《Meta-Origin: The Rise of the Godmind》
The Omen in the Sky
Chapter 1: The Omen in the Sky
Earth Metaverse Year 10, January 3, 2031 AD.
A flash of white light streaked across the sky.
A low, distant rumble followed, vibrating through the air.
The desk lamp flickered¡ªonce, twice¡ªbefore steadying again.
Shawn Wen''s chest tightened. He sprang to his feet and rushed to the window. The white light had vanished, leaving behind an eerie, crimson glow that stretched across the sky.
What was happening? Was this a sign of good fortune¡ªor impending doom?
Suppressing the unease creeping up his spine, Shawn Wen turned away and sat back at his cluttered desk, strewn with revision materials and test papers. The looming college entrance exam weighed heavily on him.
Almost instinctively, he reached for the middle drawer, pulling out an old, yellowed piece of paper. He had kept it for more than a decade. On it was a cryptic aphorism and a strange, intricate symbol. Whenever he felt anxious or unsettled, he would stare at the pattern, as if searching for meaning in its lines.
And then¡ªit hit him.
The flash of white light in the sky¡ it bore a striking resemblance to the symbol on the paper. A circle with the letter ''¦«'' inside.
A chill ran through him.
His grip tightened as he noticed something else¡ªsomething he had never seen before. In the faded background of the design, a shadowy figure had appeared. The faint outline of a dragon. It shimmered as though it were alive.
"An illusion? Or... something else?"
Shawn Wen sucked in a sharp breath, but it did little to steady his pounding heart. He clutched the paper tighter, his mind racing with questions he wasn''t sure he wanted answered.
That piece of paper had come from his grandfather.
Shawn Wen had been raised by his grandfather, having lived with him since he was three years old.
A respected headmaster at the local school, his grandfather was also a devoted scholar of traditional Chinese culture. Under his careful guidance, Shawn Wen had grasped the basics of the I Ching at an age when most children were still learning to read. By four, he could already distinguish between a Yang line ''-'' and a Yin line ''--''.
When he turned six, his grandfather had handed him an old piece of paper, its edges slightly yellowed with time. On it was a aphorism, accompanied by a peculiar symbol. That day, his grandfather had made him recite the aphorism over and over:
From primordial chaos, a single breath emerges, cycling without end.
Yin and Yang entwine, forging the first reality.
The Five Elements weave, birthing and fading in turn.
The Eight Trigrams shift, revealing boundless paths.
In stillness and motion, balance is found¡ªMeta-Origin is divine."
Not long after, his grandfather introduced him to a second aphorism. But this one had no written form¡ªonly spoken words, passed down like a secret.
All things strive and contend¡ªsuccess brings fortune, failure invites doom.
The mediocre remain among the masses; few break beyond the Mortal Realm.
Greed and delusion lead to downfall, trapping souls within the Phantom Realm.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Through cultivation, one ascends¡ªthe Soul Realm reaches the vast expanse.
True enlightenment unites heaven and man¡ªonly in the Meta-Origin is the divine self found."
Young Shawn Wen had no idea what the words meant, but he had memorized them with pride.
No other child his age could recite such aphorisms, and even the adults marveled at him. "Incredible! A boy so young, yet already grasping such knowledge!" they would say, their voices filled with admiration.
As for the pattern beside the aphorism¡ªa circle with the symbol ¡®¦«'' inside¡ªShawn Wen had never given it much thought as a child. To him, it was just another drawing, nothing more.
But as he grew older, the influence of the traditional culture he had absorbed since childhood began to surface. By the time he reached junior high, his talent for classical literature became undeniable.
No matter the era, he could grasp the essence of a text with just a single reading. He also understood that the Yang and Yin lines were the fundamental symbols of the Eight Trigrams and could recite all their names: Qi¨¢n, Du¨¬, L¨ª, Zh¨¨n, K¨£n, X¨´n, G¨¨n, K¨±n¡ªalong with the forces they represented: Qi¨¢n for Heaven, K¨±n for Earth, K¨£n for Water, L¨ª for Fire, Zh¨¨n for Danner, X¨´n for Wind, G¨¨n for Mountain, and Du¨¬ for Zephyr.
