"Build a tribe."
The words echoed across the entire Eternal Continent—divine, absolute, and impossible to ignore.
For the newborn demigods of Earth, this was the first decree from the Supreme Rule, what they called the "system." It was not merely a mission—it was a trial by fire.
And for those who triumphed, it promised immense reward.
But victory would not come easily.
Each demigod's fledgling believers found themselves surrounded by hostile races. Only by defeating these enemies and seizing the Tribal Core Stone from their hands could they lay the foundation of their first settlement—the birth of civilization under their god's name.
In his past life, Adrian remembered clearly: the fastest player had taken three whole days to complete this mission.
But this time, Adrian smiled faintly.
> "Three days? I'll need less than one."
The Scent of Blood and Forest Smoke
Deep in the mist-choked jungle, the gnoll priest Sarlun halted, raising his staff. His crimson eyes glimmered with intelligence—a rarity among his kind.
"Lord Gedo," he rasped, "my visions show… goblins. A tribe of them hides in the forest ahead."
The hulking gnoll leader bared his fangs in a grin that was more beast than man. "Ugly, weak little vermin. The gnolls will shred their filthy green hides!"
Sarlun's eyes narrowed. "Do not take them lightly. The Great God watches us."
Gedo's expression sobered. He nodded once, then turned to his army—a hundred gnolls brimming with murderous energy.
"The weaklings cower in the woods, spying upon us!" His booming voice rolled through the jungle. "Show them the fangs of the bloodthirsty! Make them scream my god's name in terror!"
A thunderous chorus answered him:
> "For the Great Gnoll and the God of Slaughter!"
"For the glory of my God!"
The forest erupted as they charged.
The Goblin Tribe
The gnolls burst from the undergrowth, their roars splitting the air. Within moments, a sea of glowing green eyes blinked to life between the trees.
There they were—goblins, countless and vile.
Nearly four hundred in number.
Three hundred black-iron grunts, a dozen bronze "big goblins," and a single silver-ranked elder mage, clutching a staff crowned with a black crystal.
The goblins encircled the gnolls, but none dared attack. What stood before them were not the scrawny, scavenging hyenas they remembered. These gnolls radiated killing intent so thick it choked the air.
The elder goblin shuffled forward, his ragged robe dragging in the dirt. Black fire flickered along his staff as he shouted, voice shrill with fear and bravado alike.
"Gnolls! Begone! This is our land! You are not welcome here!"
Adrian's interface shimmered with new data.
[Race]: Dark Goblin
Rank: Silver
Class: Mage
Skills: Fireball Lv.4, Intimidation Lv.3, Dark Prayer Lv.3
Attributes:
Strength 9 / Constitution 8 / Agility 12 / Spirit 24
For most new gods, even such a small tribe was a nightmare—hundreds of foes led by a magic-wielding elder. Many would have to intervene directly, risking divine backlash just to survive.
But Adrian only chuckled.
> "Wrong opponent, little goblin."
Even his weakest follower was bronze-ranked now.
Gedo stepped forward, towering above his pack. His shadow fell over the trembling goblin line as he growled, "Surrender your food and weapons. Swear faith to the Great Gnoll and the God of Slaughter, and you may yet live."
The goblin elder snarled back, black flames flaring higher. "Never! The Great Goblin God watches over us! Heretics, begone!"
Patience snapped.
> "Gnolls," Gedo roared, "tear these green rats apart! Let them learn fear in the pits of hell!"
The jungle exploded in chaos.
The gnolls charged as one—a living tide of fur and fangs. Gedo's frame surged, muscles swelling under his hide as crimson energy boiled from his body.
Bloody Rage!
He grew taller still, over four meters, his roar shaking the canopy. The gnolls around him howled in unison, their bloodlust ignited by the aura of their chieftain.
Behind them, Sarlun raised his staff.
> "Mass Amplification!"
A wave of invisible force rippled outward, cloaking the pack in dark energy. Their claws gleamed like blades.
"By the gods," the elder goblin gasped. "What monsters are these?"
He screamed a desperate spell.
Fireball!
A blazing orb streaked through the air, slamming into Gedo's chest in an explosion of heat and sparks. The goblins cheered—until the smoke cleared.
Gedo stood unscathed. Not a single hair had burned.
The elder froze in disbelief. "Impossible—!"
Gedo grinned, raising his axe.
The weapon spun once through the air.
Axe Throw!
The blade sheared through the elder's neck, sending his head tumbling before he could finish the word.
"Tear them apart!" Gedo thundered.
