Chapter 4: That's basically all you need to know.
The text on the screen turned a deep, ominous shade of crimson as the next message appeared.
[If by any reason they eventually find out who you are before you are prepared to face them, then your demise is certified. They will not hesitate to eliminate a new Devil God before he can become a threat.]
"The fuck?!" I cursed out loud, my heart starting to pound against my ribs in a way that felt very mortal despite my new status.
Why was it always one thing after another with my life? It felt like I had just jumped out of the frying pan of corporate misery and directly into a cosmic fire.
As if the sheer shock of becoming a literal god wasn't enough to handle, now I had to worry about being hunted down and murdered by other deities who had probably been doing this for thousands of years.
I was a novice, a complete amateur, and the system was basically telling me I had a giant target on my back.
"System..." I called out, my voice dropping an octave as I began to feel the heavy weight of my new fate. If I couldn't go back, then I had to survive.
"Is there possibly a way for me to rapidly increase my strength? I really don't want to end up dead before I even figure out how to move around in this place."
[Yes, there is a way,]
The system responded, its tone almost sounding helpful for the first time.
[Fortunately for you, as both a Devil and a deity, you possess two primary paths that you can use to increase your divinity and solidify your power.]
The holographic screen split into two distinct sections, outlining the methods.
[One of them involves feeding on the misery and negative emotions of other lifeforms. As a Devil God, you can draw power from the suffering, fear, and despair of mortals. The other path requires you to gather faith power, which is a more traditional method of divine growth.]
"Faith power?" I asked, frowning as I tried to parse the term. I had heard the words before in movies, but I had no idea how they applied to a real-life situation, or whatever this situation was.
"What's that supposed to be exactly? How do I even get it?"
The system didn't seem surprised by my confusion; it simply adjusted the display to provide a more detailed explanation.
[Notice: Faith power is a form of spiritual energy that most deities use to increase their overall strength.]
[It is generated directly from the prayers, devotions, and sincere beliefs of one's followers.]
[The more people who believe in you and fear or respect your name, the more power you accumulate.]
[Of course, there are other ways to increase your Divinity, such as building up your reputation through great deeds or or terrible acts, but the dual path of Faith Power and Negativity is the most optimum and efficient way for a Devil God such as yourself to grow.]
I listened intently, realizing that my survival was now tied to how many people I could convince to follow me, or how much misery I could harvest. It was a grim realization, but the system wasn't done explaining the mechanics of my new existence.
[Also, as your designated system, your predecessor has put it upon me to help you manage these energies. I will convert both types of power into System Points, which you can then use to purchase various items, artifacts, or powerful skills from the System Shop.]
[Most of the items available in the shop were once part of your predecessor's personal collection. Think of this entire process as a form of structured training laid down by the previous god to help you become a true devil deity as quickly as possible.]
"I see..." I muttered more to myself than to the floating screen. I stroked my chin thoughtfully, finding myself sitting cross-legged in the middle of the void as I tried to process the information.
It was like a game, but with my actual life on the line. If I played it right, I could become strong enough to protect myself from those other gods.
Suddenly, a wave of panic washed over me and my eyes widened. I reached up with both hands, frantically feeling around my face and head.
"Wait! If the system says I've become some kind of devil deity, does that mean my physical features have changed? Do I have horns or glowing eyes or something?" The thought of looking like a monster terrified me.
I had lived my whole life being unremarkable and plain, and while I wasn't exactly handsome, I definitely wasn't ready to become some terrifying, red-skinned fiend that people would scream at the sight of.
I didn't want to lose my humanity entirely, even if my body had technically been reborn.
[Host, you needn't worry about your appearance,]
The system stated, the text appearing in a soothing blue font.
[As a deity, you eventually possess the power to choose whichever form you do please. Your physical manifestation is an extension of your will.]
[Notice: During the rebirth process, your external appearance was not changed in the least. You still look exactly as you did back on Earth. However, you should understand that your thorough body, your internal essence and your spiritual makeup, has undergone tremendous and fundamental changes that far exceed human limitations.]
"Huh? What do you mean by that?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. If I still looked like the same tired office worker with baggy eyes, then how could I be a god? I didn't feel any different, other than the fact that I was currently floating in a void.
[I think it would be best if I showed you rather than explained it,] the system replied.
[I believe you earthlings are far more familiar with what is known as a status screen. It provides a quantifiable measure of your current state.]
The next moment, a new glowing panel emerged directly in front of me.