The gods are not dead, apart from in the minds of humanity. A vast majority of people have been affected by the Godblind, part magical and part biological curse, disease and illness. No one has been unable to determine what, exactly, the Godblind is, as tales of it are non-existent outside of the Shield Maidens and the Resistance, and these are pieced together by what little scraps of information they can find. The Godblind works in Fenrir’s favour, allowing them to control the masses through their own means rather than relying on the work of theologians.
Propaganda created by the Empire extolls the virtues of the military, honour and duty, but the dark underbelly of Midgard continues to flourish. Stories of the gods abound, driven by something that the Empire has so far failed to eradicate: faith. Belief is a power far stronger than any the Empire of Man has managed to create, driven by those few who rebel against the system and buck the authority.
Nobody knows how the Godblind was created, or how it managed to spread throughout humanity at such a rate, and the truth is that no-one is likely to find out. Women and non-binary folk are less affected by the disease although, again, no-one is sure why. Should one of the gods happen to walk throughout the streets of Midgard, it is likely that none who witnessed them would recognise them for what they are. Such is the power of this disease.
You can find out more about the Empire of Man and the Godblind in the Shield Maidens TTRPG.
