Is This Idea Too Cheesy?

[Arch9CivilReactor]

So while I was building the first novel of my trilogy, I figured out a great way to start with something that would only appear again in the third instalment. It’s called ‘Ultimate Force’ and is basically becoming a God of Destruction.

You have to reach an impossible level of refinement in power to reach this state and when you do, there are effects like becoming so OP that time and space, even Mana itself bend to avoid you, because you can destroy the universe.

In the story opening chapter, the main character reaches that level thanks to incredibly difficult conditions being met (that wouldn’t be able to be replicated again). Then I came across an issue because of this sudden change I had made.

This is a Regression story where the MC pops a hole in the universe, which forces a complete time reset in order to survive. From having reached that impossible state of Ultimate Force before dying, he gains a unique ocular ability.

The problem that happened is that because the main villain needed to regress too without having his soul erased, I made the MC hit someone who was outside of space and time. An entity like a God or something else. I don’t know who got hit because this was an in the moment change.

If it hit a bad guy like the origin of the world ending disaster of the story, then the plot would change too dramatically. All the gods I’ve made are too important to die at the beginning of the story, and I don’t have any ideas for new ones.

Moreover, how should the world react to this?

It was already really strange that the MC became so OP in the opening chapter, if he doesn’t get cursed or something in response, then it will just give him too much potential. Going back in time wasn’t a reward, it was more a phenomenon.

Now I’m both worried about the idea itself of someone becoming OP only to lose that strength seeming cheesy and how to balance him so he has a good journey.

Making him cursed by a fallen God sounds easy but I don’t know which to use and what curse. There are so many restrictions I have to work with being: 1. It can’t be an elemental God. 2. It can’t be an essential God in the story. 3. It has to be on the side of the bad guys.

Meeting all those conditions is the Evil God but if that guy disappears, then a major power balance would go unbalanced.

I thought is now coming to me that I should use that power vacuum to change story events to reveal the Holy God has become corrupted by the death of the Evil God.

But what kind of curse could the Evil God give?

Honestly I’m not sure. My indecision is growing.

Don’t know what the story would need. What’s best for a character like this.

 

[Rezcore]

Yes it's cheesy. Now have it on my desk with pictures of Spiderman by 4 Parker!

 

[Cipiteca396]

This is why I don't deal with soft magic systems if I can help it.

The problem that happened is that because the main villain needed to regress too without having his soul erased, I made the MC hit someone who was outside of space and time.

If this is the problem, then find a different solution that doesn't screw you over. Just have the villain or his boss or his boss's boss directly regress the villain, without giving the MC the chance to wax anyone.

 

[miyoga]

Time loop. That's the curse from the Evil God who turns out to be a nearly unrecognizable MC at the height of his power.

In an effort to prevent the end of everything, he sends himself back in time to the beginning of everything and has to rebuild his powers, but his memories are sealed by the other gods out of fear of what would happen if he successfully changed the timeline. As for the world itself, only he and other gods/god-like beings would be aware that anything was out of the ordinary.

This provides you with your introduction to this incredibly OP ability/power/level while also relegating it to the end of your trilogy with relatively no impact on the overall story you wish to tell.

 

[Shade01]

Regression story. He regresses, not time travels, he is still in the body of that time and only has extra memories. As long as you don't open the can of worms with souls, then you can use science.
That's why I hate souls, they're always too nonsensical. Memories and personality are enough, and you don't have to worry that your new machine body won't have your soul, just memories and personality. :)

 

[Arch9CivilReactor]

Regression story. He regresses, not time travels, he is still in the body of that time and only has extra memories. As long as you don't open the can of worms with souls, then you can use science.
That's why I hate souls, they're always too nonsensical. Memories and personality are enough, and you don't have to worry that your new machine body won't have your soul, just memories and personality. :)

Yeah but this is time regression and his only choice is to do that or else live in an already destroyed world… but I see what you mean about not overcomplicating it with soul shenanigans and stick with just memories.

 

[Arkus86]

I have not seen something this cheesy since I gave up on Chinese cultivation novels.

 

[Shade01]

Maybe you can think about rejection. Like the immune system of the current timeline suppressing a virus that got in. No characters, no random debuffs, just the timeline not liking being played with.
If you play with time, time will play with you.

 

[Arch9CivilReactor]

Maybe you can think about rejection. Like the immune system of the current timeline suppressing a virus that got in. No characters, no random debuffs, just the timeline not liking being played with.
If you play with time, time will play with you.

That actually sounds reasonable. Will have to see in my plan if it’s possible to fit that in.

 

[GeppettoNoir]

The rejection thing Shade01 mentions is a neat idea. Your idea feels like it walks a line between science and the supernatural. Maybe you can bend some of the more out-there science theories to your benefit?

I wish I could remember what it was... I read something one time about gravity that gave me an idea. Feel free to expound upon it if you like.

I can't remember the reading material well enough to explain. But I do remember the key points and takeaways.

Key Points:
- gravity propagates faster than the speed of light. It propagates instantly.
- when locked in gravity's pull, an object in a vacuum accelerates to terminal velocity instantly.
- things with gravity have unique variations. ("gravimetric" signature?)
- gravity projects in something similar to a wave-form
- gravity also exists like a bubble... think of the ball sinking into the grid plane
- energy in a "shape" will correct itself when warped, stretched, or distorted
- something about inertia... crap I forget

Takeaway:
- why do things correct themselves? how does it know to follow the path of least resistance? what is resistance? why is resistance?
- there must be some force at work, above or below the surface, that unifies everything into some kind of acceptable parameters?
- what if gravity was some kind of energy?
- what if I stretched the "shape" of a "sphere" of energy waaaay out and then let go?
- would it snap back like a rubber band?
- (something about inertia?)

End Result Idea:
- Sci-Fi mode of travel "The Snap Drive"
- Faster than light, instantaneous travel
- A ship projects a field that mimics the gravimetric signature of a planet
- now there are two points in the universe with the same gravity signature. this cannot be.
- the universe (that unifying force) seeks to correct this
- the "shape" of the planet's gravity field stretches to encompass what is perceived to be a stray piece of itself
- the "shape" snaps back into place, dragging the ship along with it
- all of this happens instantly (something about inertia and matter protects the crew, can't remember)
- main drawbacks were that it only brings you to the very edge of the native gravity field
- the place has to already have been visited or have it's signature in a database... not useful for exploration

So, while that idea was for a sort of warp drive for a sci-fi setting you could conceivable lean on the core concept with the idea that there is some timeless, faceless, nameless force above them all that looms frighteningly neutral. Not even neutral but almost mechanical and uncaring. "The Universe" itself. Maybe it seeks to "correct" things in a way that serves to put up walls and boundaries where you need them? After all, you are playing on a field of gods and men. Every playground has something to keep the sand in the box.

Maybe the villain knows this and your protagonist does not. At least not yet. Maybe there's even some sort of dance in play where the villain tries to position the hero in a way that leaves them vulnerable to this threat while keeping the villain safe.

Just a thought.

You can try looking up random scientific stuff and weird, out-there theories and just let yourself ask questions. Once the juices get flowing you might be surprised what bubbles to the surface.