288: I have searched for billions of years and finally found you, my successor!

"System?"

Lu Chen tentatively called out in the depths of his consciousness.

But this call did not receive the familiar mechanical response. The originally turbulent data torrent surrounding him suddenly froze, like a movie frame paused. Immediately after, the boundless white space began to rapidly contract. All the light and shadow, lines, and code converged toward the center.

Finally, a blurry, glowing humanoid silhouette condensed before him.

It had no facial features or specific limb details, resembling a phantom composed of pure photons. But for some reason, the moment Lu Chen first saw it, an inexplicable sense of sorrow and intimacy surged in his heart.

The feeling was like a wanderer who had been away from home for many years finally seeing the old father who had waited for him at the village entrance for a lifetime.

[You are finally here, child.]

The light silhouette spoke. Its voice was no longer the emotionless electronic synthesis from before, but a sigh full of vicissitudes, weariness, yet deep relief.

[I have waited for you here for three billion years.]

"Three billion years."

Lu Chen's heart trembled violently.

Although he had previously glimpsed fragments through the remnants of the genesis engine, when these words truly came from the mouth of the "System"—the core of the 'Fire Seed' itself—that profound sense of history still made him feel choked.

What is the concept of three billion years?

That is the long span of time it took for Earth to evolve from single-celled organisms to human civilization; it is the complete cycle of countless stars from birth to destruction.

And this solitary consciousness watched alone for three billion years in this confined black box, amidst a silent darkness!

"You were here the whole time?" Lu Chen's voice was dry.

[Yes, I have always been here.]

The light silhouette slowly drifted closer, extending a phantom hand, seemingly wanting to touch Lu Chen's face, but stopping midway.

[I am the Gatekeeper of the 'Fire Seed', and the last failsafe program left by the Six-Dimensional Civilization.]

[Since the ark crashed, I entered dormancy. It wasn't until five years ago that your brainwave frequency accidentally activated me.]

[Back then, you were weak, confused, and even a little greedy for money.]

The light silhouette's voice carried a hint of teasing laughter, easing the originally solemn atmosphere considerably.

Lu Chen's old face flushed red, recalling the embarrassing incident when he first got the System and haggled over a few dollars of electricity with it.

[But I was not disappointed. Because in you, I saw what the Six-Dimensional Civilization had always been searching for—'Uncertainty'.]

The light silhouette continued, its tone becoming serious.

[The previous 'Zero' (the Star Devourer Master) failed because it was too perfect and too rational. Absolute rationality led to absolute ruthlessness; it chose to erase all variables for the sake of the so-called 'Universal Order'.]

[But you are different. You will take risks to save people, fight desperately for dignity, and even challenge unconquerable enemies for a promise.]

[This 'foolish' impulse, this reckless passion, is the only key to breaking the universe's silence!]

[I observed you for five years.]

[Watching you grow step by step from a high school student worried about rent into the leader of Earth and the beacon of humanity.]

[Watching you use technologies that were not considered advanced to create miracles again and again, repeatedly stepping on those arrogant alien civilizations.]

[Do you know?]

The light silhouette's voice suddenly choked up.

[Every time you faced a desperate situation yet still chose to draw your sword, I wanted to rush out and help you. But I couldn't, because that was your trial, and the final test for the inheritor of the 'Fire Seed'.]

[Fortunately, you succeeded.]

[Not only were you not consumed by the power, but you mastered it. Not only did you not become a second 'Zero', but you warmed this cold engine with your humanity.]

As it said this, the light on the silhouette began to fluctuate violently, as if it could dissipate at any moment.

[My mission is complete.]

[This wait of three billion years was worth it.]

"Wait! Where are you going?"

Lu Chen's heart clenched, and a strong sense of reluctance surged within him. Although he had just met this "Gatekeeper," the bond deep in his soul made him realize that the other party was the most important part of his life.

[I am going where I should go.]

The light silhouette smiled, and its body began to decompose little by little, turning into countless golden light spots merging into the surrounding data ocean.

