Luo's bedroom looked like it had been plucked from his sleepy little town and dropped into the control room of a spaceship. The glowing panel of the 10th Civilization System floated in the air, its blue light casting strange shadows across Luo's messy desk and faded posters. The panel read: Luo, Level 1 Host, Dream Points: 10/100. Standing before it was Eriya, the system's hologram assistant, her form flickering like a digital dream. Her silver hair shimmered, and her starry eyes seemed to hold the secrets of the universe. Her voice was calm but faintly mechanical.
Luo took a deep breath and pointed at her. "Listen up, Eriya, first things first. You and this system—you're only visible to me and Jigal, got it? If Mom, Dad, or anyone else sees this, we're done for!"
Jigal, doodling in her sketchbook in the corner, looked up and laughed. "Yeah, and don't let my friends see it either! They'll steal it and wish for a pet dinosaur!" She drew a T-Rex wearing sunglasses, cracking herself up.
Eriya's hologram flickered slightly, and she gave a cool smile. "Understood, Luo. The 10th Civilization System and I will only be visible to you and Jigal. The system is bound to you, and its secrecy is guaranteed. Now…" Her starry eyes locked onto him. "What is your first wish?"
Luo scratched his head. For years, he'd dreamed of escaping his boring life, and one image always came back: a wooden cabin in a jungle, rain tapping the roof, a cool breeze, and a steaming cup of tea or coffee in his hands. It was his safe haven. "Alright," he said slowly, as if capturing the dream in words. "I want… a wooden cabin, deep in a jungle. It's evening, with light rain, a cool breeze coming through the window, and… a cup of tea or coffee in my hand."
Jigal laughed so hard the room seemed to shake. "Coffee? Tea? Luo, you've turned into a grandpa! This is a magical system, and you're wishing for old-man vibes? Wish for something epic, like flying or laser eyes!" She waved her sketchbook, where she'd drawn a cartoon Luo sipping tea with a grumpy face.
"Shut up, Jigal!" Luo snapped, his face turning red. "It's my wish, so stop butting in!"
Eriya's hologram shimmered, and she raised a hand. "A wooden cabin it is. 10th Civilization System, activate: Portal Manifestation, Level 1." The panel blazed with light, and a glowing vortex appeared in the middle of the room—a portal, crackling with energy.
"Whoa!" Jigal squealed, forgetting her sketchbook. "Is that… a portal?"
"Step inside," Eriya said, her voice calm but commanding. "Your wish awaits on the other side."
Luo hesitated, glancing at Jigal, who was already bouncing with excitement. "Come on, Luo! It's gonna be fun!" She grabbed his arm and yanked him toward the portal. Luo took a deep breath, and they stepped through. The moment they crossed, a loud whoosh echoed, and the portal snapped shut with a flash, vanishing as if it had never existed.
The world changed. One moment, they were in Luo's cluttered bedroom; the next, they stood inside a cozy wooden cabin. Outside the open window, a dense jungle stretched endlessly, its trees swaying under a gentle evening rain. A cool breeze carried the scent of wet earth and leaves, and Luo found a steaming mug of coffee in his hands. The aroma was perfect—rich, warm, exactly how he liked it. For the first time, the emptiness in his chest faded, replaced by a spark of thrill.
"Whoa," Luo whispered, taking a sip. The coffee was divine. He leaned back, feeling the breeze on his face, the soft patter of rain like a melody. "This is… amazing."
Jigal, however, was not impressed. She stomped onto the cabin's porch, her sketchbook tucked under her arm. "Boring!" she declared, kicking a pebble. "Luo, you've got a magical system, and you're sipping coffee like some uncle at a tea stall? Wish for something awesome, like a superpower!" Her eyes gleamed with mischief as she sketched a lightning bolt.
Luo rolled his eyes but cracked a smile. "You're impossible, you know that?" He glanced at Eriya, who had followed them through the portal, her hologram flickering faintly. "Okay, fine. Jigal's got a point. This is cool, but… maybe I could try something more exciting. Like a superpower."
Eriya's starry eyes narrowed, her voice cautious. "Superpowers are within the system's reach, but at Level 1, they can be uncontrollable. Choose carefully, Luo. What power do you want?"
Luo thought, Jigal's words ringing in his head. Something big, something awesome. "I want… the power of lightning," he said, his voice brimming with excitement. "Like, shooting bolts from my hands. That'd be epic!"
Jigal clapped loudly, bouncing up and down. "Yes! Now we're talking! Zap some trees, Luo! Make a thunderstorm!" She drew a cartoonish lightning bolt hitting a tree, laughing like a maniac.
