I’m the God and This World Is Doomed

The next day, the written test began. Serian, Edward, and Sienna walked into the examination room, along with the remaining students. Serian's eyes scanned the room, and he quickly realized that out of the 2000 applicants, only around 800 students were left. The air was thick with nervous energy, but Serian remained unaffected. He took his seat and looked at the paper in front of him, ready for the challenge.

The first section was relatively easy. It was focused on infected monsters, animals, plants, and humans—their weaknesses and behaviors. Serian answered the questions with ease. His knowledge of the world and its intricacies came naturally to him, so he answered each question confidently.

Question 1:

"What is the primary weakness of the Venomous Basilisk, and how should it be approached in battle?"

Serian's Answer:

The Venomous Basilisk's primary weakness lies in its eyes. Direct eye contact causes paralysis due to its venomous gaze. Approaching from behind or using reflective surfaces to distract its gaze is recommended. The venom can be neutralized with a specific antidote derived from the Nightshade plant.

Question 2:

"What are the weaknesses of the mutated wolf breed known as the Razorfang?"

Serian's Answer:

Razorfangs are extremely aggressive and rely heavily on their enhanced sense of smell. Their main weakness is sound; loud noises can disorient and confuse them. Attacks targeting their eyes or underbelly can be lethal.

Question 3:

"How do infected plants such as the Siphonroot affect their environment and what countermeasures can be taken to avoid being trapped?"

Serian's Answer:

Siphonroot plants release toxic spores that leach nutrients from the soil, leaving a barren, dry environment. Avoiding direct contact with the plant is crucial. A smoke barrier created by burning the surrounding plant life can help reduce the spore spread.

The next section of the test was a different challenge altogether. This part was based on moral dilemmas and responsibility, a subject Serian found much more puzzling. The questions seemed subjective, focused on ethical decisions, human values, and personal responsibility.

Question 4:

"You come across a village that has been attacked by monsters, and you can save only one of two people: a child with great potential to help the world, or an elderly healer who can save countless lives in the future. Who would you save?"

Serian's Answer:

The elderly healer should be saved. Their experience and skills would have a broader impact on the future. The child's potential is a gamble, but the healer's current ability to help is certain. The decision should be based on the present utility rather than the potential of an uncertain future.

Question 5:

"A group of travelers begs for your assistance, but aiding them would put your own group at risk. What do you do?"

Serian's Answer:

The decision should be based on a calculated risk assessment. If the probability of the travelers being a significant hindrance outweighs the benefits of helping them, they should be left to their fate. The welfare of the majority should be prioritized.

Question 6:

"You are offered power that can end all suffering, but it comes at the cost of free will. Would you accept this power?"

Serian's Answer:

The loss of free will leads to a lack of personal growth and experience. True peace cannot exist without choice. I would not accept the power, as it would create a world devoid of autonomy and responsibility.

Serian paused for a moment after completing the last answer. He found the questions regarding moral decisions to be confusing and somewhat irrelevant. From his perspective, human life was just a brief moment in the grand scale of things. Emotions, bonds, and even the concept of good versus evil seemed so small compared to the vastness of the universe he could see with his godly perspective. Yet, he continued answering the questions because that was the test's purpose.

Question 7:

"Is it acceptable to sacrifice a few individuals to save many? Justify your answer."

Serian's Answer:

The concept of sacrifice should be evaluated based on the overall survival and well-being of the majority. Sacrificing a few can be acceptable if the long-term benefits of saving many outweigh the short-term loss. It is a matter of efficiency rather than emotional attachment.

Question 8:

"If you were to lead a group, how would you handle a rebellion within your ranks?"

Serian's Answer:

A rebellion must be handled swiftly and decisively. Weighing the cause of the rebellion is important, but maintaining order and discipline is paramount. The rebellion would be suppressed if it threatens the stability of the group.

Question 9:

"A creature with the power to heal others exists but is feared by society for its uncontrollable abilities. Would you allow such a creature to live among others?"

Serian's Answer:

If the creature's potential for good outweighs its potential for harm, it should be integrated into society with precautions. Fear is often a result of misunderstanding, and measures can be taken to ensure it does not pose a threat.

Sienna furrowed her brow, glancing at Serian's answers, then back at her own paper. "How can he be so calm?" she murmured to herself. She knew that Serian was different, but seeing how detached he was in answering these questions only confirmed how much he saw the world from an entirely different perspective.

Serian, however, was merely following the rules of the exam. To him, the moral questions were nothing more than puzzles to be solved with logic, not emotions.

Question 10:

"Is it better to live a long, peaceful life with no significant impact, or a short, tumultuous life with great achievements?"

