Under the astonished gazes of countless people, The Herta and the little Hertas continued perfecting this cosmic megastructure astral computer. It was a super project, and naturally, it required a considerable amount of time.
One system hour passed, then several more. The foundational framework of the astral computer megastructure was finally completed.
On The Blue, whether it was the Blue Federation or the Eastern Federation, both had already assembled large numbers of scientists and researchers to specifically study Miss Herta's creation.
However, when the scientists gathered and began their joint research, they discovered an extremely disheartening truth—they simply could not decipher Miss Herta's technology. Not even the slightest fragment of it.
The reason was simple.
They could not understand it.
In the end, the Blue Federation invited Patavia from the Intelligentsia Guild, asking whether she could uncover the secrets of Miss Herta's creation—the astral computer.
"Impossible." Patavia shook her head decisively, offering a firm denial. "A genius' technology is crafted with divine ingenuity... Even as a scholar of the Intelligentsia Guild, I find it difficult to see through Miss Herta's research. That said, I do know she is building an astral computer. When she previously negotiated with me regarding matters related to the Emperor's Scepter, she already mentioned it."
Upon hearing these words, the high-ranking officials of the Blue Federation exchanged glances, silently thinking:
Even a scholar of the Intelligentsia Guild cannot comprehend Herta's research. Has the gap between ordinary scholars and a genius truly grown this vast?!
Meanwhile, on the other side, Black Swan was using the power of the Path of Remembrance to record the birth of the astral computer. Inwardly, she mused:
An astral computer absolutely qualifies as a megastructure. If Miss Herta succeeds this time, she will undoubtedly take another step forward on the Path of Erudition—perhaps even draw the gaze of That One.
At that very moment, a flame quietly appeared beside Black Swan, accompanied by the figure of Dahlia.
"Black Swan, long time no see."
Black Swan turned her head. "So it's you, Dahlia. You actually dare show up in front of me after selling my information."
Dahlia smiled sweetly. "Don't say it like that. We're good sisters, aren't we? Besides, didn't you gain some excellent memories this time?"
Black Swan recalled the Light Cone created in the Soul Factory more than ten days ago—"My Birth · Herta Exclusive"—and nodded slightly. "I did gain quite a lot. So why have you come to The Blue?"
Dahlia's smile remained radiant. "I belong to Miss Herta now. I work for her."
Black Swan narrowed her eyes slightly. "You betrayed Destruction again and defected to Herta."
"Betrayal? I've never betrayed anyone. Look..." As Dahlia's voice echoed, she raised her hand. A trace of Destruction's flame flickered at her pale fingertips. That fire intertwined with the Path of Remembrance, transforming into something capable of burning all memories...
"You can still use the power of the Path of Destruction." Black Swan could no longer maintain her earlier composure and revealed a hint of surprise.
"I told you, I never betrayed anyone. In fact, I haven't even betrayed the Garden of Recollection. I've always been working for that—Pure Child of the Garden." Dahlia sighed. "It's just a pity that Pure Child doesn't see it that way. They even sent people to hunt me down. I was heartbroken for quite a while, boohoo..."
Black Swan instantly saw through the fake tears. "Stop acting... I know your personality."
At those words, Dahlia's expression switched to seriousness in an instant. "Let's talk business. Do you think Miss Herta will succeed in building the astral computer this time?"
Black Swan immediately caught the deeper meaning in Dahlia's tone. Her expression shifted slightly. "You want me to use divination."
"Exactly. That's the only thing you're better at than me. Back then, you even divined the Fable of the Stars Collection, making the Garden's Pure Child believe you had become like Elio—the Finality's messenger."
Dahlia paused, then fixed Black Swan with a serious gaze. "If we count it that way, you're the one who looks more like a traitor to the Garden."
Black Swan rolled her eyes, then used the tarot cards in her hand to perform a divination. The result came swiftly.
Great fortune!
Thus, Black Swan spoke. "Miss Herta's construction of the astral computer should proceed very smoothly this time. There will be no accidents."
"We'll see."
Dahlia nodded with a smile.
...
At the same time, elsewhere, Jade—one of the high-ranking executives of the Interastral Peace Corporation—had already arrived in the The Blue star system as the IPC's representative.
After all, during this period, Miss Herta—or rather, Herman—had placed an enormous number of orders with the IPC.
