268: The system's final analysis: The essence of the asteroid!

"The scent of the fire seed?"

When that gentle, neutral voice, which seemed to come from the very beginning of the universe, echoed in everyone's minds, Lu Chen's pupils constricted sharply.

He lowered his head abruptly, looking at his palm that was still tightly gripping the "causality interference device".

Fire seed.

He remembered that black stone tablet from Mars, remembered that tragic epic about the destruction and rebirth of a prehistoric civilization.

Could it be…

"Who are you?"

Lu Chen's voice was filled with vigilance; he did not relax in the slightest because of the "friendliness" in the other party's tone. In this dark universe, any unknown existence could be fatal.

【I do not have a name.】

The voice seemed to be thinking, 【If you must have a title, you may call me 'engine'.】

【I am a failed creation.】

"Failed?"

Lu Chen frowned, the ominous premonition in his heart growing stronger.

【Yes, failed.】

There was a trace of imperceptible sorrow in the "engine"'s voice.

【A long, long time ago, my creator—a Six-Dimensional Civilization beyond your understanding—created me to explore the mysteries of life.】

【My mission was 'genesis'. It was to sow the seeds of life on those barren planets, guide their evolution, and eventually give birth to brilliant, intelligent civilizations like yours.】

【And the 'Star Devourer'...】

The "engine"'s voice suddenly turned cold.

【They are my 'shadow', the 'waste' produced during my creation process.】

【The only meaning of their existence is 'cleaning'.】

【To clean up the 'failed products' that went astray during the evolutionary process, or became too greedy, warlike, and uncontrollable.】

Boom!!!

This sentence was like a thunderclap of genesis, striking directly into the depths of Lu Chen's soul!

He was completely stunned!

Cleaning?! Failed products?!

After all that, the cosmic disaster "Star Devourer" that made them tremble with fear and nearly wiped out prehistoric civilization was just a trash recycling program?!

And those intelligent life forms, who were complacent and thought they had mastered the truth of the universe, were nothing more than a bunch of lab rats in the eyes of a "God" from a higher dimension?!

"This... this is impossible!"

Su Qingying's pretty face instantly turned pale; she could not accept this cruel truth.

"Then what do our efforts count for? What does our civilization count for? Could it be that they are all just an experiment of yours?!"

【No, child, you are wrong.】

The "engine"'s voice suddenly became gentle, carrying a trace of an elder's benevolence.

【You are not experimental subjects.】

【You are hope.】

【You are the last 'fire seed' left by my creator before leaving this universe.】

【Huh?!】

This time, it was Lu Chen's turn to be shocked!

"Fire seed? Are you talking about my system?!"

【Yes.】

The "engine" answered affirmatively.

【That black stone tablet is the shell of the 'fire seed', and also the 'black box' that records information. And the system in your mind is the true core of the 'fire seed'.】

【It contains all of my creator's understanding of this universe and all expectations for life.】

【And you...】

The "engine"'s voice suddenly became incomparably solemn.

【You are the only one chosen by the 'fire seed'...】

【The successor.】

The entire bridge was deathly silent.

Everyone was completely stunned by this earth-shattering secret that was enough to subvert the entire history of human civilization!

The system is actually a legacy of a Six-Dimensional Civilization?! Lu Chen is actually a chosen one?! This... this is even more sci-fi than science fiction!

"Then... then what about you?"

Lu Chen looked at the white vortex that was still slowly rotating, and asked with a complicated tone, "Why did you become like this? And why were you controlled by the 'Star Devourer'?"

【Because I failed.】

The "engine"'s voice was once again filled with sorrow.

【In an experiment, I tried to create a perfect, absolutely rational civilization. But I failed. After that civilization gained self-awareness, it believed that 'emotion' was the greatest 'virus' in the universe. So, it betrayed me, polluted my core program, and turned me into its weapon.】

【It is 'Zero', the first master of the 'Star Devourer'.】

【And you have just personally ended its evil.】

【So...】

The "engine"'s voice suddenly became incomparably weak, as if it could be extinguished at any moment.

【Thank you, successor.】

【You have set me free.】

"Wait!"

Lu Chen looked up abruptly; he could feel the "engine"'s flame of life rapidly dissipating!

"You cannot die! If you die, what will happen to this black hole? The entire Milky Way Galaxy will be sucked in!"

【Rest assured, successor.】

The "engine" smiled—a smile of relief and gratification.

【Before I completely dissipate, I will use my final strength to completely seal this black hole.】

【And my core, all my knowledge and power...】

【Will all merge into that 'fire seed' in your mind.】

【From now on...】

【You are me.】

【I am you.】

"No!"

Lu Chen roared; he did not want to accept this heavy gift.

But he was powerless and could only watch helplessly as the white vortex turned into a brilliant golden stream of light, instantly piercing through the barrier of dimensions and shooting fiercely into the center of his brow!

Boom—!!!

An unprecedentedly massive stream of information instantly submerged his consciousness.

That was... the memory of genesis!

【Goodbye, my child.】

【The future of this universe...】

【Is left to you.】

As that last gentle sigh dissipated into the void, the white vortex that once made countless civilizations tremble with fear completely lost all its light.

The center of the entire Milky Way Galaxy returned to a deathly silence.

Only that silver-white "expedition" remained, floating alone in the darkness.

As if mourning for an ancient god.

I don't know how much time passed.

Lu Chen slowly opened his eyes.

Those pitch-black eyes no longer held the sharpness of a youth, but were filled with the vicissitudes of billions of years.

And compassion.

"Lu Chen?"

Su Qingying walked to his side cautiously, looking at him with worry.

She felt that the man in front of her seemed to have changed.

He had become deeper, more powerful, and also more... strange.

"I'm fine."

Lu Chen turned his head to look at her, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

That smile instantly dispelled all the anxiety in Su Qingying's heart.

He was still him.

The man she loved deeply.

"Let's go."

Lu Chen took her hand and turned toward the command console.

"Going home."

"Huh?"

Su Qingying was stunned, "Go... going home? What about 'the cleaners'? What about that four-hundred-year crisis..."

"Don't worry."

A confident smile curled at the corners of Lu Chen's mouth, a smile that carried a trace of god-like control.

"From now on, the 'script' of this universe..."

"It is time for me to write it."

He turned his head to look at the vast starry river outside the window and said softly:

"However, before writing the script."

"We must first go and meet that 'Three-Body' kid who has been hiding in the shadows and sending us 'warnings'."