《The New Elemental God is a Playboy》


 Prologue

    Since the dawn of the Universe, life has always been ruled by four major Elements.


    Earth, Water, Fire and Air.


    They are responsible for creating and maintaining all life on the planet Earth.


    Without Earth there would be no place for the plants to grow or a safe ground to build our homes.


    Without Water there is no way Humans or plants would survive, as it nurtures the earth.


    Without Fire nothing would stay alive. The warmth is essential as all living things draw energy from the sun.


    Without Air the Earth would be stuck, as the wind carries seeds and nutrients, feeding plants and continuing the circle of life.


    One depends on the other to create and maintain life on our planet.


    Each Element is commanded by one God. These Gods rule the elements shaping the Material world at their will. They have divine powers that make them the mightiest beings on Earth, capable of many miracles but also great catastrophes.


    The first Gods were born side by side with their Element. They were sent to Earth by the Universe - the Ultimate power source -. Together they made our world what it is today. After the First Ones gave up their existence, their spirits were passed on to the recently evolved humans.


    Now, every God once was a common human until they woke up in the afterlife as divine beings.


    There are two ways of inheriting this power, by chance; the Universe chooses a soul after the current God refuses to find a replacement, or by choice; the current God chooses someone to take their place. One thing is certain, there must always be a God for each Element, otherwise the whole Planet will be unbalanced causing unimaginable side effects.


    There is a separation between Humans and Gods, they can¡¯t coexist in the same place. Humans can only live and see the Material world but Gods can transit between the Material and Spiritual dimensions freely. The second one is not only populated by the Gods, but also by many other creatures that can only have their souls manifested in the Spiritual world. This invisible dimension rules over the Material world, everything that happens there has a direct effect on the physical plane.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    An Elemental God can command, create and shape anything made of their Element besides other abilities common to all four of them. Their feelings can influence the material world on a global scale being responsible for any changes that fall upon the Planet.


    Even though they are mighty powerful, a few rules were created to guide their actions, mostly to protect the fragile humans and their world.


    The Four Elemental Gods:


    * cannot lie to a human.


    * cannot influence a human.


    * cannot create anything that does not already exist.


    * cannot see their own future.


    * cannot have a physical body.


    They are all bound to these laws that make their immortal existence limited. However, to the last rule there is a breach. A God can possess a human body if the human is let them or if they are weak enough not to resist. The human is used as a host for the divine spirit and can experience everything that happens while they are possessed, making it possible for them to resist the God and deny access to their body. It¡¯s all about the strength of the human¡¯s soul.


    When in the body of a human, the God cannot use their powers without harming their host. The divine energy is too strong for a mortal body to sustain for too long. That¡¯s why the Elemental Gods cannot exist in the Material world side by side with humans. It would cause massive world events that could end life on Earth if they released their energy in such a delicate place. To use the body of a person, they have to suppress their spirit to the very minimum so they can fit in a physical form.


    Time is also one thing very peculiar to a God. Unlike humans, the Gods can see the Time dimension. They can see a person¡¯s whole life in the blink of an eye but they can¡¯t see their own. Trapped in the present, they have to live uncertain long lives aging at a completely different pace than humans.


    Even their deaths are different. Since an Element can¡¯t die neither can a God. The only way they can be released from their role is if they choose to do so. By giving up their powers they are also letting go of their existence, breaking the wheel of life.


    Being reincarnated as a God is one¡¯s last life.


    After the departure of the Earth God, a new one had to ascend. Disrupting thousands of reincarnation patterns, the chosen one was unlike anyone before.


    Late at night, destiny met Adam and his heart had just been broken for the first time, making it much easier for him to embrace the soothing darkness that involved his mind.

 Chapter 1.0 - New Home

    "I''m never drinking again."


    He said the same thing every time he felt the ruthless side effects of a night out with his mates. As in any other morning after a party, the twenty-one year old boy woke up with a massive headache. He grunted and squeezed his eyes tight as pain pierced his temples.


    For a few minutes he stayed quiet and immobile, waiting for the pain to settle down. It was so dark, not even one ray of light escaped through the cracks of the window.


    "What time is it?"


    Usually he woke up late in the afternoon and the sun would be so bright the blackout curtains couldn''t hold all the light back. That morning was unusually dark, he didn''t know if his eyes were either open or still closed. He just couldn''t tell the difference as he blinked.


    "Well, there''s only one way of knowing."


    The hungover man took a deep breath to prepare himself for the suffering that would hit him once he lifted his head. With an impulse he pulled up his torso but something held him in place.


    "What the-" He tried again, this time with more strength.


