"Are you kidding me? How can I use that to fight, I don't think that's going to work" said Satvik while continuously shaking his head side to side.
"Oye! Did you forget to whom you're talking to? He's a god and if he says it's possible then it's possible" said Devraj with a snort.
Satvik looked at him with cold eyes and thought to himself, ' damn, I already hate this guy so much.'
"ha ha ha moving on to further details", said Pinaki with a dry laugh and continued, "as I have already told you, in this world we don't have much influence compared to our enemies who now have most of the believers and for us, the belief is the fuel that empowers us."
"To put it simply, you mortals are what empower us. When you pray or practice any rituals, you empower our souls and in return we give you our blessings. so you can say that it's a give and take relationship " Tharun further explained.
"So any mortal could've defeated you in the beginning when you didn't have huge number of people as your believers?" inquired Satvik.
"Hahahahaha Absolutely not! Even without our enhanced powers from your prayers we were much more stronger for any of you guys to handle us" said the lord of creation.
Everyone nodded in unison.
"So as we were saying, that our influence is lacking over there and this is where you come in the picture" said Pinaki.
"You'll be the torch bearer spreading influence of our pantheon and as bit by bit our influences increase then so will your overall strength" said Tharun.
"So increase in your influence will directly influence my strength?" asked Satvik.
"Bingo" said Pinaki.
"Hmmmmm, seems legit. So for my next question, why am I supposed to fight over there for your influence? I mean it's not like a god trying to establish his dominion over there is a bad thing, right?" asked Satvik.
"Well you see, the issue is that he is committing atrocities on the believers of our pantheon that live in that world. He is trying to erase all the remnants of our influence over there so that we could never in future challenge his dominion and to secure his position as a sole deity of the world" said Pinaki.
"And what sort of God would let their believer suffer?" questioned Tharun with a smile.
"Right! So, how am I supposed to deal with them? With information you've shared with me about this deity, I'm pretty sure that he will know about our connection as soon as my rebirth and things will definitely go south from there" said Satvik.
Tharun while rubbing his chin said, "Well your argument is acceptable and we had already made some contingency plans for that. First and foremost, your class will stay locked till you reach adulthood, that's 18 years by the way, so that they won't be able to trace your irregular class until you have matured enough to shoulder the burden."
"By defeating enemies and monsters you'll level up, like your protagonists in those anime or games" said Pinaki.
'Cliché' Satvik muttered to himself. This consequently let a dry laugh escape from everyone's lips.
They didn't knew how come mortals knew about the ways to level up, even though they went as far as completely removing information regarding this from the historical books and records.
Although this method in Satvik's current world won't bare any result due to negligible amount of mana and monsters presence and to prevent useless genocide. But, the mere idea of failure on the part of God's in being able to keep it a secret, is the sole reason mortals shouldn't be underestimated.
"Ahem, so when you reach adulthood your death March begins, but don't worry you'll never be alone because might of one can never overcome might of many" said Pinaki ignoring Satvik's previous thoughts.
"Well that's a relief, it is always good to have someone watching your back" Satvik said while nodding in appreciation.
Throughout his adolescent phase he never had anyone to watch over his back in his present life. After his parent's death in an accident during his early teens, he moved back to his hometown to live with his old grandfather. But his grandfather also departed in few years due to his old age. His only parting wish was that Satvik should live on with his head held high and never beg or bend before anyone.
After his Grandfather passed away, his relatives never took him under their care. For them he was nothing more than a burden. So he lived his life according to his grandfather's last wish and never begged before anyone for taking care him.
He joined an organization for orphans, which took him under their wing and provided him scholarships for education and other basic necessities. He worked hard in studies and finally completed his law graduation with scholarships.
And after so much continuous struggle throughout his life, now he was standing in presence of divine beings, that have had directly or indirectly some influence over his tragedy filled life.
