True agency in a simulated or summoned world is measured not by the ability to destroy, but by the capacity to define one's own existence against the system's constraints. While both protagonists occupy the YPS-4 tier, capable of altering national outcomes, their DNA profiles reveal an inverted relationship with self-determination. Kirito operates as a catalyst of individual will, possessing a complete Ego score that allows him to treat virtual boundaries as suggestions. Whether he is bypassing system limits through sheer willpower in Aincrad or challenging the laws of the Underworld, his narrative is driven by an internal compass. Naofumi, conversely, exists as a reaction to systemic cruelty. With an Ego score of zero, his path is not chosen but carved by the betrayal of the Melromarc crown and the necessity of survival. He does not seek to bend the world; he builds a fortress within it. This creates a fundamental divergence in how they leverage their YPS-4 status. Kirito uses his power to protect a fragile peace he helped define, whereas Naofumi uses his to stabilize a society that actively sought his ruin. The gap in their Luck scores further underscores this: one is the narrative's golden child, the other is its punching bag. Consequently, the comparison shifts from a question of capability to one of endurance. One man fights to maintain his identity in a world of data, while the other fights to reclaim his humanity from a world of lies.
Archetype breakdowns and dispute court land in later phases.