Endless Myth and Final Fantasy XIII
— Expanding Media Mixes and Their Byproducts —
The novel Endless Myth and Final Fantasy XIII belong to very different mediums.
However, both are connected through a shared phenomenon: the expansion of a massive conceptual project and the byproducts that emerge from it.
One is an endlessly expanding personal mythology, while the other is a large-scale media mix project developed across multiple works.
This article compares them with a focus on expansion and its consequences.
1. Scale of Concept: Personal Myth vs. Project Myth
Endless Myth expands from a single core idea into an infinite structure—
multiverses, omniverses, and beyond.
Final Fantasy XIII was conceived as part of the larger project
Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy.
This was not a single story, but a shared mythological framework across multiple titles.
In short:
Endless Myth: internally expanding mythology
FFXIII: externally expanding project mythology
2. Worldbuilding: Structural Cosmos vs. Shared Myth System
In Endless Myth, the structure itself is the world.
In Final Fantasy XIII, concepts such as fal’Cie, l’Cie, and divine entities are shared across multiple entries.
Each title contributes to a larger myth system.
Thus:
Endless Myth: structure as world
FFXIII: shared mythological system
3. Media Mix Expansion
Final Fantasy XIII expanded through multiple sequels and related works:
- Final Fantasy XIII-2
- Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
Each entry added layers to the overarching mythology.
Endless Myth also expands across multiple formats:
- Main narrative
- Side stories
- Observational logs (X Documents, WhatsApp records)
Both works demonstrate how a single concept can evolve into a network of interconnected narratives.
4. Byproducts of Expansion
This is the most critical point.
Large-scale expansion inevitably produces side effects.
In Final Fantasy XIII, these included:
- Increasingly complex terminology
- Difficulty in understanding the full setting
- Dependence on multiple works for clarity
This results in a fragmentation of understanding.
In Endless Myth, similar tendencies can emerge:
- Infinite expansion of concepts
- Overgrowth of abstract systems
- Scale exceeding reader comprehension
5. Operation of Myth: Distribution vs. Proliferation
Final Fantasy XIII distributes its mythology across multiple works.
Endless Myth allows mythology to proliferate and expand continuously.
In short:
FFXIII: distributed myth
Endless Myth: proliferating myth
6. Essence of Expansion: Control vs. Overflow
Final Fantasy XIII represents an attempt to manage and control a massive concept.
Endless Myth includes the possibility of expansion beyond control.
Thus:
FFXIII: controlled expansion
Endless Myth: expansion beyond control
Conclusion: Is Expansion a Success or a Side Effect?
Endless Myth and Final Fantasy XIII reveal the dual nature of large-scale storytelling:
Endless Myth: pure expansion toward infinity
FFXIII: expansion producing complexity and byproducts
Expansion creates new possibilities, but also introduces instability and fragmentation.
And this comparison leads to a central question:
How far should a story expand—
and are its byproducts a form of evolution, or distortion?
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