God Is Hungry for Games. The Ultimate Brain Battle of a Boy Who Challenges the Gods.

“Asta!?” (Vice-Captain)

She was crushed by a body which would weigh at least thousand tons. The result was nothing other than instant death.

‘The inability to act’ – omission.

The wounds received in this upper spiritual realm doesn’t have any effect on the actual body.

Also,

Even under the foot of that huge being, there was no remnants of Asta present. The most probable argument would be that she was perceived to have lost and thus sent back to the mortal realm.

“a… eh… I…?” (Asta)

The Asta who should had been crushed without remains, stood up from the dust on top of the asphalt road.

Without any scratch in her body whatsoever.

The girl who should had been in a dire situation being crushed under the giant foot of Titan, now appeared in front of Fei without any harm.

And it would appear that she herself is also unable to understand her present condition.

“……Asta sempai, are you alive?” (Fei)

“Eh, ah, I thought I was eliminated from …………………I – I Y A A A A A!?” (Asta)

This is when the abnormal event starts to occur.

The upper part of the body which was supposed to be crushed. The clothes began to be dyed in a color of fresh red paint.

Of the color same as that of The Titan God.

“Asta-senpai!?” (Fei)

“Wha… What the hell is happening Fei! What’s going on with my body!?” (Asta)

“And… Wh.. Why is (my) magic starting by itself!?” (Asta)

The upper body of the Apostle Asta which was crushed moments ago, was now giving out an orangish-reddish color while her hands put forth pointing towards her fellow apostles.

“Don’t Tell Me… “(Vice-Captain)

–A Tempest.

The wind storm shot by Asta being somehow dodged by Fei (by a hair breadth) went towards the standing apostles in its path, throwing them away. Those thrown away slammed to the buildings present one after the other.

“ASTA! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!?” (Vice-Captain)

“Noo…, you’re wrong Vice Captain! My body… it is moving without my permission!” (screaming) (Asta)

She has her will intact… however, her magic, her body is not responding to her will.

Looking at the standing Titan, Fei bit his lips…

“It really is… God Pretend…”(Fei) [TL note: Here, possession is being implied]

“Hidden rules… Well, I am of course prepared for that you know. It’s the fight with God’s wisdom too! That is why…”(Fei)

In the first place, the word “Gokko” means imitation.

So, in this game, those who are captured by the God Titan become his subordinates and turn into our enemies; thus ‘God Pretend’.

The first Hidden Rule

–Hidden Rule #1.

　–In this game of playing God, those who are captured by the divine Titan will become the divine Titan’s minions and will be attacked by him.

It is kind of same as in the board game known as “Shogi”, where the captured pieces can be used as their own indigenous pieces.

“I guess you also understand it right Reche… That for humans, apostles, challenging in groups has a higher probability of victory when against the Gods.” (Fei)

and Reche comments:

“But this time, it seems otherwise…” (Reche)

And shrugs her shoulders.

As, since in this “God Pretend”, the apostles who are defeated are not eliminated, but rather turned into pawns, in control of the God.

This strategy of the God Titan;

A rule which uses the numeric value of apostles against them. A rule which can be told as a splendid technique to outdo the notion of humans and put it against them. [Tl note: notion of challenging in greater numbers, in groups.]

“Vi… Vice-Captain! Run Away!” (Asta)

“IS THAT A LINE ONE TELLS WHILE REPEATEDLY INVOKING WIND SPELLS TOWARDS US!?” (Vice-Captain)

“… Argh!? ah… Oh no…” (Vice-Captain)

Asta, who was now reduced to just a pawn dancing on the hands of Titan, invokes her Wind spell yet again.

Disbalanced by the strong winds, the vice-captain falls down.

The Titan then swung down his heel towards the incapacitated Vice Captain, easily crushing the vice-captain who had failed to escape.

He too got taken out.

Just like Asta, now the vice-captain, who was also defeated by the God Titan was also dyed the same color as the God.

Or so was the only one thought to have been converted…

But…

“Eh?!” (?)

As Reche’s eyes widened, the screams of astonishment from men and women echoed throughout the building district.

It wasn’t just the vice-captain.

Even his subordinates standing near had their upper body slowly dyed into the same color as that of the Titan’s lava.

“That… How can that Be!” (One fellow apostle, converted)

“Why? Even when we both are not even touched!?” (The other fellow apostle, converted)

….. What does it mean!?

…… These two people weren’t even touched by the God Titan or the vice-captain.

A Decision through contact?

That is, even if not being touched directly, if one is in a certain proximity near the God or its pawns, they will be deemed as “Touched by the God”.

If this is so, then it is possible.

[TL note: Proximity means a kind of like ‘a close surrounding area’]

“… Fei… it might be bad for us too…” (Reche)

“Ah Reche. Don’t go near them even by mistake. Let’s get away from here!” (Fei)

Asta, the Vice-captain, and with them, two other apostles.

Fei and Reche turned their back towards those four persons and ran across the building-streets in order to escape from that place.

