As a meteorite streaked across the night sky, the horizon was marked by a huge impact, killing many animals and destroying huge areas of land in the process.
A mysterious red light glowed in the pit caused by the impact and a mechanical voice echoed from it.
[Initiating System Peripherals]
[...]
[Configuring Settings]
[Done]
[Analyzing Environment]
[Determined to be safe]
[Opening Universe Portal]
[...]
[...]
[Porting the Inheritor]
[Done]
As the mechanical voice continued to ring, a distortion appeared in the space, slowly turning into a grey swirl that sucked in all light from the surroundings. A huge mechanical abomination emerged from it, carrying a sleeping man with it.
[Success]
[Energy reserves: 2%]
[Entering sleep mode to preserve energy until Inheritor wakes up]
The mechanical voice fell silent after uttering its last words. The mechanical abomination gently lowered the young man onto the ground before halting its movements completely.
...
After some time, the young man's eyes fluttered open. His new surroundings appeared to be quite confusing to him, and he wondered how the hell he had ended up here.
'I recall sitting in a corporate meeting and finding it boring, I started sleeping. But why am I here now?'
'Is it some kind of prank? Punishment for sleeping during a crucial meeting? No, they aren't that creative, they would just yell at me.'
'Is it a dream? It doesn't look like it.'
[Inheritor has woken up]
[Reinitializing System]
As the abomination's eyes glowed and it started speaking, the young man was startled and jumped away. Engrossed in his thoughts, he didn't seem to notice the presence of this thing until then.
'What the fuck? What is this thing?'
[Hello Inheritor, I am XI3796, a Xisu Inheritance Preserver. I have been tasked with passing on the Xisu Inheritance to the worthy. You were judged to be a suitable candidate to receive the inheritance and have been bought to this place by me to safeguard you.]
The young man's eyes showed his caution and confusion as he listened to the robot introducing itself. He didn't understand a thing though and slowly backed away from it, trying to keep a safe distance. The robot noticed it,
[You need not fear me]
"Who are you?"
[I am XI3796, a Xisu Inheritance Preserver...]
The young man interrupted it.
"I already know that, but what is Xisu? What am I doing here? What are you?"
[Don't worry sir. I will answer all your questions.]
[Xisu is the name of a mighty civilisation, which at one time ruled the whole universe. They were the most powerful and advanced civilisation in the universe. Their power and glory were unprecedented, matched by none. Their scientific marvels were like magic in themselves. They were considered omnipotent and omniscient.]
[However, nothing is everlasting. Even the glory of the Xisu was not eternal.]
[Their destruction was caused by something completely overwhelming them, resulting in their defeat. Due to insufficient data, I cannot determine what that something is. The Xisu Civilisation was wiped out, and all of its people were hunted down. No one was left, the past glory seemed like a dream.]
[The last survivors of the Xisu had a wish. They wanted to be everlasting and infinite, they wanted to achieve immortality. But they were at death's door, nothing could save them.]
[As a last resort, they saved all of Xisu's research and findings into Xisu Inheritance Preservers. This was to pass on the inheritance to the worthy so that the Xisu will again rise and someone will achieve immortality in their place.]
[Unfortunately, almost all of the Xisu Inheritance Preservers have been hunted down already. I am one of the last to remain. Finally finding a worthy person, I immediately used all of my energy reserves to open a universe portal and transfer you to this different universe.]
[I believe this will give us enough time to develop to the point where we can resist it. Plus, the native denizens of this universe will not allow it to brazenly move into their territory.]
Rather than understanding, the young man became even more confused.
"This is a dream. This is a dream. This is a dream."
[This is not a dream.]
The young man became silent after that, seemingly digesting this slew of information then a low growl sounded from his mouth.
"Why me?"
[Because you are suitable]
"Did you ask for my opinion?"
The robot didn't answer.
"Send me back right now. I have my family and friends back home. I do not want to leave them."
[This is not possible. After all those years, you are the most suitable candidate that I found, and I cannot let this opportunity pass. You will have to bear with it.]
The young man abruptly charged up to the robot and started punching and kicking it, forgetting that it was made of metal and he would only hurt himself.
[Plus, you have already been marked and if you go back, the Xisu's enemy will immediately find you and kill you.]
The young man continued hitting it as if he had turned mad.
...
He finally stopped after some time, dismayed at his swollen hands.
Falling back on his butt, he stared at the sky with a lost expression.
'What the hell? I am so screwed.'
[It is advised to vacate this area as soon as possible as your arrival was quite eye-catching and natives would surely be coming here]
The young man stayed silent and didn't move.
[Inheritor, I beseech you to listen to me and leave this area. It is not safe here.]
XI3796 pleaded for quite a while before the young man finally listened to him.
"Okay"
Overjoyed, XI3796 quickly started walking towards the east.
[Follow me, Inheritor. I will lead you to safety]
[And if I may ask, what would be appropriate to call you, Inheritor?]
"Austin Auger"
[Your wish is my command, Lord Austin]