    Still didn''t move.


    Something was off. It was too dark, his eyes couldn''t capture any light as if light itself didn''t exist. Blind and strapped up triggered something in him.


    Fear began to linger in the back of his mind. The boy tried to move only his arms and feet to no effect. They didn''t even flinch. There was too much pressure on top of them, it was like his body was covered in concrete.


    "HEY! What the fuck is happening?!"


    Trapped and helpless, screaming into the void was his only resort. Unfortunately, it did not seem to work. His words began to echo back to him. Each one bounced around in every direction, making it impossible to determine if he was inside a coffin or hanged up in a warehouse.


    "If you want money just lemme call my parents and they''ll send it to you." Hearing his own voice talk back to him was nerve wracking. Never in his life anything like that happened to him, he had only heard stories from friends that got kidnapped for money. Most got out alive and the culprits were arrested.


    "Money has no value here, Adam."


    Speaking calmly from within the darkness, a deep male voice shook the ground underneath him. As he heard his name a cold chill froze his stomach.


    "I can give you whatever you want." Even if he was frightened, Adam was glad he was not alone anymore.


    "What I want doesn''t matter." This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    The voice echoed into infinity, insinuating they were in open space. Adam felt a presence getting close to him in a non threatening manner.


    "I want to go home." The Young man shouted, in a mix of angst and fear as he faced the unknown.


    "You are home, Adam."


    The dodgy attitude and the charades were more stressful than being tied up.


    Helpless, Adam''s mind started to get taken over by despair.


    "Let me go, you sick fuck!"


    Kicking and punching, without any effect, whatsoever, on the restraints. Adam was throwing a tantrum, it was a particular way he had of expressing himself. When he couldn''t use money or words, he went on a rampage.


    "I''m not the one keeping you here, you are."


    "What?" The more they talked, the more suspicious everything got. "Where am I?"


    "It''s good that you finally asked."


    Preparing himself for whatever was going to happen next, Adam closed his eyes really tight and waited.


    What followed was a breeze. A cold one, blowing his hair away and giving him the chills. All this time he was outside? It didn''t make sense. Before there was no smell, no sounds, no air, no heat, only the echo his voice provoked.


    Then suddenly he was cold and breathing icy fresh air. Carefully, Adam opened his eyes and was immediately hit by bright sunshine. Unaccustomed with light, he closed his eyes again.


    Another breeze hit him, this time it was stronger as if he was in high altitude. Fighting his eyelids he tried endlessly to open his eyes with no success.


    "Where the fuck am I?" He was shouting through the wind that had him breathless.


    "This is the Himalayas." The voice was so powerful the heavy ties that trapped him vibrated.


    With his eyes wide open, thousands of meters above the ground, Adam stood at the summit of a towering mountain.


    "WHAT THE FUCK?!"


    Realizing his own position was too much for the boy''s sanity. Looking down at his body he saw he was inside the mountain. From the outside it was like he was only partially carved out of the bedrock, his limbs disappeared inside the rock.


    Looking forward gave the poor boy not much relief. Mountain tops were covered in snow and besides that there was only the endless abyss beneath him.


    "I''m never doing drugs again, please let me go home!" Eyes shut to avoid freaking out and tears, Adam was begging with all his soul.


    "I don''t know what he saw in you¡­"


    Still unable to open his eyes, Adam was surprised with the proximity of the mysterious voice. It sounded so close it could be right by his side. He could even hear the voice clear its throat, like it was recomposing themselves.


    "Adam, this is your home." The voice was back to the Godly tone.


    "Look man, I don''t know what twisted VR game or new drug this is but I''ll give you anything you want if you let me go¡­"


    Again, in the blink of an eye, the atmosphere changed. It was deadly quiet and dark. The sun had disappeared one more time. Cold sweats began to roll down his forehead. Where was he? Not back at the first place and at least not at the mountain top but was it a better place? He hesitated to check.


    "Open your eyes." The voice was meters away with no echo.

 Chapter 1.1 - Reincarnation

    Swallowing the lump on his throat he prepared himself for impact. Millimeter by millimeter a completely new view was revealed. One more overwhelming than the last.


    The planet Earth.


    "AAAAAAAAAAAAH!"


    Once again kicking and screaming Adam had really lost his mind. He was looking at Earth from space. The round thing he lived his whole life on was right there in front of him surrounded by darkness and stars.


    "WHAT THE FUCK!?"


    Startled, he began to wiggle his hands and feet, looking for stability but instead it he started to slowly turn upside down. While flipping around in slow motion he saw a human figure levitating in front of him.


