"None? Did... did we hear that right?"

{ Yes, you heard that right. Any more questions about the things you could do?}

"Um, yes there is. Was there anyone that came here before us?" Rein asked

{Yes, there were multiple of them in fact. Some were humans just like you, some were so-so creatures, some were non-sapient creatures that died immediately, and some were also quite... eccentric to say the least}

So there was a chance that they could leave this place alive.

"Was there anyone that left this place alive?"

{None. Either they died instantly, died slowly trying to find a way to leave, died of old age, and died conquering this place though they did meet the most brutal death}

Now, that was bad news. This place was just a one-way trip straight to hell with no way of getting out. It was either ride or die.

"Hey, where's Maxy?"

{Maxy? Oh you meant the one that guided you here? It's me}

"That's you Maxy?"

{Yes I'm Maxy. We're just the same with just different personalities so we often get mixed.}

"Ahhh so what should we call you?"

{Maxy. Why? You don't like that?}

"No, it just feels weird"

{Yes, we get that a lot. Anyway, enough of the small talk, you can talk with me later with your questions but let's focus on the main objective: What you are going to do here}

The voice of Maxy turned stern and cold, prompting them to behave and listen with a bit of interest. Rein plopped himself to the ground with a satisfied sigh while Sentinel gently hovered on Rein's head.

{How amusing... Anyway, while we, Hephaestus's Personal Envoy, do not have a specific goal in the long term, there are still some tasks that you have to personally do. It will be given via the vortex we implanted in both of you. You will be reminded of what, how, when you will do these tasks. Failure to comply will result in death}

"Haaaaa... Just when i thought there won't be restraints, i got slapped by one, now what?" Exasperated by the events, he didn't even bother to rebel against what he just said

{Hmm? When did i say that it would be *small, meager, and insignificant tasks?* If you think it would be as simple as washing dishes, then fret not. These tasks will range from collection of various materials to exterminating whole solar systems. If you still think those tasks are *meager*, then you should commit suicide by now}

Defeated by the counter-argument, Rein had no choice but to stay defeated and sigh deeply

"Could we ask why such restrictions are imposed?" Sentinel asked with a hint of wariness in his voice.

{Because the previous envoys were a piece of lazy shit. They were beyond unreasonable and would not simply comply with the task that Hephaestus gave them, which is why we had to impose such restrictions. But if you're still worried about that, then those restrictions could be lessened by doing tasks regularly}

"That's acceptable " they complied

{Moving on. Let's start this at once okay?}

"Whatever you say Captain Maxy" "Affirmative Bluey" They replied in unison while standing up.

The both of them relaxed as they joked around. A place that exists inside an asteroid? It gave them a whole lot of questions.

A flying hologram which seemed to have multiple personalities? Kinda weird but it felt right to them considering the place.

A holy land of a God? They don't even know where to start questioning the absurdness of this place

And now it's giving them quests to complete or else they would die? Not that it sounded like a death threat.

However, whenever they think about it, having multiple lives in multiple universes was definitely weird and absurd on its own so it desensitized them to the current situation.

{The vortex acts as a beacon and a transmitter, it can send tasks whenever Hephaestus wants to. It also transmits your general location to the terminal, in case you get lost}

A red flash of light started to blink on their wrist, glowing dimly as it turns off and on, like christmas lights on its slow mode.

----------------------------------------

{Now, let us begin the main task! Please wait for a while}

{Land Management!

Difficulty: S

Duration: Lifetime

Description: The Lone Asteroid is riddled with derelicts made from the past representatives that were chosen. The land is barren from eras of neglect, with only the essential components being maintained. Your task, as what the past representatives have failed to do, is to manage the land back to it's former glory

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Task Completion: Will only be completed once the 'holy land' is restored

Rewards: Something good (maybe)

Penalties if the task fails: Loses the blessing of Reincarnation and the right to represent the Lone Asteroid, thereby restricting entry or any kind of interaction to the Lone Asteroid

Note: You can do this! (Probably) }

----------------------------------------

A sense of silence overcame both Rein and Sentinel.

"Really?..."

He wanted to lash out but he knew that it won't do anything.

'And what was up with that reward. Something good? Something good my ass. I'd rather jump off this asteroid then float again'

"Ughhh, just when I thought I got the jackpot, it turned out to be a pit of bad luck..." He groaned and turned towards Sentinel. "Hey bro, you wanna do this?"

"...mmmhmm, we won't lose anything if we accept this... And it's getting tiring floating in space." He said as he floated towards Rein's head.

Rein tapped his metallic head and laughed as he heard the response, stretching his arms as his will reinvigorated.

"Sure, we'll take it on"

{Good, because even if you won't, you'll be forced to.} Maxy gave off the equivalent of a laugh, he's blue screen shaking a bit as he answered.

{Good choice, now let's start.}

In front of the terminal, a large screen appeared, hovering as a layout of an unknown map laid bare. With a brief glance, Rein noticed it was the general landscape of this asteroid.

