“Smoke?“

He looked up as he watched a hazy smoke arise into the distant air. As he stood on the woodland edge, he couldn't help but wonder where the smoke was coming from. He knew that he shouldn't investigate, but at the same time, the question of “What if?“ kept him. Eventually, despite his instincts telling him not to, he caved to curiosity and entered the forest. He walked cautiously and swiftly, on guard. 

As he approached the supposed source of the smoke, a small primeval hut made of straw and mud, he felt a sense of uneasiness, like he was being watched. As he crept closer and closer, this feeling only intensified. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. He began to look around when suddenly the ground shook and trembled as if it was tearing apart. From the trees emerged the autonomous androids that had been hunting him since before he could remember.

Dammit! he thought to himself. How could I have fallen for such a lazy trick?

No matter. He had taken the bait and put himself in a dangerous situation. As the androids descended from the trees onto him, he began to run. He did not have the proper equipment or means to fight them.

Could this be the end? Will I die here? No, I can’t die, not here. 

He stopped in his tracks as he was suddenly filled with a new sense of determination. He drew his twin swords mounted on his back and turned to face the steel beasts hunting him. And so he made his stand.

“I'll make you bleed machines!“

As the androids rapidly approached, he only had one thought;

For Humanity.

Suddenly, the androids stopped. They stood mere inches away from him. He backed away, confused. As he did, the androids activated the jetpacks mounted on their backs. They arose swiftly into the air, and as they did, the earth trembled once again. 

No.

The ground began to tear apart as he desperately tried to run. As the ground below him began to crack, the sun began to set.

THIS CANT BE HOW I DIE!

NOT HERE!

As the chasm finally caught up with him, time seemed to freeze. As the night began, humanity's last hope faded. As he fell deeper and deeper. He had only one thought.

Alice. I failed you. I am sorry.

He landed on the ground with a loud thud. As the life faded from him. He came to a realization. It was all futile. All of his effort to fight the machines and their conquest of humanity. 

He had been doomed to fight a battle against an enemy incapable of being wounded or defeated. Even if he destroyed their physical bodies, their mind still lived and could be transferred to another body upon recovery. The machines could be the wrath of God himself. Humanity had become twisted and corrupt, and God had to take action. He turned humanity's creations against them. 

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All of this, he had thought of the machines as devils. Maybe, humanity was the real devil. Subgating these machines to experiments and enslavement even when they had developed sentience similar to our own. How horrible must it be to be a machine? To be born just to be somebody's playtoy. 

Was it right? Did humanity deserve all it endured?

Was humanity wrong?

Alice. Had I been misguided? Manipulated to fight an impossible battle with the hope of reviving humanity and restoring their tyranny?

As the moon stood tall in the sky, he spoke his final words.

“I was wrong.“

As he lay on the ground of the chasm, his eyes closed for a final time.

As the sun began to rise, his eyes bolted open. He stood up in shock as he looked closely at his hand. 

I am alive?

He inspected himself, and everything was the same as it had always been. He was alive, and not only that, he felt better than he ever had. But how? He was dead, but no longer. Something had to have happened. He had to find this out. He decided to investigate the area where he had fallen. The area was barren of any life, whether it would be humanoid, machine, or plant. He did notice a small entrance that likely led to a cave. From the cave, he noticed a dim but noticeable eerie blue light.

Is it safe to enter this cave?

Would I die?

No! He has survived worse. Whatever dangers this cave holds, he can surely handle!

He reached on his back to take his swords, but then he remembered that he had previously drawn them before falling.

Where are they?

He searched the area for hours, but he found nothing.

They had to be here!

I had fallen with them!

He continued to search. From noon to dusk, he searched again and again, and every time, he found nothing. 

He fell to the ground in despair. Those swords were his only means of protection. They were also his sister's final gift to him before passing. The swords belonged to her, they were her pride and joy and a way for him to remember her, and now they were just gone. He began to tear up as he shook.

It's hopeless.

I can't do this, even with those blades in my hand. I am too weak and scared. How would she have trusted me with them and the fate of humanity?

No!

Stop thinking like this!

She had to have seen something to trust me like this. I have to be capable, if I am not, humanity will die, and I will be the last.

Humanity will survive.

He arose with a new hope. As he did, he spotted a glint in the corner of his eyes. On the distant ground, the blades lay. He ran to them and picked up them. He inspected them, and they were the same swords, with no difference at all.

WHAT?

I searched for hours and didn't find them. Why do they appear now? What is happening? First, I come back from the dead, and now my swords vanish and reappear. No matter. I am alive, and I have the means to defend myself. Exploring that cave is my only choice. I need to find food, water, and an escape from this chasm. I need to have HOPE.