    "HELP!" He was desperately trying to grab on to something but no matter how hard he tried he wouldn''t stop spinning.


    "Hey! You!" He was completing the turn and the face of a man was being revealed. "Please help me, I beg of you!"


    Standing in front of the enormous thing that was our planet, was an old man. He had a long grey beard and was wearing a blue tunic. His eyes were the deepest shade of natural indigo blue. Adam could''ve sworn he heard waves while he stared at the man''s eyes.


    "Please, calm down or you''ll keep spinning and it makes me sick." The man did a casual gesture, like he was telling a naughty kid to sit down.


    "Who are you?" Once Adam stopped moving, he tried uselessly to organize all the questions in his head. "Where am I?"


    "I am Calder." Said the man with a very ceremonial tone.


    Adam chuckled.


    "Damn, I''m really tripping. What kind of name is that?" Carefree, he face-palmed frustrated with himself.


    "You''re not tripping." Mister Calder sounded annoyed which made Adam lookup to check him out again.


    "You are¡­"


    A freezing chill ran down the Playboy''s spine. The old man leaned forward and his shadow was so big it swallowed Adam. He was feeling so small and helpless for no apparent reason. With the mouth right next to his ear, the mysterious man continued.


    "Dead."


    Adam watched the bearded grandpa step back. They kept their expressions and let the silence of space settle between them. Puzzled, the younger man waited for the punchline that never came.


    "Right¡­ How did I die again?" This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    "What is the last thing you remember?"


    The question triggered something in Adam.


    He woke up in that dark place but he didn''t know how he got home last night. Thinking back, he was sure he was at a party. Excited with the clear memory of something real, the young man continued to follow the trail of crumbs.


    The party was in Jake''s house to celebrate his birthday. It was a pool party, he even threw Jake in the pool with the help of some other guys. They laughed because he was still using his clothes and phone. Everyone was drinking and Adam kept pushing people in the pool. Later after all his friends got separated from him, he went out looking for them to find them in Jake''s office.


    Quiet, he was lurking to prank them and ended up overhearing a conversation. A group of his best friends were in a circle drinking and complaining about Adam''s behavior. They were also making fun of the fact that he thought they were all "BFF''s" when they were only friends because their father''s forced them to. Turns out, Adam was the heir of a company and all his friends'' dads were investors of the company.


    The excitement he first felt had vanished, giving space to a bitter regret accompanied by anger, the same feelings he had when he left the party in a hurry. It was late, the streets were empty just the way he liked it.


    Speeding in his Bugatti was one of his favorite hobbies. Way past the speed and alcohol limit, Adam was heading home. He chose that particular route because after going down a curvy hill there was a long straight road he loved to race on.


    Many times he went down that hill drunk laughing out loud with the adrenaline. That night wouldn''t be different. The Playboy needed some adventure to get his mind off the things he heard. Shouting curses at his old friends under loud music, Adam was drifting down the ghost road.


    On the last curve, a rainy cloud passed by, wetting the floor and creating invisible puddles on the road. As he entered one curve, the tires lost traction leading Adam to lose control of the car.


    "But¡­"


    It was like waking up scared from a nightmare in the middle of the night. All the memories and sensations coming back at once. The sound of tires on the asphalt. The wheel not responding. The last thing he remembered was the impact.


    "How¡­"


    Air was not flowing down to his lungs. His blood pressure was off the roof, making his hands shake.


    "Why¡­"


    "You died in that car accident, Adam."


    The old wizard approached the guy to offer some comfort, he put a hand on his shoulder and felt the irregular breathing.


    "So, am I in heaven?"


    Everything that was said, along with the memories repeating themselves were conflicting. Physically Adam felt fine, great even. His mind was confused but it didn''t feel different at all. Still, a weird impression on his chest agreed with what Calder said.


    "There is no heaven, son. There''s either life or death."


    "Then where am I?" Fluctuating in space, with only stars under his feat and the planet Earth as their witness, Adam had no idea what was going to happen.


    "You have been chosen to reincarnate."


    Growing up, the Cross family was not religious or even spiritual. Adam only knew what was common sense to the majority of people. The concept of reincarnation was new to him. Noticing the boy''s confusion, Calder continued.


    "In other words, you get to live a new life. If you choose to." The wizard-looking-guy raised a finger to point out the last part.


    "Yes! Please God, let me go back."


    "I''m not the god you think I am." Calder stepped away again to avoid being touched by an over excited dead guy. "I am only here as an intermediary. This is between you and the Universe."

 Chapter 1.2 - Earth

    Without any notice, the old man vanished before Adam¡¯s eyes,  revealing an unobstructed view of Earth. As an instant reaction the young man lost his breath.


    The view was so magnificent it took the air out of his lungs. He was consumed by the immensity of our planet, even  tilting his head up and down he still couldn''t see it completely. The human eye was not capable of capturing Earth in its totality. Adam could only see a fraction of it at a time, like he was watching the biggest IMAX screen ever.


    Directly in front of him was a big piece of land that ended in the sea. White fluffy stains were flying over it, causing a contract with the ocher coloration of the view. Roughly guessing, Adam thought it could be the Sahara desert.


    It was so vivid and overpowering, the boy reached out to touch it. He was being drawn into it, like Earth was calling him.


    "Is this God?" Cuz it felt like it to him. Being there, in the face of a World it was the definition of meeting the divine.


    "In a way, yes." Calder was by his side, admiring the greatness of the Blue planet. "If you reach out to her, she may let you live."


    Not for a second Adam took his eyes off the Planet. Helplessly he had been trying to capture everything that was in front of him but to no use. Too many overwhelming details were worth remembering. Every breath came out shaky. His body was also feeling the power that emanated from the Earth.


    Inside him, the same feeling of when Calder told him he was dead it was growing more intense. Adam was close to understanding it when he let go of his insecurities and reached out to the divine entity in front of him. From the tip of his finger came the name of the emotion, belonging. Adam felt like he belonged there.


    At the same time his brain processed it, another deep experience overwhelmed him. His body was pulled by a crushing force that didn''t allow him to move. The only thing he knew was that he was hurtling straight into Earth¡¯s atmosphere.


    From movies, Adam knew anything  entering Earth¡¯s orbit would be pulled toward it. He was aware that the speed he was moving was far too fast for a human body to endure. As he was getting closer, flames began to involve him. The pressure was so strong he couldn''t even flinch even though fire was taking over his body.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Surprisingly, it didn''t hurt. Adam was literally on fire but he wasn''t burning. With a nervous laugh, he looked ahead at the approaching landscape. It was getting closer and closer. He was like a missile aimed directly at the heart of the planet.


    His speed was only increasing. The target was the ground of the Sahara. At first, it was fun but as the ground was getting dangerously close, he lost his breath. The boy was like a reverse rocket and it was going straight into the core of the Planet.


    Physics didn''t exist at that moment. Adam could see the sand dancing on the dunes. He never saw anything like it, such a beautiful image right before impact. There was no time to react, he could only hold his breath and brace for impact.


    Eyes shut tight, he waited. But nothing happened.


    Adam opened one eye and what he saw was even crazier. He was still moving. There was no change of direction, no slowing down. His body just passed straight through the sand and the soil and kept diving deeper into the Earth.


    His body was in flames, making him look like a firework. Compared to the vastness of space, Adam was feeling claustrophobic. The passage was narrow, it was literally as wide as his shoulders.


    As he descended the temperature began to rise. It wasn''t from the fire on his body, it was like being inside an oven. Soon after the temperature changed, the walls around him melted, glowing red-hot like lava.


    Strangely, Adam felt he was almost at his destination.


    Around him, everything became molten rock. He was at the core of the Planet. That spoiled playboy was swimming in magma. Not even in his wildest dreams Adam imagined going through something like that.


    It was terrifying yet strangely comforting.


    Before he could process it further, he breached the magma barrier and was blinded by an intense light. While he couldn''t see anything, he noticed his feet were not touching the ground. Adam was suspended in the air, floating towards the center of the light.


    Gradually, he opened his eyes and was surprised that he could do so. There was nothing around him but light, and he was at its heart. Fascinated with the purity of the color, a shimmering white that glinted with gold.


    Looking closely, in the origin of the light, there was a crack. Somehow, Adam knew it was a passage and that he had to  step through.


    Adam glanced around. Calder was nowhere to be seen or heard. He felt compelled  to cross the light. No words were spoken, but he knew it was what he had to do.


    Reflecting on the idea, the young man realized he wasn''t afraid.  Not because he was brave¡ªhe wasn¡¯t¡ª it was simply because it wasn''t dangerous. The light was good, and crossing would be too.


    Taking a deep breath to steady his heartbeat before the trip, Adam floated towards the passage and disappeared.

 Chapter 1.3 - Unfinished

    There, inside Earth''s core, an explosion of lights and lasers revealed a new Adam.


    Covered by the golden clarity he was not in the Earth''s core anymore. The young man emerged in a new place. A room with tall marble pillars that resembled ancient Greece.


