compnetwork | [Video]

[Oh look it's the guy who threw that New Years' Party. What insanity are they bringing this time...?]

Things are exciting here. More and more exciting. There is even a tournament! I have never participated in one before - it is a friendly contest thing, yes? I cannot wait to see how everyone performs. The aim is to win, so everyone will be fighting to the best of their ability, to beyond their very limits, otherwise the win is tainted, yes?

Yes.

You will all try very hard.

[Er, did their voice get a bit weird then? A bit deeper? Hm, oh, no, their voice is back to normal]

I hope so in any case. It will make this dull otherwise.

There is a question to be asked.

Hatred and Love is viewed in equal measure. Humans normally say love is worth more. In recent months, I have seen media that espouses that love will always succeed over hatred. Hatred is inferior. It sustains only the self, but it is like poison also. Pure intentions become twisted, revenge distorts the mind and morals, and eventually hatred destroys the individual...

I must admit, this confuses me. I have observed no such things in humanity before. Ah, the corruption, yes, but hatred has sustained and protected humans as much as it has poisoned them. It is usually love that brings about self-destruction, as they hold another's life higher than their own.

So, I have always viewed hatred and love being of equal measure. They are different, yet powerful in their own right. It is like that saying, what, pears and lemons? Apples and peaches? Whatever.

So my question is thus: what do you think is more powerful or more important? Hatred or Love?

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I was unaware that there were other gods aside from myself, before I came here, so it confuses me to imagine that this could occur with another. It is incredibly rare for humans to occupy a habitable planet, and to be assigned a guardian-

No. Wait.

[Anant paused, then shook their head]

I got confused with something for a moment. You are right, of course. There is time to dwell and think on things, and there is time to merely take it in stride and let it resolve itself on its own. I should focus my mind on something more important!

Understand only a few individual humans...

[It seemed like an easier task- oh wait!]

I see! Instead of trying to understand every individual human all at once, I shall learn small groups of them and carry on in a steady, progressive pace!

Yes, but those who loved the world would have hated to see it harmed. It could easily be said that their hatred towards destruction saved the world just as readily as their love.

That is what confuses me... can it not simply be one emotion then, just different motivations driving it?

You speak as if from experience.

But in contrast, if hatred consumes, so does love. Except it burns bright until one is scorched to ashes, destroying themselves just as utterly. Love is more self-destructive, hate is simply destructive...

It is an interesting topic of debate, I must admit.

Maybe I am.

Love may be self-destructive, but it's for the good of another that you care for. Besides, you are only talking in extremes and those are unhealthy either way. That's why it's that sort of thing that needs balance to itself.

[No light without darkness and such.]

[Viridi doesn't directly address what her conversation partner had let slip, but files it away for future reference anyway.]

Exactly!

I'd suggest focusing on a picture of me to optimally enhance your quality of existence, but maybe right now you want to think about that tournament. You're fighting in it, right?

...I suppose that's as good a start as any. Do take care not to burn yourself out, anyway! Ho ho.

Tourname- oh, yes, that thing.

[Seemed it had entirely slipped their mind]

Yes, I am participating in it. I wish to observe humans up close when fighting for competitive purposes, and not for survival. I feel that observing from the stands would be too far away to effectively study it.

Not to worry, I am immune to burning out.

[Anant is practically a living energy generator after all!]

Good for another... so essentially sacrificing yourself for that person. It is admirable, and something humans do repeatedly, defying their self-preservation instincts. Strange, isn't it?

[Anant's tone became a bit flat]

So that is why it is regarded as more important? Because it is 'admirable'? Even if it is just as destructive as hatred, which carries a certain stigma...

Ah, well, we are quite a resilient species. Do not worry too much.

This is true. Humans are very much like cockroaches, in that it is impossible to wipe them out! Leave only a few behind and they'll multiple and persevere despite the odds.

[Beat]

Ahhh...I do not mean that as an insult. My apologies. I remembered someone saying that humans do not like to be compared to cockroaches...

No. I don't think it's strange at all.

[Then again... this is why he had asked for strength in first place, why he had searched it, why he had found it in the end.

To protect the things that matter.]

And, as said. You are thinking to strongly in extremes. Putting yourself on line for the sake of someone else isn't quite the same thing as self destruction.

[Riku presses his lips together in a frown.]

Nobody regards love as important because it's 'admirable' or 'destructive'.

I suppose that's true. I guess it's possible that it's both of them, that drive people to do what they do.

Maybe it's just one of those things like the glass is half full or half empty?

Glass is half full, or half empty? I have never encountered that phrase before...

[Rose snickers behind one hand.]

No, no. I don't take offense at all. You are quite apt in your description.

We are a bit like insects, in both our resilience and number. And will to survive, of course.

Though, where I am from, there are only four of us left.

Only four?

[Anant sounds thoroughly shocked]

W-What happened? Did your planet implode?

Almost. Destroyed by meteors, actually.

[Only Rose Lalonde could be so calm about this.]

Really?

[Anant sounded extremely puzzled]

Meteors? I was unaware they could cause mass extinction. My planet is persistently ravaged by such things, and humanity is still thriving...

['Thriving', and most of humanity is holed up in protected colonies built for such things...]

Huh.

Now that's dedication.

Don't tell me you're just going to let yourself be wailed on the whole time. Fight back! Show some moxie! How will you observe their behavior if you're eating dirt the whole time?

I don't wish to muddle with results by actively participating in the fights, but I suppose it would be interesting to see how humans respond when a divine being lashes out at them. Non fatally, of course...

I will have to be careful, however. My claws can cut through bone far too easily.

Given how irksome some of them are, I would say "thankfully" short rather than "woefully". I couldn't imagine putting up with some of them for as long as I've lived.

I am curious to see what would occur if they lived for a long time, though! Humans are eternally curious, but would their curiosity grow with more knowledge they collect? Or would they be sated and become, well, boring?

[Some things just slip your mind, OK!]

You sure? That seems like the kind of thing that could get dangerous if it's left unchecked.

It is fine. Even if I descend into madness, I dislike killing humans, so I will not harm anyone.

I think.

[Unless, well, SOLDIERS. GUNS]

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