Legend says that six hundred years ago, humanity was still prey to the other superior races. People spent every day fleeing for their lives, barely surviving at the very bottom of the countless races.
At one point, a certain Beastman could no longer bear to see this situation. He fought to secure some benefits for humanity, changing their status from livestock to slaves.
Even though it was little more than a drop in the bucket, most humans were already satisfied.
Compared to being raised as food and devoured, becoming slaves at least meant they could continue living.
This situation did not truly change until the arrival of the Six Gods.
Five humans. One undead.
No one knew where these Six Gods had come from.
Though they were merely humans and an undead, their power was so overwhelming that all races trembled before them.
According to ancient records, even the dragon race, which once ruled the world, chose to compromise.
Rumor had it the two sides signed some unknown agreement.
Most dragons withdrew from the world, and from that point on the Six Gods took control of it.
The Six Gods interfered with the order of the various races and held one-sided negotiations with them.
Humanity was finally liberated.
Soon after, the first nation belonging to humans was born.
...
Slane Theocracy.
Deep within a remote mountain region far from the Theocracy's Holy Capital.
At first glance the area appeared ordinary, yet it was one of the most closely guarded secrets of the Theocracy.
Inside a vast, sealed chamber filled with darkness, six figures stood faintly visible.
"Finally... after several centuries, a God-kin capable of inheriting divine equipment has been born again."
Tears fell uncontrollably as faint sobs echoed through the chamber.
They wore robes of the same design but in different colors. These six individuals were the highest priests of the six sects of the Slane Theocracy.
"The divine relic is resonating, the inheritance is revealing itself! O great God of Wind, I will forever remain your most loyal follower!"
An elderly man with gentle features wept openly as he continued praising his god like a fanatic lost in devotion.
He was one of the Six Cardinals of the Theocracy, the Cardinal of Wind.
At this moment, the priest had fallen into an unprecedented frenzy, as if he might faint from excitement at any moment.
The reason was simple.
God.
Just moments ago, he had seen the very god he had worshiped his entire life.
One of the Six Great Gods.
The God of Wind, Kikotenshin Nekonyan.
(PS: This name is not made up. It appears in Isekai Quartet.)
Before the Cardinals stood six enormous statues rising from the ground, each radiating an ancient and desolate aura.
These were the statues of the Six Great Gods, where their divine equipment was stored.
Beneath one of the statues, a figure sat cross-legged.
Several pieces of equipment floated around him: armor, a spear, rings, a necklace...
If someone were to cast detection magic, they would discover that aside from a small portion, almost every item there had reached the level of divine relics.
A phantom-like figure hovered in midair.
The Captain of the Black Scripture kept his eyes closed as the bloodline of a Player surged within his body.
(PS: In order to gain a higher position, and with Nazarick's deliberate support, the Captain of the Black Scripture's strength has rapidly increased, reaching level 79.)
(PS: As for the Six Great Gods, I have other plans for them. Let's just say they're extremely powerful.)
Invisible threads connected him to the phantom above, while a brand new power began forming inside his body.
His classes were changing.
Some had disappeared, replaced by completely new ones.
Without a doubt, this was power belonging to Players.
Power belonging to the Six Great Gods.
"It seems the inheritance will still take some time."
The Cardinal of Fire, the only woman among the six, wiped the moisture from her eyes as she spoke, her voice filled with excitement.
"Where did Zesshi Zetsumei go?"
The Cardinal of Earth came back to his senses and looked around in confusion.
"As for her, she probably went to the God-kin graveyard."
The Cardinal of Darkness sighed and pointed in a certain direction.
The place they were currently in was the Slane Theocracy's Temple.
It was the resting place of the Six Gods and also the burial ground of the God-kin throughout the generations.
Only the six Head Cardinals knew this place's exact location. Even the people assigned to guard it had been brought here in secret and fed false information.
There was a very important reason for going to such lengths.
The upper ranks of the Theocracy understood just how terrifying this world was, so they had no choice but to prepare for the possibility that the Theocracy might one day be destroyed.
And this Temple was the Theocracy's final sanctuary.
Not even Zesshi Zetsumei, one of the Theocracy's greatest trump cards, knew its exact location. She could only be brought here by a Cardinal through a hidden teleportation gate.
"That girl... sigh..."
The Cardinal of Earth shook his head. Though Zesshi Zetsumei always acted like she did not care, it seemed she still couldn't let go of her mother in her heart.
