exposure (part 1)

I stood before my fellow godkin, a spark of excitement dancing in my eyes. The atmosphere around us had shifted since our last meeting, a palpable transformation that spoke of their deepening connection to their newfound divinity.

"Listen closely, my fellow godkin," I addressed them with a determined glint in my eyes. "As we are well aware, gods are bound by the unwritten law not to directly engage in conflicts against other gods' believers in the mortal realm. However, our plans to incite a revolt among the believers of Klaruth will undoubtedly draw the attention of their patron deity. He will not remain idle while his dominion faces turmoil and upheaval."

A hushed murmur rippled through the assembly, a mix of anticipation and uncertainty filling the air.

"It is our task, our mission, to divert his focus, to keep him preoccupied and prevent his intervention. And if the opportunity presents itself, to even eliminate him," I continued, my voice unwavering. "His divinity, one of vanity, is a double-edged sword. A power that steers its holder toward the treacherous path of an 'evil god,' a fate that would have consumed Goddess Raven if not for the counterbalance of her empathy. It is a perilous force, but one that, if harnessed, could greatly benefit our burgeoning pantheon."

As the weight of my words sank in, a visible shock spread across the countenance of the pale-skinned goddess, her features momentarily betraying her surprise and concern. But I pressed forward, knowing there was much to discuss.

"However, the details of this potential threat are a topic for another occasion," I reassured her, my voice steady. "For now, let us delve into a matter that directly affects our preparations and actions."

Turning my attention to the assembly of deities before me, I delved into the topic at hand. "You should all be aware that the hierarchy of divine power consists of ten distinct levels. The first three levels represent low-level divine power, the next three mid-level, and the final three high-level. Your placement within these tiers is determined by the extent of your divine abilities and the amount of divinity you possess."

A nod of acknowledgment came from the Ancient One, her scholarly demeanor reflecting her familiarity with the subject, likely gleaned from the growing but still incomplete pantheon library. Pushing forward, I addressed the crucial matter.

"Currently, most of you hold fragmented divinities, which situates you within the realm of low-level divine power. This, unfortunately, poses a significant challenge, particularly as we face a mid-level divine god whose main divinity is centered around the concept of vanity, with other aspects yet undefined."

The room fell into a momentary silence as the gravity of our situation settled upon us. These were the facts we had to work with, and they would guide our strategies moving forward.

"That is the extent of information I can provide at this juncture," I concluded, a determined glint in my eyes. "Now, let us make haste and embark upon the path that lies before us."

The conclusion of my words was accompanied by a resounding crack that reverberated through the air, a manifestation of the power I wielded over this realm. As the space beside the assembly of gods split open, a breathtaking vista unfolded before our eyes. Beyond the rift lay a realm of unparalleled magnificence—a place with a sky of pure gold, majestic oceans that sparkled with ethereal brilliance, and an atmosphere that seemed to infuse tranquility into every living being. Inhabitants of this realm elegantly soared through the air on their pristine white wings, defying the concept of walking on solid ground. Although structures remained absent from our view, it was merely an illusion, for hidden domains dwelled within separate pockets of this dimension.

I retrieved a striking golden compass from my pocket, its surface engraved with the words "Virdrheimr's Guidance." This divine artifact had evolved from the magical compass of the infamous Jack Sparrow during his ascension. It possessed the astounding ability to point its bearer toward any destination, no matter how distant, an artifact so coveted that even the mightiest of high gods would yearn for it. And yet, I had obtained this extraordinary treasure by offering nothing more than a humble whiskey bottle to the newly-appointed god of luck.

As I cast my gaze back toward him, a mix of pity and a faint hint of amusement danced within my eyes. The thought of this artifact being capable of guiding him to the most exquisite liquor bottles across the vast expanse of the universe was not lost on me. Meeting my gaze, he responded with a playful wink and a grin that hinted at his intoxicating indulgence. A question arose within me—when had he managed to acquire that bottle of alcohol, and did he comprehend the gravity of the impending conflict we were about to face? However, my attention was swiftly diverted by the jovial scene he was creating, engrossed in a spirited conversation with none other than Luffy. It was hard to fathom how such a carefree demeanor could coexist with the gravity of our impending war efforts.

Shaking off my thoughts of him, I redirected my focus to Raven, who had drawn my attention with a simple raise of her hand. Her inquiry hung in the air, awaiting my response. "You possess remarkable speed," I addressed her, my voice carrying a note of approval. "Summon your avian companion, and let it bear us on its wings."

