Year 406 AED
Honk! Honk!
The train blazed tenaciously. Passing through the scorched dessert sun. The fervent wind fizzled.
The train was spotted rushing towards the coverage of the barren tunnel.
Despite their prodigious number. They were shoved together in a small room located at the back of the moving train.
With no ventilation, they struggled to breath in. The air reeked, the stench enveloped the air as they struggled.
Each individual trying to convenience themselves by inconveniencing their fellow slaves.
They were dressed in dirt, rags that had no value and their arms chained together, bounded by the weight of their body.
This is to make sure they were unable to escape their fates.
Silence reigned evidently. Outside their sealed cages, they could see armed guards patrolling around.
Any strange movements made, the guards would be alerted and a few slaves would pay the price.
None were willing to risk it.
Sitted close to the concrete wall was a young man. His face contorted, he felt extremely nauseous.
The odor in the air caused him severe stomach ache. He was pushed to the wall by the more muscular men.
Him being shirtless revealed how skinny he really was. He spat on the ground, he was welcomed by a growl of a fellow slave.
" Hey watch were you spit, brat…..you nearly spat on my leg " the Slave spat out. His words were hostile towards him.
" Sorry I didn't meant to…I thought "
He couldn't complete his statement when he noticed a guard walk pass their cell. The atmosphere stayed deathly silent.
The minute the guard was out site. They all heaved in relief.
" Sorry I didn't meant to do that, I thought there were no legs close to the area I spat on " He apologized.
But the Slave shrugged his shoulders, apologizes is not what he needs now. What he need is freedom.
" there's no need to bother apologizing kid. Everyone here is a Slave, no one gives a damn…..you too must not care "
The voice of another Slave was heard. The young man had his head tilted towards the direction of the voice.
He saw an old frail looking man sitted on the ground, struggling to catch his breath. He hasn't eaten for a long time that his ribs are on display.
The old man giggled, staring at the cerulean eyes of the young Slave.
" Old man….did I do something funny? " He calmly asked. Still focusing his attention on the frail looking man.
" Ah. Not at all…..Silver haired, cerulean eyes….handsome face. Someone like you should be in the capital as a noble, not a slave like us "
" Tell me child. How did they get you? " the old man asked.
" I've been a Slave all my life. My village was invaded by the Empire when I was just a child, I was nine years old then "
" I watched my people burn. My parents slaughtered by those Knights of the noir. I was amongst the few captured "
" I became a Slave after then " He explained. Unable to hide the sadness in his eyes.
The old man noticed it. He moved his body a bit, coughing out loud.
" old man, are you ok? " He asked.
" Ofcourse I am, even though my time is near, I still need to act strong right? We all have such sad stories "
" I lost my family fighting against the Empire in the lost Blackwater Bay. I watched my people get burned by the flames of the Empire "
" they have the gods protecting them. We are mere men "
" but tell me child, how old are you now? " the old man asked.
" Nineteen. Will be turning twenty in a few months " He answered.
"Hmph, so you've been a Slave for a decade now huh? quite sad but do you know where we are being taken? "
The frail old man questioned with a smirk.
He squinted his eyes, unable to think of an answer.
" No, I have no idea where we are being headed to at the moment. I was taken out of my Slave Camp alongside a few others "
" Do you have any idea where we are going? Old man? " He asked.
While they quietly had their conversation. The rest of the room stayed silent...they only had to listen.
"Well I was able to get my hands on some valuable information. Where we are heading is the sacred city Losaria "
The old man answered.
He had all attention focused on him. Giggling softly, the Slave sitted beside the old man furrowed his eyebrows.
"Hey old man. Are you speaking the truth? are we being taken to the sacred city? Losaria " the Slave questioned.
"Yes that's correct….I have no reason to lie. It's not like I'm being paid to spread misinformation "
" We're not the only ones being transported to Losaria, other more Slaves from other Slave Camps are coming as well "
"More than two thousand Slaves are being transported to Losaria as we speak " the old man revealed.
Confusion was written on the faces of the Slaves present. Even him was able to understand the words of this old man.
"But…but old man, why are we being transported to the sacred city? Isn't that place the source of the awakened? " He asked.
