Chapter 2: Isn’t it a bit too long?
[Ding! Installing the system.]
[Progress: 0% ... 10% ... 40% ... 80% ... 100%]
[Installation completed.]
[Ding! Congratulation host! You were selected as candidate to become a New God.]
Stephen looked around when he heard a strange voice inside his head. Maybe because he was fan of web novels and anime, he wasn't as confused as normal person should be.
But still there were slight confusion seen inside his eyes. Currently he was at the center of the city so there were a lot of people around him. And the strange thing was, that except for him, other people did not move at all.
It was like time stopped for them. Truthfully, it was very amusing scene to watch. All kind of funny expressions and poses. Birds poop falling inside middle-aged uncle coffee, teenagers making strange faces before camera, stray cat scratching face of a curious child, etc.
To clarify situation, Stephen asked: "Hey system, what's up with all those people?"
[Ding! Until New Gods selection ends, time for everything except participants will be stopped.]
'So that how it is' thought Stephen.
"Participants? Does that mean that there are others who were selected?".
[Ding! Of course. In addition to the host, there are 1 million other candidates.]
'Wow! That's a lot of people! If it's 1 million, that means...'.
Bad feeling started to well up inside Stephen. Even if 1 million is not that much if you consider whole population of the planet, which is more than 7 billion now, to select one or few New Gods will take at least…
Silently, shudder ran through his spine.
"S-so s-system. H-how long the selection will continue?" timidly asked Stephen.
[Ding! According to the schedule, around 10 years.]
"Holy Moly!" screamed Stephen.
He was astonished by this number, Whole 10 years. It's not small amount of time.
"Isn't that a bit too long?"
[Ding! Does the host think that it's easy to become a God? 10 years is super express course to the godhood.]
[Moreover, 10 years it's only on Earth and in the Players Area. Host's personal time will exceed this number, because time spent inside a trials wasn't counted in]
Stephen was scared shitless, nevertheless he still found some courage inside himself and asked.
"H-how much will it probably exceed?" said Stephen with trembling voice.
[Ding! Depends on the host's talent, efforts and luck.]
"F*ck! I'm totally screwed!" exclaimed Stephen, feeling his legs gone soft.
Stephen felt despair. He knew too well how bad his luck was. If you judge luck from 0 to 10, his luck will be at least -1, if not worse.
It's no exaggeration to say that he has some kind of bad luck curse placed on him. It was that bad.
He even begun to wonder if he was selected due to this curse, so that he can suffer more during competition.
As for efforts…
NEET otaku…
What else is there to say. He don't even remember when was the last time he put any effort into something except watching anime and reading web novels.
Thinking along these lines, Stephen found chair nearby and weakly fell on it.
After 10 minutes of calming down himself Stephen asked: "S-system, can I reject?".
[Ding! Yes, you can. But I won't recommend host to do it.]
"W-why?"
[Ding! Because, on the road to become a God, you will gain strength, influence, wealth, different abilities and mythical treasures. Which of course includes resurrection of the dead.]
"What!" shouted Stephen, while standing up hastily.
"Why did you mention resurrection? What do you know about...".
Not waiting for Stephen to finish his sentence, system replied.
[Ding! I know everything about the host. System now is part of the host's soul. So I have access to all memories of the host.]
[One of selection criteria is a strong desire, which can be fulfilled after becoming a God.]
[That's why the host was selected.]
Hearing reply, Stephen once again fell into silence. Various thoughts ran inside his head. Risks always coexist with opportunities. So what if he must suffer, so what if he must spend 10 years, 100 years or even 1000 years?! He must do it!
After around 15 minutes, with resolute expression on his face, Stephen said:
"OK system, I'm in! I will participate in your games and I will definitely become a God!"
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