Maxi sighed.
Finally.
Finally, he could understand this world's power system. Everything he had observed so far suggested that everyone was blessed by at least one god, and sometimes by multiple gods.
But he didn't really know what that meant or the implications, but he was definitely excited to learn.
He shifted excitedly in his chair.
This was it—the moment of truth.
How was this world different from every story, manga, anime, and novel he had ever read and watched? How did blessings work?
Maxi was practically shaking with anticipation.
Then—
"But first, a story," Tangen said.
Maxi's excitement drained out of his body all at once. He slumped back in his chair with an exasperated sigh.
Tangen laughed.
"Oh, come on. Don't you want to know the history of how blessings came to be?"
Maxi groaned.
He rolled his eyes, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, yeah, I want to know," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "But let me guess—it has something to do with the Earthly Gods being curious, asking the Oldest Gods, and the Oldest Gods asking the King of Kings."
Tangen's laughter intensified.
"The funny thing is—you're right."
Maxi's eyes widened as he looked like he would have spat out water if he had any.
Maxi wasn't a coffee drinker; his wife was.
He bolted upright, gripping the armrests of his chair, eyes wide with shock.
"Wait, what?"
Tangen smirked as he calmed himself down.
"Alright, let me explain."
With a flourish, he raised his free hand.
A red light flickered at his palm—tiny stars forming in the air, shifting into patterns and symbols as he began his lecture.
THE STORY OF BLESSINGS
Tangen explained that no one truly knew what beings the Eldritch and Outer Gods created. They were unimaginable creatures, beings of creation so terrifying that even a glimpse of them could drive someone to madness.
However, what was known was that the Earthly Gods were responsible for creating nature, animals, oceans, and the skies on countless planets.
Most importantly—
They created Pelady.
On this planet, they first made animals. Then, plant life.
Then—
They had a crazy idea.
"What if we made a creature in the image of our grandfather—the King of Kings?"
And so—
They created humans.
But that wasn't the end.
Humans were merely the foundation. The base. From them, the Earthly Gods slowly shaped elves, dwarves, giants, mermaids, oni's, vampires, and countless other races.
They spent centuries observing their creations.
Then—
One day, a human and a fox oni traveled the land.
Every night, they would sing to the sky.
Their songs were filled with praise and stories—not about gods they knew, but about mysterious beings they wished to know.
The Earthly Gods watched.
They listened.
And as the human and oni continued their journey, the gods followed them.
Then—
One night—
The two fell into danger.
They cried out aimlessly—calling for gods they didn't even know existed.
But they did exist, and they did listen. The Earthly Gods listened.
And acted.
They immediately called upon the other gods.
They begged the Oldest Gods for help.
And finally, together, they all kneeled before the King of Kings and pleaded:
"Help them."
The King of Kings agreed.
But—
Under three conditions.
Maxi nodded as he held his chin. "3 again. Looks like my theory is utterly confirmed now. Now all I need to do is confirm my other one and see if the 'three' eyes in my three-eyed symbol are referring to the importance of my gods. I just need to ask now, but let me wait for Tengen to finish."
Tengen then announces:
THE THREE CONDITIONS OF BLESSINGS
1. THE BALANCE OF POWER WOULD CHANGE.
The Earthly Gods would become the weakest of all divine beings.
The Eldritch and Outer Gods would remain relatively equal, though their power could shift over time.
The Oldest Gods would now be the strongest.
2. THE GODS' POWER WOULD BE LIMITED.
The King of Kings would grant each god a true name and a Godly name.
Whatever their Godly name represented, that would be their strongest ability.
They could still wield other divine powers, but their godly name ability would surpass all else.
3. BLESSINGS WOULD BECOME A LAW OF CREATION.
The act of granting power to a mortal would be called a blessing.
Every living and non-living thing could be blessed.
Each god had to bless at least one living and one non-living creation.
If a god blessed a living creature in one of three domains, they could not bless a non-living object in that same domain. They would only be able to bless a non-living object in another domain.
Only if both all of their non-living and living blessed died and got destroyed could they start over again and decide which domain to have their living blessed or non-living blessed.
Maxi intruded, "The way you explain that makes absolutely no sense."
Tengen shrugged. "Well, that doesn't matter because—"
All the gods understood.
And they agreed.
Before they left, the King of Kings gave one final piece of advice.
"If you wish to wield your blessings to their full potential, then treat the things you blessed as I treat all of you—as your children."
"Guide them. Punish them when they falter. But most of all—make them obey."
The gods bowed and returned to their domains.
Then—
All the Earthly Gods, at the same time, blessed the human and the oni.
A radiant rainbow light exploded from them, shining brighter than all the stars conceivable and inconceivable in their infinitely expanding dimension.
For those two were not just the first blessed.
They were the first beings blessed by every single Earthly God.
—
Tangen sighed heavily, collapsing dramatically to the ground as if exhausted from the story.
Maxi, however—
His mouth hung open.
His mind was reeling.
Then—
Maxi put his hand on the bridge of his nose as he sighed, "That story sounds so stupid."
Maxi then slumped over to the side as he slammed the armrest with his other hand. "But what makes it worse is the fact it's not a fantasy story—it's This world's, Gosh dang, history."