The scene changed.

For a moment we were sitting on a table in a famous fast food chain then in blink of an eye, were in a desolate place with nothing but piles of rubble everywhere, stretching far and wide into the horizon.

The smell of dust was in the air.

It seemed that the sun has only just set but unlike the orange hew that we normally see in a sunset, this place shows a toxic green hew.

I could only stare at something this impossible. This is surreal and therefore, it is a dream. That's probably it. I'll wake from this dream any moment.

"I can assure you, this isn't a dream."

Yuuki, with her both her hands on her chin like a master tactician convoluting a strategy. Her eyes are sharp, so sharp that it can pierce my soul.

This isn't her.

The hair all over my body fizzes up, my skin shivered like I'm in the Antarctic. I can't even open my release words out of my mouth.

"You seem confused. Don't worry, as long as you stay in this area, nobody can harm you. And to why I went through all that sort of role play, well, I just wanted to see your reaction when everything suddenly changes in the most inconspicuous way possible."

"But I have to give it to you. You sure are quite dense. A wee bit closed minded."

I don’t think that that’s inconspicuous. Rather, it’s the most obvious way possible but more importantly…

"Who...Are...?"

"Who am I? I'm God."

She smiled gently.

I don't believe it.

"Where...?

"This is the world you live in. You should be thankful that I even used my own time to save you."

"No... This isn't..."

"Ronto? It isn’t but also is. The Ronto you knew is just an illusion. This is the real one. Destroyed, devolved into rubble. This but remains."

This can't be true...

No.

I don’t know what’s more unbelievable. the fact that God, whom I denied his existence for as long as I remember is sitting in front of me or the fact that the place we are in, the place I grew so familiar of is wiped out like a meteor had just hit the surface of earth, eliminating life itself and the mark that it made to proclaim that it even existed.

No, this is all just an illusion. I’m probably mugged or something. Maybe this is why I always get the feeling like everything is just an illusion. Because a dream such as this would sprung up out of nowhere.

"I don't think so."

Yuuki spoke. No, this isn’t Yuuki. “he” spoke. Nothing is threatening in her words but why did a chill just ran through my spine?

"This place is your real world. The world I created at that."

"You created?"

"Yes."

There's no emotion on his face like the words he had spoken is something normal. Like he's implying that I'm the one who's abnormal here.

Right now, were sitting on the very same chairs that we originally had sat on and with the very same table in between us. It’s undamaged.

Who would create a desolate world? This. This is just stupid. This task is idiotic even for the God that I deny.

"I created this world because I wanted to. Because I was bored. Because I felt lonely."

“Why would you even create such an empty world? No, you probably didn’t, right? Then who destroyed it?”

"I’m sure that an atheist like you would know about angels, yes?”

“Of course I do.”

“I created the angels with good will in their hearts, kind and considerate. Faithfull to me. But some… some rejected me and thus I rejected them and now I no longer consider their existence. Fallen angels is what they are called.”

“I know that much.”

“Of course you do. I allowed you to know, anyway.”

"..."

“I’m sure that you may have very well know now who destroyed the world I created when I told you this absolute fact.”

I stayed silent.

It’s plainly obvious who the culprit is.

Even though I’m an atheist, I know some things about the concept of God. I know that he is omniscient and omniscience. A stupid figure. Such a being can never exist since that sort of being will spring up a lot of paradoxes like if God, a supreme being were to create a boulder so heavy that he cannot even lift it, not even an inch. If he ever made such a boulder then that will defile God’s very definition. A being that can do everything.

Since that’s the case, if ever his angels were to betray him, he knows beforehand that they will. Actually, he knows from the very start. And when they did, it is not those angel’s responsibility but God’s. Since God knows everything, then he could have stopped them but he didn’t.

“What a reasonable claim. Yes, you are correct. My very existence is full of paradoxes. But consider this…”

She, with a voice that somehow resembles all the voices of humanity, but at the same time, doesn’t, moved her mouth close to my ears.

“You forgot the fact that I created the universe and its laws.”

Upon hearing that voice, I felt that the feeling of dread lingered on every part of my body.

What is this feeling? A mix of fear and hope.

“Even If I were to create such a boulder that I cannot lift, then I would simply change its properties so that I can lift it. It would not limit me so because I already possess the power to do so even if I did made such a rule, and yes, the very fact that I am omniscience is quite true but those angels, whom I have cared for and loved, still chose to do so, still chose to betray my love. Then if that’s the case, why would I still choose to prevent such a betrayal when they already have chosen that act themselves? The act of evil that they freely chose to do.”

“…”

I can’t reply. Not because I don’t have anything to say but because I’m afraid to say it. Neither can I even think of my rebuttal.

This cheater.

Is this what they call the divine fear?

Her‒no, God’s expression still haven't changed the slightest since we've came here.

Thick black ashes started to rain down, accompanied by a loud explosion from a far. I can only guess it's a volcano. The ashes slowly drifts downward like snow in winter then rested upon our heads. Since he didn’t pay any mind to it, it should be courteous that I shouldn’t either.

I still don’t fully believe in God, more so, I merely consider that such concept would be possible rather than impossible before and for an astronomically rare chance, such concept is right before my eyes. I should consider myself lucky.

I consider God as an idea, not an existence.

“That’s good enough.”

The sound of the explosion from a volcano that had travelled far to be able to reach our ears eventually ceased. Now only silence fills the surrounding. The sun had also fully sunk into the horizon and what's left of the night sky is but a twilight. Darkness enshroud the surreal scenery and the sky. The stars still doesn't appear as it is still too early for it to appear. I can only hope that it will appear in the first place.

