After defeating the Devourer and assimilating what's left of his memories, it's time to proceed to my ultimate goal, Ascension. This world is ripe for it. I gathered up my followers and take them back inside for a frank discussion on the next stage of my master plan, namely founding my own religion in order to feed me the faith I need to ascend.

"Glorious news, it's finally time for me to become a God but before I can do that I'm going to need your help in helping me ascend."

One of the Liches asked "How?"

"I want you to spread word of my power, tell the people that they do not have to wait for the next life to be rewarded for their good deeds, they can be rewarded in this life by becoming one of the faithful."

Cucumber spoke "What will I do when you're gone?"

"You will be my Champion, my chosen to defend the Church from its enemies, then when you've gathered enough faith for yourself you can rise too to become a God as well."

"Can we all become gods?" One of the more powerful Liches asked. Arnie I think? all skeletons look the same after a while..

"Eventually, as they say, a rising tide will raise all ships, when I ascend, I shall help pave the way for all those who prove their loyalty to me. In the meantime, you can use the power and knowledge I've given you to spread my name and collect the faith on my behalf. Will you take up the task to spread my name and defend my new religion?"

"Yes!" several of the more ardent members of my minions cheered, eager to do so, a lot more were more calculating in their thinking. I didn't mind, I would like their undying loyalty but I don't expect it. At least not yet.

"What's in it for us?" One asked.

"What is this religion going to be called, what's it message exactly?" Another asked.

This is the problem of so many people gathered together, they all want different things and they have the bad habit of talking all over each other.

Thankfully a useful distraction presents itself to help shift direction into a more positive spin. "I got the Priest Class." One of my more vocal supporters shouted out.

"What does that give?" asked one of the more opportunistic Liches.

"It allows me to channel the power of my god, though that option greyed out at the moment but it gives me boosts to charisma and intelligence the more followers I gain for the religion and allows me to access the collective power of other clergy from a distance."

"I gained the option to become a Paladin" Cucumber said, seeming somber, his intellectual and emotional growth has been rapid, in a few more days he'll probably outpace me entirely. All the more reason to ascend quickly, just in case, creating stronger than myself is problematic to say the least, he needed to be handled carefully before he become jaded and bitter like -

"I want to be a paladin too, they kick ass." One of the more excitable members said.

"Me too." Another said.

"What does it boost?"

"Paladin grants boosts to intelligence, wisdom and strength." Cucumber said in a monotone voice.

"Enough! Too many of you are talking, and it's getting tiresome." I said having grown tired of all the questions and interruptions, too much enthusiasm and cynicism for my liking. I'm not much of a people person after all the centuries underground. I have a short fuse and a limited supply of patience for mindless chit chat. "Those of you wishing to become priests, move to the right, those wishing to become paladins to the left and those wanting more time to think can leave for the moment."

Some more tedious debate and shuffling and a large portion of the followers left to discuss their options elsewhere, with equal amounts wanting to become priests and paladins. About twenty each group.

"Cucumber if you'd be so kind, take the paladins and help them get strong enough to defend themselves and the Church."

"Yes", Cucumber said with stony determination and a feral toothy grin. Worrying...

Cucumber lead away my future paladins in order to provide them with some killer training, it's a good thing he's a necromancer, as otherwise, I wouldn't rate their chances of survival very high.

That left me with the Priests, a fair proportion of them cynical opportunists looking for a way to gain power, the rest idealistic followers who feel like they owe their second lives to me. For some reason. Either way they'd be of use, regardless of their motivations.

"Now I have a very simple message for you to spread to the people, your friends, family members, random people you meet on the street, anyone and everyone. I have come and I will bring eternal youth, life and prosperity to those who follow in my name."

"That might work in your world, but I doubt that's going to mean much to most people, most people are afraid of us, since we're walking corpses." One of the cynics objects.

I continue on, unconcerned. "It doesn't matter, just tell them what we can do, we can heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, we can reform flesh to be stronger and grant them power to manipulate the elements what more could they want?"

"So you're just going to give away power to anyone?"

"Of course not, I'll only give them power if they swear an oath to pray to me every day."

"Uh that all?" He asked, seemingly confused.

"I suppose I'll ask for a token payment in order for us to expand later into other regions. Nothing too extravagant. The goal is to gather the faith of as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, not extort people for gold."

"So what's this religion going to be called?" Someone else asked.

"The Undying Church, our followers will be gifted with eternal life, which they'll dedicate in my name, they'll provide me with endless faith in exchange, win win."

"So you'll just make everyone immortal? Like you did with us?"

"No, only those with particular loyalty will be turned into Liches, the rest will simply have their bodies reshaped and rejuvenated in order to live better lives, with yearly renewals done by particular clergy members."

"So where do we start?"

"Easy, spread out, find a noble that's too fat, too old, too greedy and offer them the chance to be slim, young and powerful and let them do our work for us. The rich are always looking to get richer, the poor will follow after."

"We don't have nobles, but I get your point. Who's going to be the leader of the religion any way?"

"I will, no one need interpret my words, I am a living god, or at least close enough and when I do ascend into godhood my homunculi will serve as a useful mouthpiece. Go out and spread the good word."

They left and some time later Cucumber returned after leaving the new Paladins to practice sparring against each other. Cucumber didn't need hand to hand training or weapon training, he was a weapon all to himself, capable of making armies with his bones and wreaking devastation with a wave of his hand.

"Do you think this world will accept you as their God?" Cucumber asked.

"It's either that or die from the inevitable changes brought about by mana saturation. Their former gods were of little use in protecting them from me, without me helping them, they'll die in the billions. To the dungeons, to the monsters, to the magical beasts, to the demons and gods, they'll die and die some more, but with me on their side, their deaths can not only be avoided, they'll be able to wage war on death itself and all it's many agents."