Global Gods : Skill-Resonance Awakened

Builder stood before the pantheon, his chest heaving slightly with the intoxicating mix of pride and ambition.

He gestured one last time to the shimmering, gold and marble expanse of the Western District.

"That concludes the overview of the Commerce District," he said, his eyes gleaming. "It is a canvas, and you are the painters. The shops, the stalls, the trade routes; they are yours to establish"

"However," he added, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth, "I have already taken the first shop right at the main entrance of the bazaar. Should you wish to build a wonder on your own world, or perhaps expand your personal garden in the Southern District, you know where to find me. My rates are… reasonable."

He paused, letting the offer sink in before turning his body, and the attention of six billion Gods, toward the east.

The air there seemed to shimmer with a different kind of energy; a vibrant world, pulsing with lights.

"Now," Builder announced, his voice dropping, to convey a sense of wonder, "we turn our eyes to the Eastern District. The District of Entertainment."

The ears of every God perked up. For a long time their entertainment had been limited to watching the slow evolution of mortals, reading novels or playing the simple, system generated games Thea provided.

They pictured theaters, perhaps a park or two.

Builder waved his hand, and the holographic projection zoomed in. "We did not build a park," he declared. "We built a world."

The Celestial Amusement Park was colossal, a landscape of so large that it dwarfed entire planets.

Rollercoasters woven from starlight looped around floating islands; drop towers plunged from the upper atmosphere into deep, oceanic pools.

"But the size is the least of its wonders," Builder explained. "We realized a fundamental flaw in our existence: as Gods, we do not feel fear of heights or high speed. A rollercoaster is boring when you can fly."

He pointed to a massive archway at the park's entrance. "Inside these gates, a powerful suppression field, designed by the Emperor himself, dampens your senses. You will feel the wind. You will feel the drop in your stomach. You will feel the thrill of mortality once again."

A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd. To feel human again… that was a luxury worth paying for.

Builder moved the projection to a colossal, Theatre. "The Hall of Echoes," he introduced.

"Connected directly to Thea's network. This is not just for movies. It is a stage for your civilizations. Has your world developed a new form of magic? Broadcast it. Has your champion slain a leviathan? Show us the replay. You can charge entries, you can earn tips, and you can inspire your peers."

"Of course," Builder added with a quick glance at Sunny, "the Emperor takes a modest venue fee."

Next was the Celestial Speedway, a track that defied physics, looping around terrains that seem to change with each passing second.

"Bring your fastest beasts, your most advanced machines, or your swiftest demigods. Race against the champions of other worlds. The betting system is fully integrated. Fortunes will be won and lost here."

Then, the Forge of Art. "For those with a creative soul," Builder said, nodding to the God who had asked about non-combat growth earlier.

"A gallery where true art is revered. Thea will verify the authenticity of every piece. Manifested art is cheap; it is soulless. But art created by hand, by brush and chisel, imbued with your own will? That is a treasure other Gods will pay thousands of Faith to possess."

He pointed to a lush, vibrant sector that seemed to be a jungle contained within a forcefield.

"The Zoo of Wonders. Lady Gaia has already begun to populate it. It is a sanctuary for the multiverse's most unique biological miracles. I hear she is currently cultivating a species of yellow, electric rodents that can discharge lightning. Each beast has a habitat larger than a continent. It is a place to marvel at the complexity of life."

Finally, Builder pointed to a shimmering cloud "And last, but certainly not least: The Dreamspace."

"This is the masterwork of Demigod Loki and Thea," Builder said, his voice hushed. "It uses high-grade illusion magic and direct neural linking. Inside, you can live a thousand lives. You can be a hero saving a kingdom, a villain conquering a galaxy, or…" He paused, knowing his audience. "You can return to Endor."

The crowd went still.

"Thea controls the NPCs. Loki crafts the environment. It is a perfect, indistinguishable simulation of our old home. You can walk the streets, eat the food, and live the life you left behind, experiencing a century of nostalgia in mere minutes."

The Gods stared at the Eastern District with a mixture of hunger and disbelief. It was everything they hadn't realized they needed.

It was an escape from the crushing weight of eternity. The Dreamspace alone was enough to tempt them to empty their coffers.

But then, the reality of their situation crashed back down. They were at war. The Demon Lords were hunting.

Zir stepped forward, his face a mask of conflict. He looked at the glittering lights of the entertainment district, then back at Sunny.

"Boss," Zir said, his voice cutting through the wondrous atmosphere. "I don't mean to be a killjoy. This… all of this is amazing. But shouldn't we be increasing our power? The demons are out there. Is it really the time for rollercoasters and movies? We shouldn't be wasting time on fun activities."

A hush fell over the garden. Zir had voiced the fear lurking in all their hearts. They wanted the fun, but they feared the cost.

Sunny sat on his throne, his expression unreadable behind his mask. He looked at Zir, then at the conflicted faces of his six billion subjects. He smiled, a confident curve of his lips.

"You are right, Zir," Sunny said, his voice calm "Power is the most important thing currently. But who said you would be wasting your time?"

He stood up, his cosmic robe flowing around him as if caught in an ethereal wind. "You will not be wasting time," he said mysteriously, "because in my city, everything obeys me, even time."

He raised his hand, palm facing the Eastern District.

"The final component of this district," Sunny announced, his voice booming like thunder, "is Time Acceleration."

A wave of golden light erupted from his hand, washing over the entire eastern quadrant of the city.

The air above the district seemed to ripple and distort.

"It is not as extreme as the God-Maker realm," Sunny explained, "maintaining such a dilation over an entire district is costly. However, I have set the ratio to 10,000 times."

The Gods gasped.

"You can train in the God-Maker realm to gain power," Sunny continued, "you can rest in your mansions to heal your minds, and you can come here to the Eastern District to live a thousand lifetimes of joy, art, and commerce. And when you step back out into the Central Hub… mere minutes will have passed in the real world. You sacrifice nothing."

With a single wave of his hand, Sunny had solved the dilemma. He had given them the one thing money or faith, usually couldn't buy: more time.

"And it is done," Sunny declared, lowering his hand.

The Gods looked at the Eastern District with new eyes. It wasn't just a playground anymore; it was a paradise.

"Oh," Sunny said, tapping his chin as if a minor thought had just occurred to him.

The look of the benevolent Emperor vanished, replaced instantly by the sharp gaze of a Merchant. "I almost forgot one small detail."

He leaned forward. "Since maintaining a time-dilation field of this magnitude over such a vast area consumes a colossal amount of energy… I will be implementing a small tax."

The Gods braced themselves.

"I will be taking a 1% transaction fee on every single exchange made within the Eastern District," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "Whether it is a bet, a ticket sale, or an art auction."

The Gods did the math instantly. One percent sounded negligible. A pittance. But when multiplied by six billion Gods, engaging in billions of transactions a day, with ten thousand acceleratipn…

The numbers were astronomical. It was a river of faith that would flow directly into Sunny's pockets forever.

They looked at their Emperor. They saw the hustle. They saw the excuse.

He was already accelerating their entire universe and the massive Realm of Advancement for free. He didn't need this tax to cover costs. He just wanted it.

But as they looked at the shimmering district, at the safe haven he had built, at the barrier that kept the demons at bay… they smiled.

"Only one percent?" Zir laughed, shaking his head. "Boss, you're practically giving it away."

They would have paid ten percent. They would have paid half. Because without him, they would be dead.

Without him, their lifeforms would be cattle for the Demon Lords. He was their shield, their sword, and their provider.

If the price of paradise was a one percent tax, they would pay it without any regret in their hearts.