Gauri, the wife of lord of destruction Pinaki stood up and walked towards Satvik. When she was one arm's distant away from Satvik she looked directly into his eyes and then suddenly hugged him while rubbing his head which caught Satvik by surprise.
She then spoke in low hushed voice while continuously rubbing his head with care and said, "we know that you in some or the other way blame us for your parent's untimely death. You might not be wrong in doing so but, you have to understand that this is all part of cycle of life. Whoever takes birth shall perish with the passage of time because this is the law of nature."
"You mortals gain Karma while performing your dharma (duty) and are rewarded accordingly throughout your life. You have been working hard and your struggle in life so far has been your karma and remember Karma never goes unrewarded, be it for you or for your parents" said Gauri while letting go of him.
When she parted away Satvik looked at her with wide eyes and he almost had tears in the corner of his eyes. He tried to speak something but he choked on his emotion and then he just nodded towards her.
Gauri walked towards Pinaki and stood beside him, they both exchanged a smile that spoke more than words ever could and both nodded to each other.
Then both turned their heads towards Satvik who was still in daze because of what Goddess had said to him. After few minutes Pinaki finally spoke, "it's your karma that has brought you here, your hard work and your will to see things through end, even a bitter one. Not giving up, even when nothing is going according to your will; these are the qualities that had caught our attentions."
"The task we are burdening you with will test your mettle to another level and only your strong will may ensure that you never break. You might have to do things that would make you a hypocrite in everyone else's eyes but always remember what your dharma is and never waver off the path you're walking, no matter what" completed Tharun where Pinaki left off.
Satvik breathed the chilled air till his lungs were full and said, "I am up for the task my lord. If I can assist in saving a world my parents and grandfather would be very proud of me, wouldn't they?" declared Satvik while hiding his tears and beaming with a smile.
"Very well. So, are you ready to say your goodbyes? You have time till evening. Don't leave any knot loose and you would know when the time for your mission to commence has come" said Pinaki while patting Satvik's shoulder one last time.
"Are you kidding me? How can I use that to fight, I don't think that's going to work" said Satvik while continuously shaking his head side to side.
"Oye! Did you forget to whom you're talking to? He's a god and if he says it's possible then it's possible" said Devraj with a snort.
Satvik looked at him with cold eyes and thought to himself, ' damn, I already hate this guy so much.'
"ha ha ha moving on to further details", said Pinaki with a dry laugh and continued, "as I have already told you, in this world we don't have much influence compared to our enemies who now have most of the believers and for us, the belief is the fuel that empowers us."
"To put it simply, you mortals are what empower us. When you pray or practice any rituals, you empower our souls and in return we give you our blessings. so you can say that it's a give and take relationship " Tharun further explained.
"So any mortal could've defeated you in the beginning when you didn't have huge number of people as your believers?" inquired Satvik.
"Hahahahaha Absolutely not! Even without our enhanced powers from your prayers we were much more stronger for any of you guys to handle us" said the lord of creation.
Everyone nodded in unison.
"So as we were saying, that our influence is lacking over there and this is where you come in the picture" said Pinaki.
"You'll be the torch bearer spreading influence of our pantheon and as bit by bit our influences increase then so will your overall strength" said Tharun.
"So increase in your influence will directly influence my strength?" asked Satvik.
"Bingo" said Pinaki.
"Hmmmmm, seems legit. So for my next question, why am I supposed to fight over there for your influence? I mean it's not like a god trying to establish his dominion over there is a bad thing, right?" asked Satvik.
"Well you see, the issue is that he is committing atrocities on the believers of our pantheon that live in that world. He is trying to erase all the remnants of our influence over there so that we could never in future challenge his dominion and to secure his position as a sole deity of the world" said Pinaki.
"And what sort of God would let their believer suffer?" questioned Tharun with a smile.
"Right! So, how am I supposed to deal with them? With information you've shared with me about this deity, I'm pretty sure that he will know about our connection as soon as my rebirth and things will definitely go south from there" said Satvik.