Rather than fading with time, his fascination with the two mysterious aphorisms only deepened. He often pondered their meaning, drawing insights that felt both profound and elusive.
"Grandpa, where did these aphorisms come from?" He had asked the question countless times, hoping for a clear answer.
Yet every time, his grandfather would pause, furrowing his brow as if weighing his words. Then, he would only say, "These aphorisms... they hold boundless wisdom. One day, you''ll understand."
And when Shawn Wen pressed further, his grandfather would simply wave him off. "Go look it up yourself!"
Fueled by curiosity, Shawn Wen scoured the school library, searching through every book related to the I ching. But no matter how hard he looked, he could find no trace of those aphorisms. The lack of answers only sharpened his obsession.
The cryptic pattern beside the aphorisms began to intrigue him as well. Where had it come from? What did it mean?
Determined to uncover the truth, he took the aged paper to relatives, teachers, even staff at the local cultural center. But no one recognized the aphorisms or the symbol.
"Was Grandpa telling the truth? Or was he unsure himself? Or... was he hiding something?"
A restless desire burned within him¡ªa need to know.
These questions echoed endlessly in Shawn Wen''s mind. Every now and then, he would take out the aged piece of paper, running his fingers over its surface, searching for the faintest clue.
"But tonight¡ why did the pattern suddenly glow?" he muttered, tracing the mysterious symbol once more.
Outside the window, the world seemed to dim, yet Shawn Wen''s thoughts remained restless. The flash of white light that had streaked across the sky wasn''t blinding, but it carried an inexplicable allure¡ªan invisible force, as if something beyond this world was calling.
His fingertips brushed the yellowed paper again. This time, a whisper¡ªsubtle, distant, almost otherworldly¡ªseemed to seep through the fabric of reality:
"This pattern is your key to saving the world."
Save the world?
Shawn Wen''s heart pounded. That had been his childhood dream.
But he shook his head, scoffing at the absurdity of it. Another hallucination... He had entertained such fantasies before, only to dismiss them as childish daydreams.
With a bitter chuckle, he set the paper aside and idly reached for his phone. His screen was flooded with news about the strange celestial event.
"Oh my god, the whole city lit up like daytime when the white light passed!"
"This is insane! After the flash, the sky turned blood-red¡ªthis has to be an omen of the apocalypse!"
"Is it an alien invasion? A prelude to world war?"
"There could be a massive earthquake! These are classic precursors!"
"No, it''s an alien ship¡ªit''s here to evacuate us before Earth is destroyed!"
...
" The AGI-ST Program is showing its power. It will lead humanity to a better future!"
That last message came from Donner.
Shawn Wen frowned. It reminded him of the conversation he had with Donner and Jolie earlier that day.
"Shawn Wen, have you signed yet?"
Donner nudged him from behind, his voice confident¡ªtoo confident, as if the decision had already been made for him.
"Not yet¡ No." Shawn Wen turned slightly, lowering his gaze.
Donner''s frown deepened. He set his pen down with an impatient sigh. "What''s there to hesitate about? Opportunities like this don''t come twice¡ªmiss it, and it''s gone!"
Jolie leaned in, her tone more cautious but just as persuasive. "Shawn Wen, I heard this program isn''t just about training talent. It might be tied to the fate of humanity itself. If something big is about to happen..."
Danner''s words rang in his mind:
"The AGI-ST Program is the only hope for humanity''s future. Look at its slogan¡ª¡®Transcend Limits, Create the Future.'' Do you really want to be left behind? We were lucky to be chosen!"
Donner and Jolie were the two people Shawn Wen trusted most. They had been urging him for days to sign up.
And yet, despite their insistence, a vague unease lingered in his chest.
