The villagers were still buzzing with excitement when a sharp voice cut through the reverent silence.
"This is ridiculous!"
Heads turned. A tall, broad-shouldered man pushed his way to the front. His clothes were patched with leather, his arms roped with muscle. A longbow hung from his back, and his face was carved into a permanent scowl.
Aiden recognized the type instantly: local tough guy, professional buzzkill, potential moderator if bribed with enough ego-stroking.
The man spat on the floor. "You fools! Can't you see? He's no prophet. He's just a madman who talks nonsense!"
Aiden froze. The villagers gasped.
The man jabbed a calloused finger at him. "I am Darrow, hunter of this village. I've faced goblins with my own hands. This clown? He's a fraud!"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Aiden's stomach plummeted. Crap. The hater. There's always a hater.
His mind raced. How did you deal with haters in chat? Ignore them? Ban them? No… in this world, you couldn't ban a guy with a bow.
He needed theatrics.
He raised both hands, eyes wide, and shouted: "BEHOLD! The heavens themselves support me!"
Nothing happened.
Darrow smirked. "See? Empty words—"
A crack of thunder split the sky.
Everyone jumped. Even Aiden flinched. He craned his neck. In the distance, dark clouds rolled, lightning flickering across their bellies.
The villagers gasped in unison.
"He commands the storm!" someone cried.
Darrow's face twisted. "That's coincidence!"
But the crowd wasn't listening anymore. They were too busy dropping to their knees, foreheads pressed into the dirt. The goats bleated in agreement.
The HUD flickered.
Followers: 25
Aiden bit his lip, fighting back laughter. Oh my god. Even the weather's on my side. This is too good.
He strode forward, planting one hand dramatically on Darrow's shoulder. "Do not fear, child. Even doubters have a place… in the Algorithm."
The crowd sighed in awe. Darrow's face turned beet red. He shook off Aiden's hand and stomped away, muttering curses.
Aiden basked in the adoration. He'd never had more than 300 live viewers in his old life. Now he had people literally worshipping the ground he stood on. He could feel the dopamine rushing through him like qi—whatever qi was.
Still, he needed to secure this new fanbase. Every influencer knew first impressions were everything.
He spread his arms. "My children! Today marks the start of a new age! I bring you the Dao of Engagement! To like is to strike! To subscribe is to thrive! To share…"
He paused dramatically, milking the suspense.
"…is to carry my Dao to the heavens themselves!"
The villagers roared. Bread, chickens, and coins were piled at his feet as offerings. A child tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Great One, will you protect us from the goblins?"
Aiden blinked. "Goblins?"
The child nodded, eyes wide. "They raid every moon cycle. They take food, goats, even people…"
Murmurs of fear spread through the crowd.
Aiden's smile faltered. Ah, crap. Of course there'd be monsters. This isn't just some farmer-sim.
His instincts screamed to say, No thanks, not my problem. But his system pinged.
Quest Available: Protect the Village from Goblin Raid.Reward: +50 Followers (minimum).
Aiden gulped. Fifty new followers? That was a huge jump! That was, like, ten percent growth overnight. What influencer would refuse that?
He puffed up his chest, pointing skyward. "Fear not! For I, your Oracle, shall… totally deal with the goblins!"
The crowd erupted in cheers. The HUD ticked up.
Followers: 37
Aiden forced a confident grin, but inside he was screaming. What the hell am I doing? I can't fight goblins! I can barely fight WiFi lag!
Still… he couldn't back out now. If he lost followers this early, the Algorithm might punish him. He needed to fake it till he made it.
He raised his hand one last time. "Prepare yourselves, my loyal followers! Tomorrow, we begin the greatest content drop this world has ever seen!"
The villagers gasped at his brilliance. Darrow's distant cursing echoed outside. The goats bleated in reverence.
Aiden sat back on his straw bed later that night, staring at the glowing HUD. His heart raced, his stomach churned, but his grin refused to fade.
"Alright, Algorithm," he whispered. "Let's go viral."