Japan.
Inside an elementary school.
"Sooo boooored~~~~~"
Nobita, slumped in his seat, couldn't help but let out a huge yawn. Even though it was class time, his mind wasn't on the textbook in the slightest.
Seriously?
If he actually paid attention in class, would he even be Nobita Nobi?!!
Just then, Nobita's gaze couldn't help but drift to the side—yes, right towards Shizuka's seat. Gazing at Shizuka's serene and lovely profile, Nobita involuntarily adopted a leering, dopey expression.
"Heh heh, my Shizuka is so cute..."
Suddenly, Shizuka seemed to sense Nobita's stare and turned her head!
In that instant, their eyes met.
Caught peeking, Nobita yelped internally and whipped his head back around, frantically grabbing the book on his desk and pretending to listen intently to the lesson.
Shizuka wasn't faring much better; her pretty face instantly flushed crimson, and she quickly averted her gaze.
Nobita, however, didn't see this.
Right now, his heart was pounding in panic.
Shizuka saw me looking at her just now!!! She doesn't think I'm some creepy pervert who likes spying on girls, does she?!? Ugh, wait, I guess I kinda am! No, no, I absolutely have to explain everything to Shizuka after class!
Nobita silently made up his mind.
He tried to focus his attention back on the lesson.
However, it wasn't long before his innate talent for napping activated directly, and Nobita's eyelids fluttered shut.
He drifted deep into dreamland.
...
An unknown amount of time passed.
"Oh my god, everyone, look at the sky!!"
"Holy crap! What the heck is that thing? Is the world ending?!"
"Damn it all! I just started going out with Amy from the class next door like two days ago, and now you're telling me it's the apocalypse? Come on, universe, you can't play me like this!"
"..."
The cacophony of voices startled Nobita awake. He rubbed his sleepy head, looking at the chaotic classroom, his expression a perfect mask of utter bewilderment.
What's going on? Is school out already?!
"Hey, hey, hey, Nobita, quick, look! There's something in the sky!"
Just then, Gian and Suneo rushed over to Nobita's side.
Hearing this, Nobita looked up.
He nearly died of fright at the scene before him. The confusion in his eyes instantly transformed into utter shock!
High above, a colossal rock hung suspended in the sky, an incredibly eerie sight.
"Why is there a giant rock in the sky when I just woke up?!"
Nobita was thoroughly baffled.
Could this be Doraemon's doing? That guy...
Just then, Nobita spotted a familiar blue figure rapidly approaching the classroom from the sky.
Nobita focused his gaze—who else could it be but Doraemon?
The next second, Doraemon threw open the window.
"Everyone, this is bad! Really bad!" Doraemon exclaimed, his face a picture of panic.
"I just detected that the rock in the sky contains an immense amount of energy! Not only that, the energy is constantly increasing! If this massive energy is released, the entire planet could be destroyed!"
"What?!?!"
"Doraemon, you have to take out a gadget! That should fix it, right?!" Gian, standing at the front, shouted.
"Yeah, yeah!" the others chimed in.
Doraemon forced a bitter smile.
"I've already tried! Whether it's the Shrink Ray, the Time Stopper, or the Rebound Cape—none of them have any effect at all!"
Hearing Doraemon's words, Nobita and the others couldn't help but fall silent.
Damn it! Even Doraemon's gadgets are useless?
Suddenly, Nobita thought of something. "Doraemon," he said, "I remember you're from the 22nd century, right?"
"So, you should know how this disaster was dealt with back then!"
Doraemon shook his head. "The 22nd century I lived in never experienced a disaster like today's. That's what confuses me the most!"
"If that's the case, everyone, quickly hide in the air-raid shelter! I remember there's one near the school!" Shizuka suggested from the side.
"It's no use. The force of this rock's explosion is far beyond what any air-raid shelter can withstand..."
Before Doraemon could finish, his expression changed drastically. The device in his hand detected that the energy buildup within the giant rock was accelerating!
In just a few seconds, it had actually doubled.
It's over!!!! It's too late!
The others behind him also saw the skyrocketing numbers on the device.
In an instant—
Despair, fear, terror…
A wave of negative emotions erupted among the crowd.
Is this really the end of the world?
...
The next second!
A dazzling light suddenly flashed from within the giant rock!
The entire sky was bathed in a golden radiance!
Then…
Numerous patterns lit up on the surface of the rock, spreading and extending, finally intertwining before the disbelieving eyes of countless people.
Finally.
Words began to materialize on the stone's surface.
[WORLD GOD RANKING!]
[ALL THOSE WHO MAKE THE LIST SHALL RECEIVE REWARDS!]
In that moment!
All information regarding the World God Ranking flooded into everyone's minds like a tidal wave.
The World Ranking!
Simply put, it would list various rankings or select individuals for character spotlights. Anyone chosen by this Divine Ranking, without exception, would be bestowed with generous rewards.
Money, power, superpowers…
All were highly possible.
Inside the classroom!
After absorbing the information in their minds, almost everyone stared at the giant rock with expressions of utter shock.
This…
This was completely unscientific!
Nobita and the others felt as if their entire worldview had been violently overturned that day!
"Phew—"
"The energy has stabilized!"
A sigh of relief was heard.
Doraemon looked at the now stable readings on his device, wiping away cold sweat that wasn't actually there.
That had truly scared the daylights out of him! He really thought the world was about to be destroyed.
Hearing that the crisis was averted, the others' taut nerves slowly began to relax.
"Hey, who do you guys think will be the first one on the list?" someone suddenly asked.
"Do you even need to ask? It'll definitely be me, Gian!!" As he spoke, Gian rolled up his sleeve, revealing a sturdy bicep. "If I get chosen, I hope my reward is a superpower, like DC's Superman or Marvel's Spider-Man!"
The more Gian thought about it, the more excited he became. He was now eagerly anticipating the first ranking to begin.
"Hmph, dream on," Nobita muttered under his breath.
Although Nobita spoke softly, Gian still heard him.
"Huh? What was that, Nobita, you little twerp? Are you looking for a taste of my fist?!" Gian instantly flew into a rage, balling his fists, looking ready to teach Nobita a lesson.
"No-no-no, you misunderstood!!!" Nobita shook his head so hard it looked like a rattle-drum. He knew Gian's strength; his small frame couldn't take a punch like that. So, Nobita wisely decided to back down immediately.
"Nobita, you don't actually think the Divine Ranking would pick a good-for-nothing idiot like you, who doesn't have a single redeeming quality, do you?" Suneo sneered mercilessly, seeing Nobita's pathetic state.
"Why not?!" Hearing this, Nobita couldn't take it anymore! He might be afraid of Gian, but Suneo? Who did Suneo think he was?! He instantly retorted.
"Pfft-hahaha—"
Suneo couldn't help but burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "No way, Nobita, are you still daydreaming? If you, Nobita, can make it onto that list, then I, Suneo, will call you 'Dad' from now on!!"