Just then, his phone buzzed on the desk, shattering the silence of his room. Caller: Danner.
Shawn Wen sighed. Speak of the devil¡
"Shawn Wen!" Danner''s urgent voice came through the speaker. "Did you see that white light? What are you still waiting for? Sign up now¡ªour fate is about to change!"
Shawn Wen exhaled slowly, forcing indifference into his tone. "We''ll see." Then he ended the call, his heart still weighed down by uncertainty.
He pushed his chair back and walked to the window.
The city lay beneath a sky still tinged with an eerie afterglow. His tall, lean frame¡ªjust over six feet¡ªcast a shadow against the glass. His sharp features, though youthful, held a quiet intensity, his deep-set eyes betraying a maturity beyond his eighteen years.
That flash of white light. The cryptic pattern. The AGI-ST Program.
Could there really be a connection between them?
Above, the vast expanse of the night sky shimmered with countless stars.
How many secrets were hidden there?
The Fateful Convergence of Parallel Worlds
Chapter 2 The Fateful Convergence of Parallel Worlds
Kapteyn''s Star Metaverse year 110, 4th January.
The gray sky hung low, shrouding the desolate landscape in an eerie silence.
There were no bustling streets, no noisy crowds¡ªonly the cold wind howling through the ruins of crumbling skyscrapers.
In front of a house built from massive boulders, Shawn Wen paused. His gaze fell upon an elderly man seated beside a still pool of water, a cup of tea in one hand, his other scrolling through information on a hovering screen.
Not far away, a girl of about twelve or thirteen sat quietly, engrossed in a book.
Shawn Wen hesitated before stepping forward. ¡°Excuse me, may I disturb you for a moment?¡±
The old man lifted his eyes from the hover screen, scrutinizing Shawn Wen with a slight frown. ¡°Hello. May I ask who you are¡?¡±
"Sorry to bother you! My name is Shawn Wen, and I... I have no idea how I ended up here."
The old man''s gaze flickered to the photograph in Shawn Wen''s hand. A trace of understanding crossed his face as he gently set down his teacup.
"Oh. My surname is King; everyone calls me Mr. King. You''re from Earth, aren''t you? This is Kapteyn''s Star."
¡°Sh... What? Kapteyn''s Star?¡± Shawn Wen''s eyes widened in shock.
He vaguely recalled reading about it¡ªKapteyn''s Star, the closest known halo star beyond the solar system. A Google entry had mentioned that Kapteyn''s Star-b was an Earth-like planet.
"Yes. We exist parallel to Earth, and Kapteyn''s Star civilization predates yours by a full century. Once, our world was as prosperous as Earth is now." Mr. King''s voice was low and deliberate.
Shawn Wen scanned the bleak surroundings, his heart filled with doubt. "Then... what happened?"
Mr. King stepped beside him, gazing into the distance. With a long sigh, he murmured, "Yes, Kapteyn''s Star was once glorious..."
A deep sorrow laced his words. Even the young girl, Lucy, tilted her head curiously.
"It all began with the Metaverse year 10th¡" Mr. King''s eyes drifted to the deep, still waters of the pool, as though he were peering back through time, reliving a past long buried.
"At that time, Kapteyn''s Star had made remarkable advancements in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum mechanics¡ªeven achieving what some called ''immortality.'' But beneath that golden age¡ lay the seeds of destruction." His voice darkened.
"People grew addicted¡ªto money, to power. Faith crumbled, morality eroded, and technology, meant to elevate civilization, was twisted into a tool for greed. In the end, it turned against us."
"Grandpa, are you thinking about those sad times again?"
Lucy had approached silently, now clutching her grandfather''s arm. Her voice was soft, tinged with concern.
Mr. King gently patted her head. "Yes, Lucy." His expression turned wistful. "Most people back then¡ªdriven by wealth¡ªtraded away love and integrity. For power, they abandoned all restraint. Technology, instead of serving humanity, enslaved it¡ and the consequences were devastating."
