Faced with this situation, the previously rigid family system—now more aptly called the Home System—offered no hints or guidance. Rhett was puzzled. Surely, it wasn't as simple as just thinking about it and suddenly claiming the world as his home, right? He even tried it, mentally repeating the thought several times, but nothing happened. Clearly, that idea was too naive.
After pondering for a moment, Rhett decided to return to the screen he had seen earlier.
[Family member has ascended to the pinnacle of the world. Please choose how to handle the world.]
[1. Set as Home]
[2. Devour]
[Note: Once a Home is established, changing it will require the destruction of the original Home.]
"Set as Home..."
Rhett tentatively selected the first option, then waited quietly for the next development.
[Setting successful. Details available in the Home interface.]
Rhett pondered this as he followed the instructions to return to the Home panel. Upon doing so, he noticed that the panel twisted slightly before undergoing some changes.
[Family Head: Rhett Green]
[Second Generation Members: Tucker Green, Reile Green, Tyrus Green]
[Third Generation Members: Dick Green, Tricia Green, Kares Green, Kazena Green, Aileen Green, Abel Green]
[Home: ?]
[Home Core: Inactive]
[Text Simulation]
[Real Simulation]
[Fate Points: 4217]
[Home Origin]
As Rhett scanned the panel from top to bottom, a feeling of surprise crept over him:
"It was that easy to set up? And there's a question mark? Hmm, could it be like when my daughters-in-law first gave birth? Do I need to name it for it to show up? Since it's a Home, I'll name it after the family name..."
As soon as he made the decision, the question mark immediately changed to [Home: Green].
"Home Core... what exactly is that, and what does it do?"
Rhett muttered to himself, intrigued by the new terms that had appeared. As he continued to scroll down, he was suddenly taken aback.
"Home Origin? What does that mean? Could it be about explaining the secrets of this system?"
With his mind racing, Rhett focused on the final section labeled [Home Origin].
In an instant, the world around him spun.
Rhett felt as if the light screen before him had dissolved into smoke, and he lost all sense of the world around him. It was as if he had been transported into a pitch-black void, surrounded by an endless, empty space, without any concept of time or distance.
Before he could ponder what was happening, a small point of light appeared in front of him, like a shining star, and within a moment, it was directly in front of him.
"Greetings, new heir of the Home."
A voice, unfamiliar yet warm, echoed in Rhett's ears, making him instinctively wary. But the voice was gentle and deep, like that of a kind elderly man, with no trace of malice.
Rhett quickly composed himself, took in his surroundings of utter darkness, and cautiously asked the light before him:
"Who are you? Why are you here? What is your connection to the Home?"
The light did not respond immediately. Instead, it rapidly expanded and shifted in shape, soon forming a humanoid silhouette with a faintly discernible face.
Rhett blinked in surprise as he took in the sight before him. The figure's appearance was incredibly modern—wearing a senior's T-shirt, jeans, black sunglasses, and even a metal wristwatch...
The glowing figure, with its white hair and glowing form, looked Rhett in the eyes and shook his head with a smile:
"My name? I can't remember it anymore. I only know that I am a remnant of a spirit, retaining some of my former consciousness and memories, but these have been fading with time. I don't know how much remains now..."
"A remnant spirit?" Rhett blinked, asking in surprise.
"That's correct. To be honest with you, I am the previous owner of this Home. I met with an unfortunate end and sealed part of my spirit here before I died."
Lacking evidence, Rhett was not inclined to believe this story right away. Instead, he probed further:
"Can you tell me more about your past and give me a detailed explanation of this Home?"
The glowing figure seemed to have anticipated Rhett's question, smiling knowingly as he replied:
"Of course, that's no problem. If I don't share this history with you, I doubt our conversation could proceed much further."
"I appreciate it. I'm all ears," Rhett responded, thanking the figure.
