I Have a God Simulator

Burly as a bear, Tonghai stood proudly on the deck, his great hammer slung over his shoulder.

The oncoming sea breeze whistled softly as it passed through the gaps in his Copper Armor.

The man’s eyes were fixed ahead. The silhouette of his homeland drew ever closer. The long, wide coastline gradually came into focus, backed by a vast, dense forest, and farther beyond, the pale green region of the Salt Pools.

Tonghai glanced behind him.

He had brought a total of three ships and two hundred seventy-five warriors.

Among his companions, some were ordinary citizens who, like him, had been persecuted by the Slave Traders. Others were liberated slaves willing to fight. And a portion were farmers, craftsmen, and Adventurers who wanted to overthrow the Slave Traders.

Now, they all stood together, ready to make their final charge.

"Brothers."

Tonghai’s voice was deep and resonant. "You all know I have a score to settle with the Slave Traders. My wife, Mahaya, a hardworking and honest island woman, was taken from my coppersmith’s shop by Slave Traders. They forced a slave brand upon her."

"When I returned from the sea, I found that damned merchant. He told me Mahaya had already been sold to someone else, and he didn’t know where."

"He gave me a sum of money and told me I could pick any female slave I wanted as a wife. He said it was all just a misunderstanding."

Tonghai said coldly, "That is what Slave Traders are. In their eyes, every person has a price. Every person is either a slave or livestock."

"As long as these monsters in human form are still in the city, still in control, there will be more Mahayas who suffer misfortune!"

"Brothers, listen to me."

The towering coppersmith roared into the wind, "Perhaps one day, we will lose our valor and strength. We won’t be able to lift our hammers and swords, unable to strike back at the enemy. They are so numerous—thousands of slaves are being gathered, and more are being captured to stand in our way."

"But I do not think it is this day!"

"Today, we fight to the bloody end! We fight for everyone, for all slaves, for all husbands and wives, for all fathers and children! We fight for all courage and freedom!"

"If the Gods believe this is wrong, then let the Gods punish me! I will willingly bear all the fury our Lord God rains down! I will be the first to die before you."

"Now! Brothers, I ask you, join me! Together, we will shatter the institution of slavery! Let’s slaughter those bastards!"

"Slaughter them!"

Everyone raised their arms and roared.

The three galleys stormed the half-finished docks.

The slaves hauling wood and stone saw the "pirates" attacking and scattered in terror.

The Slave Traders behind them cursed loudly, "Bastards, what are you running for?! All of you, pick up your weapons! Get moving, you brainless pigs!"

"Whoever can cut off that pirate leader’s head, I’ll grant them their freedom!"

A portion of the slaves stopped and scrambled to the rear to grab spears and shields.

Clad in Copper Armor, Tonghai led the charge, his great hammer dragging on the ground.

He swung his hammer, sending a charging slave flying, and roared at the slaves before him, "You don’t have to fight!"

"We are here only to free the slaves!"

"We are the Northern Divine Hall Army!"

"You are free!"

"Leave! This is a battlefield! Value your lives!"

The slaves visibly shrank back.

They still brandished their weapons, appearing to fight, but they crumpled at the first touch and seized any chance to scatter and flee. Only a few slaves and the elite guards hired by the merchants remained to fight Tonghai’s men.

Facing the ferocious onslaught of the Northern Divine Hall Army, the disunited merchants had no real intention of fighting to the death. Seeing the situation turn dire, they mounted their horses one by one and swiftly retreated.

The enemy’s Timidity and cowardice only fueled Tonghai’s fury.

To think that such a group of people could run rampant in Yan City!

"Brothers, follow me! Into Yan City! Kill the Slave Traders!"

Tonghai yelled at the top of his lungs.

A few slaves plucked up their courage and ran to him. They were leading camels and horses, and they held out the reins.

The slaves stammered, gesturing wildly.

"Ride... ride..."

"Quickly..."

Tonghai swung himself onto a powerful steed and raised his hammer. "Brothers, grab your weapons and follow me!"

"Charge with the chief!"

"Charge!"

"Into the city!"

"Take down the Slave Traders!"

With their first victory secured, the Morale of the Northern Divine Hall Army was sky-high.

They charged onward, soon arriving outside Yan City.

The city Walls were neither sturdy nor tall. Most sections had been built decades, even centuries ago, and were now dilapidated from neglect. About a hundred slaves armed with spears stood guard at the foot of the Walls.

