Waking Up
He woke up to darkness. A perfect pitch black void. He was seemingly floating in it and no matter how he flailed his arms in panic, he wouldn’t move. As his panic deepend, he turned inwards to find out what was happening, but it only proved to escalate his fear.
Where am I?! How did I get here!? Furthermore...who am I?
Those three questions raged around in his head, tormenting him. They were like a trio of arrows bouncing around in his head, leaving pain wherever they went. His breathing was destabilising quickly and he could feel his heart nervously thumping against his chest. And than, an emotionless gender-neutral voice echoed throughout the “space” he was in.
[Analysing target’s condition…Confirmed healthy, with slight memory loss due to transference...Initiation memory refresh for target...]
Suddenly, he felt a rush of something cool and silky at the back of his head. Memories started popping up in his head like fireworks bursting across the sky, leaving color and feeling in the previously empty corners of his mind, finally telling him who he was.
His name was Tyler Long and he was the only son of an Asian immigrant and an American. He was an ordinary seventeen year old highschool student from Virginia that lived with his loving parents in a comfortable home. Last thing he remembered, he was lying in his bed watching por- cough...nope, he was doing his homework. Yep...homework. Most definitely. Anyway, his parents were called....
...Why can’t I remember the name of my own parents?
The corner of Tyler’s lips tilted down and his brows furrowed. Now that I think about it, I can’t seem to remember the name of my friends either. I certainly remember that I DID have friends, in fact, I believe I was somewhat popular at school. He carefully combed through his memories and found a large number of blank spots. The name of my school, the name of the area where I lived and even the title of the last book I read are missing. The only things I remember are the general information a modern person would know about themselves, how to act like a normal person, what I’ve read and learnt from books and the basic geography of the Earth. His already shaken mind descended into another cycle of panic and fear as he analysed the situation.
Everything I know is only the basics of a normal person’s persona. In fact, if I look at this from a broader point of view, it’s almost as if someone took the bare bones of what a person should be, organised it into a chart, and then filled it in. This means that “my” memories have either been tampered with or…maybe these memories aren’t even my own. Tyler’s complexion warped at the thought.
[Target's checkup is complete. Initiating inheritance of the Primeval.]
Tyler froze up at the emotionless voice.
[Welcome descended No.6969 to the Primeval Ascension Inheritance. You are one of the lucky few that have been carefully chosen out of the 3,000 enclosed Worlds the Primeval Human created to protect his descendents. You are now entitled to select one Inheritance out of the three billion that have been left behind.]
Primeval Ascension Inheritance? What the actual fuck? And what do you mean "3,000 enclosed Worlds"? Also, what in world is up with this number!? 6969? Really!?
Tyler opened his mouth, and with a hoarse voice that seemed to have not been used in years, asked the most important question he could think of, "W-who are you?"
[I am the Spirit of the Ascension Inheritance Realm. I was created as the Guardian of the 3,000 Human Worlds, the Supreme Official of the Primeval, and the Shield of the Mortal Realm...but you can just call me Jim.]
Tyler was speechless. The hell was with this naming sense?! Did the Primeval have too much time on his hands? Why was he so bored that he named it "Jim" of all things? He might as well have called it "Bob".
He shook his head and got back on track. "Who is the Primeval Human and why am I here? What are the 3,000 Worlds?"
[As stated before, the Primeval Human is the first human and your ancestor. He was a supremely powerful being who had reached the apex of the universe. The 3,000 Worlds is an artifact that he forged to serve as a sanctuary for his race. The "Earth" you are from is merely one of such worlds. You are here because the restrictions that measure the overall population of the human race have been triggered. Three billion humans, a million from each World, have been carefully chosen according to the instructions of the Primeval to be given an Inheritance and spread across the universe outside. You, descendent No.6969, are one of said three billion.]
Three billion? My planet was one of three thousand? Hol' up, did Jim just say the Primeval Human "forged" the 3,000 Worlds? Holy hell! Is he God?
He gripped the sides of his head to try and steady the storm whirling through it. Thoughts flew here and there as he pondered all of the implications of Jim's words. Eventually he asked another question, "Why are my memories flawed?"
[Some of your memories were damaged in the process of selection. I have managed to preserve the most basic aspects of your ego, but the rest will only come back with time.]
