[# Host, your domain is still in its initial stage, or what humans in your previous life would have called a factory configuration; you are yet to ’customise it’. And as for the proxy, in easy words, a proxy is a mortal that bridges the gap between the human and the divine, a human blessed and elevated by their God. They can go into the domains of other gods without limits since no matter how strong a mortal is, still mortal, but in return the universe restricts gods from directly harming any proxy that steps into their domain; the punishment is unknown, as even gods fear the power the universal will has over them #]
"Oh... good to know... When can I get a proxy?"
[# Not anytime soon, next question #] It responded, its tone terse, an unwanted reprieve from its usual monotone
"Sheesh, rude. Okay then, how do I customise the domain?" I asked, changing the focus from the whole proxy thing
══════════════════════════════════════
{† DOMAIN SETTINGS †}
══════════════════════════════════════
‡ Domain Profile ‡
Domain Name: Unnamed
Domain Type: Divine Domain
Domain Rank: Initial
Domain Radius: 4 km
Domain Stability: 100%
‡ Domain Authority ‡
Primary Authority: Shelter [EX]
Authority Control: 12%
Authority Coverage: 4 km
‡ Domain Configuration ‡
• Domain Appearance
• Entry Restrictions
• [Locked]
• Environmental Influence
• [Locked]
• [Locked]
• [Locked]
• Domain Concealment
‡ Current Restrictions ‡
• Domain is currently in its default state.
• No external entry restrictions established.
• No environmental modifications established.
══════════════════════════════════════
"Okay, that’s a lot, and why are some things locked? Y’know what, don’t answer; it’s probably some ’your existence level isn’t high enough yet’, but why didn’t I know about this domain thing earlier?!!" I questioned as I started going through each of the options
[# You never asked, host #]
My left eye twitched at that reply, but I decided against giving a response.
"Now I’m asking this: what’s Authority control?"
[# ... #]
"You infuriating piece of-"
Over the next few minutes, I familiarised myself with each of the domain settings. Domain appearance, as its name implies, was simply the appearance of the domain; there were lots of options, like the interior of a golden temple, a hidden conclave, things befitting a divine, but they weren’t me, so I decided to go custom, transforming the previously white expanse into a land of vitality and lushness, the once gold white floor, now a blanket of soft blades of grass, the once white throne, now a throne of golden radiance that looked as if it, grew from the ground up. The sky, that was where I got creative; it was a pitch-black twilight expanse now, with 40 stars, each one representing my followers; the stronger one’s faith was, the brighter their star glowed.
As for the other settings like Entry Restriction, it was set to everyone; why would anyone step into my domain without permission?
Environmental influence was more about the abiotic and climatic factors within the domain; it was set to an almost constant cool evening breeze, and a clear sky that let the stars shine through
I left Domain concealment alone, for now.
"Now that, that’s done. Status Profile!"
{†Minor God System†}
‡Profile‡
Name: Astrael
Title: God of Shelters
Divinity Rank: Minor God [0.3]
Domain: Initial mortal region (Vastyi Village)
Authority: Shelter (EX)
Followers: 40 (7 Fanatics / 10 devotees/ 23 Casual)
Faith Points: 199,450 (Used for Skill upgrades, miracles,...)
Divine Energy: 500/500 (Used to manifest divine abilities...)
Checking my balance from the last few weeks and purchases over that time, and also thinking about how wide open my domain was until a few moments ago, two things came to mind.
" That should be enough in case they get into trouble", I said, reclining on my throne, "Those cursed beasts are going to be a problem though, hopefully those 3 won’t get too outnumbered" I added, as I noticed a bunch more of those beasts moving around the area, some larger than others, other more mangled than the next, as if all contesting for the position of the most grotesque "The 3 of them are S-rankers, although inexperienced, they should be alright, and if they aren’t... I’ll have to intervene" I resolved, turning my attention away from the trio.
"I’m beginning to feel like I’m far too weak for a God; even if my concept is tied to defence, what if I was the one down there, forget being down there, Valea already made me understand that there are things far bigger than me in this world, if push comes to shove would I just be a ’sheltered’ duck, if that time comes my ability just becomes a gilded cage for me", I muttered rising my palm, looking at the faint golden glow my body radiated at all times, a constant reminder of my new identity.
