Chapter 2: Super Mario
Assassin's Creed one of Potato's (Ubisoft's) flagship franchises had long been a favorite of Lu Xiao, who had just recently played Odyssey at home.
From the original Assassin's Creed set during the Third Crusade to the more RPG-styled Odyssey in ancient Greece, the series had covered multiple timelines and continents. So, even though he now stood facing a medieval European castle, it was still difficult for Lu Xiao to determine exactly which era or entry he'd fallen into.
After all, even in modern times, numerous medieval castles remained intact across Europe. The presence of stone walls and classical architecture alone couldn't rule out the possibility that he had transmigrated into a modern setting perhaps a simulation or genetic memory recall like the Animus interface used by Abstergo Industries in the Assassin's Creed movie.
The System remained silent after issuing the mission offering no time-stamp, no coordinates. As before, Lu Xiao had to investigate and deduce the situation himself.
As the sun gradually climbed toward the zenith, the summer heat grew intense. Lu Xiao, who had been dazed in the wheat field for some time, finally began to feel the discomfort. Fortunately, cool breezes periodically rolled across the plains, softening the heat and allowing him to traverse the golden field toward the distant hilltop castle without collapsing.
As he approached the stronghold, its towering stone walls cast long shadows that sheltered him from the sun. The closer he came, the more pedestrians he saw farmers with sun-darkened skin, simple tunics, and wooden tools. Their clothing was primitive and caked in dust.
Though their attire revealed little about the era, their behavior and language were more telling. From their wary glances and whispered conversations, Lu Xiao began piecing things together.
'That's... Latin? No, it sounds like Italian. And judging from their stunned reaction to seeing an Easterner, plus the crude dirt roads and ox-drawn carts… Yeah, definitely not modern times.'
Hearing the language helped solidify his theory. Italian suggested Renaissance-era Italy central to the Assassin's Creed II storyline, where Desmond Miles, through the Animus, relived the memories of his ancestor Ezio Auditore da Firenze.
'If this is Italy… then I might be somewhere around Florence… or Monteriggioni.'
But a new problem emerged: communication.
'How the hell am I supposed to talk to anyone?'
Before he could consider miming or gesturing wildly, a commotion broke out.
A team of mounted knights thundered down the road, kicking up dust. The locals scrambled aside with bowed heads, and Lu Xiao instinctively stepped out of the path.
The horses neighed sharply, bringing Lu Xiao out of his daze as five armored knights, clad in mismatched but functional armor, surrounded him. Their swords remained sheathed, but their hands hovered warily near the hilts.
Lu Xiao raised his hands slowly and gave them his most non-threatening smile. In the only foreign language he knew, he tried: "Uh... hello?"
…
Roughly thirty minutes later, Lu Xiao found himself escorted through the outer gates by the same knights, his expression dull and a little resentful.
They clearly hadn't understood him. Still, they hadn't attacked yet. Probably because he didn't look like a threat… or perhaps they were taking him to someone who could make that call.
The town inside the castle walls was small, maybe a few hundred homes at most. Based on the density of the buildings and their layout, Lu Xiao guessed the population couldn't exceed a thousand.
He adjusted his vision using his Clairvoyance. The enhancement sharpened everything ahead, including the stone-paved road stretching into the town's heart, where a large, slightly worn manor stood at the top of the steps.
There right in front of the manor was a small fountain. The fountain's base had what looked like an ornate design, but Lu Xiao, now actively looking for clues, immediately recognized it.
A triangle. Sharp point at the top, soft curve at the bottom like a stylized "A" symbol with sweeping strokes.
The insignia of the Assassins.
'No doubt about it. This is Monteriggioni. The Auditore estate.'
Even though the building atop the steps looked half-abandoned its outer walls tangled in ivy, shutters worn—its structure was unmistakable. This was Ezio Auditore's ancestral home, as featured prominently in Assassin's Creed II and again in Brotherhood.
Suddenly, the clash of steel rang out from the steps. Lu Xiao looked up sharply. A brawny man in noble attire, likely in his forties, was locked in combat with several armed figures. Despite the odds, he was holding his own, moving with surprising agility for someone of his age.
The man's blade moved in elegant arcs his footwork balanced, his timing precise. It wasn't hard to guess: this was Giovanni Auditore, Ezio's father a high-ranking Assassin operating undercover as a Florentine nobleman.
As Lu Xiao and his knightly escort reached the square before the manor, Giovanni was still dispatching his attackers with expert ease.
Clang!
The sound of steel meeting steel echoed again as Giovanni parried a downward strike and countered with a kick that sent the assailant tumbling down the stone steps.
Lu Xiao's heart raced. He had just witnessed a historical figure from the Animus archives, fighting live in front of him.
