More than ten days passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, Herta did not stagnate just because the Intelligentsia Guild refused to provide fragments of the Emperor's Scepter. Instead, she made tremendous progress in the field of astral computers.
She had even drawn up a conceptual blueprint for the Super Herta · Astral Computer.
In addition, her research into dark energy achieved massive breakthroughs. She had already glimpsed the prototype of a fourth-generation divine body—one capable of atomic-level cellular positioning. Even in the face of a black hole or a supernova explosion... it would still survive, possessing an overwhelming form of immortality.
Meanwhile, after the little Hertas tirelessly deployed dark matter into the Dark Plane, it had now expanded to a scale that enveloped more than half of The Blue star system.
And that meant half of The Blue star system had already been exposed to the Super Herta Dark Plane platform—namely, the Fourth Mirror's gaze.
Herta herself was fully certain that in another dozen days, the entirety of The Blue star system would become her backyard, completely monitored by her, achieving a certain degree of omniscience.
In fact, every single day, more ships from the Building Material Logistics Department transporting dark matter were flying toward The Blue star system. That was an order Herman had placed with the IPC, all for the sake of expanding the Dark Plane.
Fortunately, both Herman and Herta were extremely wealthy, each possessing assets exceeding one trillion Credits.
As for the Interastral Peace Corporation, it was a super cosmic-level force, operating vast commercial markets across countless galaxies. The dark matter it stockpiled amounted to an astronomical figure. It could not possibly run out in the short term.
Thus, under the supply of dark matter and the diligent labor of the little Hertas, the Dark Plane continued to flourish.
Moreover, during these days, Herman had already placed another order with the Interastral Peace Corporation—this time for an enormous quantity of materials sufficient to construct an astral computer.
That was right. Herta was already preparing to build the astral computer. Although she still lacked technology related to the Emperor's Scepter, relying on her 1500 research points, she had upgraded Planet Screwllum's astral computer blueprint by one level.
Furthermore, within the new Super Herta Astral Computer blueprint, Herta had deliberately reserved part of the design as redundancy. Once she formally acquired Emperor's Scepter technology in the future, she could upgrade the Super Herta Computer once more.
...
Inside the dormitory of The Blue's First University, Herman controlled the body and walked onto the balcony. Gazing at the densely packed fleet of IPC Building Material Logistics Department ships in the sky, he could not help but communicate inwardly with Herta in the Simulated Laboratory:
"The materials for constructing the astral computer have all been delivered by the IPC. So, Herta, are you really going to build it directly?"
"Of course. Once the astral computer is constructed and activated, it will provide me with a continuous stream of computational power."
Herta spoke with extreme seriousness. "And once I have that computational power, I won't need to divert part of my attention during combat to maintain the operation of my super genes. The astral computer itself can maintain the super genes for me. Also, thank you for your hard work these past dozen days."
Herman rubbed his nose. "You mean entrusting me to enter the Stigmata space, act as a teacher for the little Hertas, and instruct them on how to build the Super Astral Computer according to the blueprint?"
"Exactly." The Herta nodded. "The Super Herta Astral Computer blueprint I drew embodies the effort of a genius like me. Even though the Hertas are Intellitrons, they still couldn't comprehend it."
"But with you, everything is different. With your teaching... those little Hertas grasp the construction of the astral computer as soon as they learn it. So I should thank you."
"What kind of relationship do we have? There's no need to say thank you."
"..."
Herta fell silent for a moment before changing the subject. "By the way, didn't you just say there was more good news besides the astral computer materials arriving?"
"Yes." Herman nodded slightly. "Ruan Mei sent me a message. She said she has perfectly resolved the conflict between the Stigmata and the hypervariable surgery system. She also mentioned that she's run out of Honkai Beast genes. Before long, she'll come to The Blue again to continue extracting genetic factors from the Honkai Beasts."
"That's truly wonderful. Just in time... I plan to take her Ruanruan spacecraft to Amphoreus." Herta's eyes lit up as she spoke urgently to Herman. "Send her a message quickly and tell her she's very welcome here."
