After fulfilling duties in their own designated realms, the gods of the universe would gather together to rest and have fun in their leisure. One of the main things they love to enjoy is messing with worlds through show entertainments and gambling with it. Plays, in particular are among their favorites.
These plays may only seem like a cinema's worth of time for them at some casino but in actuality it lasts an entire lifetime for us, the pets who have to play their characters. And depending on the draws they pick, these can last forever.
To have equality, they have the oracle of wisdom and equity decide their draws.And for this setting, it seems it's going to be played in groups. With eight thrones representing the gods in charge of this world. I have been played countless of times so I know the ones who are playing it, though it may not be their names. To my knowledge all of the gods here get along well, except for the 7th God. For some reason, unknown to me, they always exclude him and force him to chose bad picks. I suspect there is some sort of tension between them, that's why he would never engage in anything serious and always kept a straight face as if staring into nothingness, looking as if. . . ,he was bored. He never seemed to be enjoying anything.
Since the punishment period is over, it means that this will be the star play of the theatre. For such an important event, they need powerful souls to play their bids which is why I got pulled back. I do not know how many of us are left but I know there aren't a lot. One main soul for each god to play. And according to them this play's theme is about an Ending Reset and I am the character in the play that knows the original flow of the story, the reincarnate with the story's memory. I am that character, which I'm not even supposed to know before my rebirth.
However childish the storybook was intended to be, it was more disconsolate than funny. It didn't look up to its name. The real ending of the story was that the main protagonist is an epitome of misery. With Ending Reset, the ending needs to be changed for this group to win, in other words giving that pitiful protagonist his happy ending. If not, then this world well fall apart. Just like a kid breaking their television after not liking a show. My guess with the obviously shitty brutal stories, the gods were the ones who chipped in the ideas of the plots and the oracle must be the one to provide the deserved endings for each world. And with these foolish gods, it's unlikely to achieve that, it'll be up to me to do it. They lack the sympathy and simply agree to basically whatever cliche there is but… not all of them.
Awfully aware of the situation in hand, I am even more enthusiastic. This is a rare setting, the rarest even, I won't get a subtle play like this in probably a couple million more lifetimes. This well be the easiest it will ever get. Up to now, all I could do was mess with the gods, not end them but with this opportunity, I have a chance to bring that dream to life.
While floating away in the dark abyss of the portal to my next life, I thought of a daring idea. This almighty god is renowned throughout the universe in every myth, culture and history. Being infamous for his obscurity. If I play my cards right, I might have a chance of getting this guy on my side.
"I call upon the 7th God, I call upon the divine master of obscurity, Oh, your great holiness please allow me an audience with thee", I began chanting his name for the hopes of summoning him.
"…..",no answer.
Calling him out like this, he'll know I'm a rouge but I don't really care to have much choice.
"I call upon his holiness, the 7th God"
"I call upon his holiness, the 7th God of this universe"
I repeated the phrase over and over.
'Shit, still nothing?'
"I call upon the 7th divinity of the universe--"
"A dog who bites from the hand that feeds it..."
The god spoke, but with simply his voice alone and his ominous presence, I felt my soul quiver in fear that it sent chills down my soul and I instinctively lowered my head down for a respectful bow. In all my lives in judgement before the god's theatre, I've never heard him spoke.
I scoffed when I realized what he said. "I was only ever fed blood, of course I'll bite", I grinned back as to not show fear.
"What guts you have, little one"
"F-forgive me Sire, I . . .I dared to disturb your leisure with my pathetic plea"
'I could feel my anger get overshadowed by fear, this mustn't get to me'
For a solid minute I could feel him staring down at me, reading me. Like his head was slightly tilted with curiosity.
"You want something from me", I gulped consciously. That wasn't a question, it was a demand.
I can feel myself breaking into cold sweat from being terrified. But alas, this is my only chance. I clenched my fist and took a leap of faith. I'll die anyway. But the probability of me winning this is never a negative 0. A few miserable lives back, I thought of what I might do if I had been granted an opportunity like this, so I've rehearsed such an encounter a thousand times over in my head. However, for this god, I'm changing it.
I smiled.
"I have a bet for you, sire"
Gods can give blessings to whoever they grant be. But this bastard, even if you are his most devoted worshipper, he'd never grant you anything as long as you don't pique his interest. But fortunately, I've lived long enough to figure him out.
"..."
"You have not a favor to ask but rather a bet to propose?"
"It is so, your holiness"
"...Go on"
So, I just happen to know what ticks him.
"I bet that I can humiliate the other gods for you sire"
".…." the abyss went silent again.
"How bold of you. Where do you get such audacity?"
"You all had blessed me with much of a brilliant mind, sire. So of course I'd be more than observant. I know that until you win or the next grouping selection occurs, you will have to suffer with gods of their class for a long time"
He went silent and laughed after that which made me feel even more anxious than I already was. He is a man of few words, everything well depend not by what he says but what he means with those little words. But I have no patience to dwell too much on my every interpretation of it right now, my time is running out before my next reincarnation.
"Of course if I fail to do so, you shall have your way with me and I won't complain"
"Hm…Assuming you would succeed, what is it that you want in exchange?"
I looked up as if I was staring right at him.
"The obliteration of my soul, sire. To be unbound from you gods"