Zeke, with cold rationality, reached a definitive conclusion not just about Zhuge Kongming and her peers but also about this entire civilization and world.
While his assessment couldn't be deemed incorrect, Fu Hua exchanged glances with Senti, both feeling somewhat uneasy.
Despite lacking explanations for those two terms, Zhuge Kongming picked up on something ominous from Zeke's words and the tense atmosphere.
"Your Majesty, you..."
"To understand World Bubbles and World Anchor Points, we must delve into the very essence of worlds."
Fu Hua gently stroked Zhuge Kongming's head, speaking softly like a caring elder to her young ward.
Zeke turned his gaze toward Fu Hua.
With a smile, she shook her head slightly.
"She's a clever child; I believe we can at least tell her. If it doesn't work out, worst-case scenario, I'll erase these memories from her."
"As you wish. However, your compassion is becoming more apparent. It seems this unfortunate existence has indeed had quite an impact on you," Zeke remarked, casting a sidelong glance at the silent Senti.
The dismissive term and disdainful look instantly ruffled Senti's feathers.
"Say that again, motherfucker?! Who're you calling 'unfortunate'?!"
"'Unfortunate,' that's who."
"I swear I'll knock you flat if you don't watch it!"
"You can't beat me."
These simple words left Senti utterly speechless, all his retorts stuck in his throat, face turning beet red.
Zeke shook his head with disinterest, waving his fan, and ceased further provocation.
Observing this scene, Fu Hua chuckled softly, covering her mouth. Then, addressing the attentive Zhuge Kongming, she continued:
"In dimensions beyond our world exist two vast orders—grand, intricate, and ineffable. For easier understanding, we arbitrarily named them the Imaginary Tree and the Sea of Quanta. The tree grows branches, and each leaf represents a distinct reality, while time and laws flow between its limbs."
Zhuge Kongming's expression gradually turned solemn. She had never heard such perspectives before, and this worldview surpassed her imagination.
Fu Hua gently stroked Zhuge Kongming's head, sighed softly, and continued:
"The trees around us experience growth, decay, and shedding leaves; similarly, the Imaginary Tree follows a comparable process. Each leaf-world is observed by what we call the Will of Honkai, which brings various destructive calamities upon its civilizations—natural disasters, human tragedies, demons, monsters, and more. Worlds that withstand these Honkai Disasters remain on the branches, enveloped by the laws of the Imaginary Tree, allowing them to persist steadily and endure for ages. Civilizations defeated by the Will of Honkai see their worlds fall from the branches into the even more chaotic Sea of Quanta. There, they lose the strength to maintain stability, constantly facing terrifying forces of disorder within the Sea of Quanta. Any imaginable catastrophe could strike at any moment, leading to their eventual shattering and disappearance without a trace—the precarious, ephemeral realms we refer to as world bubbles."
Zhuge Kongming's eyes gradually widened, her pupils trembling slightly.
Fu Hua gently embraced this young girl who was merely twelve years old, filled with sorrow and helplessness.
Then, she shifted her gaze toward Zeke.
While Fu Hua could provide a basic explanation for world bubbles, understanding World Anchors required more specialized knowledge.
Zeke glanced at Zhuge Kongming, whose face displayed disbelief mixed with fear. He waved his plumage fan, silently sighing within.
What was the point? By withholding the truth, they only sought to allow these girls to live peacefully. Revealing it brings no good, only profound despair.
Zeke had his own gentleness; often, it simply appeared cold-hearted and unyielding instead.
"Well, since it's out there already, might as well go all in. Regarding world bubbles, what she said is mostly accurate. At least based on our current body of knowledge, her description captures the essence quite well. As for World Anchors..."
Zeke paused for a moment, placing his hands behind his back, and his cold expression took on a hint of solemnity.
"Civilizations often sing a tragic song yet also compose grand verses of life. Many civilizations falling from the branches were incredibly splendid entities; they would not idly watch their worlds crumble but instead exhaust all resources to seek survival. Numerous civilizations, left with no other choice, embarked on the same path: gathering the rules and energy of their entire world to form a core that ties together the existence of the whole realm—this is the embryonic stage of a World Anchor."
"After crafting such a core, the next step involves either connecting it to a branch of the Imaginary Tree or shaping it into a set of principles capable of replacing the Imaginary Tree. This allows the drifting world bubble to reabsorb various elements necessary for stability and continuation, bringing it closer to those genuine worlds hanging upon the tree. However, virtually all such efforts remain stuck at the embryonic stage because, relying solely on the meager remnants of the world bubble's strength, the second step cannot be taken."
"This altar here, it serves as a prototype Anchor Point, a legacy of your world's once-glorious civilization. Indeed, there is power to fulfill wishes within this place. I could activate this Wish Machine right now; being the core of this world, it can truly accomplish anything. However, its reach is limited to this world alone, and you should understand what that implies."
Zeke spoke calmly, while Zhuge Kongming's face turned pale.
She didn't want to believe it, but the grander and more realistic worldview presented by Zeke and the immortal left her unable to refute their claims.
The question of origins also found an explanation.
Where did Zeke and his companions come from? Why did they possess such unstoppable abilities? It was because they hailed from a complete world, vastly stronger and more solid than theirs, by unimaginable degrees!
"No... No way... Our world..." Zhuge Kongming began trembling.
Abruptly, she pushed away from Fu Hua's embrace, incorporating this new information into her calculations, and started exerting all her might for divination.
"It can't be! Heaven's Will lies with me; Ziwei enters—agh!" Zhuge Kongming coughed up blood, her body swaying, face pallid as she teetered on the verge of collapse.
Senti swiftly caught her before she could fall.
"Hey! Are you okay? Don't push yourself too hard!"
"I... there's no result... I can't calculate it... Why?!" Zhuge Kongming clutched tightly at Senti's clothes, her eyes reflecting a profound emptiness.
For the foremost mage of this era, lacking a result from divination was itself a clear outcome.
"Sigh..."
Zeke shook his head, leaned forward, and gently touched Zhuge Kongming's forehead with his plumage fan, infusing both vitality and spiritual energy simultaneously.
After a moment, Zhuge Kongming's complexion visibly improved.
Zeke placed the plumage fan in Zhuge Kongming's hand, looking down calmly, he said:
"Why burden yourself with knowing so much? Living simply isn't that bad either. Based on current observations, this world bubble has sufficient strength to endure. Unless it encounters the tidal waves of the Sea of Quanta, it can exist for thousands, even millions of years, allowing you ample time to fully utilize your talents without regrets before peacefully passing away. The probability of encountering such tides within the vast expanse of the void world is infinitesimally close to zero."
Zeke lifted his gaze towards Fu Hua, signaling her to erase this memory from Zhuge Kongming's mind.
Preserving this world serves no purpose; it would only condemn Zhuge Kongming's remaining life to endless pain and despair.