I Reborn as a God Within a Statue, And You Ask Me to Enslave All Gods?-Chapter 155 --Bestowing the Divine Throne

Within the vast expanse of the Divine Space.

As Owen reappeared here, he let out a deep breath of relief.

His most recent venture into the Dantean Hell hadn’t taken much time, but the experience had significantly broadened his horizons. After all, the five unique beings residing within Dantean Hell had left him with an incredibly profound impression.

"Compared to those terrifying existences, I’m still just a 2-star peak Ancient God. My Godhood rank is still far too low..."

Owen shook his head, but quickly regained his composure.

From the time he had risen from obscurity as a nameless god to reaching his current status as a 2-star peak Ancient God, only a little over a year had passed. Such progress was exceptionally fast by any standard. As long as he could continue improving at this pace, Owen firmly believed he would one day stand among those top-tier divine beings—peerless entities like the ones he’d encountered in Dantean Hell.

His gaze soon shifted to the outskirts of Annasi Town.

As Owen’s divine reputation continued to spread across the land, settlements had begun springing up on the borders of his territory. Naturally, much of this development was due to the tireless efforts of John and the others.

Following the most recent grand sacrificial ritual, four sizable villages had been established on the frontier, specifically to accommodate and recruit devotees who were devoutly loyal to Deus Initium.

By now, these villages had become remarkably prosperous. The flow of devotees coming and going was dense, and most of the faces were unfamiliar—refugees and wanderers who had gathered from various corners of the realm.

The increase in devotees was finally starting to show tangible results.

"Since the four villages have been successfully established," Owen murmured, "then the next step should be assigning four Protectors of the Village to oversee them."

His eyes narrowed.

With the number of devotees under his banner rising steadily, relying solely on the efforts of Thomas and the other missionary figures was becoming increasingly inadequate. There was no doubt—they were starting to be stretched thin.

Assigning additional Protectors of the Village, each responsible for a designated area, would not only streamline governance but also expand the reach of his divine message. More people would come to know that placing their faith in Deus Initium could bring them great blessings.

But who should be entrusted with the role of Protector?

That was the pressing question.

Owen had yet to decide, as the people arriving at the new villages came from diverse backgrounds. With so many personalities and traits among them, making a clear choice wasn’t easy.

Time slipped by quickly.

In the blink of an eye, a full month had passed.

It had now been four months since the last grand sacrificial ceremony. In just two more months, the semiannual ritual would take place once more.

Standing silently within the massive divine statue in the heart of his temple, Owen gazed down upon the bustling scene below. Smiles lit up the faces of nearly everyone in the town, but his attention lingered particularly on the newly established villages. Those sites were drawing increasing focus in his thoughts.

He blinked, and a data panel appeared before his eyes—an overview of his current devotees.

[Daily Spice Point Income]: 587,087

[S-Class Devotees]: 0 (Each provides 100,000 spice points/day)

[A-Class Devotees]: 0 (Each provides 10,000 spice points/day)

[B-Class Devotees]: 2 (Each provides 1,000 spice points/day)

[C-Class Devotees]: 42 (Each provides 100 spice points/day) freёweɓnovel.com

[D-Class Devotees]: 30,000 (Each provides 10 spice points/day)

[E-Class Devotees]: 210,000 (Each provides 1 spice point/day)

[F-Class Devotees]: 50,000 (Each provides 1 spice point every 10 days)

After scanning the statistics, Owen felt deeply satisfied.

In total, he now had more than 300,000 devotees under his command. Thanks to their faith, he could accumulate a daily intake of 587 divine points—a substantial amount.

The most encouraging sign, however, was the presence of 42 C-Class devotees. These individuals were already showing strong faith and commitment.

During this period, Thomas, Hibrael, John, and even Lord Tom, the city’s governor, had all been tirelessly active. They had personally traveled to every corner of the territory, working diligently to spread the faith of Deus Initium.

The awe-inspiring image of Owen slaying spellbeasts in a divine battle had left an unforgettable impression across the land. Almost everyone had witnessed that earth-shaking event. Naturally, reverence toward Deus Initium had taken root in their hearts.

Thanks to the missionaries’ efforts, it became relatively easy to convert people into devotees. Still, the real surge in numbers came after Owen eradicated nearly all the hostile spellbeasts surrounding the territory. Whether they had suffered under the beasts or had their homes ransacked by them, the people viewed Owen as a true god of salvation. Their gratitude turned naturally into sincere worship.