"Some of my memories tell me that I was once just an ordinary college student. By chance, I obtained the Home System and, through its simulations, rose to the peak of my life. Within a century, I became the ruler of my world and used the simulation ability to break through one technological barrier after another. For instance, I unlocked the ultimate secrets of mitochondria, extending life indefinitely. I also developed generation after generation of starships, exploring the cosmos and colonizing countless star systems and planets. The high-tech advancements we made through simulations revolutionized our lives and our very existence..."
The glowing figure appeared to be lost in reminiscence, a look of wistful nostalgia on his face. But suddenly, he frowned and continued:
"However, I can't seem to recall the specifics of those scientific advancements. In short, I led the people of Hope Star to explore countless mysteries of the universe. With the simulations guiding us, we conquered numerous planets, amassing untold resources. Although we encountered alien lifeforms along the way, no alien civilization was ever a match for us. Even after exploring for thousands upon thousands of years, we never encountered a civilization more advanced than our own..."
As he listened to the figure's story, Rhett felt a sense of awe, as though he were experiencing it all firsthand. He found himself less skeptical about the truth of what was being said.
After all, he himself had benefited from the simulations. Although the power systems seemed different from those in his world, following a different path, rising to greatness with a clear view of the future wasn't so far-fetched.
"So, what exactly happened to you? How did something go wrong, even with the simulations on your side?"
Rhett asked, curiosity piqued. He couldn't fathom how someone who had mastered the future and reached the pinnacle of the universe could have fallen...
The glowing figure fell silent for a moment before replying:
"Perhaps after millions of years of using simulations to our advantage, we had become too accustomed to smooth sailing in the universe. During one of our starship expeditions to colonize a planet, we encountered an unforeseen event that was beyond the simulations' predictions."
"Initially, everything was going according to the simulations, with our AI systems ensuring that every detail of our journey matched the predicted trajectory. But during the voyage, our star tracker recorded a rift opening in the fabric of space. A blinding white beam shot out, striking our ship with perfect accuracy and obliterating everything... including me."
"How could that be?" Rhett exclaimed. "Did you see where the beam came from? Is there a similar energy form in the universe? How could it have deviated from the simulation's forecast?"
"I have no idea," the glowing figure replied. "I believe that beam didn't belong to my universe. It must have transcended the Home System's capabilities, making it impossible for the simulation to foresee. To put it in the terms of our world, it was perhaps... a higher-dimensional attack, like something out of a science fiction novel."
Rhett didn't rush to refute this. Instead, he fell into thoughtful silence, recognizing the plausibility of the figure's theory. If both [Real Simulation] and [Text Simulation] had failed to prevent an accident, it was likely due to interference from a more powerful force.
Rhett's expression grew somber as he carefully chose his words, saying, "It might have been a higher-dimensional force beyond the simulation's scope. After all, I'm certain that the universe and worlds are not unique—there are too many unknowns out there, and no place can be considered completely safe..."
"Indeed..." The glowing figure sighed deeply. "But the Home is still your best tool for exploring the unknown. There's no doubt about that. It will allow you to gain even greater power."
Rhett didn't dispute this. He nodded slightly and said, "To be honest, I just unlocked the Home and arrived here. Since you were the previous owner, you're technically my predecessor. Can you explain how to make the most of the Home?"
"Certainly. Let me think..." The glowing figure pondered for a moment before slowly continuing, "I remember that when I first activated the Home, it was after I had unified the world and ascended to its pinnacle. Since you've done the same, it means you're also a peak figure in your world. How advanced is your world's technology?"
"Technology? Our world has no technology—only a system of extraordinary powers." Rhett briefly described the situation in his world before asking, "In your universe, did you ever visit Earth? Maybe this won't make sense to you, but the world I'm talking about has continents like Asia, Europe, and the Americas..."
"Earth..." The glowing figure mused for a moment, then shook his head. "No, I've never heard of it, and there were no planets with an extraordinary power system like the one you described in my universe. It seems there are still many unknown civilizations out there. I used to think that conquering the entire universe was the limit, but it turns out I was just moving from one small cage to a larger one..."
