The ethereal landscape of the **Conceptual Emptiness** stretched endlessly before them, a boundless space where time held no meaning, and existence itself seemed to shift with every breath. Here, in this vast, transcendent realm, **Shinzui** stood at the edge of what was meant to be his training, guided by none other than **Kiso no Kami** (Vivus-sama), the **Foundational God** of the **Lowest Plane of Existence**. Though Shinzui's true power far exceeded anything Vivus-sama could fathom, he played his role perfectly—the eager student, poised to learn.
"Let's begin, Shinzui-kun," Vivus-sama said with an enthusiastic glint in his eyes. The Foundational God's voice echoed through the void, carrying with it an air of authority and anticipation. To him, this training was a momentous occasion, a chance to unlock the latent potential of the young man before him.
Shinzui, always the consummate observer, nodded in response, wearing an expression of excitement. "Yes, Vivus-sama, I am ready," he replied, the faintest smile touching his lips. Inside, however, Shinzui was amused. He had agreed to this training not because he sought power—his strength was already unfathomable—but because he enjoyed watching the narrative unfold. There was something captivating about the sincerity with which Vivus-sama and the other gods approached this endeavor.
"First, I will teach you how to harness your unique aura," Vivus-sama explained. "It is unlike anything I've encountered, and we will need time—lots of it—to understand its true potential." His tone was that of a mentor, filled with pride and expectation.
Shinzui settled into a meditative stance beside Vivus-sama, mimicking the posture with ease. **Eons** passed by in the blink of an eye, though to the gods, the concept of time here was hardly linear. Time, like all things in this **Conceptual Emptiness**, flowed differently—if it flowed at all. Here, entire lifetimes could pass in a moment, and the weight of countless ages could be felt in a single breath. As they meditated, Shinzui allowed his aura to expand, but only incrementally, giving the illusion of steady progress.
After what felt like a **timeless eternity**, Vivus-sama opened his eyes, his gaze filled with awe. "Your aura… it has adapted, Shinzui-kun," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "I've never seen such rapid progress. You are truly remarkable."
Shinzui, holding back his amusement, opened his eyes as well. "It seems my aura has become more adaptable than I expected. I owe it to your guidance, Vivus-sama," he said, his voice filled with practiced sincerity. In truth, Shinzui had complete mastery over his aura long before this training had even begun. His true strength was far beyond what any god in the **Lowest Plane** could comprehend, but he allowed Vivus-sama to believe that his teaching was responsible for this supposed progress.
Vivus-sama smiled, clearly pleased with himself. "Your aura has grown purer than even the gods and goddesses of the **Conceptual Realm**. But we are not done yet, Shinzui-kun. We must continue to the next stage of your training. Are you ready?"
Feigning exhaustion, Shinzui let out a small sigh. "Vivus-sama, we have been at this for what feels like an eternity. Surely we can rest for a while?"
Vivus-sama chuckled, his voice full of reassurance. "Rest? Don't worry about time, Shinzui-kun. Here, time flows differently. The eons we've spent in meditation are but fleeting moments compared to the flow of time in other realms. You'll find that what feels like an eternity here is mere seconds in the **Physical Plane**."
Shinzui pretended to be bewildered. "I don't fully understand, Vivus-sama, but I trust your wisdom. Time here... is truly different from the Earth's."
"That's exactly it," Vivus-sama said, satisfied. "Now, shall we proceed with the next stage?"
Shinzui nodded, once again feigning eagerness. "Yes, Vivus-sama. Let's continue."
As they pressed forward, the training grew more intense—or at least, that's how it appeared to Vivus-sama. Shinzui allowed his aura to expand further, making it seem as though the training had led to unprecedented growth. **Eons** continued to pass, though the passage of time meant little in this place, and slowly, Shinzui's aura swelled to a level that surpassed even the **Foundational God's**.
Vivus-sama, who had been monitoring Shinzui's progress, stopped suddenly, his eyes widening with astonishment. "It seems… your aura has become stronger than mine, Shinzui-kun."
Shinzui, playing his part perfectly, looked shocked. "Stronger than yours, Vivus-sama? That can't be possible!" he said, his voice filled with disbelief.
Vivus-sama stared at him, shaking his head in awe. "It is possible. Your aura has grown beyond even my own. I never thought I would see such power."
