The cheers of the little Hertas echoed through the cosmos, resounding across the entire world of The Blue star system alongside the operation of the astral computer.
Although, due to the vacuum of space, no one could actually hear the united cheers erupting from within the Herta Stigmata Space, countless people across The Blue world witnessed with their own eyes the completion and activation of the astral computer.
In an instant, the interastral network of The Blue star system was flooded:
"What did I just see? Miss Herta really built an astral computer, and even drew upon the sun's energy as its ignition source!"
"A genius—truly unbelievable. To construct such a cosmic megastructure single-handedly!"
"Only now do I truly understand the gap between mediocrity and genius."
"We're both eighteen years old. I'm still studying for exams at school, and Miss Herta has already built an astral computer... The difference between people really can't be measured by logic."
...
On the other side, Black Swan and Dahlia used the power of the Path of Remembrance to record the Super Herta Astral Computer. Together, they transformed that memory into a Light Cone.
Upon the Light Cone was depicted a group of little Hertas bustling about, stacking tower upon tower of wisdom. At the summit, Herta held aloft a wand radiating dazzling brilliance, using magic to create a cosmic megastructure—the astral computer.
Both Black Swan and Dahlia regarded this Light Cone as exceedingly precious, worthy of careful preservation.
Meanwhile, Screwllum, through a video call with Jade, clearly observed that during the construction of the Super Herta Astral Computer, Herta had not made even the slightest error—not the tiniest deviation.
Such a scene left Screwllum's consciousness in deep astonishment.
Miss Herta's construction process had been so smooth?!
When he had built the Planet Screwllum astral computer in the past, numerous unexpected incidents had occurred, costing him tremendous effort before he could complete it.
Yet what Herta was building now was a device even more complex and advanced than the Planet Screwllum's astral computer. By all reasonable logic, she should have made mistakes. But reality was entirely different from what he had anticipated. Not only had Herta perfectly constructed the astral computer, she had even integrated into it a certain technology he could not fully comprehend.
The computational power of the astral computer seemed to be drawn into some strange world distinct from reality...
Miss Herta seemed to have produced yet another extraordinary invention.
Thinking this, Screwllum picked up his phone and sent Herta a message congratulating her on completing the astral computer.
Herta quickly replied: "This was also thanks to your help. The design concepts of the Planet Screwllum's Celestial Differentiator were extremely important."
Screwllum promptly sent a head-shaking emoji and typed: "Rational deduction indicates that the Planet Screwllum's blueprints merely accelerated your research."
"Conclusion: Even without our designs, you would have been able to construct the astral computer. It would simply have lacked the stylistic influence of Planet Screwllum."
"With my Herta-level intelligence, of course I could," Herta replied. "Though it might have taken much longer. In any case, your blueprints were still very important."
"Miss Herta, regarding the Honkai energy technology you traded to me earlier, I have already made some preliminary progress in research. Logical deduction suggests that this alternate possibility of the Imaginary, shaped into a scalpel, may truly be capable of completely resolving the Anti-Organic Equation embedded in the foundational logic Emperor Rubert designed for the Intellitrons..."
"Conclusion: Given sufficient time, I can use Honkai energy to develop a Honkai · De-Intellitron Equation, solving the problem that has plagued the Intellitrons for countless years. Once that issue is resolved, even if Emperor Rubert were to live again—live a third life—it would be difficult for him to incite another cosmic-scale war!"
Upon reading this message, The Herta nearly lost her composure.
Because of the information provided by Herman, she naturally knew that one possible future involved herself being devoured and fused by the Iron Tomb, becoming Rubert III.
If such a future were to come true, then with the destructive power of the Path of Destruction wielded by a Lord Ravager combined with her own intelligence, it was difficult to say whether Screwllum's future De-Intellitron Equation would truly be effective.
The reason was simple.
After all, among geniuses, she was the one who understood Honkai most deeply...
Of course, Herta did not voice these thoughts.
Herman's ability to see possible futures was itself an immense secret that could never be exposed.
Exhale.
The Herta took a deep breath and typed quickly.
"Screwllum, as a fellow genius, I believe you can certainly accomplish it."
"Of course, before that—are you interested in participating in a new research project?"
Screwllum paused slightly as he read the message on his phone.
"Miss Herta, have you had another flash of inspiration? As a newly ascended genius, the brilliance of your thoughts already surpasses mine—and most members of the Genius Society."
Screwllum's admiration was sincere. In just half a month, Herta had produced far too many breakthroughs: the Soul Gem, the Herta Puppets, the Herta Magic Wand, the Dark Plane, Honkai...