" Yes, that place is the source of the awakened. It seems the Empire has decided to make use of us "
" from the information I was able to obtain. We are being taken to the sacred city for modification. If we are lucky "
"If we are truly lucky, we will be awakened as players of the Empire. This is a second chance to change our fate "
" Players are given the chance to rewrite their fates, possessing the powers of the supernaturals "
" With this we will be able to escape the inevitable fate of a Slave….this is a golden opportunity "
The old man explained.
Mummurs and whispers echoed. Attracting the attention of guards but the second the guards drew closer.
Silence reigned absolute.
" hey…hey… old man " He whispered. Drawing the attention of the old man towards himself.
" Yes? I forgot to ask you, what's your name kid? " the old man asked.
" My memories were erased by the brain stormer after I was captured by the Empire. I do not remember my original name "
"But the name I was given by the Empire is Savitar " Savitar explained.
" Ok Savitar…..what's your question? " the old man asked.
"Old man, you said this is a once in a lifetime opportunity right? But what will happen to those whose body rejected the modification? "
" what would happen to the Slaves that were unable to awaken as Players? " Savitar asked.
"There isn't much that can be done, as a Slave. Your only option is to awaken as a Player or die "
"Whoever is unable to awaken as a Player will be sent to the gas chamber "
"The only option for the unawakened is death!"
The room went mute. Savitar turned his gaze….he could see Slaves shivering.
Teeths were gritted and a few were spotted sweating profusely.
If they have no luck…..this is where they die!
Savitar let's out a sigh, he relaxed his back on the wall.
The Old man was confounded to see Savitar's reaction. Since Savitar is the youngest amongst them.
He anticipated Savitar would be peeing in his pants already but the unwavering eyes of Savitar bewildered him.
"Trying to act tough huh? let's see if you will be lucky to stay alive, boy "
The old man whispered.
Few hours later.
The train halted its movements, signaling everyone that they had reached their destination. No one dared to utter a single word.
Clang!
The metallic door leading into the cage opened up and four uniformed guards walked into the cage.
They were all armed with AR-15 assault rifles. But the difference between this weapons are normal weapons is the coating.
The technology of the Empire surpasses mankind. They were the first to obtain the gift of the gods.
Starlight Energy.
An unlimited source of energy that transformed original soldiers into superhuman. Creating technologies which transcends human intelligence.
Ushering the world into a new age of superhumans.
"One after the other, without making a single noise, everyone should leave this cage " the first guard uttered.
He had his rifle pointed against the Slaves.
They quietly got up and left the cage one after the other as instructed. They were lead to the exit door of the train.
Savitar and the old man were amongst the last to leave the train.
They emerged from the train, entering into the train station to see hundreds of soldiers gathered around.
His eyes twitched. Recalling the Knights of noir who slaughtered his people.
The black battle suits they were clad in gave him ptsd.
"Hey watch are you doing boy? Move along "
The voice of a soldier woke him back to reality. Savitar followed the line, he kept watching everything.
More trains kept pulling up and with the Slaves being released from the trains. They were searched by the soldiers.
Savitar as well was searched but he was met with the envious gaze of the soldiers positioned at the checkpoint.
He's six foot and two inches tall. Although roughened, the beauty of his silver haired was untainted.
His cerulean blue eyes flickered.
"Watch ya looking at boy? " a soldier questioned. Glaring at Savitar with disgust but Savitar remained unwavered.
He understood any wrong action would spell his doom. As a Slave, he has no rights in the Empire.
"Nothing sir" Savitar answered.
Not showing any emotion.
"Good, all cleared up….join the rest of your filthy soldiers" the soldier commanded.
Savitar walked passed the soldier. He was spat on by the soldier, the soldier expecting Savitar to react to the provocation.
He was stunned when Savitar walked out of the scene unprovoked. Not falling for the cheap provocation that would end his life.
The Slaves were counted and once the soldiers were done with the enumeration of Slaves.
They were led into a building.
"Quite the restraint you have there boy. If it were to be me I would have reacted differently " Savitar overheard the voice of the old man.
The old man giggled softly. Savitar couldn't help but smile.
"I'm not a fool who would fall for such cheap provocations, if it were easy for me to be provoked by this soldiers"
"I would have died already" Savitar bragged.
"He-he-he-he-he-he….true but it's meaningless if you're still going to die" the old man said.
Savitar's eyebrows curled up.
"Huh? What are you talking about old man? " Savitar asked.
"I've seen your fate already. Child....your body will reject the modification sequence…..they're incompatible "
"You'll die"