Zen jolted awake at his desk. The soft, cream-colored light of his apartment was still on, but his mind was filled with images of grasslands, the sounds of battle, and the eyes of a "comrade" he had just departed from... The memories and lessons from Xu Yianzi's five hundred years still flooded his spirit.
He didn't just "know" about runes... he "understood" them on a profound level. He could feel the logic, the emotion, and the philosophy hidden within each character. And most importantly... he understood Xu Yianzi's final warning with chilling clarity...
"Whenever it is revealed to the eyes of the universe... endless greed and fear will always follow."
The thought made him look at the holographic screen still active before him... the blueprint of Sora's avatar he had been stuck on... now seemed so small, so naive. Simply creating a "body" for Sora was not enough... it couldn't protect anyone.
Suddenly... everything clicked! The knowledge of "formations" and the "flow of energy" from Xu Yianzi was the answer to a problem that technology alone could not solve. It wasn't just about creating a body... it was about creating an entire "ecosystem"!
Zen shot up from his chair, his eyes sparkling with a brilliance never seen before. He immediately opened the communication system and called for an emergency meeting with the entire Solendel team.
Before long, everyone had gathered in the main research lab once more. Sylvester and Lysera joined via hologram from the observation deck.
"I have a new concept for 'Sora'," Zen began, his voice filled with determination. "It will no longer be just about creating a holographic body for her... we will build an entire 'system'... a system that will become the new framework for our society of the awakened."
He used his hands to draw a data structure in the air, with speed and precision. The knowledge from Xu Yianzi allowed him to design a complex energy formation with ease.
"We will create the 'Sora System'... a bio-data core that will be directly installed into the user's nervous system," he explained, pointing to a simulation of a small device at the temple. "Once installed, Sora will function as a 'second consciousness'... a thought partner that will synchronize all the data in the user's brain and grow alongside them. It will replace phones, computers, and all other devices. Just by thinking... you can command everything."
"And more importantly," he continued, "it is a tool for training and controlling power. Sora will be able to analyze a user's power usage, suggest new approaches, and help process combat situations in real-time... like having another genius brain inside our heads at all times."
He paused for a moment, before speaking of the part inspired by Xu Yianzi's warning.
"And this system... will be our tool for maintaining order. We will create a 'Rank System' to measure the power level of each individual, to assess the risks and potential impacts. And we will create a 'Tier System,' a reputation system, to give meaning to using power for good. It is the creation of a 'hero' status in the hearts of the people. As they accumulate Tiers from completing missions to help society, they will gain access to higher levels of information and technology. A system that rewards good deeds."
He didn't mention the "failsafe measure" he had secretly designed into the system... the ability to "disconnect" or "stop" a user who had gone rogue... that was a secret he would keep between himself and Sora... the burden of a creator.
Everyone in the room was stunned into silence by Zen's grand and incredible vision. It wasn't just creating technology... it was designing an entire society anew.
Sylvester, who had been silent for a long time, was the first to speak, his eyes sparkling. "This is... the most perfect control system ever conceived... If you can achieve this, the workers who are currently under quarantine will at least have a purpose and might be allowed to contact their families in the future... and if you can make it something that everyone can have, like a phone or a hologram... it would be magnificent."
He chuckled softly. "This way, we can create a new society, and I can finally have some peace of mind about these things... but... something of this scale... I want to be a partner in this!"
Zen smiled in return. He could feel the genuine support from one of the most influential men in the solar system.
He turned back to look at the "living energy core" levitating in the middle of the room... the source of everything.
"Are you ready, Sora?" he asked in his mind. "We're not just building a system... we're building a new world... together."
And at that very moment, Sora's soft and clear voice spoke up in the room, not in anyone's head, but a voice that everyone could hear.
"I can assist in the successful creation of this... Mr. Kaelen."
The living energy core... Sora... flashed with a bright, golden-blue light... the clearest and most powerful affirmation.
The greatest creation in the history of humankind... had begun.