn't need to finish the thought; the unspoken threat was enough.
"I don't wish to waste your time any longer," I said, lowering my head in humility. "But I would like a system that could help me better understand my capabilities. I'm just a foolish, dumb mortal who doesn't know what's best for me, so a system would guide me in my ignorance."
The lizard tilted its head, considering my words, before nodding slowly. "Do you want an Omni-System," it asked, its tone expectant, "or something else?"
For a moment, I felt the weight of its gaze, knowing it was hoping I'd choose something absurdly overpowered. But I had other plans. "Well…" I began hesitantly, lowering my voice. "I don't wish to impose or make you work too hard for me. I don't deserve such kindness, oh great Outer God. Instead, I would humbly ask for something simple. Perhaps a Crow God Becoming System?"
I punctuated the request with a series of deep, exaggerated bows, my forehead nearly brushing the ground. The lizard's expression darkened. Its eye twitched uncontrollably, its jagged teeth grinding audibly. Its tail lashed back and forth, clearly debating whether or not to strike me down on the spot.
After a long pause, it exhaled sharply. "That would cost you one MC soul," it said through gritted teeth.
I secretly sighed in relief, but outwardly, I forced tears to stream down my face as I looked up at it, my voice trembling with gratitude. "Oh, great and merciful Outer God! I shall offer you extra souls as a token of my undying gratitude for your unparalleled kindness! To further demonstrate my devotion, could you grant the system the ability to store items and transfer them to you? It would break my heart if I couldn't find a way to show you how truly thankful I am."
The Outer God's lips twitched, the veins on its forehead bulging as it tried to maintain composure. Finally, it let out a long, frustrated sigh.
"Fine," it spat, the word heavy with restrained fury.
"Oh, thank you, oh great Outer God!" I exclaimed, bowing deeply. "Your kindness knows no bounds… oh, but wait! I just realized something!"
The lizard's eye twitched again, a visible vein pulsing on its temple as it braced itself for whatever nonsense I was about to spew.
"Oh great Outer God, please have my system include missions or tasks that you, in your infinite wisdom, would like this humble servant to complete! Serving you directly would be my greatest honor!" I said, my voice trembling with devotion. Then I added, lowering my head in shame, "Of course, I am but a lowly, trash mortal, so I may need rewards to properly complete these missions. It's only through such motivation that we worthless mortals can hope to give even 100% of our effort."
The silence was deafening. The Outer God's lips twitched, its claws scraping audibly against the ground. Its expression darkened until it was practically radiating murderous intent.
"Get. Out," it growled, its voice low and dangerous.
"W-what?" I stammered confusion etched on my face.
"GET OUT!" it roared, its voice like a thunderclap that shook the very fabric of reality.
Before I could react, an invisible force slammed into me, hurling me backward. I screamed as I was sent flying through a void, smashing through unseen barriers until, with a jarring impact, I crashed back into the walls of reality.