Chapter 1: The Creator's Onlooker
[Note: This is an ensemble cast story. The protagonist appears in Chapter 26, but the story can be followed from Chapter 24.]
When the Overgod used the tablets of fate to create the world, the development of the universe was already set. The major trends are fixed, but minor details can be changed. (For example—the changing of eras must proceed step-by-step, but a portion of a race destined for extinction can be preserved.)
The protagonist starts with Greater Deity power, meaning his power has no room to grow; a significant portion of the plot happens behind the scenes.
If he wants to break through Greater Deity power or even promote to Overgod, he must return to the universe of Blue Star. There, there is no interference from the Overgod's tablets of fate.
..."Latest news: the global first case of death due to a VR gaming pod accident occurred in our city today.
The victim, a Mr. Ling, suffered a fatal explosion while using the gaming pod..."
The news broadcast sounded from a TV in the mall, showing a grayscale photo of a pixelated black-haired youth.
No one knew this was already Ling Hao's second life. He had been reborn, returning to the time before the catastrophe of the "World of Toril" descending upon the world.
In his previous life, the "World of Toril" became a disaster. A few years after the game's development, otherworldly portals connected to Blue Star, mana flooded the cities, rules were rewritten, and reality was reshaped like a game.
Countless people either died in agony during the mana tides or mutated into monsters, but a few lucky ones adapted to the changes and changed classes to become practitioners who mastered transcendent powers.
Those veteran players, relying on their knowledge of game classes, skills, dungeons, and background settings, quickly rose in the new era to become regional overlords.
Meanwhile, Ling Hao in his previous life was merely a pure lore and role-playing enthusiast. He was intoxicated by epic stories and character interactions, turning his nose up at tedious class data, skill trees, equipment guides, and dungeon walkthroughs.
As a result, he struggled in the peril-filled new world and eventually died a pathetic, unremarkable death in a dungeon.
Reborn, he swore never to repeat the same mistakes. But fate is unpredictable; poor him was "solo-killed" by the gaming equipment... Now, Ling Hao's consciousness was plunged into chaos, floating in the boundless dark void.
Time did not yet exist in the void. After an unknown amount of time, an unknown entity was born from the nothingness.
He was omniscient and omnipotent, the one in whom all things are one. The existence that had just awakened instantly knew everything, and beside Him, a shimmering rule tablet quietly emerged.
Ling Hao's consciousness awakened along with this omniscient and omnipotent existence. Upon regaining clarity, he looked at the scene before him in shock.
"This is... Overgod Ao creating the world!" He instantly recognized this game opening scene.
He tried to move, but found he had no body, only an observer's perspective. And that Overgod Ao seemed completely unaware of his presence.
Although Ao was inherently formless, in Ling Hao's human perspective, He appeared as a colossal humanoid silhouette of light, gazing expressionlessly at the tablets of fate before Him.
Ling Hao guessed that Ao couldn't perceive him perhaps because he existed in some high-dimensional form, just as humans look at a two-dimensional image; the characters in the image cannot perceive the viewer.
On an impulse, he called out, "Open system!"
[Observer Mode activated]
[Current Era: Genesis Era - "Primal Light"]
[Historical Node: Ao's Creation. Subsequent birth of the Twin Goddesses.]
[Warning: Currently in the underlying architectural stage of world rules; no form of interaction is possible. Unskippable.]
[Hint: As an observer, your perception of time has been modified.]
[When history progresses to the key node—the Dawn War, where the Nine-Faced Dragon God Ao is split by the Lord of Terror and the good half Bahamut is born—player permissions will be unlocked, and identity loading can be performed.]
By now, Overgod Ao had already begun writing on the tablets of fate. There was no sound, yet Ling Hao could see that indescribable grand power shaping the universe.
From the void, the Material Plane began to form; the Astral Planeshimmered with strange light; the Outer Planes unfolded layer by layer; the Elemental Planes surged with primal forces... Ling Hao watched this entire process of creation, yet felt as if he were in the eye of a storm, safe and sound. After another immeasurable length of time, darkness gradually condensed, and within it, scattered stars began to twinkle.
This darkness and these stars gradually coalesced into consciousness and divinity, finally forming two hazy figures.
They were twin sisters, born simultaneously from chaos—Sulen, the Goddess of Light; Shar, the Goddess of Darkness.
The two Primal Gods opened their eyes, curiously gazing at this newly born universe.
Overgod Ao commanded: "Sulen, Shar, you shall guide this world."
The two goddesses turned solemnly toward Overgod Ao, nodding slightly to signify their acceptance of the mission.
Ling Hao was well-acquainted with the relationship between these two sisters: they initially coexisted in harmony, but Sulen desired light and order, while Shar advocated for the universe to remain in darkness.
"Sister, look at this newborn universe," Sulen spoke, her voice gentle. "How beautiful and empty it is, waiting for us to fill it."
Shar nodded, her voice like a whisper in the night: "Yes, little sister. This darkness is so pure, these spaces so tranquil. We should carefully add content to preserve this serene beauty."
"But there needs to be some light," Sulen said with a gentle wave of her hand, and some stars instantly brightened. "See, isn't it more beautiful this way?"
"Indeed," Shar admitted, but quickly added, "However, some regions should remain dark; they do not need any light."
Ling Hao was surprised to find that, unlike the game's setting, the initial dialogue between the two goddesses showed no obvious conflict, but was instead exploratory and complementary.
They strolled through the universe together, discussing where there should be light and where darkness should be maintained. Overgod Aowatched quietly, without any emotional fluctuation, like a programmer watching their code run.
Comparing it to the game in his memory, the process was too real and detailed. After an unknown amount of time, the basic structure of the universe had formed.
Overgod Ao spoke again: "The universe needs to be established; it needs to be guided." Sulen and Shar turned to the Overgod, waiting for further instructions.
"You shall jointly manage this universe," Overgod Ao announced.
Shar bowed slightly: "Great Creator, the appearance of life will break the current peace. They will fight, they will die, and they will bring chaos."
Sulen, however, expressed her agreement: "But it will also bring joy, growth, and love. We should give life a chance, sister."
This was the first sign of disagreement between the sisters, but Sharsoon softened her attitude: "You are right, sister. Perhaps we can carefully introduce life, controlling their quantity and quality."
Ao seemed uninterested in this discussion, merely emphasizing again: "This is your responsibility." Having said that, the Overgod's figure began to dissipate, seemingly merging into the background of the newly created universe.
At that moment, Ao suddenly looked in the direction where Ling Haowas, sending a bone-chilling cold through Ling Hao. Sulen and Sharalso turned in that direction, looking in surprise at the empty space.