This analogy was quite interesting, and Rhett nodded in agreement. Now, he knew that his world was not unique. But what kind of universe did his world belong to? He was very curious, though he was certain that this world's civilization differed significantly from the starry universe he had known in his previous life...
"Hmm... since your world isn't a technological one, my experience may only be partly useful to you," the glowing figure said. "First, after the Home System is activated, the first step is to claim a planet. The method is simple: once you choose to set it as your Home, the system will take root in the world, merging with it. As the host, you'll be able to sense the presence of the world's will through the system, allowing you to claim it. After that, you can imprint all your knowledge and insights onto the world's will. From then on, any descendants born into your family in this world will be geniuses in the field of research..."
The glowing figure chuckled. "In my world, every child born was a prodigy, with learning abilities that were off the charts. It was thanks to their help, along with the simulation ability, that our technological level advanced so rapidly!"
"The world's will? Is it similar to a world origin? But if I've already set it as my Home, why haven't I sensed anything?"
Rhett was full of questions. He voiced his confusion to the figure.
"You haven't sensed the world's will?" The glowing figure's tone rose in surprise. After a moment's pause, he said regretfully, "I don't know. I never encountered such a situation. Perhaps there's a significant difference between our worlds and universes. Maybe your world simply doesn't have a will..."
Hearing this, Rhett's heart sank. The figure's point was valid—different world systems might indeed mean there was no such thing as a world's will...
But then, he recalled his earlier conversation with the King of Milan, where the king mentioned something about the world's imprint being tainted by the orcs, causing the world to be on the brink of collapse...
The thought made Rhett break out in a cold sweat. Perhaps there was a will in this world, but after millennia of invasions by orcs and other forces, it had fallen into a deep slumber, making it impossible for the Home to communicate with or awaken it.
"Maybe, if I purge the orcs, the world will clear up, and its will might awaken. Whether that's the case or not, it's the only option I can try!"
Rhett took a deep breath, his resolve growing stronger. He had to rid the world of the orcs! He was eager to see what changes the Home would bring once the world's origin was claimed...
"Thank you for your explanation. I'll go back and think of another way. But before I go, how were you able to leave a [Home Origin] entry on the panel? Why can't I make any modifications to the Home panel?"
This question had been on Rhett's mind since he first saw the entry. However, he had prioritized it based on its importance, so he only now brought it up.
"Actually, the answer is simple—it has to do with the Home itself. Once you claim a world and bind it to the Home, the system is no longer rigid. It becomes infused with vitality. I suspect this is because the world contains countless humans, full of life, and it already harbors endless mysteries and energy. Once the Home merges with it, it naturally becomes more dynamic."
"I see..." Rhett was suddenly enlightened, and his excitement grew. It turned out that only after claiming a world would the Home be fully activated. Before that, it was like a neutered and rigid program. Only with a world as its foundation would it reveal its true capabilities!
"How did you manage to survive in this form after your death?" Rhett asked again.
"Hehe, it was a bit of a coincidence. When the destruction beam hit, I used the Home's host privileges and a technique called light-speed brain segmentation to preserve part of my spirit within the Home. Normally, nothing external can be transferred into the Home, but since the spirit was part of me, it was possible," the glowing figure explained with a sigh. "In fact, if the technology had been more advanced, it might have been possible to completely separate the spirit from the body, achieving a different form of eternal life. Unfortunately, even with simulation help, that technology never fully matured, even after thousands of years."
The glowing figure fell silent for a moment before sighing again. "But let's not dwell on that. I don't have much time left. If you have any more questions, ask them quickly."
"Is there any way to replenish your energy?"
"In my world, with the help of top-tier technology, I could have survived. But I don't know enough about your world to say whether it's possible," the glowing figure replied after a moment of silence.
Rhett's brow furrowed slightly. The world he lived in, though filled with mysterious powers, seemed to lack the means to resurrect the dead or separate and preserve a person's spirit intact. Perhaps only the Underworld, with its deeper understanding of souls, could provide the help the figure needed.