The screen encompassed the whole land, with some sensors indicating the approximate scope of the land. "12.3km in diameter... Huh..."

Left of the map were various sections with symbols.

{Strange... It's the first time i found a configuration like yours...}

Maxy's blue exterior hummed as he inspected the map.

A blue hand, or glove, materialized. It then started to poke on the map, the various buttons, and even tried to punch the map, which as Rein guessed, just passed through harmlessly.

{Well, first time to encounter such one. I can't even override its controls.}

"So what does that imply?"

{It implies that i haven't seen one like this before, duh}

"Oh, my bad"

{No worries Rein, back to the topic. You have a unique one. And looking at it closer, there's something quiteeeeeeeee different. Like, a hugeee difference}

Maxy looked at the two, just to see Rein looking amused while Sentinel was just on top of his head, rolling a bit.

"And?"

{Huh, you aren't excited?}

"Why should we?, we don't even know what's the difference unless you tell us"

{Okay okay, can't even have a little fun} Maxy muttered as he explained. {As you may or may not already know, every time someone ends up in this lonely place, they receive a 'configuration'. I don't know why and how they end up with that, but every one of them had the same with slightly different configuration; It supports their own growth. In layman's terms, it basically helps them physically, mentally, spiritually, magically, aurixally, mythically, anything-you-can-call-it-thyically. The point is, their configuration will only help them grow, not the asteroid or other living and non-living objects.}

{But yours, or i mean, both of your configurations do not only help you, but also the asteroid and other living and non-living things. If the previous people only had a personal infinite water sprout that can only support themselves, yours are like an infinite waterfall. It can nourish anything and anyone you wish for. That itself is so weird and rare that i don't even know how to help you. You are basically on your own to explore this.}

Maxy finished his explanation with a virtual celebration. Blue holographic confetti appeared as it fell down.

Rein clapped his hands while nodding in understanding. Maxy delivered it wonderfully, though he still had questions whether it was really unique, he had no choice but to be happy about it.

Meanwhile, Sentinel was just happy to be bobbed up and down on his hair.

"Sentinel seemed to be on power-saving mode, how cute" He chuckled as he held the metallic ball on his arms, facing sentinel's screen which currently showed a battery with a leaf covering it.

{Power-saving mode? We do have an energy converter here, he could use it you know?} Maxy asked in curiosity.

"Well, I don't really know how but he doesn't seem to run out of energy. And yeah, power-saving mode is just another way of saying ''relaxing'" Rein explained as he cradled Sentinel, rolling gently.

{How amusing...and cute}

"I second that motion"

They laughed as they observed Sentinel more, before going back to the topic.

{Ehem, now that i explained it. You can now try to explore more on your own. Small note, u can't really see anything once you use it, so don't expect me to be able to help you. That and have fun, i guess.}

Maxy said as he dematerialized, leaving Rein all alone with a sleeping Sentinel.

"Hmm, well, my curiosity is brimming right now and buttons seem fun" He grinned at himself as he indulged his inner young child.

It had been a long time since he came across anything remotely close to the technological wonder of his planet Earth, so he was quite excited.

Centuries of being alive and dead, chucked across multiple alternate universes, being reincarnated, revived, and a lot more else was a lot to take in. He was even surprised that he still had his inner child inside of him.

He looked at Sentinel, suddenly feeling thankful and nostalgic to his long life friend; Sentinel was the reason he was still able to be this emotional. The reason he was still happy and giddy over small things. This guy right here was his emotional companion and he would kill anyone who tried to harm him.

But he knows that Sentinel had a really huge problem. He talks like a matured adult and remembers his past life, but he somehow had the mentality of a young child, curious yet lazy to explore it.

Yes, he had some moments in their many last lives where Sentinel achieved attaining knowledge and wisdom of an old sage, he still reverts back to his childish stage.

Despite that, he loved the current Sentinel. Though he loved to have someone to talk to in a mature setting, it was alright for him.

He proceeded to place the resting ball on his head, gently floating on his hair.

"Wow... How do i do this again?..."

He murmured as he fumbled around the holographic map, his arms phasing through the screen with no success of ever figuring it out.

"What if... this is voice-commanded?" He wondered as he cleared his throat. "Activate."

Nothing happened.

"Uhm, Protocol Alpha?"

None.

"Initialize"

"Start-up"

"Man the server? Heh"

"Jarvis"

"Ack this is more frustrating than i thought". He scratched his hair in frustration, only to be met with Sentinel's body.

"Oh, maybe this will work." With a slight push, he knelt down with his arms locked in a praying position. "PLEASE HELP ME!"

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"Wow, i really did not think that it would work" he smiled as he read the list of words branching off as new ones came out.

"Redacted?"

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Rein was dumbfounded.

"What? No that's not what i meant. What i meant is why is it redacted?"

<>

A silence pervaded the already silent rocky place

"I'm really getting on my years... I'm sorry for that

" Somehow, hiding under a rock was much more bearable than facing the hologram right now.

<< No worries>>