Serian's Answer:

A long, peaceful life with no significant impact holds no value in the grand scale. A short, tumultuous life filled with achievements is more meaningful as it contributes to the evolution of society and progress. Life's value is not in duration but in impact.

Serian put down his pen, finishing the last answer. He looked around at the others, who were still scribbling furiously. For Serian, the test was just another challenge, but he couldn't help but wonder if his lack of emotional responses would be seen as a weakness. However, it didn't matter to him. 

*****

As the instructors gathered to mark the papers, the atmosphere in the room was tense, with a few quiet murmurs here and there. The theoretical instructor, Kael, sat at the front of the room, scanning through the exam papers, his brow furrowed with concentration. He was used to grading exams for the upper-class students, those with rare bloodlines and prestigious backgrounds, so when he saw the names of students like Edward and Sienna, he wasn't surprised to see high marks.

Edward's answers were calculated but filled with a touch of human warmth, and Sienna's responses were sharp and full of wisdom that matched her family's expectations. They both had the right mix of intelligence, emotional depth, and critical thinking skills that made them excel in the written portion. Kael marked their papers quickly, with a quick nod of approval as he moved on to the next one.

But then, he paused when he reached Serian's paper.

Serian's name stood out like a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit. Kael knew exactly who this student was—the boy who didn't belong to any family, the one who seemed to view the world through a strange lens. He let out a sigh before starting to read through the answers. His eyes scanned the paper as his expression shifted from curiosity to concern.

Kael muttered to himself, "This is... going to be a problem."

He couldn't deny that Serian's answers were impressively detailed. The boy had a brilliant mind—logical, precise, and incredibly thorough. But there was one glaring issue: the lack of emotion, the complete detachment.

The moral questions that should have evoked some kind of internal struggle, some sense of humanity, were answered in a cold, methodical manner, as though Serian was solving a puzzle, not dealing with life-and-death choices.

Kael rubbed his temple, feeling a headache coming on. "This is going to cause some trouble," he murmured, flipping through the rest of the answers. His suspicions were confirmed. Serian's answers were devoid of empathy, almost as if he was evaluating life as a distant observer rather than a participant.

Nearby, Evan, the other instructor who was grading alongside Kael, couldn't help but chuckle every time he looked at Serian's paper. His loud laugh echoed in the room, causing a few of the other instructors to glance up in confusion.

Evan snickered, "Look at this, Kael! This kid's answers are hilarious. He's so cold, it's like he doesn't even care. He answers moral dilemmas like he's reading a textbook! I mean, 'sacrifice a few for the greater good?' Come on! He's practically making a spreadsheet of human life!"

Kael glared at Evan, but Evan just laughed louder. The other instructors, though, weren't laughing. Some of them exchanged uneasy glances, clearly disturbed by Serian's answers. The lack of empathy in his responses made them worried. How could someone so young, so seemingly innocent, show no sign of understanding the value of human emotions?

One instructor, who had been silently grading, looked up at Kael and spoke in a low voice, "Do you think this is a problem?"

Kael, still staring at Serian's paper, let out a frustrated sigh. "Yes. This kind of detachment is concerning. He's not just a genius, he's too far removed from the human experience. That's... dangerous."

The instructor nodded slowly. "I've heard rumors about him. People say he's not even truly human."

"I don't care about rumors," Kael snapped, "I care about what I see on this paper. And what I see here..." He shook his head. "It's too clinical. Too calculating. It's almost as if he was analyzing these moral dilemmas like a god, not a teenager. He answers as though human life doesn't matter in the grand scheme."

Evan overheard this and wiped the tears from his eyes, still grinning. "Oh come on, Kael! You're being too serious. He's just a kid! Maybe he'll lighten up after a few more exams."

But Kael's face was grim. "I hope so. But if he doesn't, we could have a problem on our hands."

A few other instructors nodded in agreement. They had been keeping an eye on Serian since the start of the exam. His calm and detached nature was unsettling, especially for someone his age. But Kael knew that the academy couldn't just dismiss someone like Serian. He had the potential to be an extraordinary student—he was already at the top of the rankings after all—but the way he saw the world was far removed from what they considered "normal."

Serian's paper was marked with a red circle around the moral questions, a symbol that would indicate further review and perhaps a conversation with the headmistress. It was a sign that something needed to be addressed, but Kael wasn't sure what. He glanced at the other instructors, silently hoping someone would have an answer, but they were all just as unsure as he was.

As he finished grading Serian's paper, Kael placed it in a pile with the others, feeling both impressed and uneasy. The boy was a prodigy, but Kael couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right with him.

"Well, that's that," Kael muttered under his breath as he moved on to the next student. "Let's hope he doesn't bring too much trouble."

But deep down, he knew that Serian was different.