As soon as the Divine Hall Army arrived, the slaves nervously huddled together. They raised their shields and pointed their spears outward, forming a simple porcupine defense. They showed no intention of sallying out to meet the charge.

Tonghai laughed. "Sound the horns. Let our brothers in the city make their move!"

The Divine Hall Army warriors behind him each took out a horn, and the low, desolate call of the horns rose and fell in succession.

Answering horn calls echoed from within the city.

Then, a fire was lit inside the city gate. The blaze grew immense, spreading rapidly along the Wall.

The slave-soldiers blocking the gate scattered in fright. Their formation instantly collapsed, and under the hail of the Divine Hall Army’s arrows and spears, they quickly broke into an uncontrollable rout.

Tonghai spurred his horse forward, charging into the city with his great hammer. He met a fleeing Slave Trader head-on and smashed his skull to pieces.

The rest of the Divine Hall Army charged in after him.

Yan City descended into utter Chaos. The shouts of battle were everywhere. Rebellious slaves, craftsmen, and farmers began setting fires all over, making the Slave Traders feel as if enemies were lurking around every corner.

By the time Tonghai reached the hall of the Citizen Council, the place was long deserted.

He could hardly believe how empty and frail the city was.

Faced with the Divine Hall Army’s repeated naval attacks, the reaction from Yan City’s Citizen Council had been incredibly sluggish. They hadn’t reinforced the Walls, nor had they trained or organized their soldiers. All they knew was how to pile up more slaves, thinking numbers alone would be enough.

Tonghai recalled the words of the old mayor, Shang Li.

"This battle will end in our unconditional victory."

"Yan City may seem to have many men, but the Slave Traders are not of one mind."

"For a Slave Trader, preserving their slaves and property is the most important thing. When high profits are on the line, merchants can be very united, sometimes even willing to risk their lives."

"They plotted for many years to seize the city and legalize the slave trade. Removing me as mayor was just one part of their plan."

"They won’t spend their fortunes to defend the city. It brings them no profit. On the contrary, it would lead to their own Weakness, turning them into prey for other merchants."

"To a merchant, other merchants are the most terrifying predators. So they will preserve their strength and property, and leave quickly..."

Shang Li had planned for this day for over a decade.

Creating a threat from the sea, gathering slaves with the will and desire to fight, blockading the coast, contriving to destroy the harbors and docks, seeking outside help, stirring up all sorts of conflict within the city, finding and cultivating inside agents...

Every step was methodical, like the repeated forging of an iron ingot, until at last, it became a sharp, resilient iron sword.

Shang Li was like a patient Hunter, step by step forcing his prey into a corner he had designed, then pulling the rope to make them fall into a trap as they fled.

"I cannot die."

As he departed, the old man had gazed into the distance. "I must see that city, the one that once built a lighthouse, return to the right path."

"Go, Tonghai. Go to the other side of the sea."

"You are a Hero of this age, the liberator of the slaves. You will leave behind your own legend and History. This is what you deserve, and it is your honor."

Tonghai felt no Joy.

He only said, "I am no Hero. I am just a husband with a hammer."

Tonghai had had the same dream many times.

In the dream, he was in his coppersmith’s shop, swinging his hammer, beating copper ingots and sheets into various shapes, making copper pots and kettles, forging copper helms and Copper Armor.

The sun shone brightly outside, bleaching the stones on the ground.

Tonghai hammered away, sweat pouring down like rain, his breaths coming in heavy gasps.

Mahaya would wipe his sweat with a towel and hand him sweet, cool water.

She would sing him folk songs from her island, telling him how the colorful birds there danced on the wing, and how the fish in the sea leaped from the water.

Then she would say, ’I want to have a child with you, a child who is brave and clever.’

’He will be smarter than you and more beautiful than me. He will travel to every island with the blessing of the Gods. Then he will come home and tell us the stories of his journey...’

Tonghai would always wake up at this part with a smile, only to find himself staring blankly into the darkness.

...

Now, Tonghai stood in the center of the council hall.

He was surrounded by emptiness.

He had liberated every slave in the city, but he had not found his Mahaya.

A tall, blue figure approached.

Tonghai recognized him.

Salt Geller, the Commander of Yan City. He was an unfathomable Extraordinary Warrior who possessed power beyond mortal imagination and had lived for over a hundred years.

"Are you here to kill me?" Tonghai tightened his grip on the hammer in his hand.

Salt Geller shook his head.

The man was silent for a moment before holding out a pottery flask.

"I just thought you might need a drink. You look sad, warrior."

Tonghai took the flask and drained it in one gulp.