Pantheon

"What kinda fucking scam is this!?"

The loud shout broke Mark from his trance as the darkness was immediately replaced with reality. Oshaha had knocked over his now empty Dais and was pointing a finger at Jack.

"What do you mean I don't qualify?? I'm here aren't I?!"

Jack looked around and could see a few worried looks on a couple of people in the line. Those who obtained their god-hood had found themselves in mostly average looking clothing. Those without were still naked.

"Well this isn't good.. Not one bit. You guys must remain here then." He turned his back and waved a hand, a small portal appearing in its wake.

"Remain here?!? I'm supposed to be a God!!" Oshaha stomped towards Jack and went to shove a finger in his chest, however, he found his finger broken as well as one of his legs in a blink

No one saw how it was done.

"Ahhh, Fuck. Fuck you, what did you do???"

"Now now, be calm and I'll explain." Jack reached down and touched Oshaha on the forehead. With that simple touch Oshaha went stuff and stopped moving.

"Those of you who passed, will come with me. Those of you who failed, will stay here and slowly turn into a demon in just a few hours."

Mark was stunned. The silence in the group was so loud it drowned the forest as well.

Ishi's face contorted into worry as she looked around at the others, frantically.

'Help me' Her eyes pleaded with those around her, yet no one moved under Jacks gaze.

"Those of you who qualified, please walk through the portal." Jack responded happily and stepped beside it.

Urshad was the first to move and walk through the portal and some others followed after. Yursha looked at Ishi, shook his head and walked to the portal, with Sarah falling behind.

Ishi looked toward Mark and desperately grabbed his hand.

"Please, Mark, help me! I'll do anything, I don't want to turn into a demon!" She pleaded, moving his hand towards her chest.

"I'll let you do as you please. I'll be your toy, I'll be your dog. Look, see I can bark! Woof Woof!" Her eyes began to cloud up with tears as she continued.

Slightly further away Mark could hear the sound of a grown man softly sobbing, it wasnt Oshaha but a brown headed man who was still Infront of his Dais.

"I-..I'm sorry." Mark pulled his hand away and tried to walk towards the portal. His hand was snatched again but before he could pull it away Jack has already paralyzed Ishi, tears still streaming down her face.

"Continue through the portal, We still have much to do!" Jack, who seemed oblivious to the pain of the others urged him on in a cheerful tone.

Mark turned back once more. Oshaha was staring blankly at the sky, unable to move. The brown headed guy was staring at his empty Dais, his shoulders and head shaking slightly. Then he turned to Ishi... Her brown eyes were firmly planted on him as the tears fell.

"I'm sorry.." He whispered, stepping through the portal. He didn't know her too well, but for some reason he felt guilt in his heart.

Once he got to the other side a large broken down city stood behind a ruined archway. Two guards on either side. The group of new gods were standing at the sides waiting quietly. A few had their heads held down while others seemed unfazed, like Urshad.

'He really does seem strong.. Why isn't he affected? I mean we just met those people but still, a life is a life..'

Mark walked next to Yursha and Sarah. Yursha have him a gentle pat on the back with one of his huge hands. He seemed to feel a bit of the pain, as himself, yet Sarah.. Her face was firm staring at the city Infront of them.

"Alright people, don't look so sad! They're still alive, and will stay that way. Hopefully." Jack commented as he stepped through the portal.

"What do you mean by Demons?" Urshad asked immediately.

"It will all be explained in due time! However, for now, this is the city you guys will live in!" He cheerfully stepped forward and opening his arms, presenting this set of ruins as a gift.

"This is the city of Arcadia! You will eat, sleep, and work here until you can work your way to the next city! but for now.. Everyone say 'Status'!" He clapped his hands joyfully, already forgetting about the lives left behind.

"Status!" The group said simultaneously and the same set of numbers and data as before was displayed. Not in their eyes, but more in their minds eye. It was easily seen but did not ruin their vision.

"Great! Now everyone should see their divine ability, Yes? Focus on that bit of information and it will tell you the details of your Godly Abilities!"

Mark did as directed and the information flowes smoothly into his brain.

[Divine-Ability; Efficiency Operation

--Any task when done efficiently will be replicated with the same precision until improved. You will know if you can improve an ability, task or object through this ability.]

'This is insane.. This seems broken.. if I had this when I was working all of my projects would have been completed in days.' Mark couldn't help but ponder at all the different ways his ability could be out to use. 'I'm sure the others got something stronger though, especially Urshad.'

Mark glanced up and looked in his direction. Not a hint of emotion betrayed his stoic face as he stared at Jack waiting for the next instruction.

"Oh man this is great! I'm gonna be the strongest god with this!" Yursha laughed happily. "What about you guys, are you satisfied?"

"Mines decent" Sarah replied.

"I think mine is okay," Mark followed.

"Alright godlings, a little word of advice!" Jack brought the attention back to himself. "Don't reveal your abilities! The people around you could be your friends now, and your enemies later. You never know who will betray you or kill you. Now, line up Infront of me!"

Once again, Urshad took the lead and everyone followed behind. This time Mark was behind Sarah, and a small pain hit his chest..

'I hope they'll be alright..'

"Now, What I'm going to hand you guys is a bag full of Divinity!" Jack raised a small black coin in his hand. "This is Divinity, this is our currency, as well as our life-line. As a God you must make sure your Divinity never reaches 0, and if it does you have 6 Days to find more. If not, you'll end up the same as those we left behind."

Jack handed a bag to each person. Once it was Mark's turn he peered inside the bag and found around 12 coins.

"Now, onward to registration!" Jack marched down the road, heading into the ruined city, humming a small tune.

"Does that mean we have 3 days to save them?" Yursha leaned down and whispered towards Sarah and himself.

"Why do you want to save them?" Sarah rebutted.

"Well... It just seems right to try, right?" Yursha looked at Mark with a smile. "Right?"

"Yeah... I think you might be right..."

"Oh? Where are you going to live? Where are you going to get food? Do you even know where they are? Worry about yourself, first." Sarahs' words left them both stunned.

"We can figure that out later, but it just doesn't feel right to leave someone behind I shared a laugh with."

After those last words no one else spoke in their small group. They railed behind the rest as slowly the ruined city grew more populated.

Venders were on the streets shouting and ushering people to their stalls. Some buildings seemed to be in better shape than others, but were still shabby and run-down. The closer they got to the center, the better the buildings looked.

"We are here!" Jack stopped in front of a small building labeled 'Pantheon'.