Gail stood in awe, captivated by the grandeur of the luminous figure before him. The man radiated an aura of power and benevolence, his presence both humbling and empowering. His very existence seemed to embody ancient wisdom and unyielding strength, his form shimmering with a celestial glow. As he began to speak, his voice resonated through the grand temple like a harmonious chorus of distant echoes, filling the air with an almost tangible sense of reverence.
"Finally, you have arrived, Earthborn. We have been waiting for this moment for a long time." The luminous man paused, his penetrating gaze holding Gail's, before continuing, "Introduce yourself."
Gail's body trembled with a mix of excitement and apprehension. He felt a rush of adrenaline course through his veins, making his heart pound in his chest like a drum. His palms were clammy with sweat, and his mouth felt dry as he tried to summon the courage to speak. The temple around him seemed to pulse with a life of its own, the ancient stones whispering secrets of bygone eras.
He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, and forced his trembling hands to relax. The air was thick with anticipation, every breath tasting of ancient dust. Gathering his thoughts, he spoke in a voice that quavered despite his efforts to sound confident.
"I am Gail," he declared, his voice echoing faintly in the cavernous space. "I come from the future, from the city of Neo Eden, where there is no freedom." He paused, feeling the weight of his words hang in the air. "The system has brought me here."
The luminous man's expression shifted subtly, a knowing smile playing on his lips. His eyes, filled with a depth of understanding that seemed to pierce through Gail's very soul, sparkled with a mixture of amusement and satisfaction. The light emanating from his form pulsed gently, as if in response to the emotions swirling in the room.
"So my plan has finally succeeded," the luminous man said, his voice a harmonious blend of warmth and authority. The words resonated through the temple, amplifying their significance. "You may ask your questions so I can determine your next objective."
Gail's mind raced with thoughts of the chief's ominous words, the horrific child sacrifice rituals, and the haunting tale of the great flood. Uneasily, he asked, "Do you intend to destroy the human race?"
The luminous man replied calmly, "Not I. Perhaps some among the Anunnaki wish that; you will understand more in time. You must remain calm."
Gail struggled to quell his rising anxiety. He then asked, "So you have guided me here? Who are you and what is the purpose of this?"
The luminous man responded, "I am Enki of the Anunnaki race. In truth, I am not here in person. You are speaking to a hologram created by me, a perfect replica endowed with my ethics and knowledge. The inhabitants of Earth call us gods, their interpretation of our advanced technology, which is millennia beyond their understanding."
Astonished, Gail's eyes widened. "So you are an intelligent extraterrestrial race?"
The hologram of Enki nodded. "Yes. We are a powerful extraterrestrial race that existed long before humans, tens of thousands of years before. Our scientific advancements far surpass human capabilities. When we arrived on Earth, the primitive inhabitants mistook our technology for divine power, assuming we were gods."
Gail's mind buzzed with a thousand questions. "So when you arrived on Earth, humans were already here? I thought you created humans!"
Enki explained, "We came to Earth in search of powerful resources. We observed the planet and discovered the mana stones. The Anunnaki Congress decided to enslave humans to extract these resources. Humans revered us as gods and worked tirelessly. However, I could not accept this deceit. Humans physically resembled us, which evoked a sense of empathy in me. I decided to create a human clone, one that would be more obedient, and efficient, and ultimately free humanity from bondage. With the help of the goddess Ninhursag, I created the 'Earthborn' beings."
Connecting the dots, Gail felt his mind swirl with a mix of fear and excitement. The realization hit him like a tidal wave, each piece of information clicking into place to form a picture that was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. His breath quickened, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He could feel his pulse racing, the blood pounding in his ears as he struggled to process the enormity of what he was uncovering.
He stared at the luminous figure, his eyes wide with a blend of awe and dread. The air around him seemed to crackle with an unseen energy, the very atmosphere charged with the weight of his discovery. His voice, when he finally found it, was a hoarse whisper, laced with both fear and an almost childlike wonder.
"You called me Earthborn," he began, his voice trembling slightly. "Does that mean I am not human and one of those beings you created?"
Enki's calm, steady gaze met Gail's, his expression one of gentle affirmation. "Yes," he replied, his voice resonating with a soothing, almost melodic quality. "I created your ancestors. The connection between us and your journey to the past is rooted in this very fact."
Gail's mind reeled his thoughts a chaotic jumble of emotions. Anger flared within him, hot and fierce, mingling with the lingering fear. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he struggled to control the rising tide of resentment. He took a step forward, his voice rising with a mixture of accusation and anguish.
"You created my race to be slaves?" he demanded, his tone edged with bitterness. "How could you be so heartless?"
Enki's expression softened, a hint of sorrow in his eyes as he regarded Gail with a paternal tenderness. "My child," he said gently, "that was in the past. Now, I see you not as my creations, but as my children." His voice was imbued with a profound sense of regret and compassion, each word carrying the weight of his ancient wisdom.
Gail felt a flicker of confusion mingling with his anger. He listened, torn between his desire to condemn and his need to understand. Enki continued his voice a soothing balm to Gail's turbulent emotions.
"When we arrived on Earth, we were engaged in a great war with a hostile race," Enki explained, his gaze distant as if recalling a time long forgotten. "We had to enslave humans and use the mana stones to create weapons to defend ourselves from the serpentine race. If we hadn't, Earth would have been their next target. Thus, with human assistance in the mana mines, we were indirectly protecting Earth."
Gail's anger began to ebb, replaced by a growing sense of curiosity and empathy. The luminous man's words painted a picture of a complex and desperate situation, far removed from the simple narrative of oppression he had envisioned. Enki's eyes met his, filled with a profound sadness.
"It made sense until the Anunnaki council decided to present themselves as gods and claimed to be the creators of humans," Enki continued. "After creating the human clone known as 'Earthborn,' humanity gained freedom. But as our war with the serpentine race intensified, we needed more mana. Workers were scarce, and the Anunnaki council chose to re-enslave humans. Humans, however, rebelled. The Anunnaki, struggling to maintain control, decided to send a great flood to curb the human and Earthborn populations."
Gail felt a knot of empathy tighten in his chest. The narrative Enki wove was one of survival and sacrifice, of difficult choices made in the face of existential threats. He listened, his anger now fully replaced by a deep, contemplative understanding.
"I could not stand by and let my creations perish," Enki said, his voice heavy with the burden of his memories. "So I warned Uta, the eighth king of the south, and gave him the knowledge to build a ship. I also used mana energy to incorporate genetic changes into the Earthborn, creating the system. This plan had to remain secret to avoid annihilation. Thus, I designed the new Earthborns to awaken their true nature and strive for freedom. You are one of them who succeeded."
Gail's eyes blazed with frustration once more. "You designed the system to save us, but why does it punish us?"
Enki's hologram looked perplexed, his glow dimming slightly as he pondered the question. "What punishment?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.
Gail explained, his voice tinged with exasperation, "Every time I'm assigned a mission by the system, there's a reward for success and a penalty for failure!"
Enki's hologram fell silent, lost in deep contemplation. It seemed even he did not have the answer to this unforeseen consequence.