The gnolls obeyed.
It was no battle. It was annihilation.
The bronze-ranked gnolls tore through goblin ranks like wolves through sheep. Limbs flew. Screams filled the air. Within moments, more than a hundred goblins were dead, their blood staining the soil dark red.
A few gnolls stopped mid-frenzy to devour their prey, ripping goblin flesh with sick delight.
"Bah," one spat, crushing a twitching body underfoot. "Disgusting meat."
"Monsters!" shrieked a fleeing goblin, "They're monsters!"
The survivors scattered into the forest, but there was no escape. The gnolls hunted them down mercilessly, laughter and roars echoing between the trees.
Sarlun finally raised his staff again, shouting above the carnage:
"Enough! Enough! Hear me, vile goblins! Your only path to survival is through faith! Kneel before the Great Gnoll and the God of Slaughter, or be devoured!"
The few remaining goblins froze, terror wiping away all thought of resistance.
Their so-called "Goblin God" had given them nothing—no miracles, no power, no protection. Only death awaited.
And so, trembling, they fell to their knees.
> "We believe! We will believe in the Great God of Gnolls and Slaughter!"
"Mercy, O mighty one—spare us!"
The jungle fell silent but for the crackle of dying fires and the panting of beasts.
Adrian's divine consciousness hovered high above the battlefield, watching with satisfaction.
Sarlun had done perfectly.
> "Well done," Adrian murmured.
[Log]: Your gnoll followers have defeated the Goblin Tribe!
[Log]: 188 goblins slain — gained 18,800 Threads of Faith Power!
[Log]: Fear spreads among the goblins — 212 Goblin Pan-Believers converted!
[Log]: Your followers' slaughter deepens your Authority of Killing by +0.001%!
The numbers delighted him, but the sight of the worshipers below pleased him even more.
> "Goblin tribe, I accept your faith," Adrian's divine voice thundered through the clouds. "Believe in me, and you shall be reborn!"
"Gnolls, you have proven your strength and courage. My light shall shine upon you!"
Golden radiance flooded the jungle.
Wounds closed, blood vanished, and the battlefield was reborn in light. To the goblins and gnolls, it was nothing short of a miracle—the unmistakable touch of a god.
"Praise the Great Gnoll and the God of Slaughter!"
"Praise my God!"
The cry spread like wildfire, echoing through the trees.
Adrian's power reached down once more, his divine gaze settling upon the kneeling shaman.
> "Sarlun," his voice boomed, "within the goblins' lair lies a gift I leave to you. The gnolls must grow stronger—do not fail me."
Sarlun dropped flat to the ground, overcome with emotion. Tears streamed from his eyes.
The god had spoken his name.
He could feel the envy of every gnoll around him—even Gedo bowed his head. To be personally acknowledged by their god was the highest honor imaginable.
And at that moment, Sarlun's faith blazed so fiercely that it broke its mortal shell.
[Log]: Your believer Sarlun has ascended—Fanatic → Apostle!
He trembled, gripping his staff. My Lord , the Gnolls will not disappoint you!"
The divine system chimed again.
[Log]: Your gnolls have conquered the Goblin Tribe!
Gained one Silver Tribal Cornerstone
Acquired 100 sets of Worn Leather Armor (Black Iron)
Adrian's smile widened.
He reached out with his master talent: Infinite Evolution.
[Log]: Applying Infinite Evolution to Tribal Cornerstone (Silver) and Worn Leather Armor (Black Iron)...
[Log]: 100% success rate triggered! 90 sets of Bronze Leather Armor created.
[Log]: 10% rare evolution triggered! 10 sets of Silver Exquisite Armor created.
[Log]: Tribal Cornerstone evolved to Epic Grade – Perfect Core!
And then—another pulse of divine light.
[Log]: Your glory shines upon your followers. The fanatic Sarlun has become an Apostle!
Adrian's laughter echoed in the void.
All of this was only the beginning—the appetizer before the feast.
Moments later, the grand voice of the system rolled across the heavens:
[Supreme Announcement]
> Detection complete.
Player [Adrian Cross]'s followers are the first to establish a tribal foundation.
Completion time: under one hour.
Special reward granted:
— 1,000,000 Threads of Faith Power
— Legendary Treasure: Fountain of Life
Global announcement will be issued shortly.
Would you like to remain anonymous?
Adrian leaned back, eyes gleaming.
"Anonymous?" he mused, a smirk tugging at his lips. "No need."
Let the world see.
Let them all know who stood first among gods