Arriving at Herta’s office, Xu Zixuan and the other two indeed found another Herta doll waiting for them.
“Yo, you finally made it.” The Herta doll planted her hands on her hips.
“Yeah, we’re finally here.
Sorry to keep you waiting, Madam Herta.”
“After all, we’re not like you, Madam Herta, with dolls that let you teleport around at will.”
Xu Zixuan spoke with a grin.
“I’ll cut straight to the chase.” Herta got right to the point.
“A few colleagues and I are working on a huge project.
If it succeeds, we’ll crack an ultimate mystery in one fell swoop—one that’s stumped us for thousands of Amber Eras: the secret of the Aeons.”
The moment her research was brought up, Herta immediately became radiant with excitement.
“Aeons—just think about it!
What wondrous existences!
Some Aeons were once just like you and me, ordinary humans.
But somehow, THEY obtained power beyond all imagination.”
“THEY are enigmatic, mighty, silent, terrifying!
The mysteries surrounding THEM can’t possibly be explained in just a few words.
How were THEY born?
Why were THEY born?
What is the purpose of THEIR birth?” She grew more and more impassioned.
“Let me ask you—have you ever pondered these questions?”
“But what does this have to do with us?” Compared to the mysteries of the Aeons, Stelle was more concerned about the connection.
“Hm, it really doesn’t have anything to do with you.” Herta admitted frankly.
“But we need your help.
Have a little patience.
I won’t treat you poorly.”
She began explaining this grand plan in detail.
“Four geniuses from the Society teamed up to write a program.
See that huge machine in the office?
There’s a universe inside that machine.
It’s just like the world we live in, but more streamlined, more customized!”
Herta’s eyes sparkled with the light of excitement.
“I call it…
the Metaverse!”
“The Metaverse?
That name’s not too great.
How about calling it the Simulated Universe instead?”
Xu Zixuan looked at the large machine with keen interest.
In his past life, it had been a long time since he’d last visited Herta’s office to run the Simulated Universe.
After the Divergent Universe came out, he’d basically parked himself over at Screwllum’s Divergent Universe.
Now, seeing this very first iteration of the Simulated Universe, it truly brought back some nostalgic memories.
“Is that so?” Herta seemed slightly surprised.
“The other partners said the same thing…
Honestly, I’m quite fond of the name ‘Metaverse.’ But…”
She shifted gears. Read this novel at novelping.com for the best experience.
“I, Herta, am always open to good advice.
Then let’s rename it the ‘Simulated Universe’!”
On this front, Herta’s bottom line was remarkably flexible.
“Now go give it a try.
I’ll provide full guidance throughout the Simulated Universe.
I guarantee participants won’t suffer any losses, and on top of that, you’ll receive generous compensation.” Herta was already unable to wait.
“Can the three of us go in together?” Xu Zixuan asked.
“Of course.
I’ll place you in different areas and assign you different identities.
After all, with your original identities, it would be very difficult to attract an Aeon’s attention.” Herta explained.
“In that case, there’s no need to arrange a different identity for me.
I’m confident I can draw an Aeon’s attention.” Xu Zixuan declared with full self-assurance.
“That confident?” Herta couldn’t help but be skeptical.
The Aeons within the Simulated Universe, though virtual existences, were all meticulously simulated based on existing data.
Their behavior and speech patterns were completely identical to those of the real Aeons.
“Of course,” Xu Zixuan smiled.
“After all, I’m someone who can create a Stellaron with my bare hands.
And I know you’re definitely going to disguise them as Akivili.”
The real Herta froze.
“You even know that?”
“Alright.
Forget about me.”
Xu Zixuan, Stelle, and Caelus entered the Simulated Universe together.
Just as Herta had said, Xu Zixuan did not appear at the same location as Stelle and Caelus.
Xu Zixuan found himself in a brilliant starry sky.
The starry sky was like a painting, scattered with countless twinkling stars.
The night sky was like ink, the river of stars like a poem, incomparably resplendent.
Exactly the same as…
back when he had first arrived in this world!
“The Simulated Universe…
it really is the Simulated Universe!
Far too lifelike.” A nostalgic smile surfaced on Xu Zixuan’s face.
Just at that moment, he turned his head and saw a mechanical cranium that had abruptly appeared in his field of vision.
Xu Zixuan fell silent.
Oh, come on!
Well now, why is it you again, the first one to find me, Nous?!
“Nous?!” The real Herta outside the Simulated Universe let out a startled cry, her voice transmitting clearly into Xu Zixuan’s ears.
As an Emanator of Erudition, it was impossible for Herta not to recognize Nous.
But it was precisely because she recognized and understood THEM that this came as an even greater shock.
“But how is this possible?!
Why would Nous appear here!” Herta plunged into frantic contemplation.
Xu Zixuan’s entry settings were completely normal.
He was using his own identity.
She had performed no disguises or modifications whatsoever. This story is hosted at g.com.
Then why would Nous appear?
This was completely illogical!
According to Herta’s understanding, Nous should only pay attention to geniuses.
So was Xu Zixuan a genius?
How was that even possible?!
Xu Zixuan, possibly a genius?
Xu Zixuan being a genius was highly unlikely.
Could it be that her Simulated Universe had developed a bug?
“It’s actually Nous again?” Xu Zixuan sized up the Nous within the Simulated Universe with keen interest, completely devoid of the alarm he’d felt during their first encounter.
“Quick!
Talk to Nous!
Ask THEM why THEY appeared!” Herta urgently spoke to Xu Zixuan.
But Xu Zixuan paid no heed to Herta’s instructions.
Nous remained silent.
THEIR figure slowly faded away into nothing.
As if sensing something, Xu Zixuan turned and looked behind him.
Just as expected.
A barely audible “crack” rang out.
The sound was so faint that even Herta didn’t notice it.
But Xu Zixuan heard it with perfect clarity.
“Fuli, the Aeon of Remembrance?!” Herta only now noticed Fuli, who had appeared behind Xu Zixuan, and couldn’t help but shriek out loud.
She clung desperately to the control console’s screen, her gaze locked unblinkingly onto everything inside, terrified of missing even the slightest detail.
“I cannot see your memories you are not a person of this world I am very curious…” Fuli once again, in ITS uniquely unpunctuated manner, delivered a long string of words.
And then, shattered…
Herta: “!!!!!”
“SHATTERED?!” Herta erupted with a scream of utter disbelief, her CPU spinning into frantic overdrive.
Xu Zixuan: “…”
As expected.
Fuli still shattered after all.
Herta’s Simulated Universe was truly incredible, perfectly recreating the exact scene of his arrival in this world.
In that case, next up should be…
Xu Zixuan turned around once more.
As expected…
“Hahahaha, Aha saw it all!
Saw every single thing!”
“You shattered Fuli.
Aha is so heartbroken.”
“Wuwuwuwu, Fuli, your death was so miserable~”
Aha made THEIR entrance with roaring laughter.
“Such a pity, such a pity.
Aha is only an equation inside a computer.
Otherwise Aha would definitely let you play at being an Emanator.”
“This is truly far too entertaining!”
Having said THEIR piece, Aha scampered off going “Aha Aha.”