Dionysus landed gracefully on the uneven asphalt, his bare feet brushing the Earth with disdain. The ground was rough, unpolished, a far cry from the celestial floors of his realm.
Each crack in the pavement felt like an insult, a jarring reminder that he was no longer surrounded by velvet skies and golden rivers.
A cool breeze whispered against his skin, carrying the scent of gasoline, sweat, and something else, something distinctly human. It was raw, unrefined, a cocktail of desire and desperation. He inhaled deeply, exhaling with a slight curl of his upper lip.
"Would I like it here?" he murmured, his voice both amused and irritated.
The mortal world buzzed around him, car horns in the distance, flickering neon lights humming overhead, and the far-off sound of a woman laughing. It was loud, not the rhythmic drumming of celestial music, but a discordant, gnawing sound.
The heat clung to his skin, heavier than the eternal warmth of his realm, making the white shawl around his hips feel both too little and too much.
Then it happened.
A chime. Hollow, sharp, an echo that didn't touch his ears but struck his mind directly.
A glowing interface unfurled before him, hovering in midair. It shimmered like liquid gold, its words pulsing softly, alive.
[Welcome, Lord Dionysus. Your Trial of Pleasure Begins.]
His brows furrowed. "What sorcery is this?"
[System Activated.]
The voice was smooth, almost mechanical, but there was a sly undertone, a faint whisper of amusement buried beneath the monotone.
"Who are you?" Dionysus demanded.
[I am the Pleasure System, your guide and judge. Your fate on this plane depends on how well you perform. Succeed, and the throne awaits. Fail… and you will fade into obscurity.]
Dionysus's jaw tightened. "Obscurity?"
[Yes, my lord. Even gods can be forgotten.]
A flicker of something dark passed through Dionysus's eyes. Forgotten. The mere suggestion was an insult.
Another glowing line appeared, bolder this time:
[Objective: Administer pleasure to 30 mortals.]
[Location: A car]
[Position for your first task: Inside a car.]
His lips parted, an incredulous laugh escaping. "A car?"
[Correct. Each god has been assigned unique settings for their conquests. Yours begins in a car.]
"Why?"
[Your conquests will be as wild as you are, my lord. A car suits you. It is a cage on wheels, unless you make it something more.]
Dionysus's mouth twisted into a half-smile, equal parts annoyed and intrigued. "How charming."
A final chime rang out, and a new line of text blinked into view:
[Bonus: Seduce a mortal without using your divine aura , Reward: +10 Charm Points]
Dionysus chuckled softly. "You expect me to lower myself to mortal seduction?"
[Your charm will be tested, not your divinity. The throne will not be won by power alone.]
His fingers flexed at his sides. "And the others?"
[Your rivals have also descended. Lila has been assigned a pretty mansion and Bacchus, a crowded nightclub.]
Dionysus's smile darkened. "Convenient. They are gifted with intimacy and desire, while I am given a… vehicle."
[Your conquests will be as wild as you are, my lord. A car suits you. It is a cage on wheels, unless you make it something more.]
The system's tone was cool, but the slight provocation was not lost on him.
Dionysus chuckled softly, though there was no warmth in it. "You have said that before but so be it."
His mind was already spinning, the ancient hunger stirring in his chest. Let the others have their velvet-lined rooms and moonlit shores. He would turn steel and leather into a temple of lust.
The trial had begun.
[Leaderboard goes live tonight. Be ready.]
Dionysus tilted his head, his grin widening. "I always am."
[Now, You need a ride, my lord.]
Dionysus blinked. "For what? I am a god."
[And yet… the mortal world does not bend to your will. You must play their game. Also to give pleasure in a car you need a car, yes?]
The words hovered before him, taunting. Dionysus growled, refusing to respond.
[Would you like me to guide you to the nearest car dealership?]
Dionysus's jaw twitched, but he relented. "Fine."
[Understood. Nearest luxury automobile shop detected.]
A glowing arrow appeared, pointing him toward a sleek, underground garage tucked between two towering buildings. The neon sign above read:
Willy's Motors, Luxury for the Road Ahead.
Dionysus smirked. "How quaint."
He pushed the glass door open, the faint chime of a bell announcing his arrival. The showroom stretched out before him, gleaming vehicles under too-bright lights, each polished so thoroughly that the reflections seemed to dance.
"I want a car," Dionysus declared, his voice slicing through the air like a command.
A scrawny attendant, no older than twenty, scurried over, his uniform slightly wrinkled. "Welcome, sir! This is Willy's Motors, and, "
Dionysus raised a hand, silencing him. "I want a car," he repeated, his tone brooking no patience for pleasantries.
The boy blinked, his gaze flickering to Dionysus's bare chest and flowing shawl. "Of course, sir. What kind?"
Dionysus's lips curled into a dangerous grin. "One I can easily… entertain women in."
The attendant's face flushed crimson, and he stammered something incoherent before bolting to find someone more capable.
[Mortal reactions: amusing, yet predictable.]
Dionysus chuckled softly. "They're so fragile."
A stocky man in a pressed suit appeared moments later, his professional smile wavering ever so slightly when he saw Dionysus. "Good day, sir. I hear you're looking for a baby."
Dionysus's brow arched. "A baby?"
The man cleared his throat. "I mean, a new ride. You're in the right place."
Dionysus tilted his head, his smile sharp. "I need something fitting. Something that can keep up with my… lifestyle."
The man, Tom, chuckled nervously. "What kind of lifestyle are we talking about?"
Dionysus's voice dropped, smooth as silk. "Pleasure."
Tom blinked. "That's… a bit vague, isn't it?"