Tharun while rubbing his chin said, "Well your argument is acceptable and we had already made some contingency plans for that. First and foremost, your class will stay locked till you reach adulthood, that's 18 years by the way, so that they won't be able to trace your irregular class until you have matured enough to shoulder the burden."
"By defeating enemies and monsters you'll level up, like your protagonists in those anime or games" said Pinaki.
'Cliché' Satvik muttered to himself. This consequently let a dry laugh escape from everyone's lips.
They didn't knew how come mortals knew about the ways to level up, even though they went as far as completely removing information regarding this from the historical books and records.
Although this method in Satvik's current world won't bare any result due to negligible amount of mana and monsters presence and to prevent useless genocide. But, the mere idea of failure on the part of God's in being able to keep it a secret, is the sole reason mortals shouldn't be underestimated.
"Ahem, so when you reach adulthood your death March begins, but don't worry you'll never be alone because might of one can never overcome might of many" said Pinaki ignoring Satvik's previous thoughts.
"Well that's a relief, it is always good to have someone watching your back" Satvik said while nodding in appreciation.
Throughout his adolescent phase he never had anyone to watch over his back in his present life. After his parent's death in an accident during his early teens, he moved back to his hometown to live with his old grandfather. But his grandfather also departed in few years due to his old age. His only parting wish was that Satvik should live on with his head held high and never beg or bend before anyone.
After his Grandfather passed away, his relatives never took him under their care. For them he was nothing more than a burden. So he lived his life according to his grandfather's last wish and never begged before anyone for taking care him.
He joined an organization for orphans, which took him under their wing and provided him scholarships for education and other basic necessities. He worked hard in studies and finally completed his law graduation with scholarships.
And after so much continuous struggle throughout his life, now he was standing in presence of divine beings, that have had directly or indirectly some influence over his tragedy filled life.
Gauri, the wife of lord of destruction Pinaki stood up and walked towards Satvik. When she was one arm's distant away from Satvik she looked directly into his eyes and then suddenly hugged him while rubbing his head which caught Satvik by surprise.
She then spoke in low hushed voice while continuously rubbing his head with care and said, "we know that you in some or the other way blame us for your parent's untimely death. You might not be wrong in doing so but, you have to understand that this is all part of cycle of life. Whoever takes birth shall perish with the passage of time because this is the law of nature."
"You mortals gain Karma while performing your dharma (duty) and are rewarded accordingly throughout your life. You have been working hard and your struggle in life so far has been your karma and remember Karma never goes unrewarded, be it for you or for your parents" said Gauri while letting go of him.
When she parted away Satvik looked at her with wide eyes and he almost had tears in the corner of his eyes. He tried to speak something but he choked on his emotion and then he just nodded towards her.
Gauri walked towards Pinaki and stood beside him, they both exchanged a smile that spoke more than words ever could and both nodded to each other.
Then both turned their heads towards Satvik who was still in daze because of what Goddess had said to him. After few minutes Pinaki finally spoke, "it's your karma that has brought you here, your hard work and your will to see things through end, even a bitter one. Not giving up, even when nothing is going according to your will; these are the qualities that had caught our attentions."
"The task we are burdening you with will test your mettle to another level and only your strong will may ensure that you never break. You might have to do things that would make you a hypocrite in everyone else's eyes but always remember what your dharma is and never waver off the path you're walking, no matter what" completed Tharun where Pinaki left off.
Satvik breathed the chilled air till his lungs were full and said, "I am up for the task my lord. If I can assist in saving a world my parents and grandfather would be very proud of me, wouldn't they?" declared Satvik while hiding his tears and beaming with a smile.
"Very well. So, are you ready to say your goodbyes? You have time till evening. Don't leave any knot loose and you would know when the time for your mission to commence has come" said Pinaki while patting Satvik's shoulder one last time.
