"... -an you hear me?"
Those were the initial words that jolted me back to reality. I recollected having gone to work, but everything that followed remained a blank void.
"Oh, my apologies! I'm feeling a bit disoriented," I responded, attempting to survey my surroundings.
"Ah… Where exactly am I? And why are we in complete darkness?" As I opened my eyes, I saw… Nothing. There was nothing in sight, no matter how much I tried looking. Whom had I been conversing with?
"Do you happen to recall anything prior to regaining consciousness?" inquired someone, disregarding my question entirely.
"I... I don't know," I stammered. My head throbbed, and focusing on anything proved exceedingly challenging. The disconcerting darkness, instead of offering solace, intensified my growing anxiety.
“Here, this might help.” The person said, as if already knowing that I am having a headache.
I experienced a tingling sensation, as if something entered my body, revitalizing me wherever it passed. It felt like being transported back to my prime years, free from the back and neck pains caused by sitting behind a desk all day.
The pleasant feeling lingered for a while, until the reality of what had transpired hit me.
"We... We made the decision to escape," I murmured. "But then everything went awry. The supposedly concealed exit was compromised..."
“And then…” The words caught in my throat, and a guttural cry escaped me. Tears streamed down my cheeks, mingling with my rising anger.
"I don't understand. Why did we sacrifice our lives for that accursed research? WHY? God Dammit! WHY?!"
Overwhelmed, I crumpled to the unfamiliar ground, sniffling uncontrollably. Their faces appeared before me, those idiots. Perhaps if we had simply allowed them to take what they wanted, we could have all remained alive. But no, those bastards chose to bring destruction upon themselves. Once they sealed off all the exits, there was no way out, so we detonated the lab. Our life's work, the research, the vast amounts of data, the raiders, and all the innocent personnel trapped inside, all consumed by the flames. We became murderers, no better than the individuals who pursued our work, or those who commanded them.
My mind teetered on the brink of darkness. The throbbing vein in my forehead intensified, causing searing pain. Hyperventilating, I struggled to maintain consciousness.
"Calm down, James. Take a deep breath. Not all is lost. Focus on my voice.” The person was evidently expecting something like this as he was completely calm as I was going through the rollercoaster of terrible emotions. So I did what he said.
“Good now, inhale. And exhale.”
I used his voice as an anchor to keep me sane and regain control over my body as it was previously slipping.
“Ok. Now that you have relatively calmed down we can finally talk. I am known as Xeros” He said the title with extreme pride and reverence as if he proclaimed himself a god.
"After the explosions occurred, I managed to rescue you from Earth at the very last moment. Regrettably, you are now the sole survivor," he explained.
"I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand," I replied, seeking clarity.
"We are no longer on Earth. This place is known as The Interstice, accessed through the Realm rift. For someone like you, it's likely the most perilous area in the entire universe. However, with me by your side, you have nothing to fear," he assured me.
"Ah, I see. So, we're essentially inside a void or something?" I questioned, my voice tinged with confusion as I grappled with the situation.
The events leading up to this moment—the lab raid, the subsequent explosion, and now this—all seemed too surreal. I desperately longed to wake up inside my comfortable bed and erase any memory of this bizarre occurrence.
"Well, I'm not sure how you define a 'void,' but if it entails an intangible plane composed of antimatter, functioning as a mirror image of our own universe, then you're correct," he calmly responded.
"Yet, the true essence of its significance lies in its utility. By traversing the Interstice, we can surpass the speed of light in the material universe. However, it harbors numerous hazardous regions, and if you lack the strength to escape the Rift storms, it could spell your demise," he cautioned.
"Right, so if this place is so potentially dangerous, why are we here?" I inquired, seeking an explanation.
For a moment, silence hung in the air until he finally broke it.
"I am currently unable to return to the material plane due to severe physical injuries. This was the only viable solution. Moreover, the disturbance caused by the explosion on the Interstice, which you people triggered, allowed me to open a Realm rift in time to save you," he reluctantly confessed.
"Now, regarding why you perceive nothing but darkness," the being continued, refusing to allow any interruptions.
"My existence, as well as the reality surrounding us, surpasses the boundaries of your wildest imagination. Should you bear witness to any aspect of it, your mind would be overwhelmed and shut down. Thus, I have taken the liberty of temporarily disabling your senses. Our current mode of communication relies solely on the soul link I have established, which also allows me to comprehend your language and vice versa."