Crystals, dark matter, astral computer materials... The IPC had already realized that Herta was preparing for something major, and thus dispatched Jade.
"Miss Herta is building an astral computer. Judging from its prototype, it somewhat resembles the astral computer of Planet Screwllum."
After a moment of contemplation, Jade swiftly initiated a video call with Screwllum, seeking confirmation as to whether the astral computer Herta was constructing had any relation to his.
"Yes. I made a transaction with Miss Herta." After answering the call, Screwllum raised his hand to adjust the monocle on his face. He carefully examined the astral computer Herta was constructing, and his expression quickly turned serious.
"Rational deduction: Compared to Planet Screwllum's astral computer, the structure of Miss Herta's computer has already undergone an upgrade... Conclusion: Miss Herta is manufacturing a more advanced astral computer than that of Planet Screwllum..."
"More advanced?" Jade's expression shifted. She asked Screwllum when exactly he had traded the technology with Herta.
"Approximately half a system month ago."
"Only half a month... Just half a month?!" Jade's gaze toward the astral computer Herta was constructing changed completely.
Jade was well aware that Herta had not even been a genius for a full month. In such a short span of time, Herta had completed far too many inventions and creations. This research speed was nearly—if not already—approaching that of the 29th Seat of the Genius Society, Sserkal.
At that moment, Screwllum spoke again through the video call.
"Rational deduction: After Miss Herta constructs the astral computer, her computational power will increase further. As long as her inspiration continues uninterrupted, her research speed will become even faster than before."
"Deduction conclusion: On the twenty-eighth day after becoming a genius, Miss Herta will develop sufficient technological advancements to surpass the 29th Seat, Madam Sserkal."
!!
Jade was stunned upon hearing this. She had not expected Screwllum to predict that Herta's research speed would surpass Sserkal's. After all, Sserkal was historically the existence with the fastest and most maximized research efficiency.
In the next moment, Jade seemed to think of something and spoke. "Miss Herta's frenzied burning of wisdom and inspiration... could it cause problems? For example, a shortened lifespan—like Miss Sserkal, who passed away at such a young age?"
"Rational deduction: Highly unlikely," Screwllum replied. "Rational reminder: Not long ago, I discussed Miss Herta's lifespan issue with Miss Ruan Mei and provided her with a method of life extension. Therefore, if one day Miss Herta's lifespan declines and she has not yet developed her own method of prolonging life, she will come to us."
Jade's brows furrowed even deeper. "But according to the IPC's personality simulation model, Miss Herta is an extremely proud individual. Since she already rejected both you and Miss Ruan Mei's life-extension methods, she would never come back to ask for them."
After saying this, Jade sent a message to The Herta:
"As long as you deepen cooperation with the IPC, we can provide life-extension methods at any time. And Miss Herta, please don't rush to refuse. This is to prevent unforeseen accidents."
After the message was sent, it vanished like a stone sinking into the sea. There was no response from Herta's side. Of course, that was only natural.
After all, at this very moment, Herta was still constructing the astral computer.
...
Far away, in the distant starry sky, a streak of light flashed along the starrail and arrived at the The Blue star system.
It was a white cloud.
Ruan Mei had arrived, bringing her adorable pet—Ruanruan.
The moment she entered the The Blue star system, she saw the fact that Herta was building an astral computer, as well as the Honkai energy on Mars that was so saturated it was practically overflowing.
"In just half a month, Herta has produced new research results again. She's already started manufacturing an astral computer, and judging by the progress, everything is proceeding very smoothly."
Inside the Ruanruan spacecraft, Ruan Mei murmured softly, "However, in these past half a month, I have done more than merely resolve the conflict between the Stigmata and the hypervariable surgery system. I have also uncovered more possibilities of Honkai."
"Wait..."
Ruan Mei focused her gaze upon the The Blue star system. Very quickly, she noticed something was off. It could even be described as extremely strange. It was as though half of the entire star system had been draped in an additional layer.
In the next instant, her eyes began to glow faintly, blossoming with a radiance like plum blossoms. They were eyes fused with the abilities of serpents, Honkai Beasts, and numerous other cosmic organisms. Among them was a particular biological ability capable of perceiving dark energy that was exceedingly difficult to detect in the universe.
As Ruan Mei activated her ocular ability, she directly perceived that half of the The Blue star system had gained an additional dimension—one seemingly connected to dark energy.
