Chapter 2: The Collective

Rena looked at Rosario like he was a complete idiot for even insinuating he didn't want to join the collective. Everyone wants to join the collective.

"Well sucks for you because you are now, and you're welcome for saving you from being completely wiped from the universe. Yes, there are other humans, but even though there are already humans, they are from different home planets with different cultures and beliefs and such. The collective's objective is to preserve these species, however major interference is unacceptable. That means no, we can't just make you powerful and release you to the universe. You have to succeed on your own."

"We have gone off topic though. What you are in here for, and I am here to guide you on, is to prepare you for entry into a small universe. Over ten small universes will be housed for your batch of peoples."

Taken aback, Rosario straightened his posture as he asked.

"Ten? The way you talk is as if a small Universe is bigger than a mini one. If that's the case, why would we need to be spread out over ten of those when there were only 9.3 billion humans on earth. Also, IF small universes are bigger than mini ones how much bigger are they then?"

"Well first off, they are Galaxies, not Universes. In the collective, the Universe is the void in which all galaxies exist. Also, how human of you to think you're the only species we would be saving from extinction in mini galaxies. There are many, many other species that will be mixed among the human population. Gnomes, Dwarves, Elves to name a few right now and others you will meet as you travel."

Taking a deep breath Rena continues.

"Now that we have the why out of the way we can get into what you can expect and specifically what you're doing here. We are currently on a collective spaceship in warp space, before you ask, NO, you cannot walk around the ship. Just the presence of the other beings on this ship would kill you. That is why we as cyborgs are the ones to meet with you, as you will not die from being in the same room as us. We are one of the ten ships taking you to your new home in the collective. Over the two days trip your body will begin to experience changes. These are normal and to be expected as you are now in galaxies under the collective's control."

"Over these next two days you will be given a list of equipment you are allowed to begin with, however as we cannot help that much and the rest has to be done by you, you will have a budget and cannot exceed it. Using your budget, you will select what supplies you will take with you onto the planet. When we reach the planet, you will be notified and teleported to a random location on the planet. From there you will begin your journey."

Holding up her hand at Rosario to forestall the questions he is about to throw at her, she continues.

"Let me finish before you ask. We cannot interfere, removing whole species from their planets and relocating them is already more interference than we would like. When you are teleported, you will have the equipment you requested but also you will be given a summoning gate Crystal. This crystal is extremely important as the Summoning Gate it creates is extremely vital for your survival. You will be given ten imbued Vellums to begin, just as everyone else. These vellums can be thrown into the portal to summon your citizens, the gems will call forth the souls of those who came before you in this Universe. These people are called Summons and will be your citizens and loyally follow you, however how they follow you is a direct reflection of how you treat them. Once they come out of the portal, they are living and breathing again, with or without you. It's on you to be sure they want to keep you around and leading them. If you do not want the responsibility of the summoning portal, or yours is taken, then you will become what is referred to as an Initiated. Those who keep their portals and develop are considered by the system to be Nobles. Your starting Noble status would be a Squire. This comes with extra perks and as a "Noble" you can advance to become a Knight, Baron, King, Emperor, Planetary King, and even higher. When you place your portal the system will update your personal status sheet(PSS) with your nobility status."

Seeing Rosario deep in thought Rena commented.

"I wouldn't worry about those titles for now. For the first week you are on the planet, you will want to focus on two main objectives: gathering essence from other living beings, be they animals or other humans and if you decide to be a Noble finding a suitable place to plant your crystal. You will have one month of time where the collective is slowly releasing its protection over your body as you assimilate. You will have wanted to invest enough essence into strengthening your body for you to be able to live after the month is up. The planet you are being placed on is around the size of Jupiter from your solar system so your current body will have trouble moving on the planet with gravity. If you do not place the portal crystal within a week of obtaining it, it will go dormant and not work anymore for you. It cannot be stressed enough that once you lose your portal or crystal or you do not set it up and it goes inert you will never be able to become a Noble again. You may ask your questions."

"How do I get essence from other beings? How much strength will I need to survive on the planet we are being relocated too? How many others like me are there?"

"With the planet you are going to being the size of Jupiter, you will need enough strength to survive and move in the gravitation of such a planet. I don't know the number and even if I did I would not be able to tell you. This is a trial for all denizens being placed onto the planet, you are all given only so much information and the rest you have to figure out. There is a total of twenty-five billion sapiens that will be placed on this planet. Along with a tenth of the wildlife from all the planets in all their solar systems. You get essence by killing."

"How do I get essence by killing? Does that mean the more powerful others are the more they have killed?"

"When you kill you release that being's soul from their mortal shell. When that happens some of their soul is broken off, absorbed into yours, then integrated with your soul to strengthen you. No, you don't have to get essence just from killing, there are other ways to get it, however you won't have time for those ways if you will want to live in the first week. And before you argue that after you have reached the strength to survive you could use them, yes, your correct but like I said I am only allowed to tell you so much and everything else you are to figure out on your own."

"How will I know how strong I am getting?"

"There is a system set up by the collective that will become active the more time you spend in the collective territory. This is part of the changes you will notice over the next couple of days of travel, for someone from your world and possibly as big of a nerd as you they will have what looks to be a game system. Your system is unique to you and no one else. It is how the collective associates with you."

Rosario shifted on the desk. Swinging his legs as he thought of questions that came to mind. "What is this collective you keep mentioning? And what is my objective on this planet?"

Switching which legs were crossed Rena answered. "The collective is the system created by a being that Lords over the whole known Universe. This being has never been seen but they are the designer behind the system that all denizens of the collective are granted. If you need a simple direct comparison, they would be the omnipotent God from your earth's religions. However, you will never interact with this being you will only ever interact with the system as you are too weak to even do anything without the system. Your objective is to do whatever you want. Live your life how you see fit. Become a farmer, blacksmith, or War Lord it's all up to you, you can be whatever you want. Just remember the stronger you are the more others can't ruin your happiness."

"You said something earlier about Nobles, Kings and such. What are they?"

"They are some of the rankings of beings that have kept their summoning portals. As you can imagine an initiated might be strong as they can absorb essence but what is stronger is an initiated that can absorb essence AND has a whole army backing them. These men and women are given titles by the system that all beings in the Universe have to respect. These Nobles are usually the most powerful person when they fight on any battlefield."

"I think that covers much of the basics, you will learn most of what you need for knowledge from your system. I will leave behind the catalogue for items you can bring with you, I suggest you take a look at the recommended section, what you choose can be the reason why you live or die. I have to go back to the others I am mentoring to answer some of their questions also. Your food will be delivered daily and when you have picked out what items you want just select them on the catalogue and hit confirm, they will be delivered custom fit to you, if you do not specify specific dimensions. Good luck!" With all that Rena disappeared from the seat she was in.