“So now, the God side is now four in number.” (Fei)

“If you add the God Titan, then 5…” (Reche)

“Then that brings us to 14 vs 5 then.” (Fei)

From Humans 18 versus 1 God, it was now humans 14 versus 5 Gods.

And it was still early in the game.

Without even an hour completing in the clock, with the greater probability of the apostle side losing in complete annihilation, the number force of the apostle group with respect to the God, was reversing.

　…… It’s also a great loss that the first one to get caught was Asta-senpai.

　…… Her magic is perfect for stopping or halting the God in their tracks.

The more powerful the apostles are, the harder it is to deal with them when they turn to the enemy side.

And…

Asta’s wind magic is not actually beneficial to the escaping side, but when it is in the capturing side, it harbor’s its full potential

The potential of a lethal threat.

『――――』

The Titan Began To Look Down Upon The Ground.

It was looking down at Fei and Reche, but suddenly turned around the opposite direction to them.

“He changed his direction? Then is he not planning to come for us then?” (Reche)

“…… Perhaps he will come for us later? But still, ‘Perhaps’ though.” (Fei)

The God Titan might have understood somehow.

That someone completely different from the other apostles, a Former God, Reche, is here, participating.

“If he targets everyone other than us then it would be God 17 versus Humans 2. Perhaps he is thinking of this strategy to later come for us, a strategy to gather the rest of the apostles with then help of the turned over apostles-pawns for now.” (Fei)

“What do you mean ‘Pawns’ ……..!?” (?)

The one shouting was an apostle already converted to the God side, The lady apostle Asta.

Her upper body being dyed with the lava, and her movements controlled…, but it would seem that her mouth was not prone to the control.

“But, aren’t you now just a pawn, also Asta sempai, your lower body would still seem to be of the original color… don’t you think the color balance is quite off?” (Fei)

“SHUUUTTTT UUPPP!” (Asta)

“Also, Why are you still being so carefree Fei! Hurry up and Get away from here! My body… It is going towards you without my own permission, therefore!” (Asta)

“Don’t worry, even if you don’t tell us, we will run away.” (Fei)

They secretly surpassed the building from its shadows and went straight towards the East.

On the other hand, the apostle-pawns of the Titan went towards a different direction. They might have found out the  locations of other apostles. Thus, going after them destroying buildings one after the other as it advances.

“…… That guy is crazy… It is taking down the steel buildings in packs as if it is nothing.” (Fei)

“Umm Fei.. I think, we too might be in quite some danger.” (Reche)

Reche, who was running just beside me, said so looking at her side.

Implying towards Asta who was following them.

“That human… Isn’t she abnormally fast?”(Reche)

“Its definitely not the ability of Asta sempai… It might be a boon due to converting into a pawn of the God.”(Fei)

In addition to the fact that the distance between them is not increasing even with Fei’s all-out sprinting, Asta, who is chasing them is not even having any trouble with her breath.

“This is troublesome… If this goes on, I might be the first sone to go out of breath.”(Fei)

“Hey Fei… I somehow might have understood something interesting about this game… something like a hidden technique.”(Reche)

Eh? What?

Reche pointed towards the back with her eyes by her eye-line.

“Let’s obliterate that person. If I burn her till even her ashes does not exist, it will definitely make her discontinue. Well, At least the number of the God’s side would lessen, you know.” (Reche)

“Kowa!?” [TL note: meaning scary, I can’t find a word which would justify this reaction. Ugh.]

It is an idea which might never come to Fei. Truly an idea which is devoid of being a human.

And indeed. If Reche became serious, even if it is an apostle, who have turned into a pawn of God Titan, erasing them out of existence is very much possible.

There is no doubt regarding that…

But……

“Its an incredible hidden trick… But it’s a no.”(Fei)

“But Why?”(Reche)

“Well, it’s true that I would feel sorry and guilty towards Asta sempai, but moreover, it will not leave a positive feedback.” (Fei)

To the confused Reche, Fei pointed out a very straightforward answer.

“In Games, One who wins while being true to his principles enjoys that outcome in complete. And, if I have to win, I want to win with my complete determination, with the best I can do at present.” (Fei)

“Against the Brain Battle with God” (Fei)

“Ho Ho..” (Reche)

“…… What is it?”(Fei)

“Nope, just thought that this thought pattern is so much like you. So its fine, with what you want then!” (Reche)

and…

Just after that,

Reche suddenly made a huge skip and with instantly, accelerated.

The voice boomed, reverberating.

“Fei ~, over here~ over here~” (Reche)

“That’s why I am telling, YOU ARE GOING WAY TOO FAST!” (Fei)

“…… Ah! Also Reche, one more thing. So how are we going to deal with the Asta sempai following us from behind?” (Fei)

From the god’s side, only Asta was chasing them. There were no other apostle that seem to be following them.

“That person is being manipulated, but that’s within the rule of this game of ‘God Pretend’. In other words, she is not yet eliminated. Is that understanding correct?” (Fei)

“Yep, and in our, God’s case, all eliminated apostle are sent back to the real mundane world immediately.” (Reche)

So…