Eriya's hologram flickered intensely, as if processing the request. "Very well. 10th Civilization System, activate: Temporary Ability Unlock—Lightning Control." The panel flared with light, and a surge of energy shot through Luo's body, making his hair stand on end. His fingers tingled, and tiny sparks danced across his palms.
"Holy cow!" Luo yelped, staring at his hands. "Is this… real?" He flicked his fingers, and a small spark shot out, sizzling in the air. He grinned, feeling like a superhero. "This is insane!"
"Go on, zap something!" Jigal urged, hopping around. "Hit that tree! Or, ooh, put on a lightning show! But don't zap me, okay? I'm too cute to get fried!"
Luo laughed, his confidence surging. He stepped onto the porch, the rain still falling softly, and raised a finger toward the jungle. "Alright, let's see." He focused, feeling the energy build in his palm, and snapped his finger forward. A blinding flash erupted, followed by a deafening BOOM. A massive lightning bolt shot from his fingertip, screaming through the air with a terrifying crackle. It didn't just hit a tree—it obliterated an entire mountain in the distance. The peak exploded in a shower of rock and dust, the shockwave rattling the cabin.
Luo and Jigal screamed, clapping their hands over their ears as the thunder roared. The cabin shook, and the coffee mug fell off the table, shattering. When the dust settled, they stared at the smoking crater where the mountain had been, their jaws practically on the floor.
"What… the… heck?!" Luo stammered, his voice trembling. "I just pointed my finger! I didn't mean to blow up a mountain!"
Jigal's eyes were as wide as plates, her sketchbook forgotten. "Luo, you… you're a beast! That was the coolest thing I've ever seen!" She grabbed his arm, shaking him. "Do it again! Zap something else!"
"Are you crazy?!" Luo shouted, waving his hands frantically. "I just destroyed a mountain! Everyone's gonna know! We're in huge trouble!" He spun toward Eriya, who hovered calmly, her hologram unfazed by the chaos. "Eriya, fix this! People are gonna freak out!"
Eriya's starry eyes glinted, her voice eerily calm. "There's no need to worry, Luo. You're no longer in Earth's universe. The 10th Civilization System has transported you to another universe for this manifestation. The destruction you caused happened on a planet in this alternate reality. No one on Earth will know."
Luo blinked, his brain struggling to process. "Another… universe? You mean we're not home?" He looked around, noticing for the first time that the jungle had a strange, otherworldly glow, with bizarre, glowing plants and a sky full of unfamiliar stars.
Jigal, meanwhile, was grinning like she'd hit the jackpot. "This is wild! We're in space! Or… some other dimension! Luo, you're officially the coolest brother ever!" She paused, then made a face. "But your fancy cabin's trashed now. Look at it!"
Luo turned and groaned. The cabin was a wreck—half the roof had collapsed from the shockwave, and the walls were scorched. His peaceful retreat was gone. "Great," he muttered. "My one good wish, ruined." He glared at Eriya. "Can you take us back to Earth? Like, now?"
Eriya's hologram flickered, her tone firm. "Returning to Earth's universe requires Dream Points, Luo. Your current balance is depleted. To get more, you must earn them."
Luo and Jigal exchanged confused looks. "Earn them?" Luo asked. "How do we do that?"
"Yeah, what's the deal?" Jigal chimed in, crossing her arms. "Do we have to do chores or something? 'Cause I'm not cleaning this alien jungle!"
Eriya's hologram glowed brighter, her voice carrying a hint of challenge. "Dream Points are earned through actions that inspire admiration, gratitude, or worship from others. Help people, earn their respect, or become their hero. There are humans in this universe who need assistance. Help them, and you might earn the points to return home."
"Humans? Here?"Luo has seen the forest. "What kind of—"
Before he could finish, the ground trembled. A deafening roar echoed through the trees, followed by the sound of marching feet. Luo and Jigal froze as hundreds—no, thousands—of figures emerged from the jungle. They were humans, but not like any Luo had ever seen. Some wielded axes and spears, their faces painted with warlike symbols. Others, tall and cloaked, radiated power, their hands crackling with magical energy. Behind them marched an army of millions, their weapons glinting under the alien sky.
Luo's heart sank. "Eriya… what's going on?"
Jigal clutched his arm, her usual bravado replaced by wide-eyed panic. "Uh, Luo? I think we're in big trouble."
Eriya's hologram flickered one last time, her starry eyes gleaming with a mysterious intensity. "This is your chance, Luo. Prove your worth to the 10th Civilization System… or face the consequences."
The army's leader, a towering magician with a glowing staff, raised his hand. The ground shook as the horde charged forward, their war cries filling the air.