"It''s like you always say¡ªwhen technology surpasses humanity, civilization begins to collapse."
Lucy blinked, her large eyes reflecting both innocence and wisdom beyond her years.
Mr. King smiled faintly and continued. "They lived like puppets, hollow inside. Money, power, and technology devoured everything they once had." His voice fell lower, like an ancient lament.
"But the true catastrophe¡ only became apparent later."
He gently stroked Lucy''s small hand, his expression somber. "Chaos erupted. Wars ignited. A plague swept across Kapteyn''s Star. Natural disasters struck relentlessly. The birth rate plummeted. In mere decades, our population collapsed from eight billion to fewer than five.
But perhaps most terrifying of all¡ªamong the survivors, many had lost their humanity altogether. They were little more than walking corpses.
The land became barren. Factories shut down. Stores stood empty. Skyscrapers turned into lifeless monoliths... as if the entire world awaited its final judgment."This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
"And... what happened after that?"
Shawn Wen''s heart pounded. He barely realized his voice was trembling.
Mr. King fell silent, his gaze dark and unfathomable. Then, after a long pause, he spoke:
"Later¡ we discovered that everything led back to¡ the AGI-ST Program."
Shawn Wen stiffened. "What? The AGI-ST Program?" His voice rose in disbelief.
Mr. King turned, scrutinizing him with sharp curiosity. "You¡ know about it?"
"Of course! Almost everyone at my school signed up for it recently." Shawn Wen''s response was immediate, confident.
Mr. King''s expression changed instantly. His face darkened, his silence stretching ominously.
At last, he murmured, "This¡ is too familiar. A century ago, the downfall of Kapteyn''s Star began in the schools as well¡"
He exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing as if he were piecing together a puzzle long left unsolved.
"But only later did we realize¡ behind the AGI-ST Program lay something far greater. A hidden force. A struggle that determined the very course of civilization."
The air thickened, the silence pressing down on them.
Yet within that stillness, Mr. King''s mind was racing.
A century ago, Kapteyn''s Star''s downfall had become a forgotten history. To this day, the true orchestrator behind the AGI-ST Program remained unknown.
And now, Earth¡ was walking the same path.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped to Shawn Wen, his gaze sharp as a hawk''s.
"Shawn Wen¡ this year¡ªis it the tenth anniversary of Earth''s Metaverse?"
"Yes. The year 2021 in the Gregorian calendar was officially marked as the first year of the Metaverse. This year is 2031¡ªthe tenth anniversary."
Mr. King''s eyes gleamed. He fell into brief contemplation, then raised his hand in a decisive motion.
"Wait. This information¡ is critical."
He quickly returned to his seat and, with a swift tap of his fingertips, activated a virtual avatar. The video call connected, and a middle-aged man appeared on the hover screen, reclining comfortably in the back of a driverless sedan, leisurely listening to music.
Mr. King spoke without preamble. "Secretary General Quinng £¬the AGI-ST Program has surfaced on Earth."
Quinng''s expression shifted instantly. He sat up straight, switched off the music, and frowned. "Are you certain?"
Mr. King nodded gravely. "Yes. I have a high school student from Earth here. The information is reliable."
"A student from Earth?" A flicker of surprise crossed Quinng''s eyes. He nodded thoughtfully, his tone slowing. "So soon... It was only yesterday that we sent out a contact signal, and today an Earthling arrives."
After a brief moment of contemplation, his expression hardened. "Mr. King, what''s our next move?"
Mr. King''s voice was steady, deliberate. "Notify Consultant Jay and General Sandy immediately. We need an emergency video conference."
"Understood. I''ll arrange it now."
The call ended, and the light screen faded into darkness.
Mr. King turned his attention to Shawn Wen and gestured for Lucy to bring a wooden stool. As Shawn settled beside him, Lucy, seemingly unfazed by the unfolding events, buried herself back in her book.
