48: Domain of the gods
Original
Here we are, a century in the future, and the world has become an astounding place. Diseased people and natural deaths are rare, starving is no longer a serious issue, and national wars are a thing of the past! Why? The game, Domain of the Gods!
In 2050, a notification appeared in front of everyone in the whole world, announcing the opening of Domain of the Gods, a videogame for everyone to play. Even better, it didn't require any setup or gear! All you had to do was lie down, close your eyes, and think 'I want to enter my Domain' to start. You could even learn real techniques and bring real materials out from that world! Not to mention, as long as you went there, you would be directly promoted to a demigod, with all the benefits that included! Longevity, enhanced appearance, and a much stronger body, as well as a talent and a supernatural skill related to your chosen domain were available for all!
Sadly, though the game seemed wonderful, it had its dark side, too. The world of the game was in constant war, and you had to work continuously to survive, never mind get stronger. Anything taken from the game, would no longer exist in the game, and could not be brought back. Worse, if you died in the game, you would lose 90% of your gains, and NEVER be able to return.
It was worse in real life, though. The sudden influx of power made things difficult no matter where you went. Warlords became blood gods, amoral tycoons become robber gods, politicians became gods of lies. Twenty years of war and death followed, with nations and landmasses being ripped apart. Finally, a degree of stability settled in when a large coalition of evil gods were hunted by an in-game taskforce and slaughtered, crippling their combat might in the real world. Still, trouble was the constant companion of the average person in the new day and age. Super-villians, people who lost everything in the came and started attack others, are as common as dirt, and all the more deadly, as well; not to mention the monsters that were brought into the real world, where the control over them that you could get in the game failed.
On top of that, things haven't been going that well IN the game, either. Upon entering the game, you have the option to choose up to forty domains from among tens of millions, roll a starting power level, and choose a city to settle in. The cities you can choose are all those that are uninhabited by other players, making you the city's head. As a general rule, however, the cities turn out to be in the middle of a disaster which had killed the previous god, thus opening up the way for you. Worse, you cannot bring the ideas of earth technology into the game, or you will be ejected entirely. Moreover, the more domains you choose, the more adaptable you are, but the weaker each individual power is. Some time ago, several people discovered that benefits could be gained by choosing the five basic elements or other self-reenforcing things, but in the end, you are at risk from the start if you choose more than three, due to your power being spread between them. Moreover, the goal is a theocratic hegemony, or to take over the world with your religion. You can arrange the religion however you want, but in the end, your religion must be unique, and your power growth is based off people conforming to your religion's practices. Even worse, after a method is chosen, no-one else can take it until that person dies in BOTH worlds, and a cooldown passes. To make matters more complicated, if the action that is done is superficial, done without intent, or done with another in mind, the power gain is miniscule.
Still, I have hope! As a person who died in 2020, I don't know if I have been transmigrated or reborn, but I will use this as an opportunity!
(MC Chooses domain of scholarship, and teaches earth methods [not the forbidden earth technology], starting stone age and moving up from there, to his people. Moreover, he chose one Major Domain (Scholarship), Seven Lesser Domains, and three Minors to go with the lesser (listed below). He uses this to empower his people, develop his society, and draw believers and citizens. He recruits a natural (tree, mountain, etc.), local (NPC), or wild god (NPC without a city) for each Lesser, who each appoint a god for the minors. Doing so lets him evolve from a normal god into a Skyfather, or pantheon founder and head.
The god levels are petty (after losing in-game), minor (on entrance), god, greater, and major. Religion boosters apply. Religion levels are Idea, Children's Story, Small Congregation, Cult, Local Religion, Minor Religion, Normal Religion, Greater Religion, Theocracy, Greater Theocracy, International Religion, and Hegemony.
(Body: Doctor, Trainer, and Martial Artist.
War: Tactics, Combat, and Logistics.
Wealth: Economics, Business, and Contracts.
Law: Social, Government, and Natural.
Science: Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.
Nature: Animals, Plants, and Rocks.
Study: Study, Teaching, and Learning)