[WELCOME TO THE TRIALS OF HUMANITY] the voice echoed throughout Jason's mind.
'Trials of humanity? Where is this voice even coming from...' He looked around in confusion, searching the blank white void.
"Cody! Are you fucking with me?!" The young man walked through the air, but the space was empty regardless of how he moved.
Even the feeling of the air resting on his skin felt heavier yet less restricting.
A few moments of complete silence had passed before Jason finally gave up on walking and began swimming through the void. He wasn't sure where he was—but he assumed it wasn't good.
[I am not your friend, human. I am a GOD!] The voice bellowed out inside Jason's head again.
[And you have been selected!!]
"May I ask for what I had been selected, oh, benevolent, mind-speaking GOD of the white abyss?" He asked, emphasizing the term "God" the same way the mysterious figure had.
[ARE YOU MOCKING ME, TINY HUMAN?!] Shouted the unnamed deity!
"I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE ARE DOING, YOUR SUPREME WHITENESS! I BEG YOUR FORGIVENESS!" He immediately dropped to one knee and showed that he held no ill intentions.
Jason didn't mean to offend the God; he simply wanted a cultural exchange!
Who would have thought that a magical voice in the sky would be offended by a word that he had used just a moment prior?
Slowly raising his head, he mustered the courage to ask, "So, you had mentioned some trials?"
Hopefully, the entity will forgive his transgression and continue to allow him to participate. He didn't want to doom humanity because he had been foolish.
Plus, this way, he wouldn't have to work in the morning!
[Ah… Yes! The trials.]
[You have been selected for the trials of humanity...]
'Why would you repeat yourself already?' He contorted his face in confusion as he tried to determine what the God was thinking.
It seemed unusual for such a powerful being to be showing such patience. He was half prepared to swim away from his smiting!
[We have determined that the human population will soon face an apocalyptic event.]
[Nothing in your history has prepared you for such a situation.]
His words struck Jason like a brick.
[Without our divine intervention, it will indeed cause your race to go extinct!]
Jason's expression turned serious as he glanced down at his torso, confirming he was still human. His eyes snapped back up as a blank look spanned his face, and he paid close attention.
[Because your race has the ability to one day ascend beyond your mortal selves, we have agreed to intervene.]
"That's phenomenal!" He broke his expression and cheered out loud!
"So, humans are going to die, Gods swoop in, save the day, turn us into Gods, and then we all hang out and party and do God things and whatnot, yeah?" The confusion returned to his face as he remembered the mention of trials.
[Yes, that would be the most simplistic outcome]
The young man fist-pumped the air in front of him in excitement!
[However! Our intervention requires resources!] The voice suddenly took a stern tone.
[Contrary to your mythology, our resources are finite, and there are many races amongst the stars.]
Jason dropped his fist pump to the floaty air beneath him in defeat. "Aliens?!"
[Why should we invest in your specific race when another race could use those same resources?]
"Which explains the trials…" Jason finished the voice's thought.
"I have to prove that the entire human race is worthy… Alone… Against aliens?! That's fucked." For the first time a sense of unease washed over himself as his palms started to sweat.
He may have been seeking adventure to liven up his life, but this like too much!
[You won't be alone!] The echoing voice commanded, shaking Jason out of his stupor!
[Others have been selected.]
"That's sounds a little better… Do we get guns? LASERS?!" The exhilarating feeling brewed once again, and plans began to be formed.
[You will compete in a survival trial and complete various quests. Upon completion of quests, you will gain rewards.]
"This sounds less like trials and more like a job…" Jason sighed as he dropped his shoulders dejectedly.
[Whatever form they take, they will help you achieve ascension.]
"Do I have to be a leader?" He wasn't wouldn't mind competing for adventure, but he wasn't sure how he felt about leading a team of strangers.
[Your choices are your own.]
Jason smiled, thinking about setting up his own harem of space aliens.
[In the trials and beyond.]
"When do we start?" Jason's wrung his hands excitedly.
[As soon as you select your starting scenario.]
[You must choose one of these three options]
Three magnificent holograms took form in the air in front of Jason. He attempted to interact with them, but his hand just phased right through the screen, causing it to turn fuzzy.
The young man regained his composure and carefully looked the new billboards over.
The overseer seemed to give him all the time in the world—this was potentially a life-altering decision, and he wanted the human to make the right choice.
Option 1: Pre-selected starter kit - includes a few days of rations, essential starter equipment, temporary deployable shelter.
He nodded his head, 'It seems like a fairly straightforward starting kit. I'm not sure what trials I'll face, but this seems like a safe bet.'
Option 2: Semi-Selected Starter Kit - Includes 10 days of rations, temporary deployable shelter, 10-minutes in the basic unidentified item shop.
The gambler inside of him tugged at his soul, seeing option number two. The thought of acquiring items with unidentified attributes reminded him of some sort of video game. He was half tempted to select it without checking the third choice.
Option 3: Custom Kit - 30-minutes in the premium identified item shop.]
"Screw it, I'm all in on Option 3!" Jason couldn't believe how stupid the other choices seemed in comparison!
This was the chance to acquire items provided by gods and have a full half-hour to do so uninterruptedly. How could he pass that up?!
Worst case scenario, he could just select the basic equipment quickly.