For most of these folk, all they ever wanted was a safe, stable life. Lacking strength and support in the past, they had lived in constant danger. Now, with an opportunity to live well presented to them, how could they refuse?

Especially since believing in Deus Initium didn’t cost them anything.

For many practical-minded individuals, converting to the faith of Deus Initium became the logical choice.

Still, Owen recognized that while the number of devotees had skyrocketed, their overall piety levels remained relatively low. There was still much room for improvement.

"Well, as long as the base number of believers has risen, that’s what matters for now," he murmured. "During the next major sacrificial ritual, I’ll give them some extra blessings. That should raise their loyalty and devotion considerably."

Owen wasn’t overly worried.

With a large follower base established, he could use various divine tools and techniques to elevate their piety over time.

This was no longer a difficult task for him.

With that, his attention returned to the 42 C-Class devotees.

As the four villages began to flourish, these individuals would become a vital part of his expanding influence.

He had to make sure these settlements were well-managed.

It was time to choose the four Protectors.

After some thought, Owen made his decision.

Eric and Robert were two veterans who had been by his side for a long time. Both had served as village chiefs in the past and were exceptionally well-versed in managing day-to-day affairs. Entrusting them with such responsibilities would be simple—they were experienced, competent, and deeply loyal.

For the other two slots, Owen considered two promising younger individuals: Camilla and Henry.

Camilla had long assisted him in cultivating medicinal herbs. She was diligent, detail-oriented, and sincere. With such qualities, she would no doubt manage village affairs with the same meticulous care.

As for Henry, he was one of the earliest C-Class devotees. Though he hadn’t shown exceptional talent or contributions so far, he was honest, hard-working, and reliable. People like him might not shine on the surface, but they were the kind who could truly become the backbone of a village.

Two calm, seasoned elders. Two energetic, trustworthy youths.

These four would form a solid foundation for village governance.

As for Frank, Benjamin, Revan, Kevin, and John—while they were all very capable and had made outstanding contributions, they already had essential duties. Their talents were better suited elsewhere.

Besides, becoming a Protector of the Village came with a significant restriction: they would be bound to the territory, unable to leave—just as Owen himself had been when he was a nameless god.

It was simply not the right time for them to take on such roles.

Once he finalized the candidates, Owen decided to hold a grand ceremony to commemorate the occasion.

After all, the four of them were already well-known across various parts of Annasi Town. By granting them Divine Thrones and raising them to the rank of Vassal Gods, he would generate a massive impact among the populace.

For the common people, becoming a god was the ultimate aspiration.

Immediately, Owen focused his divine attention on Thomas.

...

At this moment, Thomas was conducting an inspection within the Rich Soil fields.

Deus Initium had opened six separate tracts of fertile land for divine cultivation. Several harvests of Prismatic Succulent had already been collected, and new batches were now growing.

"Sir Thomas, please rest assured," said Camilla with a soft smile, "the Prismatic Succulents are growing exceptionally well. We’ve gained more experience with each harvest. I believe our future yields will only get better."

Since she began cultivating spiritual herbs here, Camilla had gradually shed her former timid personality. She had become more confident, with a gentle radiance blooming from within.

Thanks to multiple blessings from Deus Initium, she had now reached the tier-3 peak level, making her one of the more prominent figures in Annasi Town.

Prismatic Succulents, after all, provided significant benefits to Awakeners.

"Good work, Camilla," Thomas said approvingly. "The rapid advancement of many of our devotees owes a great deal to the Prismatic Succulents you’ve cultivated."

Camilla blushed slightly at the praise and quickly responded, "This is simply my duty, sir. Besides, many others helped me as well."

Just as Thomas was about to offer a few more words of encouragement, a divine voice echoed in his mind.

"Thomas," the voice of Deus Initium said, solemn and resolute, "make preparations. In ten days, the Divine Throne Conferment Ceremony shall be held."

"Eric, Robert, Camilla, and Henry shall be granted the Divine Thrones as Protectors of the Village."

Thomas’s expression immediately became serious.

He bowed deeply toward the temple, lowering his head in reverent worship.

"I shall carry out the divine oracle of Deus Initium without fail."

Though she didn’t know exactly what had happened, Camilla followed Thomas’s lead and bowed respectfully toward the temple, her heart brimming with reverence and gratitude.

After all, everything she had today—her strength, her purpose, and her new life—was thanks to the blessings of Deus Initium.