"There has to be more than just sheltering stuff; so far, there has always been more to things than what they seemed"
♦ Shelter (Ex-rank)
Type: Passive skill
Generates an impervious sanctuary within your domain. Crops flourish, storms bend around it, harmful fires are snuffed, disease halts at its borders, and intruders cannot harm those under its protection. The stronger your Faith, the larger the shelter becomes.
You possess the ability to use the shelter as a barrier for yourself, as a source of defence in battles. The higher your God rank, the larger and more impenetrable the shield becomes.
"Barrier", I said almost absentmindedly, knowing the system must have highlighted it for a reason. "What if..." In the next moment, with the thought still forming, a golden dome shimmered into existence around me. I reached out, touching the barrier, my finger passing through the golden boundary with a soft ripple, before I walked out of it completely, and after a moment of contemplation, I landed on a thought: if the barrier can expand up to 4 kilometres, it should be able to shrink down to 4 centimetres too.
And with that thought began a series of trial and error; the first time I ever tried to shrink the barrier, it shattered, sending golden fragments flying everywhere. By the 10th time, I was able to shrink the barrier about a palm’s width from its manifested size. By the 34th attempt, I was able to shrink it freely within the size limit, but freely never meant easily; easily came around the 76th attempt.
"System, how long has it been on the mortal plane?" I said, wiping the imaginary sweat from my brow
[# 13 days, host #]
"There’s no way, I’ve been practising for what, a few hours?"
[# Your focus, in addition to the natural time dilation between the mortal and heavenly plane, contributed to your distorted sense of time #]
"And what’s the time dilation?" I asked, taking in information the system should have given me a long time ago, but for reasons known to it, it didn’t.
[# Unfortunately, I can’t give a specific conversion due to your rank, not because of your existence level, but because your domain still dilates in comparison to the mortal plane using the flow of the rivers of time. At a higher rank, you’ll be given a definite dilation #]
I didn’t bother responding as I returned focus to my authority; if I can now manipulate the size, why not the shape? After looking around, I picked a violet flower from a nearby bushel; that flower had successfully become my test subject. Shaping the barrier didn’t prove as difficult as sizing it, especially after I began to think of it as an extension and not moulding; if the barrier covers the flower in a dome, I increase the size, not outward, but instead downward and inward.
"System"
[# It’s been 29 days, host? #]
"Let me guess, the ’river of time’ flowed into an increased dilation ratio" Honestly, it sounded ridiculous when I said it aloud, but the system responded with an affirmative chime, followed by two notifications.
[#Congratulations, Host, on increasing your authority control from 12% to 34% and gaining a level of mastery over Barrier Magic#]
[# System Reminder: You currently have 1,927,750 faith points accumulated over the past 6-weeks#].
Immediately, hearing the large amount, I couldn’t help but let out a low whistle of astonishment, but that feeling left as fast as it came, as I remembered that they could vanish as fast as they came.
"Anyways, open skill description"
[#Barrier Magic (A-rank) (Authority Skill): The Host has achieved mastery over the manifestation and manipulation of protective barriers. What once began as simple shields has evolved into divine constructs capable of shaping space itself. Barriers formed by the Host are no longer merely defensive structures, but extensions of the concept of Shelter, capable of protecting, restraining, repelling, and isolating within and without the Host’s domain.
Effects:• Create and manipulate barriers of any size.• Barriers may freely change shape, density, and position at the Host’s will.• Barriers can compress, repel, or imprison hostile entities attempting to breach them.• Multiple barriers can exist simultaneously and be layered for increased durability.• Barriers can be anchored to objects, terrain, structures, or the Host himself.• Hostile attacks striking a barrier may be weakened, redirected, or reflected depending on the Host’s intent.• Allies protected by a barrier experience immunity to certain degrees of damage and increased resistance to curses and corruption.• Barriers within the Host’s divine authority require a significantly reduced amount of Divine Energy to maintain.#]
"Overhyped much? Divine constructs capable of shaping space" The description elicited a scoff from me
|Meanwhile, on the mortal plane, the trio had found a settlement|