As I was observing our surroundings, the lips of which the body that God had used to resemble itself moved.

"What do you think are the capabilities of the beings that I created?”

"That depends on the capabilities that you bestowed to them.”

God had changed form from the look of a 36 year old office worker to that of a cluster of particle that took form in the shape of a human. His face, his body, his voice. It resembles all yet doesn’t resemble anyone. A general shape.

"Yes, capabilities. How one is capable on a certain concept. Their talent, their shape, how they act, what they are good for, what their purpose is in this world, their fundamental nature. Those are the basics of how I base my creation. But, let us focus on one thing. Purpose. Everyone, everything has a purpose, right?”

I simply nodded.

“Then tell me, what purpose did I gave you?”

What?

How should I know!?

“It’s simple really. You are but a source of entertainment.”

Though god doesn't have any eyes, I can feel like millions of eyes are staring right at me. It's unsettling.

“Entertainment?”

“Yes, entertainment. I destined that you will be made because I crave for entertainment. It’s quite boring when you know the actions of those you created.”

“Sorry but I don’t get it. Why am I a source of entertainment? Why me in particular? You can create anything, right? Then just create something that you can’t predict.”

“I did and that’s you.”

So now I’m a play thing of the God that I didn’t even acknowledge the existence of until now?

“Well, I would be lying if I said that it’s only you. There’s someone or something that I purposely created so that I can’t predict their actions are‒”

He paused for a moment which suffocating silence instantly followed and then he spoke.

“‒The most powerful creature in hell.”

I’m shocked. I’m shocked because of how foolish his decision is. He just made the most powerful creature in hell unpredictable.

“Oh, I also made that creature completely invulnerable to my power and gave it the power to eliminate my existence if it so have the chance.”

“WHY!!!”

He merely chuckle to his own absurd statement.

I accidently screamed. I mean, who wouldn’t? For a supreme being, this is the biggest blunder you can ever do in your entire eternal life! This is absolutely stupid! No matter how bored you are, you shouldn’t create something that’s completely immortal.

Wait, no. I’m stupid. I remembered one concept.

“Right. You are a supreme being. You can just remove such properties, right?”

“What I meant when I said that that creature being immune to my power, is, as just what I said. Immune to my power. Therefore, any such command that I wish to bestow on that creature is nullified. Seems like I may have step on the boundaries of the very paradox you’ve just mentioned.”

The corners of his lips turned upwards.

“Then what you’ve just done is falsify your very definition.”

“Not quite. I’m merely bending the rules.”

“What do you mean?

“What’s that definition again? “God can do everything”? That is quite true but, does that statement prohibits me using instruments for that task to be done? It certainly doesn’t. Technically, I can still do everything with the use of such instruments. For example, if a man were to lift a heavy boulder, he would utilise something like pulleys. If a man were to say his thoughts throughout the crowd, he would use a device that amplifies sounds. It’s just like that. I am merely bending the rules.”

A logical reasoning, but…

“That certainly is but doesn’t that limit you? You said it yourself. By limiting you, it would essentially break that definition were as God can do everything. And by breaking such definition, you will essentially create a paradox. Even the Creator of the universe should know that paradox is something that shouldn’t be crossed.”

God’s lips turned into a smirk.

“And so, how should we break that paradox?”

“By negating the previous rule that you had made.”

“Correct. You seem to know my very full potential. You passed.”

Passed?

“Yes. I was testing you to know how you would react to such paradoxes. Though your answer is basically saying that you give up but nonetheless, you still said the correct answer. But I will tell you this, I can assure you that I purposely allowed that creature to be able to eliminate me. It doesn’t create a paradox when there isn’t any foundation to create it, yes?”

“That seems so.”

“So what should we do about that?”

“Eliminate the creature’s existence?”

“That would be boring. I’m appointing you to destroy that Creature before it finds a way to destroy me.”

“You’re not going to do anything about it?”

“I am. I’m appointing you to do the dirty work.”

“No, what I meant was, doing something personally.”

“Of course not. Like I said, that would be boring and boredom is something that I’ve experienced for a long time.”

Then something came into my mind.

“Considering the things we’ve talked about until now, I would presume that when you said to me that you can’t predict my actions are a lie as well?”

“Ah, attentive, aren’t you? Well. I should say that I can’t predict your future but I also can. Since me being unable to predict your future essentially limits my capabilities and thus void because of my very definition.”

Basically saying, he couldn’t predict my future if he wouldn’t put his mind into it.

“Precisely.”

I don’t know why but somehow the atmosphere turned serious. God’s smile turned upside down at that. I assume that something serious will come up.

“Denis, was it? Since I had appointed you to destroy the most powerful being in hell, it’s only fair that I give you, a lowly human whom have seamlessly no knowledge of the place that awaits you, a gift, yes?”

God slanted his body back towards the back of the chair, placed his arm on the arm rest and rested his head onto his knuckles.

“Following our talk about the future, I shall bestow upon you a gift that you may use on your journey. A power to see a glimpse of the future, precognition. Use it however you please. This will be my only gift as I want to observe quietly.”

“I’m grateful for this gift that you’ve bestowed upon me, though, I wonder, do I perhaps have the right to decline this journey?”

“Unless you want your very existence to be eliminated, then be my guest.”

I guess that’s a no. Looks like I have no choice.

God lets out a sigh and continued.

“Let me repeat, your very existence is but an entertainment for me. Though I may, most likely will not interfere the choices you make, I simply want to know how you react to it. You seem to be quite quick witted, not the most of your kind, but it’s definitely something I slightly admire‒”

God leaned closer to the table and placed his arms on the table.

“‒Nevertheless, please do impress me.”

And suddenly, the scene turned white.