God Of Velmoryn [ LitRPG, Progression, High Fantasy ]

"Verde, please stop these fanatic idiots and I swear I'll dedicate my entire life to you. Just stop them. I beg you."

Avenor's voice reached my mind - low, pleading, but not panicked. Still, I didn't waste any time. I focused on the Window, willing it to shift toward his location.

The hunting party was inside the forest. The trees surrounding them stretched like bare gray ribs, stripped of color. They had gone deeper, just like Mirion had said. And they seemed to have already fought as a new troll-like creature lay dead at their feet, larger than what they had encountered before. Its body sprawled in a wide pool of blood, though even the blood had lost its color. Its white fur looked faded, washed out, almost gray.

It was a clear sign that Crimson Rite had already been used on it.

Shit… I stopped monitoring them without realizing it.

Whether it had been the excitement of gaining so many devoted believers or the overwhelming shift in my divine realm, I'd unintentionally stopped observing the Yellow Tribe and, more importantly, Avenor and the hunting party.

"We just fought the biggest varnok so far," Avenor said, irritation creeping into his voice. "Every time we fought before, we rested afterward to make sure we were in peak condition for the next one… but now you want to crawl into some mysterious tunnel without even knowing what's inside?"

He gestured toward a dark opening next to them, a narrow tunnel leading underground. It looked similar to the tunnels that spider mutants used to move around. From the surface, it was impossible to see what was in it, so I tried to push the Window in. But just like before, it didn't move. My source of vision refused to enter the dark tunnel.

Why do I still have these restrictions?

No matter how I looked at it, I couldn't understand why the Window wouldn't move. It wasn't just the tunnels. The same thing happened with dungeons, and even with that powerful mage from the Green Tribe, the one whose face remained hidden under a cloak. I couldn't see through it. I could more or less understand the dungeon and the tunnel, but why was the god's vision unable to see under the hood?

There had to be a reason. And understanding that reason might be the key to deepening my grasp on how my powers actually worked.

But right now, I had a different problem.

I couldn't scout ahead. I couldn't confirm what was waiting for my hunting party beneath the earth. And worse, I wasn't even sure I could intervene if something went wrong. That's what had Avenor on edge. Until now, he probably felt safe because he knew I was watching. He believed that if things went bad, I'd step in. That I wouldn't let my strongest warriors fall needlessly. But that tunnel was different - he must have remembered that my sight didn't reach beneath the surface. If they entered that cave, they'd be alone.

"High Father will protect us," Ninali said calmly, pressing her hand to her chest and making my sign.

"H…" Avenor stopped himself before finishing whatever he'd been about to say. He caught the words in his throat and held them back, then looked around the group, eyes scanning for someone who might side with him.

"I agree with Avenor," Mirion said suddenly.

It didn't surprise me. He wasn't a devoted believer, at least, not yet. So it made sense he wouldn't have blind faith like Ninali. And yet, he had started showing signs lately… subtle shifts in how he spoke, how he acted. He was starting to show signs of genuine faith.

"High Father is almighty," he continued, "but that does not mean we're allowed to test Him."

His reasoning left me momentarily speechless. I couldn't read his mind. The bond between us wasn't strong enough for that. So I couldn't tell if he was being sincere… or just clever enough to use faith against Ninali without sounding like a heretic.

Either way, it worked.

Ninali hesitated. She glanced at the tunnel, then back at him. She must have realized that jumping off a cliff and hoping I'd catch them wasn't exactly the most responsible display of faith. Still, after a moment, her jaw tightened, resolve blooming behind her eyes.

"True," she said, "but our Lord wishes us to risk our lives to prove our strength, to carry His name loud and proud. If we are afraid…"

"He also teaches us," Mirion cut in smoothly, "that we must do everything we can to better our tribe. What if we enter and die? All of us? We're the strongest fighters. Who protects the tribe then?"

He stepped closer, placing his massive hand on her shoulder.

"Ninali, why do you think High Father sent us to hunt these stronger beasts?" he asked, calmly.

But he didn't wait for her response.

"I think He's preparing us," Mirion continued. "Strengthening us. Sharpening the tip of His spear. High Father will not stop with our tribe. He will unite all Velmoryns, and we'll be His vanguard."

Her heart responded before her words did. I felt the shift in her pulse. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "Did the Priestess tell you that?"

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"No," Mirion said with a small shake of his head. "She hasn't. But our Lord is God of Velmoryns. Not just this one tribe."

"That's right!" Avenor jumped in before she could say more, seizing the momentum. He turned to the rest of the party, raising his voice just enough to make sure they were listening. "When He saved me, I saw it. A vision. High Father will unite all Velmoryns. And this forest, this entire forest, will become our… His kingdom!"

This charlatan… but why did you have to go overboard?

I wasn't exactly opposed to the idea. Conquering the entire forest did have a nice ring to it. But it also meant direct contact with the outside world - nations, gods, new races or whatever waited there… I still wasn't ready to tangle with those forces yet.

"Besides," Mirion added, "the Lord sent us to hunt monsters and gather essences, not explore every hole in the ground. If He wants us to enter, He'll send a sign."