And now, she had yet another new research plan.
After a moment of awe, Screwllum's reactor flared with interest. He typed quickly: "May I ask—what is this new research project?"
"Researching the Emperor's Scepters."
"The Emperor's Scepters?" Screwllum's thoughts momentarily disordered. "But according to my knowledge, the Emperor's Scepters was completely shattered during the academic war within the Intelligentsia Guild."
"I have my own intelligence sources. In short, that Emperor's Scepter is in a world that neither the IPC nor the Guild factions have yet reached. Even the Astral Express, representing Trailblaze, has not arrived there."
"An uncharted world, untouched by Trailblaze, filled with the unknown... That is truly fascinating." As Screwllum said this, his mechanical mind immediately identified a problem. "Rational deduction suggests: without a star rail, how are we to reach that world?"
"The answer is simple. That world's nature is somewhat special. We need only reflect it through the Garden of Recollection's Mirror. I have also obtained the consent of the Pure Children of Anāsrava of the Garden to use the Mirror to make contact with that world. Therefore, I invite you to jointly research the Emperor's Scepter."
Herta paused before continuing:
"Of course, this journey may involve risks. Significant risks."
"You mean the Emperor's Scepter, situated in an unknown world, has become fundamentally altered—tainted by forbidden knowledge—and that contact might attract the pursuit of Polka Kakamond, the Lord of Silence?"
"No. It isn't an issue of pursuit by the Lord of Silence. It's something even more serious. According to my understanding, that place contains an ancient genius. In fact, the very name 'Genius Society,' and even the origin of the Path of Erudition, are connected to that being."
The founder of the Genius Society. One of the origins of the Path of Erudition.
These phrases caused Screwllum's thoughts to spin rapidly, leading him to a single name:
Zandar One Kuwabara.
The creator of the astral computer that ascended to Aeonhood.
The genius among geniuses—the being who created an Aeon!
After reaching this conclusion, Screwllum spoke the name aloud to confirm his speculation.
"Yes," Herta replied. "That place contains a fragment of Zandar."
"Rational deduction: Contact with a genius predecessor will benefit our subsequent research. Miss Herta, please tell me when we depart to explore that unknown world. I will certainly go!"
"The timing is not yet determined. After all, besides you, I must invite one more genius from the Society."
"You intend to invite Polka Kakamond?"
"No. Ruan Mei."
After sending that message, Herta quickly contacted Ruan Mei, explained the details, and invited her to explore that world—visible only through the Garden of Recollection's Mirror.
"I agree."
Ruan Mei's response was simple and direct.
Thus, three geniuses of the Society reached a consensus—to explore the place where Trailblaze had yet to arrive: Amphoreus.
Nous cast Their gaze upon them.
Of course, in Their eyes, three geniuses exploring an unknown world was nothing extraordinary. After all, They calculate all things.
What truly drew Their attention was the name mentioned by all three.
Zandar.
He was the one who created Them. He was also a part of Them that had not yet sublimated. If he was in that developing world still holding an Emperor's Scepter—was he planning something?!
The crimson great eye of Nous' true form began to flicker violently.
They calculated—and arrived at a future.
It was the moment of the Fourth Instant, when the Iron Tomb would break from its shell and connect to the Path of Erudition, attempting to bring about Their downfall.
If that truly came to pass, it would mean the Lord Ravager Iron Tomb possessed sufficient understanding of the essence of Erudition—perhaps too much understanding.
But how could a newly born Lord Ravager comprehend the Path of Erudition so thoroughly?
A newly born being should be ignorant.
This was a paradox.
Unless someone had instilled within it knowledge of the Path of Erudition—knowledge of how to end the Path of Erudition.
That person could only be Zandar One Kuwabara.
After creating an Aeon, did he now seek to end one?
After calculating these possibilities, Nous also felt deep surprise at Herta's actions.
In Their calculations, Herta should have encountered Amphoreus much later in the timeline.
Moreover, in Their projections, Herta would eventually replace Them, fusing with the Iron Tomb to become the third-generation Emperor Rubert, igniting yet another Emperor's War.
Yet now, Herta's initiative in gathering three geniuses to explore Amphoreus signified that the future had already changed.
And this change had been actively initiated by Herta herself.
This made Nous increasingly view Herta as a variable—much like Akivili, the Aeon of Trailblaze—an existence capable of bringing change to the cosmos...
—
—
40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon:
Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven