novelraw Chapter 6 : Divine Statue
Chapter 6 : Divine Statue
Chapter 6: Divine Statue
Over the next month, Apollo became busy.
The rapid increase in population also brought new problems:
Housing, food distribution, work arrangements, and how to manage these newly joined “slaves.”
He no longer personally led hunting teams, instead devoting more of his energy to the tribe’s management and planning.
However, as time passed, Apollo began to feel an indescribable irritation and unease.
He sat alone at the edge of the altar, gazing at the bustling crowd below.
Those who had newly joined the tribe still looked at him with eyes full of reverence and fear toward the “god.”
He felt very uncomfortable.
He was clearly not a god, so why did they call him one?
Clearly, the god was…
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.
He thought that perhaps it was because no one had ever seen a god, which was why they mistook him for one.
But how could he let everyone see the god?
“Stone statue.”
Another word appeared in Apollo’s mind.
Just like before, he did not fully understand what the term meant.
Yet the word itself, like a vague concept, guided him.
He instinctively left the tribe and searched the surrounding mountains.
Until he saw a massive boulder, and in that instant, he understood.
He could carve out the appearance of the god—this way, everyone would be able to see the god.
Apollo made up his mind. He would use his own hands to sculpt the appearance of the god for the tribe, for all those who believed in the god!
……
Three more days passed.
At this moment, Apollo finally completed the carving. Alone, he steadily hoisted the enormous object—over ten meters tall—onto his back. Step by step, as he returned to the tribe, everyone was so shocked that they could not speak.
The gigantic stone statue exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure, yet also radiated an indescribable sacred aura.
Under the stunned gazes of everyone, Apollo carefully placed the statue upon the altar, standing it side by side with the ancient totem pole.
Even Huang Xing was startled by Apollo’s actions.
“Why?”
Huang Xing’s voice sounded within Apollo’s mind.
“God! Statue!”
Hearing the god’s voice, Apollo excitedly pointed at the statue.
Huang Xing understood Apollo’s intention.
He wanted everyone to see the god and worship the god.
But Huang Xing did not care. To him, it held no meaning.
Still, in the end, he said, “Very beautiful.”
Just three words, yet they sent Apollo into wild joy.
Sure enough, his decision had been correct.
The god was pleased!
Huang Xing’s gaze fell upon the statue.
The statue was not in human form, but rather an abstract radiance—something resembling a starry sky.
He knew Apollo could not see his true form. Though there was a hint of regret, Huang Xing said nothing.
With a slight movement of his thoughts, a strange resonance arose between the statue and the totem pole beside it.
Starlight slowly flowed down, enveloping both the statue and the totem pole.
Then, under the astonished eyes of everyone, the two completely different materials began to merge, forming a strange substance that was neither stone nor wood, shimmering faintly.
This miraculous scene caused everyone beneath the altar to kneel from the depths of their hearts, praising the greatness and omnipotence of the god with the most fervent voices.
Apollo stood at the edge of the altar, looking at the fused divine statue, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
At last, he had allowed everyone to “see” the god.
Even if it was only a strand of the god’s radiance!
……
The familiar sensation of withdrawal came, and Huang Xing awoke.
At once, Apollo’s smile froze on his face before returning to calm.
He looked at the divine statue and made a vow in his heart:
He would strive to make the tribe better, and bring more people to believe in the god!
Even though the god… had never asked for it.
……
After waking up, Huang Xing picked up his phone and took a look.
Only a few hours had passed in the real world, yet in the dream, he had already experienced more than a month.
Strangely, he did not feel that much time had passed in the dream.
His perception of time was becoming increasingly blurred.
Walking on the way to work, he subconsciously looked up at the sun, then at his own hand.
He wondered whether he could use extraordinary power in the real world like Apollo.
He tried, just like in the dream, to make a bit of light or fire appear in his hand.
But after several attempts, nothing happened.
Huang Xing smiled and gave up.
At night, he fell asleep once more, entering the dream again.
---
After the god left, time continued to move forward.
Ten years passed.
With sufficient food and a pleasant environment, the tribe grew from more than one hundred forty people to more than three hundred seventy.
During these ten years, Apollo also united with a beautiful woman and fathered his first son.
He named the child “En,” meaning “gift from the god.”
They continuously expanded their territory outward around the altar, guarding the altar and the divine statue at the center.
Just as Apollo had once seen, the god was surrounded by the stars at the center.
Even the tribe was named “Stars” by Apollo.
Thus, the tribe had finally begun to show the faint signs of civilization.
On this day, Apollo felt it—
The god had descended!
With a face full of joy, he ran toward the altar, drawing murmurs from the crowd, for they had not seen their chieftain like this in a long time.
It seemed… that for the past ten years, the chieftain had always worn a serious expression.
“God!”
Apollo ran to the divine statue, looking up at it as he shouted excitedly, golden light flickering in his eyes.
“Apollo.”
Huang Xing’s voice sounded in his heart, carrying a trace of emotion.
He had already received all the information of what had happened in the tribe over these ten years.
For him, it was merely half a day apart from Apollo.
But for Apollo, he had been gone for a full ten years.
Ten years could change far too many things. The only thing that had not changed was Apollo’s sincere heart.
Though he was the leader of a tribe, at this moment, Apollo seemed to revert back to that young boy standing beneath the totem pole.
Standing before the divine statue, he spoke endlessly, pouring out everything he had accumulated in his heart over these ten years, everything he had wanted to tell the god.
Finally, as if presenting a treasure, he said excitedly:
“God! Look! Now more than three hundred people believe in you!”
Huang Xing felt that Apollo seemed to have gone down a certain dead end, and he asked:
“Why make them believe in me?”
Apollo suddenly found himself unable to answer. In his view, believing in the god required no reason.
“Apollo.”
Huang Xing’s voice was calm and clear, like stating an eternal truth.
“Just as I told you before, I do not need offerings, because they hold no meaning to me.”
“Likewise, I do not need belief, because belief, to me, is equally meaningless.”
His power came from the starry sky, from the unknown—never from people’s belief.