Synthetic Survivor: Machine Age

The continent of Fiorg, roughly double the size of Eurasia was home to more than three billion humans and beastmen. Magic was present in forms of energy within life itself, humans and beastmen had the most concentration of magic, the highest of them would be able to harness this power, they were called mages. Kingdoms, empires, and theocracies ruled the lands with an iron fist, wars between races were also common. The continent itself has seen its fair share of war and suffering throughout its history and only a few hundred years ago did peace finally happen.

Two superpowers in the continent joined forces and coerced all the other states into joining the Council of Royals, an organization of states who wished or are forced to make peace with the rest of the continent. Not even the combined forces of these states could take on the might of the two empires; they were forced to comply.

This move by the two superpowers came after what was known as the Second Great War. A war that killed a billion of the people and beastmen on the continent and prompted the creation of the Forgotten Era. The Forgotten Era was a period in history roughly 2 thousand years in a span that lead up to the Second Great War, the war destroyed all known knowledge of the Forgotten Era and the war itself. These two superpowers were the only survivors of the war, some speculated that they were the ones who caused the war. Some argued the war never happened. How could they know for certain if all research concerning The Forgotten Era was outlawed?

Whatever the Second Great War was, it caused a decline of magic throughout the continent. Mages who were once abundant among the humans and beastmen dwindled to the point of rarity. The average magic energy of a healthy person decreased to near non-existent levels.

But, there was only one thing the people were certain about. After the war, hundreds of millions of refugees would found their own states, beginning the Era of Rebuilding. Influential Families would rise and seize control, most were benevolent, while some dreamed of domination and supremacy. Thanks to the founding of the Council Of Royals, all hostilities mostly ceased except for limited wars between states.

Seven hundred years have passed ever since the start of The Era Of Rebuilding, unbeknownst to them, someone tapped into forbidden magic, unleashing an unknown power that dwarfed even their most powerful magic — the power of the Machines.

-

Ten dead bodies littered the ancient room; their blood seeped through the brick walls and the floor. Three metallic humanoids were standing in front of the wormhole armed with blasters; they gunned down the ten men as they emerged from the hole. They stood there, waiting for their master's next order.

"We have finished reconnaissance, hostiles terminated. One point of entry and exit found" Drone 1A reported, accompanied by Drone 2A and Drone 3A.

"Enter point of entry, perform reconnaissance of outside sector. Caution is advised. Terminate hostile entities" A voice said inside their head.

"Affirmative, Drone 2A and Drone3A follow" Drone 1A followed by the other drones walked towards the old stone door. Drone 1A reached the doorknob and turned it, the doorknob broke off. Drone 2A and 3A tilted their heads to the right as they continued to observe 1A.

"You can break down the door by any means necessary 1A."

"Affirmative"

1A pointed his blaster at the doorknob and blasted it three times, creating a hole the size of a human palm. The door moved as the wind breezed through, the drones then pushed the door open. The drones discovered a hallway a few meters long. On the other end was another entrance, this time the drones detected heat signatures on the other side.

"Reporting, heat signatures detected. Permission to perform preemptive strike" 1A requested.

"Go ahead."

The drones fired their blasters, the door was obliterated. Screams of more men echoed as they were gunned down by the drones firing at the other end of the hall. The screams stopped, smoke from the rubble obscured the drones' vision and they switched to infrared. The drones walked through the rubble, four bodies lied near the door, they were wearing the same black cloaks and had the same tattoo marked on their foreheads. They discovered more hallways.

"Drones cease for a moment. Wait for reinforcements."

"Affirmative."

The three drones stood on the defense, waiting for the reinforcements to come. Ten minutes passed, a battalion of twenty combat drones emerged from the wormhole, a few of them stepped on the bodies as they walked.

"All drones commence clearing of the structure. Eliminate hostiles, secure non-hostiles"

"Affirmative" All the drones replied in unison. The building they were in resembled an ancient temple, as the drones swept through, it became more apparent that this was the case. The drones discovered a large room, pillars of stone stood on both sides of the room and at the center was a circle with strange symbols engraved on it. Standing around the circle were twenty black-cloaked men chanting a sort of song. They seemed to have failed to notice that death has broken down their front door.

"Stop them."

The drones rushed into the room, gunning down the men as they helplessly tried to defend themselves with magic. The drones did quick work; none of them was standing after just five seconds.

"Reporting, two heat signatures detected. Entities not dead."

"2A and 3A, bring them through the wormhole"

"Affirmative"

2A and 3A dragged off two of the men who were still alive; they were near-death but were still conscious. It seemed the entire building had been cleared; a few stragglers managed to make for the exit before the drones could reach them. The building was huge, nearly a hundred rooms and intricate hallways were discovered, a total of 121 men were encountered and killed — all men bearing the same look and clothing.