    Adam was also dressed differently. Before he was using the same clothes he went to the party with, but after crossing he was dressed with a light sort of armour. It was mainly golden and black tunic, with ornamented shoulder blades accompanied by a matching belt. It wasn''t heavy but sure looked like it.


    The fabric of the underclothes had a silky touch that made his body feel cool. He turned around trying to get a complete look but it was hard without a mirror.


    Echoing claps called his attention, interrupting his Cinderella moment.


    "Congratulations, son."


    "Calder! Never thought I''d be happy to see an old man in a dress."


    On one side of the room, at the top of a glamorous staircase was the grizzled man smiling at Adam.


    "You are wearing skirts too."


    "Oh, that''s why it is so windy down there."


    He smirked back at Calder who shrugged in response before walking out of his sight.


    "Hey! Wait!"


    Anyone that looked at the number of steps would feel discouraged to go up but not Adam. The armor was not heavy and he was feeling super energized. Running up the tall staircase was as easy as walking on a plain road. Once at the top he a new section of the room was revealed.


    The first thing to be noticed was the thick enormous pillars. Their bases were ornamented in gold and supported the white marble leveled dome in baroque style.


    Underneath the dome were four human statues. The creatures represented were gender-less but obviously Godly. Each one carried a different Element.


    One was holding in their hand a real live flame that involved their arm coming from their chest. The fire was flickering in a bright shade of red.


    The second one was with arms opened looking up. As Adam paid more attention and noticed the whole thing was pulsating up and down, in the pace of a heartbeat. Curious, the newly arrived looked down, for his surprise there was no base supporting it either. The statue was levitating on its one.


    Some droplets wet Adam''s face as he walked over to the third one. A whip of water came from its feet, making a turn on the torso and flowing to the hand to turn into an orb of water that moved like the waves at the beach.


    The fourth one was the strangest, it looked like it wasn''t finished. It was looking straight into the horizon and leaning on one knee while the other was still inside the rock, only partially carved out.


    Behind them was Calder, looking outside at the blue sky with a few white clouds passing by. The room was opened in one side, allowing for a magnificent view of the woods at the foot of the mountain where the temple was.


    "Why isn''t this one finished?"


    Without moving, Calder answered.


    "That''s the Earth God." The old man looked even wiser looking away to the horizon. "It can''t be separated from the Earth. That''s what holds everything together." Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    "Never thought about that."


    Adam reflected on how he got there. It was a second ago but it felt like aged had passed already.


    "It was <i>Her</i> that brought me here?"


    Calder looked at the younger man.


    "The Planet?"


    Quiet the wizard-looking man nodded. He was waiting for Adam to continue.


    The boy was eager for answers. Too much had happened to him in so little time. He went to space and back to the center of the planet all that after he had just supposedly died, which was weird because he felt healthier than ever.


    "Does <i>this </i>happen to everyone who dies?"


    He was talking about the clothes, the temple, the weird flying statues. All of that was absurdly crazy.


    "No, only to the chosen ones." Calder began to stroll in the room as he talked. "Every once in a while, a God <i>ceases</i> to exist¡­"


    Adam mirrored Calder that was walking on the other side of the statues.


    "Can Gods die?"


    "I didn''t say they died." He stopped and looked at the boy in between statues. "I said it stopped existing."


    "What''s the difference?"


    Adam didn''t appreciate enigmas or the vague way Calder replied to his answers.


    "The difference is that a God has to decide not to live anymore but their power never disappears."


    They both met after finishing the turn around the statues. Adam was upset for not getting a direct response and Calder didn''t seem to care.


    "That''s why you are here. You''ve been chosen to inherit the divine power of the Earth God."


    Following Calder''s eyes, Adam admired the face of the unfinished statue. He was analyzing the white solid eyes when they moved and looked straight at him.


    The statue triggered something in Adam. As a spear being logged into his brain, uncoordinated visions dominated his mind. Mountains, deserts, forest, volcanoes, caves, animals, plants, rivers, seas, cities, buildings, houses, men, women, children. All the things that were in contact with the Earth, Adam saw.


    He didn''t just "see" them, he felt them, their energy, their breathing, their dreams. It was like he was a part of each living thing, as was the Planet.


    Shocked and exhausted, Adam fell to his knees.


    "What was that?"


    Offering him a hand, Calder showed him a generous grin.


    "That is the Elemental Gift you just inherited."


    Confused, Adam took his hand while gasping for air.


    "You are the new Earth God."


    Calder opened his arms in a grand gesture while projecting his voice to echo around the temple.


    "Ok¡­"