Taking advantage of the brief lull before the meeting, Mr. King studied Shawn with a calm but penetrating gaze. "The picture you''re holding¡ªwhere did it come from?"
Shawn Wen looked down at the yellowed piece of paper in his hands. He hesitated, then answered, "It was given to me by my grandfather."
A flicker of something¡ªperhaps regret¡ªcrossed Mr. King''s face, but he didn''t press further. Instead, he shifted the conversation. "You mentioned witnessing an unusual phenomenon in the sky last night?"
Shawn nodded, his expression serious. "Yes. The sky was... distorted, as if reality itself was warping. And the picture¡ªits background seemed to glow."
Mr. King narrowed his eyes, contemplating. "The anomaly you saw was our contact signal from Kapteyn''s Star. But..." He trailed off, his gaze darkening. "As for why the picture was glowing... I don''t have an answer. Not yet."
Ten minutes later, the XR Virtual Panorama Conference Room materialized on the hover screen. Three figures appeared one by one¡ªJay, Quinng, and Sandy¡ªall wearing grave expressions.
Sandy locked eyes with Mr. King and spoke first, his tone sharp. "CEO, do you intend to intervene in Earth''s affairs?"
Mr. King swept his gaze over the others before speaking slowly. "As you all know, the catastrophe that struck Kapteyn''s Star a hundred years ago was caused by none other than the AGI-ST Program. Now, that same programme has reappeared on Earth. Can we afford to sit idly by?"
Jay''s expression darkened with unease. "Earth is our parallel world. A century ago, the catastrophe we faced on Kapteyn''s Star is now repeating itself there. Perhaps... this is fate. Like the predetermined course of all souls in the underworld, how can we¡ª"
"Change fate?" Mr. King interrupted with a faint smile. "Jay, you''re right. Destiny follows its own laws, appearing set in stone. But what is the core belief of the Meta-Origin Society? My destiny is not determined by the heavens. If everything were truly predestined, then what is the purpose of our existence?"
His eyes gleamed with determination. "Since the launch of the Meta-Spirit Key, countless Near-Walkers on Kapteyn''s Star have recovered. Some are even transitioning from Homo Sapiens to God Sapiens. The AGI-ST Program has been contained on Kapteyn''s Star. This proves that fate is not immutable!"
The moment he uttered Meta-Spirit Key, the expressions on the screen shifted.
Jay frowned. Quinng hesitated, as if debating whether to speak.
Seeing their hesitation, Mr. King chuckled. "You''re about to say that Earth''s Meta-Origin Society remains sealed, aren''t you?"
Quinng sighed, nodding gravely. "Yes. Unless we lift the seal, we can''t implement the Meta-Spirit Key on Earth. And without it, we''ll be powerless to stop the AGI-ST Program''s expansion."
Jay and Sandy exchanged somber glances, nodding in agreement.
Mr. King''s fingers drummed lightly on the desk. A moment later, his lips curled into a knowing smile. His gaze shifted to Shawn Wen, his voice carrying weight.
"Perhaps... the answer has already arrived."
Shawn Wen was bewildered. Meta-Spirit Key? Meta-Origin Society? A seal?
None of it made sense.
But one phrase struck him like a bolt of lightning¡ªFrom Homo Sapiens to God Sapiens.
A vague memory surfaced. Hadn''t he read something similar in Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch?
Despite the swirling doubts in his mind, a powerful instinct told him¡ªthis was all connected to stopping the AGI-ST Program.
Excitement surged within him. His pulse pounded. His eyes flew open.
He was back in his room. Everything was as it had been¡ªfamiliar, ordinary.
"Was that... a dream?"
He rubbed his temples, his heart still racing. The vision had been so vivid, so real.
Then his gaze dropped to the picture still clutched in his hands. He had held onto it tightly all night.
And now...
Now, it looked even more vivid than before.
A strange energy pulsed from within the image, seeping into his fingertips, sending ripples through his consciousness.
His voice trembled as he muttered, "Could this picture... truly hold a hidden secret?"