Seeing Rhett lost in thought, the glowing figure's eyes flashed with a curious light. "Did you think of a way?"
"Well... it's not a solution, just a possibility—there's a slight chance I could save you, provided you can last long enough," Rhett said seriously, explaining his thoughts on the world's power system and the Underworld's potential to the figure.
"Interesting..." The glowing figure's eyes gleamed with curiosity. He nodded. "In that case, let me be frank. Saving me would also benefit you. Once the Home is fully activated, I can guarantee that my presence here will grant you extraordinary advantages!"
"Advantages? What do you mean by that?" Rhett thought the figure might be trying to convince him to help, but he didn't dismiss the idea. He decided to listen patiently.
"As you may have sensed, once you fully activate the Home, you could control my spirit here. A single thought could banish me. But I urge you not to do that. My presence here is entirely due to my former status as the Home's owner. Even as the current host, you wouldn't be able to bring an external spirit into this place."
Rhett's eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced around the dark void. "Is there something special about this place? I can't feel anything..."
"Haha." The glowing figure chuckled. "The secrets of this place will only be revealed once you claim a world and fully activate the Home. I can only tell you that at that point, you'll be able to create a simulated small world based on the world bound to the Home. You'll be able to anchor or trace a specific point in the world's timeline, consuming Fate Points to simulate countless possibilities and outcomes. You can then reap certain benefits based on those outcomes. It's far more useful than [Text Simulation] and [Real Simulation]."
"And if I survive here, I can play an incredibly important role in that simulated small world as an outsider. As for what exactly I can do, you'll have to wait until the simulated small world appears for me to show you. Just know that with me here, you'll have someone who isn't limited by Fate Points, capable of accomplishing many things..."
Rhett's eyes flickered. Although he couldn't fully grasp what the figure meant, it seemed that if the figure could survive, it would indeed bring great benefits. Most importantly, as the figure had pointed out, allowing him to live posed no threat to Rhett—so, of course, he would try to keep him around.
Rhett nodded seriously. "How long can you hold on? Give me a specific timeframe."
"You should know better than I do. I'm just a spirit, but as the master here, you should be able to sense how quickly I'm fading..."
At the figure's prompting, Rhett closed his eyes and concentrated. Sure enough, he sensed a peculiar presence in the Home, a spirit slowly dissipating, bit by bit.
"Hmm... the rate isn't too fast. You could last a century without much trouble..." Rhett opened his eyes, feeling a bit strange as he shared his observation. He had been worried for nothing, thinking the figure would vanish in a matter of minutes...
The glowing figure looked slightly embarrassed. "Ahem, to think I could last that long..."
Rhett's mouth twitched, but he didn't dwell on it. "In that case, I'll be honest. I've thought of a way to clear out the orcs, which might help awaken the 'world's will' you mentioned. At this point, it's the only thing I can try."
"Based on your description, I agree. If you can restore the world to its original state, there's a good chance it will work! In my world, severe environmental pollution was a serious issue at first, but once we cut off the source, the world began to heal itself." The glowing figure's voice carried a hint of hope. Knowing that there was a chance to live on, and to witness a new world, filled him with anticipation for the future.
After all, who wants to die when they can live?
Rhett nodded. "That makes sense. I'll leave you here for now. There's an urgent matter I need to take care of."
"I'll be waiting for your good news! Oh, by the way, I never asked your name."
"Rhett Green."
After introducing himself, Rhett willed himself out of the still-empty simulated space.
Back in the real world, basking in the endless light around him, Rhett closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This time, the Home System in his mind was much clearer, like a glowing sphere submerged deep in the ocean of his mind, ready to be accessed at any moment.
Recalling everything he had learned from the glowing figure in the simulated space, Rhett felt a surge of mixed emotions. Now, he was about ninety percent convinced of the figure's words. After all, the figure was just a spirit—Rhett could erase him with a single thought. There was no reason for him to lie. Besides, most of what the figure had said had already been confirmed, except for claiming the world's will.