"So," I hesitated, "you claim that I'm not dead. If that's the case, why am I here? Why would an immensely powerful entity like yourself even concern yourself with someone as insignificant as me? Judging from what I've witnessed and your explanation, I can't even be considered comparable to an ant in comparison to you. Nevertheless, there must be something you desire from me." My voice exuded both fear and intrigue.
"You are here because I am slowly approaching my death, and I have chosen to pass on my legacy to someone capable. If you agree, I will send you back to the material universe, where you will have a single task: to impress me. Succeed, and the inheritance will be yours; fail, and you shall face permanent death this time."
"Alright... If I understand correctly, you expect me to be your mere puppet until I prove my worth or face immediate destruction?" I inquired.
"You can perceive it that way, although you should be aware of this: your soul, in its current state, remains too feeble to reincarnate. Therefore, once you depart from my sphere of influence, you would dissipate into nothingness," the being nonchalantly responded, while I grappled with conflicting emotions. Not over the decision I had to make, but rather over the surreal occurrences unfolding before me.
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Even if it were all a dream, it felt extraordinarily convincing. The restoration I experienced, along with the potentially genuine revelations, reverberated within my mind.
"Alright... I suppose I should process all of this later. For now, I prefer not to cease existing, and your proposed challenge does pique my interest. Could you provide further insight into what you expect from me? How do I best demonstrate my worth? And will there be other contenders I must confront?"
"Excellent questions. Now you are using your intellect. No, there will be no other participants, although their presence could have added some excitement. The realm you shall enter will likely present sufficient challenges on its own. Remember, I do not merely desire your survival. I seek your domination!"
That was reassuring to hear. Nonetheless, having some company initially would offer solace, sparing me the burden of loneliness. Nevertheless, in the end, the inheritance would only be bestowed upon a single individual, making a fight to the death inevitable.
"Alright. That sounds promising. You mentioned that the world will be brought with danger. I wonder, where do you intend to transport me?" I pondered, recognizing the importance of his future answer.
"Well, first and foremost, traveling to another world is out of the question for me. I'm currently too weak to accomplish such a feat. Instead, I have the ability to send you back through time."
"Wait, what? You can actually do that? How is it possible?"
My scientific mind raced, searching for a plausible explanation, but I found myself at a loss. Then, I considered the possibility that an immensely powerful being like the one standing before me might defy Albert Einstein's theory of relativity.
Based on our current understanding of physics, surpassing the speed of light is deemed impossible. But what if this being could accomplish it? What if that's the key to time travel?
Nevertheless, that would introduce a host of additional complications. Even if successful, numerous challenges and paradoxes would emerge, including the infamous grandfather paradox. It questions the plausibility of altering events in the past and potentially causing contradictory outcomes that could derail my plans.
"Well, don't interpret time travel literally. Something of that nature is currently considered impossible, at least based on our existing knowledge. Even if someone were capable of such a feat, it would give rise to countless future predicaments. Thus, they would likely attempt to utilize it covertly, ensuring no one else becomes aware of it. In essence, you won't actually return to your world, so there's no need to worry about inadvertently eliminating your ancestors and subsequently ceasing to exist."
He continued, "The destination you'll be sent to is a replica of your former world. I've gathered sufficient information about it, so it shouldn't be overly challenging to place you in a parallel dimension where time moves at a slower pace. The calculations and potential issues involved are numerous, but the energy required is minimal compared to traversing the interstice and contending with its currents and potential dangers."
"Okay, so why are you insisting on sending me back in time? Couldn't you simply replicate the world from my present timeline?" I wasn't particularly thrilled with his decision, considering that many modern comforts would be lost by going back in time.
"In your era, warfare relies heavily on technology, and that's perfectly fine. However, my heritage is more inclined towards the spiritual and supernatural. Those elements were more prevalent in primitive times when not everything had a logical explanation. Natural phenomena were often attributed to supernatural or divine powers."
I figured there was no point in arguing with him any longer, so I asked about the first plausible problem I will encounter in that scenario.
"Alright, I understand that you've already chosen the time period to take me to. But won't I end up introducing a deadly virus and triggering a devastating plague? Or worse, succumb to unsanitary conditions and suffer a painful death? And even if I somehow manage to survive, how will I communicate with them?"
