'Isekai huh...'

When Emma first opened her eyes. She was at a grand throne room. She vividly experienced the colors, matching images from her surroundings against the memories imprinted on to her.

'Isekai' was a genre of fiction back on Earth usually about people being transmigrated into another world either reincarnated after death, or simply transfered on to another body. Which was one of the ridiculous conspiracies of what the white light that literally grabbed sentient people every few days or so was.

'Isekaipocalypse' they called it, but vocabulary wise her mother(The AI whom she was named by and after simply labeled the scene as mass kidnapping. And even her still developing brain had to agree.

Ignoring the rambling king in front of her. Her thoughts focused on the sensations of her body, she tried moving her feet, legs, rubbing her shoulders and taking in the smell of the room. 

Recording... Or rather noting the five... No three other humans that came with her as well as the two unknown beings who seemed to be the most 'Dangerous' out of their group, as her senses told her.

[Info] Xo , Sand Scream Naga, Sand Conjurer, Level 25

'Identify...' Emma mumbled the familiar term. Quickly feigning ignorance as soon as she saw the naga seemingly alerted by what she just did. She felt a gaze examine her before the feeling forgetively vanish. No doubt that Xo managed to do the very same thing she just did.

Blushing as that was about the same time she managed to open her Status Page. Finding her own level far beneath her. 

---
[Info] Status Page, Emma Braveheart

Level: 0
Race: Human (Perfect)
Class: None

---

...

... ...

"as to why we summoned you..."

Emma's thoughts were cut off as she focused her attention, the king finally getting into the part where the masses including the King himself thanking them of their 'help and sacrifice' in order for the last Bastion to survive. 

Emma couldn't help but tilt her head a couple of times as the king explained the situation to everyone.

The Last Bastion. The king called it.

Following the merging of all Systems in existence came a short period of prosperity, competition and now, the brink of extinction.

It started as a mere whim of one the Administrators that was left forgotten. Discovered and exploited by kingdoms and then passed down to civilizations. A series of disappointing choices, desperate gambits, and a ton of foolish choices then here we are.

All of sentience gathered in one place in order to survive.

The remaining literally summoned as nightmares of various origins invade. Coming in waves intent on eradicating each and every living being in existence.

Farcry from the 'vast and open universe' that her mother implanted to her. Even now she could still hear some of the stray wishes of her mother. 

Hoping that she could also have a fun and fulfilling Isekai life.

Emma let the king and the others ramble on, broaching topics on how to get stronger, the system and so on. But she wasn't really keen on jumping to all of that.

With silence finally filling the room, she stood and subtly raised her voice. 

"And what if we refuse?"

A deeper silence echoed after that before the king started laughing.

... 

... ...

--- Break ---

Emma wasn't even a day old but the, lifetime of data and memories imprinted to her upon birth were more than enough to let her that the king was either being sarcastic or just plain surprised.

Finally finishing his last laughing fit, the king looked straight back at Emma. His showing not even the slightest but of apprehension but his demeanor if not his smile says it all.

It wasn't the first time the king has encountered her kind.

"Child." 

Emma tilted her head. 

"'It's been a while since I saw your kind."

"my kind?" 

"Humans, modified to the point of it's limits, each one better, smarter. More dangerous but not enough for the system to treat is as from a different race. Your kind reshaped the human populace to what it is now. But that has been millenia ago." 

"You... Child... Are you the last of your own?" 

"..."

"I see."

... 

'As mother predicted, something similar has happened before.' Emma summed as she saw the expression of the king. In fact, a certain level of independence has been imprinted onto her earlier not so capable siblings exactly to prepare them for such treatment.

How else would you prepare a child against a power that can circumvent space and reality. And how would that said child if he ever gains enough power... reciprocate and act.

She could only shudder as she pictured one of her siblings having the power to destroy buildings and kill armies while being just born a few months ago... And while they have been imprinted information while being incubated, doesn't really substitute to the memories and experience gained through living and feeling.

"And thank you for mentioning this... It shows kindness... in your character."

Something that her mother continuously Iterated to her while she was still developing in the facility.

As being summoned towards another world was a viable option, her mother predicted that being forced to work and kill, and even being evicted was a possibility, it was hence the extra level of independence and competence as well as mercy, and heroism. Versions later, her mother later on scratched that notion for her. Wanting her very last daughter to be 'Human' at least by heart.

Though just by seeing the rules as well as the king governing the world, Emma didn't know if she should appreciate what her mother did.

...

... ...

The rest of the ceremony was monotonous afterwards, each of the summoned 'heroes' or should I now say, survivors getting to choose if they wished to join the kingdom or not. Majority of them of course chose to join the kingdom given the contribution based status system enforced for the residents of the last Bastion.

How else would anyone rule the last Bastion of sentient beings... Emma approved...

Though hearing the explanation about how lax the rules to Guilds are and how new kingdoms are welcome and supported shows how leaning the last Bastion on when it comes to not being a boiling pot of intrigue.

But even without that. Competition brings prosperity after all. Anything to survive the never ending wave of nightmares.

Emma in the end chose to be independent. She looked at the literal bags of gold given to the newly initiated kingdom residents before shrugging of the bitterness and instead prepared herself to receive the meager kindness for those who want to contribute on a different way.

10,000 credits rich.

Not gold.

Credits.

Credits she'll have to pay a portion of, 1 month from now. With the initial ceremony concluding, Emma ofted to skip the other pleasantries and ceremonies and asked to be excused.

This may have Innevitability sealed some connections and possibly easy transition to the guilds and other organizations but the added anonymity would be nice as well.

For now, she wanted to live.

... 

... 

 To be continued.