CHAPTER 6 — THE LESSON OF A GOD WHO LIED
The world did not end.
It simply changed places. Arjun Shouted We got teleported or what?
Arjun stood beneath a sky that was too clean, too blue—like a painting scrubbed of imperfection. White stone stretched in every direction, forming a vast terrace that floated above nothing.
Adhrit walked ahead of him, barefoot, hands clasped behind his back.
"Do you know why people prefer gods who smile?" Adhrit asked casually.
Arjun stayed silent.
"Because smiling gods never admit mistakes."
They stopped before a mirror of water. Arjun looked into it—and saw himself standing on a field of corpses, the mark on his palm glowing like a wound that refused to heal.
Adhrit gestured to the water.
"That is what the world thinks a God-Bearer becomes."
The image shifted.
Now Arjun saw saints, demigods, angels crowned with light.
"That," Adhrit said softly, "is what I let them believe instead."
Arjun clenched his fists. "You're lying to them."
Adhrit smiled. "Of course."
He turned, golden eyes unreadable.
"That is the first lesson."
The sky darkened slightly.
"Power systems exist so humans feel safe," Adhrit continued. "They want steps. Levels. Charts."
He waved his hand.
Symbols appeared in the air, glowing faint gold.
THE CANON POWER CHART (ACCEPTED TRUTH)
(As taught by temples, cults, and false scriptures)
Divine Ascension Path
Blessed
Receive miracles
Protected by gods
Chosen
Bear divine marks
Speak to spirits
Saint
Command holy authority
Perform mass miracles
Demigod
Partial immortality
Worship stabilizes power
True God
Absolute authority
Eternal existence
Adhrit studied Arjun's face.
"Clean. Hopeful. Wrong."
The symbols shattered.
Beneath them, something darker emerged—lines written in a language that hurt to look at.
"This," Adhrit said, voice lowering, "is what actually happens."
The mirror-water turned black.
Arjun saw humans exploding into light, bodies failing to contain power. Others twisted into monsters, worship mutating them into cages.
"Most God-Bearers die between steps," Adhrit said. "The Throne burns what it doesn't need."
Arjun looked up sharply. "Then why am I alive?"
Adhrit stepped closer.
"Because you don't want the Throne."
Silence fell.
"That makes you dangerous," the false god continued. "To me. To the cult. To the Throne itself."
He placed a hand over Arjun's heart.
"You still think power is something you gain."
Adhrit's smile softened—almost sad.
"But power like this is something you survive."
Suddenly—
The sky cracked.
A blade tore through reality, dragging Rudra out of nothingness. He crashed onto the white stone, coughing blood.
"Enough," Rudra growled. "He's not your student."
Adhrit sighed.
"I warned you," he said gently.
The terrace began to collapse.
The Throne shifted.
Far away, something ancient stirred—angry, aware.
Adhrit looked past them both.
"Oh," he whispered.
"It noticed him."
The mark on Arjun's palm closed.
Like an eye pretending to sleep.