Campaigning for Divinity

Zhiwei was an overworked corporate drone stuck in a 996 grind, moonlighting as an underground idol for the sheer love of it.

One day, as she took the stage with her singing, dancing, and rap routine, the host handed her the microphone.

"Hello, candidate. Please present your campaign manifesto for godhood."

Zhiwei’s perfectly practiced idol smile froze.

What campaign? What godhood? Isn’t this an idol audition? Where the hell have I ended up?!

Zhiwei had somehow crossed over into a futuristic parallel world teeming with gods big and small.

In this world, ever since the death of the One True God over three thousand years ago, humans held an election every decade to nominate new candidates to compete for godhood.

If your manifesto won the audience’s votes, you could claim a fragment of the fallen divinity and ascend as a new god.

Right now, all Zhiwei wanted was to bolt offstage, but the sea of spectators below was waiting for her speech.

Taking a deep breath, she had a flash of inspiration. With a solemn expression, she spoke gravely—and completely made things up on the spot.

"I believe the current divine verticals are overly fragmented and lack integration. I will empower collective governance among deities, establish a new ecosystem, create a closed-loop matrix, break through existing barriers, and deliver a knockout combo!"

"I will lead everyone to restore the glory of the One True God from three millennia ago!"

Zhiwei stared expectantly at the crowd: Come on, I just spouted nonsense—hurry up and boo me offstage!

After a brief silence, thunderous applause and cheers erupted.

"Oh my god! She’s actually running for the One True God—to reclaim the fallen divinity and become the savior!"

Zhiwei: ???

Help! Shut up! When did I say that? Is that even what I meant?!

Forced into the spotlight, Zhiwei somehow became the most popular candidate of the election cycle, with the whole world convinced she was vying for the title of One True God.

…But every day, she dreamed of dropping out.

Yet, in three thousand years of elections, no one had ever been allowed to withdraw. So she could only hope to be defeated by a rival.

Zhiwei didn’t write campaign speeches or divine manifestos. At every rally, she rambled onstage with tech-bro buzzwords, and during voter outreach, she instinctively slipped into idol fan service.

…And somehow, her following kept growing.

By the time the masses were pinning their hopes on her as the One True God—to reform the corrupt and chaotic system, reclaim the full divinity, and restore the ancient glory—Zhiwei, the top vote-getter, the conqueror who rose from commoner to noble, the unshakable believer, humanity’s last hope, the savior… had a little too much to drink.

She turned to her most trusted aide and confessed her deepest secret.

Zhiwei: "Honestly, I never wanted to run for godhood."

The aide looked baffled. "But you saved my life—and countless others."

Zhiwei: "What kind of logic is that? I couldn’t just let people die!"

The aide: "You’ve remained uncorrupted by power and wealth."

Zhiwei: "Because I’m just waiting to lose and bail! Taking bribes would screw me over later!"

After a thoughtful pause, the aide asked delicately,

"But your popularity has surpassed every candidate in human history. So… who exactly are you waiting to defeat you?"

Zhiwei hugged her wine bottle, dazedly pondering: …Am I really this unstoppable?!

Step into the divine hall, shield humanity, and carry your courage like gold and your heart like the sun.

Run for godhood.