"Her appearance may be very different, but if you keep calling her 'that girl,' be careful or she might spank you."
Hearing that, the Cardinal of Darkness gave a rare teasing remark.
"Enough. Since we have the time, we should discuss the recent changes across the continent."
The Cardinal of Light ended the topic there, then patted the Cardinal of Wind on the shoulder, signaling him to calm down so his emotions would not affect the conversation that followed.
"First, Black Scripture's matter is to be classified. Have Zesshi Zetsumei stand guard over him. In the future, he will become one of the Theocracy's strongest trump cards."
The Cardinal of Light slowly spoke as he looked toward the Captain of the Black Scripture, who was still receiving the inheritance.
The other Cardinals all nodded in agreement.
Zesshi Zetsumei could, through her innate talent, wield the gods' weapons and equipment as a half-elf without receiving an inheritance, and could even activate the gods' special magic.
The Captain of the Black Scripture, after receiving the inheritance, would likewise be able to use the gods' equipment and special magic. In the future, he would certainly be no weaker than her.
In some respects, the Captain of the Black Scripture's importance might even surpass Zesshi Zetsumei's.
For example, when it came to producing offspring.
At that thought, the Cardinals' eyes grew even more eager as they began considering how to make the Captain of the Black Scripture accept having a harem.
They had already given up on Zesshi Zetsumei. Although they felt that once the Captain of the Black Scripture finished receiving the inheritance, he should be able to meet her standards for a partner if he trained hard enough.
But when they recalled how Zesshi Zetsumei had once beaten him half to death and even forced him to drink horse urine, they ultimately abandoned that idea.
"Then, the next matter."
The Cardinal of Wind nodded, and his tone turned grave.
"What do you all think about the Sorcerer Kingdom?"
As soon as he said that, all the Cardinals' expressions became serious, and they began to think it over.
"The Sorcerer Kingdom is suspected to have been founded by a Player, and it has close ties with the Bloody Emperor. It has already been confirmed that the former Black Scripture fell into the hands of a Player."
"Through the Bloody Emperor, they have sent word that they wish to visit the Theocracy. It seems the former Black Scripture invaded their stronghold, and they want compensation..."
After a brief pause, the Cardinal of Darkness slowly explained.
The others fell silent after hearing that. Players were not unfamiliar to them.
For some unknown reason, this world seemed to receive special beings known as Players once every hundred years or so.
The Six Great Gods, the Eight Greed Kings, and suspected Players such as the Minotaur Sage, the Demon God King, the leader of the Thirteen Heroes, and so on...
"Since they want to visit the Theocracy, we have no reason to refuse. This is actually a good chance to test them."
"Isn't that too risky...?"
The Cardinal of Light spoke up, clearly still concerned.
"We'll come into contact with them sooner or later. We can avoid them for a time, but not forever. Besides, judging from the Sorcerer Kingdom, this Player who descended this time does not seem to be a bloodthirsty butcher."
"If possible, the Theocracy may be able to give up a portion of its interests and try to form an alliance with them. At the very least, we should secure a non-aggression arrangement."
After thinking for a moment, the Cardinal of Fire voiced her suggestion.
"That works. Besides, the disappearance of the Platinum Dragon Lord seems to be connected to the Player who appeared this time. The previous battle among the True Dragon Lords may not have been as simple as we thought."
"But this is also an opportunity. Without the Platinum Dragon Lord in the way, we may be able to seize the chance to conquer the Elf Country in one stroke."
The Theocracy had once signed an agreement with the Platinum Dragon Lord, but now that his whereabouts were unknown, there was no need for them to hold back anymore.
"We'll decide everything after meeting that Player."
"They should come visit after the Sorcerer Kingdom's coronation ceremony ends. Send someone with a congratulatory gift to show the Theocracy's goodwill."
"Hmm... let the newly appointed vice-captain of the Black Scripture, Clem, go. Have [Thousand Leagues Astrologer] conduct magical observation within the Theocracy so that no more accidents happen."
(PS: Why did the Slane Theocracy only learn so late that something had happened to the former Black Scripture?)
(That was because the Slane Theocracy had previously obtained quite a bit of dragon blood, so they arranged for the new generation of the Black Scripture to undergo baptism. [Thousand Leagues Astrologer] was among them, which is why they found out so late.)
The Cardinal of Wind nodded, then spoke.
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
...