The Phantom's Gambit - Chapter 39: Multiple hidden identities

Li Yiyi never expected to be chosen by fate, being suddenly ripped from the modern times to the ancient times. It wasn’t a full-body transmigration, just a soul transfer. Heaven must have thought it would be too exhausting to send everything over, so only the essence got transferred.In ancient times, Li Yiyi became Li Suniang, a newly widowed woman with a young child. While technology in ancient times wasn’t advanced, the air was fresh and there was no need to worry about pollutants. All the food was purely organic with no pesticide residue or concerns about genetically modified ingredients.It was often said that widows attracted trouble, and sure enough, this young widow caught the eye of a scarred man in the village. Despite his fierce appearance, he turned out to be a gentle person. In the end, the scarred man married the widow and, together with her child, and they began a life filled with mutual support and raising a family.

In the rural northeastern mountainous regions stands a tiny Buddhist temple, named One Finger Temple. It isn’t a large one but it is extremely miraculous.

The temple has rice that emanates an aromatic fragrance.

The temple has sweet and refreshing water that rivals ambrosia.

The temple has Buddhas that grant wishes to the sincere.

The temple isn’t large but it has everything. The temple isn’t large but it has flourishing incense offerings that far exceed all temples. The temple isn’t large but it attracts both citizens and foreigners that line up overnight…

The temple has a bald but handsome monk. Every day, he would bawl, “I want to renounce asceticism! I want to marry a chick that’s not too pretty, have a cute baby, and lead a stable life!”

“Evil God of the Universe, You are in every space and time. Present in every dimension of reality and govern the darkness of our world.Oh, almighty Atticus! Hear our plea and grant us your presence tonight, awaken my Lord!”The rain had completely stopped and the strong gale had subsided into the fading raindrops. The night had turned eerily silent and only the sizzling and cackling of the fire entered their ears.Suddenly, they all felt like floating from their feet despite setting foot on the watery, hard ground, as if they were traversing into space. The darkness of the night gradually turned darker, enveloping them, morphing into everyone, like a void eating them slowly. Sequentially, their breathing turned oddly slower. Despite exaggeratedly inhaling air to breathe, it was to no avail, as if a higher entity was limiting them from breathing.Nolan felt his throat and tried to open his mouth to gasp more air but failed. Everyone but him was in a state of indignation and panic as they struggled to breathe to fill their lungs with air. Nolan tried to calm his heart. He closed his eyes and stopped inhaling air in pure panic, instead, he put his heartbeat and breathing into a rhythm. It was hard at first, but after a minute, he found his breathing gradually went stable.His whole being was in pure anticipation of what was going to happen next.After a couple more minutes, the storm completely subsided, the night turned to normal. Nolan remained standing, taking in his surroundings with his eyes closed. Everything turned silent. The eerie atmosphere and the crackling of the fire from the hay figure didn’t even enter his ears. Nolan waited for a couple more minutes, his breathing turning normal. He was reluctant to open his eyes, afraid he might ruin their ritual.“It’s alright now, Young Master. You can open your eyes now.”Nolan’s breathing hitched. He jolted on his feet as he fluttered his eyes open.“Atticus? W-why are you here?”The butler, standing in front of him, a raincoat hung on his arm, smiled. “I am everywhere, Young Master, in order to best serve you.”****Atticus, a demi-god from the underworld, was cast out of his parents' realm and banished to the human world. The reason? He had yet to give them any grandchildren.Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction and is purely the product of my imagination. Any resemblance to real people, events, or beliefs is entirely coincidental. The intention is not to disrespect or diminish any faith or tradition, but rather to explore ideas within a fictional context. Reader discretion is advised.

Author, God or Plaything?Zar had just finished writing the prologue of his magnum opus—The Nexus Verse—a boundless verse of multiverses, godlike beings, and an elite academy meant to shape the strongest entities in existence. Years of meticulous world-building, complex power systems, and lore so deep it could drown a god… and yet, it was all just fiction.Until it wasn’t.On the night of his 22nd birthday, reality itself fractured. In an instant, he was torn from his world—only to awaken within the Nexus Verse as one of its rulers.There was just one problem.He had only written the prologue.Everything beyond that? Scattered notes. Unfinished ideas. Incomplete power systems. The vast, living, breathing multiverse around him was full of gaps he never filled. The beings he once considered mere characters now had wills of their own, and some of them were already far beyond his control.To make matters worse, the Nexus Academy—his ultimate creation, the battleground where gods and devils alike trained to surpass reality—had just started its entrance exam. And somehow, he was now part of it.Armed with only a mysterious system, fragmented knowledge of his own lore, and the terrifying realization that he may have made this world far too overpowered, Zar has only one goal:Survive.Because in a world where destroying a multiverse is just a Tuesday challenge, where ancient beings lurk in the void waiting for a single mistake, and where the strongest warriors wield power beyond his comprehension...Being the author doesn’t mean he’s the one in control.After all, if this verse was created… what destroyed the others?*****For fans of: Overpowered protagonists, cosmic-level world-building, reality-defying battles, eldritch horrors, and gods who fear greater forces.Additional tags#Gods #Devil #Ancient beings #Creators #Monarchs #OverpoweredBeings