Inwardly, Shinzui chuckled. This was all part of the performance—allowing Vivus-sama to believe that he had surpassed his teacher through divine training. It was amusing to watch the **Foundational God** grapple with the idea that his student had become more powerful than himself.
"There is more for you to know," Vivus-sama said gravely. "Now that you have surpassed me, you are ready to become the proxy of the **Worldly God**, **Omorion-sama**."
Feigning shock once again, Shinzui asked, "There is a god more powerful than you, Vivus-sama?"
Vivus-sama nodded. "Yes. **Omorion-sama** is the **Worldly God**, responsible for creating infinite, uncountable **Existences**, each containing its own **Lowest Plane of Existence**. His power is far beyond mine. But that is enough for you to know for now."
Shinzui bowed his head in respect, though internally, he was smiling. "Yes, Vivus-sama. I understand."
As they began walking back toward the **Grand Castle**, Vivus-sama began to speak of the **Conceptual Realm**, offering Shinzui more insight into the planes that made up the **Lowest Plane of Existence**.
"The **Physical Plane**, as you know, contains the tangible realities—the **real world**, including **Japan**. Everything that exists in the realm of physical matter can be found there, though it is but one layer of existence."
Shinzui nodded. "I see. And the other planes?"
"The **Fictional Plane**," Vivus-sama continued, "is home to the stories and narratives that emerge through non-traditional means. It contains worlds and realms of imagination, though it does not hold the cultural stories tied to Japan."
Shinzui listened intently, though he was already aware of all this. "And the **Fantasy Plane**?" he asked, though he knew the answer.
"The **Fantasy Plane** is unique," Vivus-sama said, his voice taking on a reverent tone. "It holds the stories and worlds that emerge from the rich, creative culture of **Japan**—a place where tales of heroism, myth, and imagination intertwine. These stories are born from deep within the cultural fabric, and within them, entire worlds exist, shaped by the ideas and dreams of countless creators. The **Fantasy Plane** is a place where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur, allowing for the existence of worlds that are entirely distinct from the **Fictional Plane**."
"And the **Plane of Zero**?" Shinzui asked, his curiosity piqued.
"The **Plane of Zero** exists within the **Fantasy Plane**, but it is entirely separate," Vivus-sama explained. "It is a realm of unparalleled uniqueness, containing worlds and stories that stand apart from the rest. These worlds are intricately tied to the culture of **Japan**, but they follow their own distinct rules. The **Plane of Zero** is a place where the imagination knows no limits, and the stories there are unlike any others."
As they walked, Vivus-sama continued, his tone growing more serious. "Beyond the **Fantasy Plane**, we have the **Conceptual Plane**. This is where all concepts and non-concepts reside. It holds the essence of ideas themselves—the very foundation of thought and existence. Within the **Conceptual Plane**, the highest forms of abstraction exist, including the concept of **concept** itself."
Shinzui nodded again. "And the **Metaphysical Plane**?"
"The **Metaphysical Plane** is home to the **meta-concepts**," Vivus-sama said. "These are ideas that go beyond the realm of simple concepts. They are abstractions that transcend thought itself—ideas about ideas, concepts about concepts. The **Metaphysical Plane** is where the boundaries of thought are pushed to their limits."
Shinzui remained silent, allowing Vivus-sama to continue his explanation.
"And finally, there is the **Unknowable Plane**," Vivus-sama hesitated, his voice tinged with a solemn reverence as he spoke of the Unknowable Plane. "There are no ideas, no concepts, not even the concept of 'nothingness.' It is a place where even the concept of absence is absent. It exists beyond comprehension, beyond language, beyond anything that even we, as gods, can fully grasp. It's a place where the boundaries of thought, reality, and imagination simply cease to matter."
Shinzui, playing the part of the curious student, nodded with a mixture of awe and confusion. "It sounds... impossible to imagine, Vivus-sama."
"It is," Vivus-sama replied, his gaze distant, as though even trying to comprehend the Unknowable Plane left him unsettled. "Even the god of the Unknowable Plane—such as Yoruichi Kuroda (Shinpi no Kami)—transcend the limits of conceptualization. But enough of that for now. You've already achieved much today." As Vivus-sama spoke, Shinzui reflected on the complexity of the planes, though inwardly, he was far more fascinated by the intricacies of the narrative itself. Every word, every explanation was part of the unfolding story, guided by the Book of Rules crafted by the Outer Gods, Althion and Zephyros. It was a masterpiece of balance and foresight, and Shinzui couldn't help but admire the elegance of its design.