Tyler nodded his head woodenly, trying his best to keep his face calm. I can't tell if it's lying or not. Although it seems to have no ill intentions towards me, I don't know if it's scheming something. Hell, maybe everything it has said is fake and it has some sinister goal in deceiving me. Afterall, my memory loss seems a little too targeted. But if it's plotting against me, what's its motive? I have nothing except these broken memories of myself. And for all I know, they were planted in me on purpose.
"What are the 3 billion Inheritances?"
[A systematized collection of every complete unique Art, technique and Bloodline the Primeval had ever learnt or seen in his lifetime. Each one is equally powerful and full of potential and can last an Inheritor to the end of the Path Seeker stage. Every chosen descendent may choose only one Inheritance.]
"What is the Path Seeker Stage?"
[The levels of strength in the universe are divided into four stages: the Path Seeker stage, the Ascension stage, the Divinity stage, and the Embodiment stage. Each stage is separated into levels with the Path Seeker stage having the most. Individuals of the Path Seeker stage can grow to become more powerful and reach the Ascension stage. Ascension and Divinity stage individuals can do the same. People who progress through the different stages and try to reach Embodiment are called cultivators. Most beings of the universe are born at the bottom of the Path Seeker stage and remain there for the rest of their existence.]
Tyler frowned. One of the phrases Jim just said sounded familiar. "Cultivation? Isn't that a Taoist concept of achieving harmony with the world and becoming an Immortal?"
[Many of the myths, religions, and beliefs of the 3,000 Worlds are somewhat grounded in truth. They were based on stories and tales I spread in the beginning of human civilization on purpose to familiarize such concepts to the future generations. Taoism, Buddhism, wizards, dragons, Gods, Demons, and etc. are in fact the different schools of cultivation. Taoism, or as it's called in the universe, Immortal cultivation, is one of the most common methods of cultivation in the universe.]
Stories and tales it purposely spread? It admits that has been influencing humans from the beginning of our inception?! Raising us like sheep in a pen? Making sure that we can adapt to the "truth" of the world?
He opened his mouth to ask another one of the thousands of questions storming around in his mind. "What are th-"
[You have asked the maximum amount of questions allowed.]
Tyler widened his eyes, dumbfounded. "I have a limited number of questions?"
[Yes. Every Inheritor is allowed to ask six meaningful questions. You have spent your allowance. In the future, you can exchange precious materials or important information about the outside world for more questions.]
Fuck me. Although it didn't actively do anything bad towards me, this Spirit still isn't fully on my side. By why would the Primeval Human, who apparently designed all of this, limit the amount of meaningful questions we can ask to 6? Also, I clearly asked more than six questions, I just asked six different times. Is this considered a loophole in the system? Or is Jim letting me ask more questions on purpose? Shit, am I in debt now!?
He scratched his head in thought and analyzed the information at hand. As he didn't ask Jim anything, the Spirit remained quiet.
Jim stated that it's possible for me to exchange valuables for more questions, but what is his motive behind that? Also, doesn't this imply that Inheritors are expected to return to this strange place, and that they should bring back "materials" and information? Which means, after an Inheritor asks his six questions, they are expected to leave "outside" with their Inheritance? Fuck me, this is clearly a method to motivate the clueless Inheritors that have been pulled out of their ordinary lives to move along and do as the Spirit intends! Jim is enticing us to return with resources! He knows that we are confused and want answers. This is all an elaborate send off towards the grand unknown! Also, this shows that Jim can't or is limited in his ability to gather materials and information and needs "us" to do it for him.
Tyler felt the hair on the back of his neck freeze up. This is all just a giant setup. Inheritors go out, explore, and then return with resources. And speaking of exploring, how dangerous is the universe? Jim mentioned that dragons and other fantastical beings were real, so doesn't that mean that there are threats on the level of ginormous fire-breathing lizards out there? How the hell are we expected to survive?
He then remembered the Inheritances and had a eureka moment. Yes, that's the key! If they truly are the legacies of a being powerful enough that it can create entire worlds, we should be able to survive.
He started mentally pacing back and forth. It was apparent that he had figured out the general situation, and that without anymore information he wouldn't be able to progress. Which meant...there was only one thing left to really do.
"Jim, can I see the Inheritances?"
[Of course, choose wisely.]