"Of course I already did." A faint smile curved Herman's lips. "In addition, I told her you've resolved the innate erosive nature of the Honkai Beasts toward all things. I also described how the Honkai Beasts you've cultivated have already spread across every corner of Mars, numbering in the tens of billions."
"At this very moment, if one looks at Mars from The Blue, they would see that Mars has already turned into a purple planet."
"That's the phenomenon of Honkai energy concentration being so high it's nearly overflowing."
"After hearing this news, Ruan Mei immediately replied that she would depart for The Blue star system at once."
"Good." Herta nodded with a smile.
And at that very moment, Herman extended his hand. "Then I'll return this body to you. I can't preside over the construction of the Super Herta Astral Computer. That has to be done by you personally."
"No problem."
Within the world of the mind, Herman and Herta pressed their palms together. In that instant, their consciousnesses switched.
Herman's awareness arrived at the Simulated Laboratory, while Herta's consciousness returned to her original body.
The Herta lifted her head and gazed at the sky. Seeing the ships filling the sky, she revealed a faint smile. Then she turned and glanced at the Fourth Mirror. "Time to get to work. Fourth Mirror, summon all the little Hertas as I instructed earlier."
"Yes, Madam Herta."
The Fourth Mirror swiftly issued the notification. Almost at the very next moment, the little Hertas inside the Soul Gem factory raised their heads, murmuring among themselves:
"The peerlessly beautiful Madam Herta is summoning us."
"No, it's the unrivaled, double-crowned genius Madam Herta summoning us!"
"But Madam Herta herself said her beauty surpasses even her genius."
"Anyway, let's hurry. We mustn't keep Madam Herta waiting."
"Ohhh..."
The Hertas clenched the Soul Gems in their hands. Using them as a medium, they connected to the Super Herta Dark Plane that already spread across half the star system.
"Mirror, mirror, dear friend of the little Hertas, take us to see Madam Herta."
Bzzzz...
The Soul Gems in their hands flared with miraculous radiance at that moment, completing the connection with the Super Herta plane as the super gene—spacetime gene—loaded.
Micro-wormhole transfer!
Whoosh!
The little Hertas vanished instantly from the Soul Gem factory and reappeared outside the dormitory of The Blue's First University.
In an instant, they drew the attention of numerous university students.
"It's Herta."
"Yes, that's Miss Herta who received The Blue's First Academician Medal. I watched that livestream."
"But why are there so many Miss Hertas?"
"Hey, brother, you haven't been online much, have you? Didn't you see the news from over ten days ago? Several Hertas went out shopping together. That means these Hertas aren't Miss Herta herself—they're her creations!"
"So if Miss Herta has summoned so many little Hertas, she must be planning something big!"
"Wait... these past few days, the Blue Federation's interastral network has been buzzing with discussions. People couldn't figure out why so many IPC ships were stationed in space. But combining that with Miss Herta mass-summoning her creations now, it proves it... Miss Herta is really about to do something major."
"Anyway, take a picture first and post it!"
...
At that moment, The Blue's First University became exceptionally lively, filled with endless discussion.
The Herta Puppets, however, were utterly indifferent. In their eyes, even the best students of The Blue's First University were merely mediocre.
To them, there was only one true genius in existence—Miss Herta.
And that was indeed the truth. The students of The Blue's First University could not even comprehend the formulas and papers written by Herta.
Step. Step.
At that moment, The Herta stepped forward onto the balcony and looked down at the neatly lined ranks of Herta Puppets below.
"Next, I will officially begin the construction of the Herta Astral Computer."
"Once it is successfully built, every Herta will be able to load super genes through a Soul Gem. And when using super genes, you will no longer need to rely on the computational power of the Fourth Mirror—the computer itself will provide the necessary processing power."
"So... do you want to see the Super Astral Computer completed as soon as possible?"
"Yes."
The Herta Puppets responded in perfect unison.
"Very good. Full of spirit." The Herta gave a faint nod. "Next, the Fourth Mirror will assign tasks to each of you. Every Herta will be responsible for constructing one component of the astral computer. Now, all Hertas, go to the Fourth Mirror and receive your assignments."