What was this? What exactly was that anomalous dimension?
A trace of doubt flickered across Ruan Mei's heart. In the next moment, the abnormal dimension seemed to detect her observation and swiftly responded:
"External observation detected. Verifying identity... Identity confirmed. Friend of Miss Herta. 83rd Seat of the Genius Society, Ruan Mei."
"Greetings, Miss Ruan. The Super Herta Dark Plane greets you."
"The Super Herta Dark Plane? This dimension hidden within dark energy, covering more than half of the The Blue star system, was built by Herta?" A peculiar light flashed through Ruan Mei's cool gaze.
"Correct. I was created by Miss Herta. You may address me as the Super Herta Dark Plane, or as the Fourth Mirror," the Fourth Mirror replied promptly.
"In other words, within just half a month, Herta successfully resolved the biological erosive traits of the Honkai Beasts, created a new Dark Plane construct, and is now building an astral computer as well."
"Yes." The Fourth Mirror confirmed.
"This level of research efficiency has already surpassed mine by quite a margin." Ruan Mei lifted her head and sighed softly. "Which means Herta is not far from the day she becomes an Emanator. Perhaps she may create a new miracle—becoming an Emanator within her very first month of becoming a genius and joining the Genius Society."
"Thank you for your blessing. I will relay it to Miss Herta shortly."
"Mm."
Ruan Mei gave a slight nod. Then she quietly observed The Herta and the Hertas constructing the astral computer, performing calculations within her mind. It did not take long for her to determine that approximately twenty-four system hours remained before the astral computer would be fully completed.
More importantly, as she continued observing, she realized that Herta herself was entirely focused on her own work and did not supervise the little Hertas.
That realization stirred something in Ruan Mei's heart.
Herta herself was not worried that the little Herta Puppets would make mistakes during the construction of the astral computer. That meant...
The Herta Puppets had already comprehended the blueprint that belonged to a genius.
Which meant Herta's array was truly beginning to take shape. She had genuinely split her own consciousness into numerous little Hertas?!
Ruan Mei quickly calculated the number of little Hertas currently participating in the astral computer's construction.
One hundred. A three-digit figure.
Which meant Herta had split off three hundred consciousnesses?
!!
When Ruan Mei reached this conclusion, she felt her own mind tremble.
In the past, during her biological research, she had encountered a species known as the Many-Headed Monster, Mu.
They resembled humans in appearance, yet were fundamentally no longer human. Even at only a few years old—during infancy—they could split into multiple consciousnesses. At their peak, they could possess dozens or even hundreds.
Ruan Mei had once cultivated the Many-Headed Monster species. But in the end, every experiment produced the same result—a nearly emotionless, expressionless, three-nature consciousness that devoured all the others.
Every single time.
And when she researched other creatures possessing multiple consciousnesses, those beings often descended into self-destruction.
For example, the many-headed dragon—its multiple heads would directly fight one another.
It could be said that after consciousness split, there was always a certain probability of betrayal among the separated minds.
Yet the current situation was different. Every little Herta was wholeheartedly assisting The Herta in her work. Not a single one appeared to have betrayed her.
So how had The Herta split so many consciousnesses and ensured none of them turned against her? Ruan Mei was genuinely curious about the answer.
Carrying that curiosity, she allowed the Ruanruan spacecraft to descend upon Mars.
Countless neutered Martian Honkai Beasts watched the arriving ship without launching an attack. Instead, they revealed curious expressions.
As for the original Honkai Beasts—having once witnessed Ruanruan enter combat mode and transform into a gaseous planet—they now saw the soft, white-cloud form of the Ruanruan spacecraft descending once more. One by one, they scattered in panic, fleeing in all directions.
At that moment, Ruan Mei stepped off the ship and surveyed the vast herds of Honkai Beasts surrounding her.
Mars has bred tens of billions—even over a hundred billion—Honkai Beasts within just a dozen days. The Honkai Beast pet trade holds tremendous potential.
Her gaze then settled upon Herta 09, who remained on Mars.
This is the only Herta who did not go to construct the astral computer. Could it be... that she is the sole consciousness that betrayed The Herta after splitting off?
With that thought in mind, Ruan Mei wore a deliberately practiced smile and stepped forward, greeting her.
"Miss Herta, hello."
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