With that, he turned toward Rodon and gave a short command. Rodon nodded and moved to set up camp, Aria following close behind to begin weaving the concealment barrier. The momentum had shifted completely. Just like that, the expedition's purpose was reset.

I observed quietly, realizing that the impact of my commandments and blessings was much bigger than I expected.

Ninali had once been one of the most timid Velmoryns in the tribe, quiet and passive even during campaigns. But after receiving her blessing, she'd changed. The confidence was new, yes. But judging by how quick she was to leap into danger, I had a strong suspicion it wasn't just personal growth. Fire magic likely played its part. That impulsiveness... it was bleeding into her behavior.

"...Verde, and also, you need to find the middle ground. Or Velmoryns like Ninali will drive the tribe to destruction."

Avenor's voice reached me again. I had not thought about it before, but I was not supposed to have been able to hear his voice without focusing on the connection I had with him.

Unlike the others, Avenor's prayers didn't passively drift to me. But now… twice, I'd heard him without trying.

Why?

I assumed it was desperation, raw emotional force strengthening the bond. Perhaps emotions had the power to temporarily deepen the connection, but then I shook the idea off. Even if he was somewhat in distress when his voice first reached me, this time it was different. Now, he wasn't pleading. He was just making a suggestion. Maybe even scolding me a little while being completely calm.

So why did it still get through?

Then I noticed it. The one detail both times had in common.

He'd called me by name.

Verde.

Do names carry hidden power in this world?

The thought wasn't far-fetched. This world had mechanics I was still figuring out, and names might serve as keys or triggers. If invoking my name allowed him to bypass normal restrictions, perhaps I could do the same with his name.

I decided to test it.

I already knew Avenor couldn't hear me. I'd already tried before. So if this time my voice reached him, then it must have been because of the different method.

"Avenor," I called, focusing on his name, shaping it clearly in my mind. "You better stop making claims in my name."

I waited for the response, but nothing. His face didn't change. His thoughts stayed on the tunnel and how to control Ninali's increasing drive to prove her faith. But there was no sign he'd heard a thing.

So… names don't work that way. Not from my side, anyway.

But it still left the question, why could he reach me?

The only reasonable explanation I could come up with was divinity. Names, it seemed, weren't just symbolic - they were functional, tethered to divine presence. Maybe invoking a god's name wasn't just a method of communication. Maybe it granted access, unlocked something.

Figuring that out brought a certain satisfaction, one more piece of the system uncovered. But the realization that my name might be more than a label? That was unsettling. If calling my name could offer a connection… what else could it do? Could it be used to reveal information about me? Track me? Manipulate me?

I must not reveal my name. Not until I'm more powerful. Or at the very least, until I know it's safe.

Avenor's existence became even more dangerous suddenly, but as I was looking for him in the camp, my eyes landed on Huanir. And just like that, another idea struck me.

If the Window can't see beneath the surface… what if I gain a different kind of medium? One that can move freely inside that tunnel?

The Crimson Guardian's roots could reach underground, but they had no reach near the hunting party. And more importantly, I didn't share a vision with the tree, and I wasn't ready to experiment with my strongest creature. Too much risk, too little to gain.

My eyes drifted back to Huanir, who was lazily licking his… paws. He paused between licks, each one slower and more pained than the last, his scrunched-up face making it obvious he hated the taste.

For a moment, I considered tampering with him. But I dismissed it just as quickly.

Not just because I'd spent five divinity points on the beast, but because killing him by accident would reflect very poorly on me. Gods didn't usually lose control of their blessed creatures. It would ruin the mystique. I needed something expendable.

Something low on the food chain. Something that wouldn't draw attention and wouldn't require too much divine power to experiment.

Why can't this damn Window have filters? Living beings, enemies, allies... would that be so hard?

The system's UI was abysmal. Having to scroll through the forest like I was browsing through a primitive image gallery did not feel very godly.

Still, I got lucky.

I spotted a tiny insect buzzing around lazily near a rotting pile of beast dung. It wasn't anything special, just fast, small, and airborne. Ideal for what I had in mind.

At first, I planned to brand it like I'd done with Huanir and try to establish some sort of basic link. But then I decided to push further. I'd already confirmed that my divine consciousness could split. I'd taken over the vessel the Goddess had left behind, and a piece of me had entered Roy's core. Whether the process was identical or not, the outcome was clear - I could split myself and restore just as easily.

A creature this small shouldn't require much of my essence. Even if it fails, the loss would be insignificant.

I stirred my divine power and focused on the insect. This time, I was not trying to change it in any way; my goal was to completely take over, to assume control.

I will completely destroy its soul, if it has one. And then I'll imprint my essence inside…

The insect was digging into the dung with concerning enthusiasm. The moment my divinity touched it, I felt a pull - a fragment of myself separating, drifting toward it.

But just as the connection started forming, something shifted.

My divine realm vibrated.

Just once. Just briefly.

And then it appeared.

A crimson window - ominous and domineering - flashed before my eyes.