The leaves of the Great Tree rustled softly as Taufik rose to his feet. Sunlight spilled between branches, painting golden patterns across the grass.
He looked up. The sky above no longer felt still.
It watched.
A presence.
Many.
Taufik inhaled deeply. Then, he spoke:
"...System, start it"
A moment of silence.
Then...
A familiar voice, cool and ever-loyal, echoed back in his mind:
[... Start what, Master?]
His lips curled in quiet amusement.
"The things we talked about a few months ago"
Another pause.
A pulse of hesitation.
[... You mean?]
Taufik nodded once, eyes sharp.
"Yes. The Gods are getting restless. But they can't just be let loose to run rampant across Earth… So we'll give them exactly what they 'think' they need"
He began to walk slowly, casually, yet every step rippled through the ground like distant thunder.
"In the old age, gods grew stronger by gaining followers. The more prayers they received, the greater their Authority"
