After a long time, the sole life form gradually gained self-awareness. With its power, nothing was impossible, and it was bound by nothing. However, as mentioned before, this world was comprised of nothing but emptiness. For the first few hundred years after its self-awareness began to sprout, it didn’t mind. However, time sometimes brings about disadvantages, and the life form gradually began to have too much free time.
So, the life form decided to split its self-awareness into two. Such a phenomenon would normally make one scratch their head, but with the life form’s power, it could be done the moment it was thought of. Thus, two beings were born, oneself and another, who could communicate without language, instantly conveying their intentions. Even with such a counterpart, the fact that it now had someone to talk to in this world became a catalyst for great stimulation.
After another passage of time, its desires grew even greater. Tired of conversations with itself, it then gave its self-awareness the concept of gender, creating differences in its thought processes. Bored with conversations between just the two of them, it then became engrossed in creating a grand sandbox, encompassing the universe, stars, and the life and nature that took root there. The life forms that were born evolved with the times, eventually gaining wisdom, learning to handle tools, building cultures, and reaching positions that could be called the leaders of their respective stars. The way each of the countless galaxies and stars it created differed greatly, achieving unique developments. Observing them was the greatest amusement for the two of them.
…However, even such an amusement as the creation of heaven and earth eventually became stale after an unimaginably long time. It was no exception for the two of them, and the time came to move their amusement to the next stage. So, they decided to experimentally incorporate elements such as levels, skills, and statuses into some of their worlds. A game culture created by one of the developed worlds caught the eye of a female-persona life form, who then proposed it to the male-persona.
“…It’s interesting, but won’t that create extreme beings? In some cases, civilization might collapse.”
“That would be interesting in itself. I think we should observe first.”
Their anxieties proved true. With the concept of levels, beings began to grow almost without limits. Beings who gained power eventually became arrogant and harbored bottomless desires. After all, individuals obtained power that was stronger than nations. It was only natural that this would happen. Of course, there were exceptions, but they were overwhelmingly in the minority. As a result, worlds were engulfed in unprecedentedly rapid conflict, leading to collapse in no time at all.
“It’s a flaw in the system. It’s too incompatible with the actions of intelligent beings.”
“However, it has become an unprecedented spectacle. And this is just the beginning, isn’t it?”
“Are you still going to continue?”
“Of course. I want to increase the variety of skills and the like, and it’s worth trying and experimenting.”
“I believe that no matter how many you increase, the result will be the same.”
“…Then, how about this? We will descend directly and adjust the balance. We will pick out excessive power ourselves.”
“Won’t that hinder the world’s independence?”
“Hmm, true? But we still have other ideas. One of them is bound to work.”
After an unimaginably long time, each persona had begun to find new enjoyment. For example, the female persona seemed to be drawn to constructing new worlds. Striving to create perfect and realistic game worlds, she tirelessly worked on balance adjustments and trial-and-error, sometimes creating vessels called golems and venturing out into her sandbox herself. In doing so, she identified problems from various perspectives, and by the time she could manage the worlds in a calm manner, she had cultivated subordinate followers who acted as her hands and feet. Those beings, who possessed power beyond the reach of ordinary creatures, were, in a sense, her proxies, or rather, her proxy gods.
“What, leaving it all to them? They’ve recently started calling you the ‘God of Creation’… I see, you’ve finally gotten tired of it.”
“No, not at all. I’m still engrossed. But if only I focused, it would become a self-indulgent game, wouldn’t it? That’s why I need those children. Their personalities, tastes, and strengths are all set to be random, so they sometimes bring me unique ideas that I wouldn’t have. They’re very convenient when I’m short-handed, and in fact, my worlds have been very stable recently.”
“Hmph, you say such words as ‘game of the world’ while wearing a benevolent face.”
“Oh, you’re speaking so sharply? You’re no different, are you? I recall you also greatly increased the number of your followers yourself, don’t you?” And besides,”
“And besides?”
“…You seem to be doing rather barbaric things? I hear you’re called the ‘God of Destruction’ or something.”
“Oh, even I, the great one, have a fitting name.”
The male persona, like the female persona, but in a different area of interest, had found the highest form of entertainment. How much his confidants, whom he had created, could approach his own power— in essence, he was fixated on strength. Rather than creating subordinates that suited him with his own power, he would find promising individuals within his sandbox, scout their souls, and hone their talents. That act was true bliss, and his current goal was to create beings that surpassed himself.
“You’re still going to play innocent. I know, you apparently destroyed another planet recently. Although it was a place without intelligent beings, please don’t destroy them indiscriminately. It’s a waste of resources.”
“I’m not wasting them? There were a few individuals who showed potential, so I, the great one, had them target a suitable planet to help them bloom. It’s like what you call an advance investment.”
“As my counterpart, please don’t make such childish excuses. And besides,”
“What, do you have more complaints?”
“Yes, unfortunately. Please stop poaching from my world without permission, even if it’s from your own jurisdiction. That’s my resource.”
“Mu, why are you saying strange things again? I, the great one, am merely taking their souls after making sure they have truly died?”
“The point is, don’t just drag their souls away! Honestly… I’ll have you replenish the resources you took from my world, alright?”
“Hey, don’t do as you please. That belongs to me, the great one.”
“Are you getting enough nutrition to your brain?”
Strangely enough, around this time, arguments began to occur frequently between the male and female personas. While exchanging opinions and debating was not particularly unusual, becoming so emotional was an unprecedented anomaly.
“Resources, huh… you often mention that lately.”
“Naturally. In the process of creating countless worlds and splitting into two distinct forms that suited us, our powers have considerably weakened.”
“Ah, we are far from omnipotent now. But—”
“Yes, resources are limited. Therefore—”
“—Still, no one worthy of standing alongside us has yet appeared. This is a grave situation. It is terribly boring to remain at the top forever.”
“—We must strive for further efficiency and stability to enjoy ourselves for longer. This is a grave situation. Pawns must be raised within controllable limits, and protruding nails must be hammered down.”
„…What?”
Yes, it was around this time that a clear rift began to form between the two of them.
