Chapter 6 – The Beginning

[Main POV]

After ROB's portal sucked me back to my home universe, I found myself wrapped in a blanket at the feet of some woman who appeared to be praying.

At least I didn't have to go through birth again. I wondered if I could still use my godly powers, and decided that I would try the first opportunity I was alone.

After a series of normal events, the woman carried me off to a room, placed me on a mattress and whispered, "Good night," before exiting the room.

After waiting a few minutes, I closed my eyes and concentrated. And then I felt it. The sun.

While on the other side of the planet, I still felt it. It's warmth, and most of all, it's power.

As I continued, I realized I could see. Even with my eyes closed. I could see everything under the sun. Every military movement. Every corrupt political dealing. Every action done by man or beast.

I smiled with this confirmation. I was Apollo, God of the Sun. And I had the power to change this world as I saw fit.

.

Time skip to December 20th 1983

[Main POV]

For nearly four years I trained. I would practice using my powers whenever I was alone.

Luckily, the orphanage was near an abandoned factory that was perfect to get some privacy to train in. Ms. Davis didn't notice the first day I ran off to train since I came back for dinner. After all, she had 20 other kids to look after, so my absence managed to go unnoticed.

However, I wasn't so lucky on the second day. She freaked out and recruited all the girls to look for me, yelling my name so loudly that the neighbors helped as well. I was fortunate enough to hear them shouting before they called the police.

After a lot of being yelled at, I managed to explain that I was playing with some friends I made. Who were these friends? I don't know because they didn't exist. I was simply fortunate that nobody questioned me further.

Regardless, she still didn't want me going out like that, but was convinced by the neighbors that it was good for a boy like me to be running off with other boys. God, I love the 80s. This simply wouldn't fly in the 2000s.

So, after being grounded for two weeks, I was allowed to go out again, but had to report by 6pm for dinner, which was fine by me. Ms. Davis cooking was amazing.

.

"Alright kids, here's 50 cents each. Buy some candy at the supermarket."

It was Christmas time and we each got two quarters to buy whatever we wanted. While the girls all ran to the candy section, I slipped away to the nearby park.

While my current environment was adequate, it wasn't suitable for me to work towards my goals. I needed to expand (metaphorically), and I saw just the way to do it.

At the park there were 6 highschoolers playing chess on one of those outdoor chess tables. Reading their minds, I knew they were all nerds on local high school chess team, killing time until their coach arrived.

"Checkmate! I win again!"

"Arrrgggg! Damn it, I'll get you next time."

As the game ended, I approached the table.

"Excuse me. Are you guys good at chess?"

They stopped and looked at me for a second before the winner of the match stepped forward and crouched down to my level.

"Hey little man, do you need help finding your parents?"

"I don't have parents."

That silenced all of them, allowing me to speak again.

"Are you guys good at chess?"

The one who was crouching in front of me looked back at the others before speaking.

"Well, we're pretty good, we're on the chess team after all."

"Really, because I think you guys suck."

Once again, they were silent before one of them spoke.

"So, you think you could beat us."

"Without a doubt."

"Then let's play a game."

"Care to make things interesting?"

"How so?"

I brought out my two quarters and rubbed them together. "If you win, I'll give you 50 cents. If I win, I want 5 dollars."

They gave me a 'what the hell is wrong with you' look before a chubby guy with pimples yelled "Deal!"

"Hey Paul, what the hell's wrong with you? You can't do that to a kid!"

"Yeah, you're basically stealing his money!"

Paul lumbered over to the table before setting up the board. "Hey, the kid offered, I'm just taking his offer. Anyways, it'll be good lesson on humility."

I walked over to the seat and pulled myself up while the others shook their heads.

"So, you want to be white or black?"

I thought before stating my answer.

"Black."

"You know, it's easier to win with white since white goes first."

"I said, I'll be black."

"Okay," Paul said rubbing his hands, "Not like it'll change the result."

And with that the game started:

e4 e5

Kf3 Kc6

Bc4 Kd4

Kxe5 Qg5

Kxf7 Qxg2

Rf1 Qxe4

Be2 Kf3

"Checkmate. I'm surprised you don't know the Blackburne Shilling Gambit."

I extended my hand for the 5 dollars. Shaking, Paul slipped me a 5 dollar bill.

"Damn Paul, you got mated in 7 moves by a baby!"

"Bruh, how're you even on the team!"

Still shaking Paul stood up from the table, walked to a nearby tree, curled up into a ball, and cried.

Sighing, I turned towards the rest of the team. They looked a lot more guilty now that they'd driven Paul to tears. Waving the 5 dollar bill at them I challenged the rest of them.

"Double or nothing?"

They accepted the challenge and played me one by one.

One by one, each one of them lost. Some of them even lost twice. It was unsurprising since I had three overwhelming advantages.

First, I was the God of Knowledge. I simply knew everything under the sun.

Second, I was the God of Prophecy. Since prophecies weren't a thing in this universe, the power allowed me to see bits of the coming future. It basically made it impossible for me to make a mistake.

Third, as a god, I could simply read their minds.

By the time their coach came back, I had $55 and was playing their top two players, simultaneously, for the third time. We also had a crowd of around a couple dozen people who stopped to watch a three year old beat a bunch of highschoolers in chess.