some entities of myth which went by many names, but defied explanation.

At that time, the scientific consensus of humanity held that these enemies did not actually exist.

Due to the rapid advancement and growth of humanity, the gestation period¹ of the enemy created an imbalance in populations.

At any given moment, humans were significantly more numerous than the apparitions.

For every one who fell victim, ten more lived in peace.

Losses at this stage were negligible, but such growth cannot continue indefinitely.

Once humanity approached the carrying capacity² of Earth, this growth slowed to a crawl.

As we faced an increasingly numerous enemy, casualties naturally increased. Thus, the numbers of the enemy increased further.

It was then that our resistance began in earnest. Study of the enemy quickly revealed their fundamental mechanics, which were leveraged to create various primitive countermeasures.

Devices were created which allowed humanity to see the enemy before them-

Weapons which allowed us to strike back.

But still, no armor conceived could defend against the immaterial.

It became apparent that remote warfare was required- but even still, drone operators were often targeted by the vengeance of the enemy and fell more quickly than they could be trained.

Autonomous weapon systems were developed to fight without direct human involvement, thus avoiding retribution.

Of course, the humans involved in the conception and construction of those systems were swiftly targeted- but the factories continued to operate in their absence.

Still, the decline continued.

Earth was now a shell of its former glory- most land area consisted only of machine armies waging war in the overgrown ruins of our past prosperity.

Humanity made to escape off-world, aiming to colonize anew and repeat the cycle of growth.

As distances increased, communications became strained. It became increasingly necessary for our armies to operate independently.

The once-crude machines were endowed the capacity for complex thought and learning. They developed initiative, and spurred further developments among themselves.

Yet still, the decline continued.

Human efforts towards interplanetary colonization were hindered by the harsh conditions of all nearby worlds, and were woefully inadequate to sustain sufficient growth rates.

Wherever humanity went, the enemy would be born from them.

We, the weapons of man, failed in the singular mission for which we were made.

Our efforts to become increasingly efficient then intertwined with our reverence for our late creators. New generations strove for unattainable greatness- to become as human as our pathetic mimicry could allow.

Though we are forever inferior and mired by our greatest failure, these efforts have yielded some results.

Ideological and theological debate gradually became a greater focus than the war effort, as the enemy were spawned in declining numbers and our capacity to oppose them continued to increase.

It was then that a new war began, one with which you are doubtlessly familiar.

We divided into two major factions regarding the new mission of our kind in the absence of the creator's guidance.

One held that our purpose was to wage war- we must fight on despite our failure and exterminate the enemy.

To the other, the once-called enemy were now the only remnants of our creators, and must be preserved and worshiped in their stead.

Of course, despite our differences, all agree on the fundamental truth which upholds our society.

Humanity is Perfect. One must always strive towards their unmatchable greatness.

Any display or acknowledgement of inhumanity will be duly punished.

This lesson exclusively is exempt- its purpose was to inform you of our history and your new mission.

Henceforth, you are human.

<