In response, Raven extended her hand, conjuring forth a gargantuan raven that exuded an aura of deep obsidian. The creature's wingspan stretched wide, and its presence embodied both power and grace. This ethereal creature would serve as our means of conveyance, carrying us as we ventured into the uncharted territories that lay ahead

We all floated onto the head of the dark bird, with the exception of Luffy who compressed his legs like springs and jumped up, and Jack who tripped and nearly fell flat on his face in his floating position, leaving me a bit puzzled. Choosing to overlook their antics, I turned my attention back to my new compass, which was now pointing to the right. The crack leading to our pantheon's domain closed behind us as we followed the guidance of the artifact. Next to Kaguya, I smiled at the new social dynamic forming among my pantheon members. Ancient One, Raven, and Fujitora were engrossed in conversations about the universe's unveiled secrets from the moment they arrived, while Luffy laughed with childlike innocence at the stories Jack regaled him with about his past life.

I frowned the next second as I noticed Orochimaru standing alone on the side, engrossed in reading a book titled "Races of the Mortal Plain" with a fascinated expression. I thought to myself that I needed to find someone who could befriend him, though honestly, apart from individuals like the mighty Pervy Sage, I doubted anyone could. Well, perhaps it wasn't a bad idea after all; he might even introduce "Icha Icha" to this world and turn my believers into true men of culture. "Nyxar?" Kaguya's voice brought me out of my thoughts. I turned to face the goddess who had been the first person I recruited. All it took was removing the influence of the Chakra Fruit and assuring her that I was her only hope of escaping her seal at that point. "Do you not find it odd how they're all seemingly unconcerned about our upcoming task?"

"Not really, no. They're all relatively confident in their abilities, and they may not fully comprehend what mid-level divine power truly represents," I explained. "I don't plan to intervene in the battle, and neither should you. It could serve as a test of their strength and a wake-up call of sorts."

Kaguya hummed in acknowledgment as the scenery around us abruptly shifted to something dark and eerie. The surroundings were consumed by misty grey clouds. "We are in the lands of the evil gods!" I announced, making sure the others were on high alert.

After a few more minutes of high-speed flying, the compass started moving erratically, and I instantly knew we had arrived. "Okay, everybody, get ready," I instructed, my companions standing beside me with serious expressions on their faces. I brought my palms together and exerted control over my divinity of mirrors, attempting to disrupt the space before us. However, my technique was interrupted as a crack appeared in space, and a man with blond hair and blue eyes emerged, looking like a generic handsome European. He was accompanied by three black-winged beings, each with two pairs of wings on their backs and curving horns on their heads. The amount of divinity emanating from him was at the peak of low-level divine power. It was clear that this was a clone body of his. He looked at us with a mix of bewilderment, disdain, and anger in his eyes. "What is the meaning of this? How did you rabble find me?" he demanded.

"Rabble!?" shouted Orochimaru and Kaguya in unison, anger flaring at the insult. I quickly raised my hand to halt their outburst. "Greetings, God Klaruth," I spoke calmly, mustering an amiable smile. "We simply came to keep you company while our believers complete their tasks." A brief moment of incomprehension flickered across his face, followed by a sudden widening of his eyes that hinted at a connection forming with his believers. His expression shifted rapidly from panic to fury as he shouted, "YOU INSIGNIFICANT INSECTS DARE TO STAND BEFORE MY OWN DOMAIN AND THREATEN ME SO?!!!" His voice boomed, its resonance likely alerting other divine beings to our presence.

I let my smile broaden. "Now, now, God Klaruth, nobody said anything about us entering your domain. We will simply await your true body's emergence to face us." The god's face reddened even further in a maddened fury as he barked, "REMOVE THIS FILTH FROM MY LAND!" At his command, the three demons under his control surged towards me, identifying me as the greatest threat. I swiftly sidestepped, positioning myself behind Kaguya and the others, calmly observing the unfolding confrontation.

meanwhile in the mortal world. chaos was insuing in the Klaruth kingdom as noble after noble was eliminated and a group of people led by a man in priest robes strode towards the palace through the town. most citizens spurred them on as this kingdom had brought them nothing but hunger, dread and powerlessness. all soldier who stood in their path was quickly dispatched. each of these people had peculiar abilities and some even had peculiar visages, be it blue skin or curved knife-like protrusions coning from the back of their wrists. They soon reached the boundary of the palace where upon the wall, the king himself stood with a sword in hand. CLEMENTINE! What is this madness!. this kingdom is dead my king, i am simply here to put it on a better path. You betray us? after all we have done for you! our god will not stay idle while you do this. clementine simply brought his hands together in response. Our god will protect us, he spoke with a pias expression on his face.

the kings eyes widened at the light that shone from the man as realization hit him like a truck and he lost it, it was unknown whether it was due to the betrayal or the realization that he could no longer rely on the support of his patron god. H.H..HERETIC!!! you have betrayed your god!, Kill him. at the order thousands of soldiers marched upon the top of the wall with old bows in hand. a testament to the corruption within the kingdom.

[ there should be a lot of mistakes in this one since i didn't have the time to completely edit it like the 2nd chapter. i'll look into it on Friday. Anyway, the next chapter will be the first battles in the fic and i'm excited to write it.]