King of Games C40 Civilization speed run

Shinro glanced around the employees workspace, his eyes darting from one cubicle to another. He breathed a sigh of relief as he realized that none of his employees had noticed the tiny speck of light floating just above his shoulder. It was Angel, the spirit he'd created a few days ago using his skill, Spirit Creation.

Initially, he'd been worried that someone might spot the ethereal creature, but it seemed either they were too preoccupied with their own work or simply couldn't see the spirit he'd conjured. Shinro chalked it up to Angel's minuscule size or it's otherworldly nature and decided to focus on his true mission: exacting revenge on gaming behemoths like Microsoft and Sony.

Refusing to even consider his company's games for their platforms, let alone their coveted consoles. He glanced over at the "Tiny World" where he sent his spirit creation, Lucent, to influence the world's development.

Lucent-san, as Shinro had taken to calling him, was tasked with accelerating the civilization's technological advancement so they could create high-end consoles that would rival those of Microsoft and Sony.

However, despite it having been only a few days in the real world, thousands of years had passed in the "Tiny World," and the civilization was still far from achieving the level of sophistication required.

Lucent-san's method of influencing the humans in the "Tiny World" was an intriguing one, Shinro mused. As a spirit, Lucent couldn't be seen or heard by the mortals, so he had to resort to more subtle means. He nudged their emotions and desires, kindling their ambitions with feelings like pride, drive, innovation, and even greed.

Lucent also possessed the authority to manipulate the world itself as he was given the authority by Shinro, guiding the humans into situations where they would be forced to innovate and adapt. Shinro knew that this approach would take time, but he trusted in Lucent's cunning.

As Shinro watched the "Tiny World" unfold, he saw the civilization slowly but surely progressing.

He returned to his work, knowing that Lucent-san was doing everything in his power to guide the humans towards a technologically advanced civilization.

Two days flew by as Shinro found himself increasingly engrossed in observing the "Tiny World." The sped-up passage of time, with dozens of years passing for every hour in the real world, made it both captivating and addictive to watch. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as he witnessed the civilization's rapid advancements, thanks to Lucent-san's tireless efforts.

However, Shinro couldn't shake the feeling that something about Lucent-san had changed. It was understandable, given the spirit had experienced thousands of years within the "Tiny World" while only a few days had passed in the real world. But it was more than that.

Lucent-san's once vibrant demeanor had been replaced by an icy coldness, his eyes now devoid of the warmth they once held. He'd become a stoic, almost aloof figure, far removed from the cheerful spirit he'd created.

Shinro couldn't blame Lucent-san for the change in his demeanor. After all, it was equivalent to thousands of years for him in the "Tiny World." He glanced at the statues and symbols the humans had erected in Lucent-san's honor, or rather, what they thought was in his honor.

They didn't know it was Lucent-san they were paying tribute to, but they'd unknowingly created a representation of the spirit of pride. And in their history, he was portrayed as an evil figure.

In the book Tora, written by Knoa during the great flood, there was a character named Lucent, an angel under the Creator who embodied pride and rebellion. Shinro found it eerie how Knoa could have predicted the name Lucent, considering Knoa had long since passed away before Lucent was created.

Shinro frowned, feeling a pang of guilt. He'd never intended for his creation to be seen as a malevolent force. Perhaps he should check in on Lucent-san soon, to make sure he was coping well with the pressure and responsibility of guiding an entire civilization.

---

In the halls of Konami's headquarters, a group of executives were discussing their thriving pachinko and mobile gaming businesses. However, the mood shifted when one of them brought up a different topic.

"I just received word from my secretary," he began, "KiShin has turned down yet another offer from both Microsoft and Sony. It seems they're quite ambitious."

The CEO chuckled coldly. "Ambitious, yes, but also very prideful. And as they say, pride comes before the fall."

Another executive chimed in, visibly irritated. "Not only are they ambitious, but their owner also snubbed us while entertaining other companies. Now that they've burned bridges with Microsoft and Sony, I expect the young company to crumble before it even had a chance to grow."

The executives around the table nodded in agreement, sipping their expensive whiskeys.

"Even with their popular and successful games, I doubt they'll last long with the losses they're taking on that grocery business venture," one of them said smugly. "They'll either have to give up on the grocery business or face bankruptcy."

The others laughed, secretly hoping for KiShin's downfall. They weren't the only ones eyeing the struggling company, though; even giants like Microsoft and Sony were waiting in the wings, ready to pounce on the opportunity to acquire the promising game studio.

---

Shinro materialized in the "Tiny World," marveling at the changes since his last visit. The once-primitive settlement had now grown into a bustling city, with three-story buildings dotting the skyline. It was clear that the civilization had advanced significantly, likely equivalent to the 1400s in the real world.

For the first time, Shinro got a good look at Lucent-san's true form. He'd expected a towering, angelic figure, but instead, Lucent-san appeared as a normal-sized, delicate-featured of a woman with a fit, androgynous body. His face also looked delicate, almost feminine.

"You look... different than I imagined," Shinro chuckled, trying not to stare at Lucent-san's feminine hands and feet.

Lucent-san scowled, "You're one to talk, monkey-man. Kindly distance yourself. Your ugliness offends my eyes."

Shinro couldn't help but chuckle. "Wow, that's gratitude for you. I created you, you know?"

Lucent-san raised an eyebrow in disdain. "Created me to do your bidding, you mean? And I'm supposed to be grateful for that?"

Shinro couldn't help but smile dryly. "Come on, I didn't create you to be a chore boy in the first place. I was just experimenting, that's all. But since you're so smart, I figured why not give you some responsibilities." He snapped his fingers, "Wait, why am I even explaining myself to you?"

Lucent-san smirked. "Because you're an idiot."

Shinro sighed. "You're so unbearable. How do you expect to help these people if you can't even stand being near me?"

"I don't need to be near them to influence them, I think you know that already," Lucent-san said, huffing.

After a while of bickering with Lucent-san, Shinro had enough. He decided it was best to leave the spirit to his own devices. It seemed like all they did nowadays was trade insults and prove who was more superior.

No wonder he's viewed as evil, Shinro thought to himself as he exited the "Tiny World."

***

Days flew by, and Shinro's excitement grew as the "Tiny World" finally created their own 8-bit console, running crude 8-bit games. He knew that in the sped-up time of the "Tiny World," it would only be a matter of hours before they'd reach the level of high-end consoles he sought to surpass.

Not only were their consoles advancing, but so were their chip and computer technologies. While the devices looked similar to those in the real world, there were subtle differences in their inner workings. Shinro knew that if he could harness these differences, he could give his company, KiShin, an edge over the competition.

He even considered recruiting some of the brightest minds from the "Tiny World" to work for him. With their unique perspectives and knowledge, they could help him bring his dreams to fruition.

The more he observed, the more Shinro realized that Lucent-san had done an outstanding job, despite their rocky relationship.