Chapter 2
I stood in the vast, empty space, feeling a sense of both exhilaration and trepidation. Yahweh—yeah, He actually let me call Him that—had just explained the rules of this "test." The weight of His words lingered in my mind, and the emptiness around me amplified their significance.
Flashback
"It's simple, really," Yahweh had said, His voice carrying an air of absolute authority, yet oddly kind. "This test comes in two parts. The first part is straightforward: this space you're in is a dimension—one of the ten I've created specifically for this test. This dimension will be under your complete control, molded to your bidding. To assist you, I'll grant you three abilities: nigh-Omniscience, nigh-Omnipotence, and nigh-Omnipresence. While in this dimension, these powers will feel as though they are true omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence."
I had blinked, trying to process the sheer magnitude of what He was offering. "And what's the second part?" I had asked cautiously.
"The second part is comprised of smaller competitions or mini-tests. Succeeding in these will grant you assistance, whether in the form of allies, resources, or items that will aid you in completing the main task."
"You mentioned this dimension is one of ten, and earlier, you said everyone was 'settled.' Are there others?"
"Yes," Yahweh had replied, His golden light pulsing faintly, as if amused by my curiosity. "Nine more candidates, each with their own dimension and unique personality types."
I had nodded, filing that information away for later. "Alright," I said slowly, my voice steady despite the storm of questions in my mind. "And the main task? What happens if I fail?"
Yahweh's expression hadn't changed, but there was a subtle weight in the air as He responded. "Failure is simple: I wipe your memories, strip you of your powers, destroy your dimension, and send you back to Earth."
I frowned. "That's it?"
He nodded. "That's it. But…"
"Ah, there it is," I muttered.
Yahweh's light flickered faintly, a celestial chuckle in response. "But, should you die after being returned to Earth, your existence will be permanently erased. No afterlife, no reincarnation. Nothing."
I had swallowed hard, feeling a chill run down my spine. It was a steep price.
"Do you accept?" He had asked, though we both already knew the answer.
"You know I do," I'd said with a small, wry smile.
"Then take My hand, and all will begin."
I'd hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Before we do this, can I ask you something?"
Yahweh's light flared slightly. "You want to know which of My names you should use."
"Damn, that omniscience," I'd muttered, rolling my eyes. "Why don't you just finish the thought for me?"
"It's more entertaining this way."
I'd sighed, then nodded. "Alright. Yahweh it is."
"It has been a long time since I was called that," He'd said with a note of nostalgia. "Very well."
With that, I'd taken His hand, and a brilliant golden light had engulfed me.
Flashback End
Now, standing—or rather floating—in this space, I realized just how unique this "dimension" truly was. It wasn't just empty. It lacked even the basic concepts of existence. No matter, no void, no time, no nothing. If anything, I'd call it Null Space—an infinite expanse of raw potential, waiting for something, or someone, to define it.
I looked down at myself, noting my casual attire. A plain T-shirt and shorts didn't exactly scream "godly power," did it? With a wave of my hand, my clothes shifted. A black robe materialized, adorned with glowing patterns resembling stars, galaxies, and nebulas.
"Much better," I muttered, brushing an invisible speck of dust off the sleeve. "Now, what to do…"
The possibilities were endless. I had nigh-infinite power at my fingertips, but diving into something as monumental as creating an entire dimension without a plan seemed… reckless. Besides, I had no experience with these abilities yet. The smart thing to do would be to start small, get a feel for my new capabilities, and work my way up.
"I should probably get started," I said aloud, my voice echoing faintly in the void.
But where to begin? Should I create light? Matter? A stable plane to stand on? Or something more abstract, like time? The sheer number of options was overwhelming.
Taking a deep breath—did I even need to breathe here?—I closed my eyes and focused. Slowly, I extended my hand and willed a small sphere of light into existence. At first, nothing happened, but then, a faint glow began to take shape in the palm of my hand. It was tiny, no bigger than a marble, but it pulsed with warmth and energy.
"Huh," I murmured, holding it up to inspect it. The sphere felt weightless, yet it radiated an almost intoxicating sense of creation. "Not bad for a first try."
With a flick of my wrist, I sent the sphere floating into the endless expanse. It expanded as it moved, growing larger and brighter until it became a star, its golden light illuminating the Null Space around it.
"Alright," I said, smiling faintly. "Step one: light. Done. What's next?"
I turned my attention back to the space around me. If I wanted to practice, I needed something to practice on. I focused again, this time imagining a solid plane beneath my feet. Slowly, a vast expanse of silvery-white materialized, stretching infinitely in all directions. It was smooth and featureless, but it gave me a sense of grounding.
"Okay, solid ground. Check," I said, pacing a bit to test its stability. "This is… kind of fun."
The thrill of creation was exhilarating. I'd written about characters with godlike powers before, but experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely.
As I worked, a thought struck me. "I wonder what the other nine are doing right now."
Yahweh had mentioned the other candidates, each with their own dimension to control. Were they struggling like I was? Thriving? Or maybe doing something completely different? Part of me wanted to meet them, but another part was wary. This was a competition, after all. Would they see me as an ally or a threat?
"Guess I'll find out eventually," I muttered, shaking my head. For now, I had more pressing matters to focus on.
Looking out at the star I'd created, I felt a surge of determination. This was only the beginning. There was so much more I could do, so much more I wanted to try.
With a flick of my wrist, I summoned another sphere of light, this one smaller and dimmer than the first. Carefully, I shaped it, bending and twisting its energy until it became a planet—a small, rocky world with jagged mountains and deep oceans.
"Not bad," I said, watching it orbit the star. "Not bad at all."
This was going to take time, I realized. Mastering these powers, building this dimension, completing the test—it wasn't something I could rush. But for the first time in a long time, I felt… excited.
This was my world now, my canvas.
And I was just getting started.
Chapter 2: End