I tapped onto the selection box, and another tv popped up. Ashley's form shifted over next to me and I felt her brush on my shoulder. I glanced back to her, before looking back at the T.V.
/-----------\
(Options are limited by level.)
(Options are limited by progression.)
Setting 1: Hidden Martian ecosystem.
Setting 2: |||||||||||||||||||||||
\-----------/
Setting 1 and it's name was accompanied by an image. It seemed to show off a barren, red wasteland, similar to mars, which made sense, however, it looked underground as well. I squinted at the image for a moment, and shook my head.
"They REALLLY EXIST ON MARS??"
Abby nodded, folding her arms as her form shifted away.
"It would seem. They are underground and invisible, it makes sense why humans wouldn't have found them yet."
"I… Personally think it's more than that, but that doesn't really matter at all, does it?"
Abby squinted at me as she pointed, and I smirked and tapped onto the icon, the screen flashed red. I turned to it and read what it said in response.
/-----------\
Requirements not met: Space suit not owned or equipped.
\-----------/
I stared at it in silence, face palming. "Yeah yeah, of course, it's an inhabitable planet for humans… WELL, all the more reason to improve myself… Where would-... oh yeah, the store. I don't have enough money though. I'd have to actually beat game 5 for that."
I pouted myself now, and flopped down, closing the t.v.-like menus "We just get to wait now."
"... Wanna play, like, war or something?"
"... You can't even touch the cards."
"..."
=====================
Around an hour had passed, I was just reading the last of the novels in The Hall to Abby, well, more like I kept the book open and she could read it herself...
I perked up when I heard the slab moving in my cell, turning towards the opening that was making itself, past it, I saw a sort-of familiar alien face. It seems our meeting time is now. I crawled through the gap and stretched myself out upon reaching the other side. The aliens had accompanied me as they took me down a hall. It was lined with gray walls that were covered in pipes, wires, and various stops for boxes. It seemed this was some sort of maintenance area. Which makes sense for why it'd be behind that slab.
With little to no conversation, I was taken back to that same room with the vibration machine that fused body parts with mine. Abby followed closely behind and had a few questions, but it was clear they were redundant, as she knew what I was thinking at all times.
After around a minute, I was taken to the same leader of the group. They muttered something and rotated themself. "English difficult. Learn Sliimling" I raised an eyebrow as the other two left, I nodded towards him and patiently waited for him to get his words together. "See, you are a subject. Not just to us, but to the games. We need you for the games, however. In winning, you get a prize, great enough to settle a war."
That was enough to interest me already. I didn't quite get what was going on, but it seemed they really did need some sort of help… But I wasn't really buying it. Before I could say anything- "Anyway, the whole time thing… It's powered by flux. It is an advanced resource that allows great things… Mostly to do with time and space, but people have messed with it too far." They turned away and messed with a device, turning around and showing a graph that projected something.
"I know it means little to you, but this. It's flux consumption and instability of reality." two lines projected something, a purple line peaked out at the beginning, and an orange one was flat on the bottom, when it began to rise, the purple one began to drop, and quickly compared to the growth of the orange one. Which only recently was topping off as the purple line was reaching near the bottom. "As you see, flux isn't meant to be used. Not like this. It shouldn't exist either. It's the garbage of the universe. Same with most things… That is why people have more mythical abilities than you, however, they are not good. We use it as it is meant to be. Time and space, purely. The technology here is similar. He won't gift you with anything more, as the universe is already close to shambles."
I squinted as he spoke. I didn't know what to say- Saving the universe was not something I, or any other humans, rather, should be left to do solo. I opened my mouth to speak, and they turned and shook their head, "nono, you won't need to do everything with that gift. Just one thing is needed here. Defeat this 'gamer'. He's the ally of the hosts. That's why he's let rampant at all times. It won't be easy, he's smart and daring. He's killed a lot more, we hear. Before you go now, which you must, as they will know you're here in not so long, you need to decide what we give you. It will be time or space-related, and it's only a one time thing. Your human body cannot contain much so early. You got the eyes of perception, yes? Or is it one eye? One eye is more suitable. You can see things slower, but only if you can react is it useful."
He turned away and set the device down. I had no room to say anything. My mouth was left open long before I had room to mention anything. He raised his hand. "Quickly now, state what you want, you'll get it when you die."
A phrase that would hit harder if dying didn't mean coming back. I had no idea what to ask for. Abby spoke up. "Godly memory, perhaps?" I turned back and shook my head, thinking about it for a bit longer before thinking it would be really good. Past precognition, although it sounds silly, wouldn't be useless. If I could know things that have already happened, it'd be really useful. How it would work with the returning by death, I have no clue, but I could try it… What can go wrong?