"I'm well aware of the risks involved. That's where the advantages come into play. Being an ordinary human would be rather dull for you. Therefore, I shall grant you the following blessings:
The skill you will acquire is known as a Memory Palace. To create it, a portion of your soul will be utilized and transformed into a construct designed to store all your knowledge. However, its duration of use is limited and depends on your specific activities. For instance, if you are simply browsing and recalling memories, its functionality can last for hours. On the other hand, if you decide to get imaginative and instruct it to generate a flawless martial art tailored to you, that particular endeavor could render the Memory Palace unusable for any other purpose for approximately a year, if not longer.
It is worth noting that you have the option to halt its progress temporarily, allowing you to review forgotten information or slow its advancement by assigning a small portion of 'memory' each day to other tasks.
Nevertheless, the current extent of its utility remains relatively restricted. The sole means of enhancement lies in consistent utilization, akin to training a muscle or, in this case, your soul.
The second bit of help is body remodeling. I already took the liberty to complete this part so I hope it is to your liking."
The boons he listed were utterly absurd. Any reincarnated young master or hero would do anything to possess them. If I were to agree to participate in his little game, I could obtain unimaginable knowledge and power.
As I contemplated, a mental image materialized before me. It supposedly revealed a 3D model of my current appearance.
The image was so strange and familiar like I have seen it before, like a déjà vu.
The panel portrayed an individual who I would choose to become, if I had access to advanced plastic surgery equipment - a stunning, lean Caucasian man in his late twenties. I boasted exquisite long brown hair cascading like a majestic mane, a robust beard, and captivating piercing blue eyes.
"Xeros, you've truly outdone yourself with this one," I expressed with evident delight in how my 'character' had turned out.
"Thank you. After all, my potential champion mustn't look anything less than exceptional," Xeros replied.
I just remembered something, I forgot to ask him before.
“Hey. Will I be able to return if I pass the trial? And how big is the time dilation?"
Unconsciously I started taking this whole ordeal as something that was truly happening to me and I wasn't only imagining things. I still wanted to go back one day and at least check on my parents and what was left of the research.
"Hmm…If everything goes according to plan, the New Earth's gravity, rotation speed, and everything else will be the same, but as I said before the time will pass slower than in your old world. So one year there is like 3 or 4 years on your Earth. That is also the reason they are still so undeveloped compared to your world.”
Shit. This is bad news. If that is true, then depending on when I go back, there will be nothing left of my parents but bones.
“Is there really no other way? I would like to at least say goodbye to my parents before I go. Please.” I pleaded.
The being sighed through the link.
“Listen. You are already dead in everyone else's eyes, so going back now is just going to open their wounds. The time you spent here might feel like a few hours, but in reality years went by in the outside world.
Also, if you become my successor there will be a near-limitless lifespan waiting for you, so you should let go of your old world and embrace the new one in stride. That is the only way you have any chance of becoming my successor.”
I was quiet. I knew it was selfish to ask him for more but I really wanted to have some closure, even though it might not be the best for them. Like what would I even say to them. ‘Hi mom, dad. I'm still alive, but I will have to go back soon with my new cosmic being master to complete a test. See you in a few dozen years when you will be long dead.’
“Damnit… Fine. You're right. To exceed your expectations I will need a new outlook on life.”
“Finally you get it.” Those words were said with massive relief as if he had been waiting for me to say that for eons.
“... Yeah. Well, I don't know what else to ask... Oh, wait, what about clothes?!"
It suddenly occurred to me that I still stood before Xeros in complete nudity all this time. As embarrassing as it was for me, I doubted he cared. Hell, he even changed me how I liked, so he probably knows my body better than I do, inside and out.
"Don't fret. I'll ensure you're equipped with the appropriate attire for the time period." Hearing the answer I sighed in relief. As dumb as it might sound I still believed in the saying ‘Clothes make a man’ and even though I am going to an ancient period, the saying will probably still ring true.
"Great. I think we are all done so send me away already."
The thought of having an adventure inside my lucid dream was exhilarating and I couldn't wait.
"Excellent! I'll transport you to the banks of the new River Tigris. Hopefully, we won't need to converse like this again. I wish you an enthralling adventure, for both your sake and mine."