And more importantly… he now knew exactly what timeline he was in.
Blocking a heavy axe swing with his longsword, the nobleman twisted his blade skillfully, redirecting the momentum and slicing toward the exposed neck of his opponent at an uncanny angle.
The sword halted just beside the man's throat. Realizing he'd been bested, the axe-wielding fighter wisely stepped back and withdrew. The nobleman still full of vigor—remained poised and alert, parrying and countering with refined, almost instinctual movements. Within minutes, all assailants had either fled or been disarmed, leaving him the last man standing.
"Hoo~"
The middle-aged noble exhaled deeply, sheathing his longsword with practiced ease. Sweat clung to his brow, but his breathing gradually steadied.
One of the knights who had escorted Lu Xiao finally seized the opportunity to step forward. He bowed respectfully and reported the situation in fluent Italian of which Lu Xiao understood nothing. Still, the tone suggested urgency and possibly concern.
When the noble turned to listen, Lu Xiao caught a clear look at his face for the first time.
Broad-shouldered and iron-willed, the man had a striking, weathered appearance. A pronounced scar slashed down from his forehead through his left eye, which was dull and lifeless blind for many years. His right eye, in contrast, gleamed with fierce intelligence.
Lu Xiao's heart stirred with recognition. That scar, that bearing…
'Mario Auditore,' Lu Xiao thought, his eyes narrowing with realization. 'The brother of Giovanni Auditore, uncle to Ezio the "old lecher." He's the current head of the Italian Assassin Brotherhood in this era.'
In the Assassin's Creed universe, the perpetual war between the Assassins and their eternal adversaries, the Templar Order humorously nicknamed "Sweet Potatoes" by Lu Xiao—served as the foundation for centuries of hidden history.
Lu Xiao's current mission was to collect Pieces of Eden powerful Precursor artifacts left behind by the ancient Isu. According to the lore of both the games and the Assassin's Creed movie, most Pieces of Eden were either safeguarded or hunted by the Assassins and Templars.
If Lu Xiao wanted results, he had no choice but to align with one of these factions. But which?
While the games traditionally placed the player in the shoes of an Assassin, many fans often overlooked the philosophical nuance behind the conflict. Lu Xiao wasn't so easily swayed.
To him, the conflict wasn't good versus evil it was freedom versus order.
The Assassins championed free will, believing human creativity and growth thrived best when unconstrained.
The Templars, as shown starkly in the Assassin's Creed movie especially through characters like Alan Rikkin and his modern Templar associates sought to impose peace and stability through control. They believed in guiding humanity, eliminating chaos by limiting freedom through surveillance and subtle domination.
Lu Xiao recognized the flaw in both extremes. Unchecked freedom bred chaos. Absolute order bred tyranny. Civilization progressed not because one side won, but because their struggle kept each other in check.
Still, given the current timeline Assassin's Creed II, during the Italian Renaissance the Templars were neck-deep in corruption. Rodrigo Borgia, Grand Master of the Templars, had long since abandoned their founding ideals, driven instead by lust for power and divinity.
In this context, the Assassins weren't just the lesser evil they were the more virtuous option.
So if Lu Xiao was to fulfill his mission acquiring Pieces of Eden and accessing vital intelligence his only viable ally was the Assassin Brotherhood.
And standing before him now, sheathed sword glinting faintly in the light, was the local Grandmaster of that Brotherhood. Gaining Mario Auditore's trust would be crucial.
'But how do I convince him I'm not a threat… or better yet, a potential ally… when we can't even speak the same language?'
Lu Xiao's thoughts were interrupted when Mario, after scrutinizing him silently for a moment, raised a thick finger and pointed directly at Lu Xiao's chest.
"…Huh?"
Puzzled, Lu Xiao looked down. His eyes widened in surprise.
Hanging from his neck was a silver pendant an unfamiliar weight he had unconsciously ignored until now. The pendant was unmistakable: a triangle-shaped insignia with curved crossbars. The insignia of the Assassins.
'Wait what?'
Lu Xiao's thoughts raced. Then, with sudden clarity, he remembered something the System had casually mentioned earlier: a one-time beginner's gift.
'So this is it… a disguise item or token meant to make the Assassins accept me?'
As if on cue, Mario's stern expression relaxed slightly. He exchanged glances with one of the knights, who nodded gravely. Though Lu Xiao still didn't understand a word, the gesture was universal.
Mario stepped closer, placing a gloved hand on Lu Xiao's shoulder not as a threat, but as a sign of cautious welcome.
Lu Xiao swallowed hard, then stood up straighter. For the first time since his arrival in this world, he felt the smallest sliver of control return to him.
'So this is how it begins,' he thought. 'Let's see how far the rabbit hole goes.'
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