The power of Destruction within Stelle and Caelus was something Himeko and the others had actually sensed long ago.
However, they had all initially assumed it was merely the Stellaron’s doing and hadn’t given it much deeper thought.
After all, for a person to walk a Path, an Aeon’s gaze was not required.
The Annihilation Gang was the perfect example of this.
This organization, which fanatically followed the Path of Destruction, had never once obtained Nanook’s recognition due to the selfish desires mixed into their faith.
To put it simply, though they walked the Path of Destruction, they had never received Nanook’s acknowledgement, let alone Nanook’s gaze.
A Pathstrider who stepped onto a Path through an Aeon’s gaze surely possessed some unique quality.
And the conversation Stelle and Caelus had just shared clearly indicated they had entered the Path’s Narrow and met a certain Aeon.
“Keep it low-key, keep it low-key.” Xu Zixuan waved his hand with a smile.
“You all know me.
I’ve never been one to show off.”
He hadn’t planned on making a big deal out of it.
He never expected Stelle and Caelus would take the initiative to promote it on his behalf.
What thoughtful little ones they were.
“This giant you spoke of—what exactly did he look like?” Herta was clearly piqued with intense interest.
This genius scholar had always harbored a powerful curiosity toward the Aeons.
The Simulated Universe she had poured her efforts into building was originally conceived precisely for the study of these mysterious beings.
Aeons—what a fascinating concept!
Some Aeons once had lives no different from ordinary mortals, yet somehow obtained power beyond all comprehension.
THEY were mysterious, powerful, silent, and awe-inspiring!
The enigmas surrounding THEM were countless: How were THEY born?
Why were THEY born?
What was the meaning of THEIR birth?
Every single question made Herta’s heart race with yearning fascination.
“That giant…
he looked male, with long white hair…” Caelus rubbed his chin, recollecting.
“And his entire body was covered in wounds, with golden blood flowing from them.” Stelle added, blinking her eyes.
That image was still vivid in their minds even now.
The shock of that very first sight remained unforgettable.
Of course, Xu Zixuan having punched the guy was equally unforgettable.
A white-haired, golden-blooded giant, riddled with wounds?
How strikingly similar was this description to the Aeon of Destruction, Nanook, as recorded in the Data Bank?
Himeko and the others exchanged meaningful glances.
“It was indeed Nanook, the Aeon of Destruction.” Xu Zixuan directly revealed the answer.
“The Aeon of Destruction, Nanook?
For real?!” March 7th cried out in astonishment.
If what Stelle and Caelus said was true, not only had Xu Zixuan punched Nanook right in the face, but he had also walked away completely unscathed?
How was that even possible?
To be glanced upon by an Aeon was already an immense honor.
Let alone Nanook, the very embodiment of Destruction!
Given the Aeon of Destruction’s temperament, if someone truly committed such an affront, how could THEY possibly let it go?
“Absolutely true!” Stelle and Caelus guaranteed, patting their chests.
“As everyone knows, children never lie.” Xu Zixuan nodded in agreement with utter seriousness.
“This is indeed difficult to believe.” Herta’s eyes glimmered with the light of investigation.
“What could the two of them possibly have done to deserve drawing Nanook’s gaze?
And you—”
She turned toward Xu Zixuan.
“How exactly did you intervene in this?”
She truly couldn’t figure it out.
Stelle and Caelus showed no inclination toward Destruction whatsoever.
Why would they obtain Nanook’s favor?
And Xu Zixuan, that walking, talking personification of entertainment—no matter how you looked at him, he ought to be a follower of the Path of Elation.
How had he crossed paths with the Aeon of Destruction?
“What’s so strange about it?
Are you looking down on me?”
Xu Zixuan grinned.
“Actually, obtaining Nanook’s gaze is quite simple.
You just need to say to THEM: ‘Nanook, I come to bring you destruction!’ To the Aeon of Destruction, that’s the most pleasing greeting of all.”
Herta: “…LMAO.”
Herta quickly pieced together the logic behind this statement and found herself somewhat speechless.
Bring destruction to the Aeon of Destruction?
Whether or not speaking those words would excite Nanook, the Aeon of Destruction, she wasn’t certain.
But Aha, the Aeon of Elation, would probably come sniffing around the moment THEY caught wind of it!
This genius-level line of entertainment—which Masked Fool genius had come up with it?
Herta even began to suspect whether Xu Zixuan might actually be Aha in disguise.
After all, punching Nanook right in the face and then walking away completely unscathed…
that was not something an ordinary Pathstrider could pull off.
Even if one shouted “Nanook, I come to bring you destruction!” at the top of their lungs, survival was far from guaranteed.
Did people really think the Aeon of Destruction was easy to mess with?
Anyone who believed that was a fool.
Try it and you’ll be silenced for good.
The same misgivings surfaced in the hearts of Himeko and Welt.
“‘Nanook…
I come to bring you destruction?'” March 7th couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“Wow, how did you even come up with that?
That’s amazing!”
Xu Zixuan looked slightly surprised.
“You actually understood it?”
“Of course I understood!” March 7th puffed out her chest with pride, then immediately sensed something was off.
you don’t think I’m a total airhead, do you?”
“I never said that.
You said it yourself.”
Xu Zixuan gazed up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle and started whistling.
“Y-y-y-you…” March 7th was absolutely fuming.
So this was how Xu Zixuan saw her all along!
So infuriating.
“Alright.
Enough jokes.” The Herta doll cut in at the right moment.
“Xu Zixuan, Stelle, Caelus.
Come to my office.
There’s something good.
I’ll be waiting for you there.”
The moment her words fell, the light in the doll’s eyes instantly dimmed, as if it had suddenly lost power and frozen in place.
“Huh?
What happened to her?” Stelle and Caelus curiously circled around the now motionless doll.
“Apologies…” Asta hurried forward to explain.
“This is a doll remotely controlled by Madam Herta.
She has already disconnected.”
Across Herta Space Station, while the Herta dolls were not exactly everywhere, all important areas were equipped with these exquisite humanoid terminals.
Herta could switch connections at any time and appear wherever she was needed.
Some of the dolls were also equipped with AI systems, capable of autonomous operation when Herta wasn’t directly controlling them.
Of course, for the vast majority of the time, their primary function was simply to praise the real Herta in a variety of creative ways.
“Wow, that’s so convenient!
This way she never has to walk anywhere!” Stelle clapped her hands together excitedly.
“Then it should be no problem if we ask Herta for two of these dolls, right?” Caelus blinked and proposed.
“Since you’re both asking for two, I’ll have to ask for two as well.” Xu Zixuan nodded in deep agreement.
March 7th’s face was full of speechless exasperation.
“What would you even do with Herta dolls?
It’s not like you can remotely control them the way the real Herta does.”
“When Herta wants to contact me, she can just connect straight to the doll!” Xu Zixuan answered with righteous confidence.
“No, wait…” March 7th facepalmed and sighed.
“Then what’s that phone in your hand for?
Can’t she just contact you directly by phone?”
“Alright, that’s enough mischief…”
Himeko’s gentle voice interjected at just the right moment, cutting off Xu Zixuan’s teasing of March 7th.
A smile lingered at her lips as her warm gaze fell upon Xu Zixuan, Stelle, and Caelus.
“Zixuan, Stelle, Caelus, you three had better head to Herta’s office now.
If we delay any longer, that genius lady will be kept waiting.”