As they neared the towering gates of the Grand Castle, the seat of power within the Conceptual Emptiness, Vivus-sama slowed his pace. He turned to Shinzui, his expression filled with pride. "Shinzui-kun, your progress has been beyond anything I could have anticipated. You've surpassed even me, and now you stand ready to take on a role far greater than what we originally planned."
Feigning modesty, Shinzui bowed his head. "Thank you, Vivus-sama. I never imagined I would come this far."
Vivus-sama's eyes gleamed as he placed a hand on Shinzui's shoulder. "Now, you are prepared to face the challenges ahead. The gods and goddesses of the Conceptual Realm will see you as an equal—or perhaps even as something more. You've grown beyond what even they could achieve."
As they stepped through the grand gates and into the castle, the atmosphere shifted. The air within the Grand Castle was thick with the divine presence of the gods and goddesses, each one an embodiment of the plane they transcended. Satoshi Ginsawa (Rinen no Kami), the God of Concepts, stood in deep contemplation near a grand window, his silver eyes reflecting the abstract thoughts running through his mind. Haruto Aozora (Jittai no Kami), the God of Metaphysical Substance, floated in a state of serene awareness, his aura radiating with the essence of the meta-concepts—ideas that were beyond even the most abstract realms of thought.
At the center of the gathering was Reika Akiyama (Gensou no Megami), the Goddess of Fantasy, her form glowing softly as she conversed with the others. Her presence was captivating, a manifestation of the endless imagination and stories that defined the Fantasy Plane and the Plane of Zero nestled within it.
As Shinzui entered the hall with Vivus-sama, the gods and goddesses turned their attention to him. Their divine forms radiated with awe as they sensed the growth in Shinzui's aura, now towering over their own.
Reika approached him with a smile, her blue-silver hair shimmering as she moved. "Shinzui-kun, you've changed," she said, her voice gentle yet filled with admiration. "Your aura... it feels different, stronger than before."
Shinzui smiled warmly, though inside he laughed at the spectacle before him. "I have Vivus-sama to thank for that," he said humbly, bowing his head to the Foundational God.
Satoshi, still deep in thought, looked at Shinzui with curiosity. "Your aura... it surpasses the limits of conceptualization. What Vivus-sama has done is beyond even my understanding."
Haruto floated closer, his gaze filled with the calm insight of the Metaphysical Plane. "To have achieved such a transformation in so little time... it's almost as if you've transcended the limitations of time itself."
Shinzui gave a modest nod, still playing his part perfectly. "I've learned so much, but I still have much to understand."
Vivus-sama, clearly proud of his role as Shinzui's mentor, spoke up. "Shinzui-kun's progress is a testament to the potential that lies within all beings. Through patience and training, anyone can ascend to greatness."
The gods and goddesses nodded in agreement, though Shinzui could sense the unease in their auras. They were not used to seeing someone ascend so quickly, especially not someone who had begun as an outsider to the divine hierarchy.
As the evening wore on, the gods and goddesses began to settle into their discussions, exchanging insights about the nature of their respective planes. Shinzui, though present, remained mostly silent, observing them with keen interest.
Satoshi turned to Vivus-sama, his expression thoughtful. "Vivus-sama, now that Shinzui-kun has surpassed even you, what role will he play in the grand narrative?"
Vivus-sama smiled, clearly anticipating the question. "Shinzui-kun is now prepared to serve as the proxy of Omorion-sama, the Worldly God. His aura has grown to a point where he can influence entire Existences, and he will be a key figure in maintaining balance across the planes."
Reika, who had been listening closely, looked at Shinzui with concern. "But Shinzui-kun, that sounds like such a heavy burden. Are you ready for such a responsibility?"
Shinzui, always the careful observer, gave her a reassuring smile. "I will do my best, Reika-san. Whatever challenges lie ahead, I'll face them."
Inside, however, Shinzui marveled at the layers of the narrative. Everything, from the training to this very conversation, was part of the larger story that had been predetermined long ago. He was merely playing his role, though none of the gods could see through his facade.