I Hate Systems

The final authority of a Deity was the Mode of Bestowal. Basically, this was the channel that connected the Deity to the Believers, whether in terms of prayers or giving a blessing.

The Mode of Bestowal was typically nature aligned. If a Deity's Mode of Bestowal was through the earth, then all a believer had to do was create the Deity's symbol using the earth to pray or request a blessing.

And the blessing would be bestowed upon him through that symbol made of earth. This Mode of Bestowal was by far the most important authority of a Deity.

After all, if a Deity's Mode of Bestowal was water, if the believer was stranded in a desert or a region with no water, the blessings would never reach him. Similarly, even if he possessed a symbol of the deity, it would be impossible to make contact.

In such cases, they would typically have symbols made out of wood or stone that they would immerse in water to offer prayers.

Therefore, this limitation could typically be taken advantage of by someone from an opposing faith to weaken the believer. Every element had its respective advantages and disadvantages.

Even if a Deity's Mode of Bestowal was wind, it could be blocked. It had to be made note that there was a technicality involved here. Meaning, the Mode of Bestowal was wind and not air.

Therefore, unless there was a flow of air strong enough for the believers to classify it as wind, it wouldn't qualify to be their Deity's Mode of Bestowal.

This was why Compass Carburettor had second thoughts about his plan. For, his Mode of Bestowal was heartbeats strong enough to be called chest thumps.

His believers could communicate with him through their heartbeats. But, it should be strong enough. When a human sprinted, their heartbeats would be so loud that their chest would reverberate to an audible extent. They could even hear it in their ears.

Only that would qualify as a chest thump worthy of his Mode of Bestowal. This placed the limitation that a believer wouldn't be able to communicate with him or receive his blessings if they were calm or at a state of rest or lacking state of movement.

Basically, if they were bound or unconscious, they would never be able to receive his help. Moreover, since his Symbol of Authority was a human shadow, as long as there was no light source around the believer, a human shadow wouldn't be present.

Meaning, communication with the Deity wasn't possible. And the clause here specified 'human Shadow.' Meaning, no other forms of shadow made the cut. Moreover, since the mode of Bestowal was chest thumps, it meant they couldn't carry any physical symbols.

They were useless after all. Had his mode of bestowal been a fire or something, then they could at least carry wooden symbols and throw them within the fire. The illumination would cast a human shadow, allowing them to communicate through the fire.

Well, the limitations would have proven troublesome had he used his three authorities in their original state.

Compass Carburettor stared at his Tool of Authority, the golden-rimmed brain, smirking as he dropped it within his shadow. With him being a human in terms of appearance, the shadow he cast was his symbol of authority.

It wriggled as it mimicked his actions. Compass Carburettor opened his mouth and watched the shadow replicate it—as all shadows did—and swallow the brain.

Instantly, his Tool of Authority fused with his Symbol of authority. As his Symbol of Authority was a human shadow, and his Tool of Authority was a human brain, they were naturally compatible.

The brain took refuge within the shadow's head and instantly gave sentience to the shadow.

There weren't any fundamental changes. The human shadow remained his Symbol of Authority while the brain remained his Tool of Authority. It was just that his Tool of Authority could now control his shadow, for that was what brains did.

The power Compass Carburettor obtained through his Tool of Authority was to bless his followers with a brain. Basically, he could grant them knowledge, intelligence, skills, memories, etc.

Thanks to the data mined from his Dreamcraft, he had an endless supply of that.

With a thought, he watched his shadow coil around the trunk of a tree and saw through it. Thanks to the brain controlling his shadow, he could extend the influence of his Tool of Authority through his Symbol of Authority, and hence gained the power to manipulate shadows.

Moreover, it wasn't mere manipulation. But, the shadow became another him, for it was his brain that had become the Tool of Authority.

Therefore, the change that erupted as a result meant he could bestow his followers with the power to manipulate their shadows and even communicate with them through it. This allowed for better usage of his abilities.

"Now, I guess I have to patiently wait until I get some believers." He muttered and headed deep into the mountain while the moss covering his body began to increase as soon after, it fully covered him.

The God of Humanity transformed into a statue and lay in the forest, waiting for the day he gained believers to surface, truly embodying his lore.

And indeed, the moment he turned into a statue, Compass Carburettor went into a deep slumber. That was how the laws of this world worked, and he truly wasn't an exception either.

At the Shukagat Village, the villagers stared at the Village Head as one of them asked, "What should we do now?"

"Is it truly fine to pray to our Deity?"

"No," The Village Head shook his head, "You heard him clearly. There's nothing we lack currently to request of him."

He then turned silent, watching two villagers rush out from the mountain as they appeared before him, panting in exhaustion as one of them said, "W-We returned to the place told by Pneua and Pnolli. The Deity has returned there and has become a statue."

"It would be preposterous to wake up the Deity for no rhyme or reason." The Village Head said as he thumped his chest aloud, "He's our God. He represents us. He lives in us."

"We must never forget this. Unlike our ancestors, we should be clear in passing down the legend." Saying so, the Village Head ordered everyone, "Let's pick the sturdiest boulder from the village and inscribe our deity's words on it."

"That way, the legend will survive the test of time and be passed down the generations without fail."