That version of herself kept using the truth's clearance to reconstruct, but it was clearly all in vain.
The simulated universe was almost finished, unless she could leave a backup for herself before it shut down.
Just as she thought this, the other version of herself actually started making a backup... "What a pain..."
Kiana quickly approached, extended her hand toward the other, and gathered destructive energy.
"Destruction!"
As the destructive energy was channeled into the other's body, she stopped making the backup and began resisting the destructive energy.
But because her body kept disintegrating, she gradually became powerless to resist the corrosion of the destructive energy.
"..."
The other Kiana silently vanished from the simulated universe.
After sighing in relief, Kiana flew toward the edge of the galaxy and returned to the real world through the boundary.
If she didn't eliminate this inferior copy, it might pose a threat to this world in the future.
Just like that Herrscher of Finality next door, who might bring about a great collapse upon the universe.
In that case, the universe wouldn't just have the Four Ends; there'd be a fifth one, the Divine End of Ends theory.
If this copy from the simulated universe had first developed a human personality, Kiana definitely wouldn't have resorted to killing.
But unfortunately... it didn't develop humanity... A flash of light effects passed through the simulated universe entrance, and Kiana, possessing the Herta doll, appeared at the entrance.
Bzzz— Beep—
The main body of the simulated universe burned out, and power was restored to other areas of Herta Space Station as a result.
"Whew~ Finally back."
After returning, Kiana sighed in relief, then scanned the area and noticed that except for Screwllum, the other two were looking at her with horrified expressions.
Even if Screwllum was shocked, it wouldn't show, since a mechanical face reveals no emotions.
???
Kiana tilted her head and looked at Herta and Star, wondering why these two were staring at her like that.
Herta placed one hand on her chest, frowned, and took a step forward.
After a brief pause, she quickly approached Kiana, placed both hands on Kiana's shoulders, and said in a trembling voice full of curiosity:
"You... what exactly are you?"
To Herta now, Kiana was a treasure trove from head to toe, and she couldn't wait to learn everything about Kiana.
Screwllum silently watched this scene. Although he thought Herta's approach was somewhat impolite, he... was also immensely curious about Kiana's identity, so... please forgive his silent rudeness.
Star didn't overthink it; after the shock, her eyes lit up as she stared at Kiana, thinking that with Kiana around, she could go anywhere without a care.
This Kiana was practically a super powerhouse; back when she was called a golden-fingered old lady, she didn't even want it!
Really, good thing she was clever enough to have seen through Kiana's identity as a golden-fingered old lady long ago.
"What am I..."
Kiana pondered for a moment, then winked flirtatiously at Herta and smiled gently, saying:
"Well, that depends on what you think, doesn't it?"
After saying this, Kiana patted Herta's head and walked past her.
She went to Star's side, took Star's hand, and quickly ran to the door of Herta's office. After opening the door, as if remembering something, she turned back and shouted to Herta:
"Herta, I'm borrowing this body, okay? I'll take good care of it~"
Thud—
After saying this, she closed the door and hurriedly ran off, pulling Star along.
If she didn't run fast, she was afraid Herta would drag her into fixing the smoking simulated universe and demand compensation.
Run, run, run. Now penniless, she couldn't afford to compensate, absolutely not.
This is my escape route, Kiana's! Didn't expect that, did you, Jo... Herta!
The space station staff around looked at Kiana and Star, wondering why Ms. Herta was running so fast.
They had no idea that this Herta doll was inhabited by someone else.
Inside Herta's office, Herta took a long time to snap out of it. She glanced at the nearly wrecked simulated universe, then looked at Screwllum's projection.
"So, we have to rebuild one?"
Herta's tone was very calm, without the anger Kiana had imagined.
Because Herta had seen many things she wanted to see in this simulated universe test.
Although most of it was burned, she had a way to extract some data from it and transfer it to the newly built simulated universe.
As for that simulated universe Kiana that was destroyed by Kiana in the end, Kiana was sure Herta couldn't restore it.
As for some other data inside, let Herta restore it as she pleased; at most, it would just let Herta know about the event of the Abundance Swarm War.
Oh right, and the data on the Aeons that appeared during the war might be quite important to Herta too?
"Apologies: Ms. Herta, I have decided to terminate the academic research on the simulated universe. Moreover, what just happened has fully demonstrated some of the hazards present in the simulated universe."
Screwllum took off his hat, placed it on his chest, and apologized to Herta.
In their long-term research direction, they often had some disagreements. Disagreements often lead to obsessions, and obsessions hinder the formation of knowledge.
So Screwllum had thought for a long time and wanted to propose academic termination to Herta recently.
Plus, what just happened made the hazards Screwllum had long believed existed in the simulated universe become a reality.
This further solidified Screwllum's decision to withdraw.
Now was the perfect opportunity to state it.
"Huh...???"
Herta clearly didn't expect Screwllum to pull this move now?!
Didn't they agree to unravel the ultimate mysteries of the Aeons and Paths together? Now, at this stage of research, he's backing out?!
"They're just minor hazards; it shouldn't be hard for us to solve them, right? And..."
Herta's little temper was about to flare up, but Screwllum forcefully suppressed it.
"Correction: Ms. Herta, please calm down. I will still take responsibility for the repair, construction, and system log maintenance of the simulated universe as I should. I just don't want our academic research to deviate from its original intent due to some disagreements."
"Tsk...!"
Herta glanced at the simulated universe behind her, then looked at Screwllum with a rising tone:
"Withdraw if you want; even without you, this simulated universe can still operate!"
After saying this, Herta, as if in a fit of pique, disconnected from this doll.
"Self-reproach: Perhaps I shouldn't have proposed academic termination at this time. Well, let Ms. Herta vent her emotions alone..."
Screwllum shook his head slightly, then looked at the simulated universe and tapped a few times on a virtual keyboard.
He had now extracted the core data of the simulated universe and some of the data simulated from Kiana's brainwaves that hadn't burned yet.
After hesitating for a moment, Screwllum sent this data to Herta, then called in many materials for building the simulated universe from Screwllum's Planet.
"The construction materials will be delivered to Herta Space Station soon. When that happens, I'll come in person to assist with the repairs."
After saying this, Screwllum canceled the communication projection, leaving only a Herta doll with its head bowed in the entire Herta office.
A few seconds after Screwllum left, the Herta doll moved again.
"Hmph..."
Herta stood in place for a while, then crossed her arms and let out a proud "Hmph~"
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