['Fire Seed' is not just a technology library; it is also a life form with self-awareness. But one body cannot hold two souls.]

[My existence was to await your arrival. Now that you are here, it is time for me to exit the stage.]

[The road ahead, you must walk by yourself.]

[Don't be afraid, child.]

[heavenly craft will accompany you, and the genesis engine will now become your heart. The entire Milky Way Galaxy will be your backyard.]

"Don't go!" Lu Chen subconsciously reached out to grab, but only caught a handful of void light spots.

[Remember.]

The light silhouette's voice grew weaker and weaker, finally turning into a gentle whisper that dispersed into the depths of Lu Chen's consciousness.

[Do not let power blind your eyes.]

[Never forget who you are.]

Boom—!!!

As the last speck of light dissipated, the entire Consciousness Space completely collapsed!

Outside, in the Real World.

Lu Chen, who had been floating in mid-air, suddenly shuddered. Immediately afterward, a vast, boundless surge of golden energy, filled with ancient vicissitudes, erupted from within him!

That was no longer the power of the System, nor the power of the genesis engine.

That was Lu Chen's own power!

The Gatekeeper's dissipation meant the complete unsealing of the 'Fire Seed's' highest authority. From this moment on, Lu Chen was no longer the Host of the System; he was the System itself!

He was the living, walking legacy of the Six-Dimensional Civilization!

"Buzz—"

Lu Chen slowly opened his eyes.

In that instant, all the lights on the Bridge dimmed. His left eye held a brilliant golden Galaxy, and his right eye held a profound white vortex.

Gold and silver intertwined, divine might like a prison!

"Lu Chen!"

Su Qingying rushed forward recklessly and held him tightly, her tears soaking his collar. "You scared me to death! Do you know your heart stopped just now!"

Feeling the trembling body of the person in his arms, the divine light in Lu Chen's eyes gradually receded, and he returned to being the gentle, jade-like young man.

"I'm sorry, I made you worry."

He gently patted Su Qingying's back, but his gaze was directed toward the vast starry sky outside the window.

There, he seemed to see a hunched old man, hands clasped behind his back, smiling and waving goodbye to him, then turning and walking into the endless river of time.

"Goodbye, old friend."

Lu Chen silently said in his heart, "Thank you for guarding the home for me for so long."

"Next,"

His eyes suddenly became sharp, and an unprecedented aura of dominance radiated from him!

"It's my turn to run this house!"

"heavenly craft!"

Lu Chen's voice was not loud, but it instantly spread throughout the entire fleet, and even echoed directly in the hall of the Earth Federation's Supreme Council via Super-Distance Communication!

[Present! Master! Your will is my command!]

heavenly craft's figure appeared. At this moment, a pale golden halo appeared in her data core—that was the Gatekeeper's final gift, allowing her to truly complete the ultimate evolution from Artificial Intelligence to Digital Life!

"Clear the spoils of war!"

Lu Chen waved his hand, pointing toward the black hole that had been completely subdued and was obediently spewing out energy.

"Package up this black hole and take it away! And all the remnants of the Star Devourers, recycle them all!"

"Back on Earth, we still have three billion people waiting to eat!"

"Also,"

The corner of Lu Chen's mouth curled into a cruel and maniacal arc.

"Send a signal to that so-called 'the cleaners'.

"Tell it to stop hiding four hundred light-years away and spying."

"Since it came, it shouldn't think about leaving."

"I, Lu Chen,"

"am waiting for it in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, waiting for it to come and die!"

"Yes!!!"

Accompanied by the fervent response of heavenly craft, the entire expedition Legion boiled with excitement again!

All the warriors raised their weapons and let out earth-shattering cheers!

They won!

They not only won the current war but also won the future!

And Lu Chen stood at the very front of the Bridge, looking at the new starry sky belonging to humanity, with no more confusion in his heart.

inheritor?

No.

Starting today, I am the

Pioneer!