Without hesitation, the Herta Puppets closed their eyes and connected to the Fourth Mirror to receive their tasks.
One little Herta received the task of constructing the bow structure.
Another received the task of forging the vessel's keel.
In total, more than a hundred Hertas each received a task within moments. Every one of them brimmed with fighting spirit.
After all, The Herta had said that once the task was completed, every little Herta would be able to rely on a Soul Gem to use super genes... something they deeply longed for—including Herta 05.
...
On Mars, Herta 09 could also sense the lively atmosphere within the Super Herta Dark Plane · Herta Network. A trace of longing appeared on her face as she murmured,
"I want to take on a task too. I want to build the Super Herta warship as well."
After speaking, Herta 09 lowered her gaze to the Herta Magic Wand in her hand. "Magic Wand, Magic Wand, can you take me back to The Blue?"
"No, no... just now Miss Herta already conveyed her instructions to me," the Herta Magic Wand replied calmly. "She told you to remain on Mars and continue neutering the Honkai Beasts, completely eliminating their innate erosive traits."
Herta 09 stared at the wand in her hand without blinking. "You'll stay with me, right?"
"..."
The Herta Magic Wand fell silent for a moment. Then its body began to glow.
"Miss Herta has already summoned me. Constructing the Super Herta Astral Computer requires my power. So... I'm sorry, Herta 09."
As the words fell, space cracked open around the wand, and it flew inside.
It was a micro-wormhole transfer, its destination The Blue—The Blue's First University—directly into The Herta's hand.
Indeed... after the Dark Plane expanded to encompass half of The Blue star system, Mars was already within its coverage.
Thus, The Herta, who had mastered the spacetime gene, merely needed to mobilize her thoughts to achieve an effect comparable to an astral computer—directly summoning the wand from Mars into her grasp.
With the wand in hand, The Herta wasted no time. She brought herself and the Herta Puppets into a micro-wormhole transfer, arriving in the vastness of the cosmos, then gestured toward the IPC ships.
In an instant, crew members aboard the IPC vessels began operating their ships. Cargo bays opened, expelling enormous quantities of material—specialized substances intended for constructing the astral computer.
The Herta nodded slightly, then glanced back at the little Hertas.
They understood immediately.
Taking up their hammers, they began striking the specialized materials. With every impact, sparks burst from the diamond-forged hammerheads.
That was the amplification of the super gene—the Solar Radiance Gene—empowering the hammers held by the Hertas.
The flames of the sun—of nuclear fusion—continuously forged the astral computer materials, softening them, while the diamond hammers shaped them into form.
With every hammer strike, the materials changed shape. In merely a few hours, the once chaotic mass of raw material gradually approached the component structures depicted in Herta's blueprint.
During those same hours, The Herta herself did not rest.
She devoted herself entirely to forging the core of the astral computer—the chip.
The first step in crafting the core computational chip was to use the Herta Magic Wand to open the gate to the Path of Erudition, allowing boundless Imaginary energy from Erudition to descend upon the specialized computational material, granting it its initial spark of sentient awareness.
Then she swung the wand once more, invoking Honkai magic.
In an instant, countless Honkai scalpels manifested—intangible blades carving and engraving into the computational material.
Fine lines began forming upon the chip, an engraving process that lasted for several hours.
It was carving at nearly atomic precision. The internal circuitry was complex beyond imagination.
Once completed—once the true Super Herta Astral Computer was assembled—it would provide Herta with an immense and overwhelming supply of computational power.
All of this unfolded before the eyes of the people of The Blue, filling countless beings with boundless shock.
Especially the students of The Blue's First University. At that moment, they realized Miss Herta was constructing a super project within the cosmos.
As for the high-ranking officials of the Blue Federation—and even the Eastern Federation—after detecting the anomaly in space and monitoring it for several hours, they reached a clear conclusion:
Miss Herta was constructing an astral computer—a super megastructure.
In the present universe, every force that possessed a supercomputer was, without exception, an extraordinarily powerful existence.
And Miss Herta had become a genius less than a month ago—yet she was already capable of independently constructing such a super megastructure.
Unbelievable.
Was this truly the wisdom of a genius?!
—
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