After his surprise faded, Herman reconsidered the matter.
Of course. Ultraman Noah, within the Ultraman cosmology, is the universe's first and final light, representing hope, miracles...
And right now, the Warp happens to contain enormous quantities of hope and positive emotional energy. With that energy illuminated by the Plasma Spark Tower, it is perfectly reasonable for Noah to be born.
As Herman pondered this, he noticed even more changes. After the Plasma Spark Tower's light struck the Warp's negative energy, it also began to activate and transformed into a giant.
That giant looked almost identical to Noah, but its color scheme was black and red. It had no wings on its back, and its entire body gave off the impression of evil incarnate.
The moment Herman saw this dark giant, a name flashed through his mind:
Dark Zagi!
Of course. Just now, The Herta dispersed all the souls of the dead nearby, causing the Warp's emotional energy to surge and positive and negative emotions to mingle together once again.
In other words, the instant the Plasma Spark Tower activated, its light did not merely shine upon the field of positive emotional energy and give birth to Noah. It also illuminated the field of negative emotional energy and gave birth to Zagi.
Noah and Zagi!
A giant of light and a giant of darkness. They are complete opposites, yet eternally entangled... That was true in the Ultraman cosmology, and now, in the Honkai: Star Rail universe, The Herta's accidental mistake has recreated the same opposing yet intertwined relationship.
Noah and Zagi truly are a pair of star-crossed lovers!
With these thoughts in mind, Herman said to The Herta, 'As expected, Version 3.0 of the Plasma Spark Tower can already transform inanimate matter and emotional energy into giants. What do you plan to do with these two giants next?'
The Herta replied, 'The Plasma Spark Tower is dangerous technology... The fact that merely illuminating positive and negative emotional energy created two giants is already enough to prove how dangerous it is.'
'More importantly, as master of the Warp, I can clearly sense that both the silver giant formed from positive emotional energy and the black giant formed from negative emotional energy possess tremendous potential.'
'They can manipulate emotional energy in battle. More importantly, as the Warp continues to grow, the amount of energy they can control will increase. In the future, they may grow to possess Emanator-level combat power, perhaps even surpassing it.'
'I have decided to let them continue existing within the Warp and cultivate them into combatants under my command... After all, they are giants formed from the Warp's emotional energy. By nature, they are subject to my rule as master of the Warp.'
'Yes, we had the same idea.' Herman spoke seriously. 'As for their names, I have a suggestion. Let the silver giant be called Noah, and the black giant Zagi. How does that sound?'
'I am terrible at naming things... Since you volunteered to name them, Noah and Zagi it is.'
The mental conversation between The Herta and Herman ended there. Soon afterward, The Herta raised her head once more and gazed at the two giants before speaking seriously:
"You are creations born from my activation of the Plasma Spark Tower. From now on, your names shall be Noah and Zagi."
Noah cried, "Shwa!"
Zagi answered, "Ji!"
As their creator, The Herta naturally understood them with ease. They were saying that they liked the names she had given them very much.
"Shwa."
At that moment, Noah spoke again. He explained that, from the instant of his birth, he had sensed countless living beings suffering amid the Warp's negative emotions.
He had sensed pain and death... Therefore, he wished to request permission to carry the Plasma Spark Tower into the real world and bring the light of evolution to the universe.
As long as everyone became Giants of Light, the people of the universe would no longer suffer. Instead, they would unite.
When Dark Zagi heard Noah's words, mockery appeared across his pitch-black face, and he immediately retorted:
"Bringing the Plasma Spark Tower into the real world and shining its light upon civilizations suffering hardship would only bring them even greater suffering!"
"After all, the Plasma Spark Tower's light does not merely create Giants of Light. It can also create Giants of Darkness!"
"Furthermore, on a planet ravaged by suffering, there will inevitably be more living beings consumed by pain and negative emotions. Under those circumstances... far more Giants of Darkness would inevitably be born!"
"No. I believe that more people yearn for the light and will become Giants of Light. I also believe that everyone who becomes a Giant of Light will yearn for a better future. They will unite and establish a new nation, a Land of Light... to resist the darkness and chaos of the universe," Noah countered with absolute seriousness.
Noah and Zagi, two giants who had only just been born, immediately began confronting each other, neither able to stand the sight of the other.
At that moment, The Herta spoke. "Enough. Bringing the Plasma Spark Tower into the real world and shining its light upon civilizations suffering hardship is not permitted."
"The Plasma Spark Tower is a technological creation I built. It was not designed to save the universe, and it is extraordinarily dangerous."
"If it ever goes out of control, the Giant meme could infect the entire universe and transform every species in the cosmos into giants. At that point, Xipe, Aeon of Harmony, would become unprecedentedly powerful, and the Apocalypse of Harmony might descend..."
Once The Herta, creator of the evolutionary light and the Giant meme, spoke, neither Noah nor Zagi dared to argue.
A moment later, The Herta's voice continued to echo beside Noah and Zagi:
"There is one final matter. Although you are forbidden from bringing the Plasma Spark Tower into the real world, you may use your own powers to infiltrate reality, search for suitable candidates, and pursue your respective goals."
"Thank you, Madam Herta. I wish to choose a steadfast candidate of light and send them to a world currently being invaded by the Antimatter Legion, so they may help that world's people resist the invasion of Destruction."
After Noah finished speaking, he raised his palm. In an instant, he condensed an extremely small transformation device no larger than a human hand.
With a single glance, The Herta confirmed that the device Noah had created would allow another person to borrow Noah's power, transform into a giant... and become light.
After confirming the device's function, The Herta nodded slightly at Noah. "An excellent idea. I approve. What do you intend to name this transformation device?"
"The Evoltruster," Noah answered seriously.
"Mm."
The Herta responded calmly.
Inside The Herta's body, Herman heard Noah name the transformation device and could not help thinking:
Good grief. I can only say, good grief!
After Noah and Zagi were born, even the Evoltruster transformation device has appeared!
And Noah is preparing to send it away in search of a suitable candidate...
When Dark Zagi saw that his creator, The Herta, had already approved Noah's decision to send out the Evoltruster, he also shaped a transformation device of his own. It looked exactly like the Evoltruster, except that its color had been changed to pure black.
Dark Zagi then looked toward The Herta and said, "Madam Herta, I also wish to send my transformation device into the real world and search for suitable candidates of darkness. They can spread destruction throughout the cosmos and bring even more suffering to this universe."
"No."
The Herta rejected him without hesitation, her voice utterly serious. "Zagi, I do not demand that you become a saint, but I will not permit you to deliberately create terror and slaughter merely to satisfy yourself."
When Zagi heard this, then turned to see Noah nodding in agreement, he felt deeply aggrieved.
A moment later, The Herta's voice rang out once more. "Malicious slaughter is forbidden, but you may use your power to bring death to evildoers throughout the cosmos. That, I permit. However, you must remember that you may only kill the wicked and bring death and terror upon them. If you indiscriminately slaughter the innocent, I will destroy you."
Her final sentence was filled with deadly seriousness. "Zagi, since I was able to create you, I can naturally destroy you as well. Believe me, I possess that ability."
Fear and dread surged through Zagi's heart when he heard this. He had no desire to be destroyed. He had only just been born and had not yet enjoyed the fear of the masses.
Thus, Dark Zagi hurriedly nodded. "Madam Herta, I understand everything you have said. I will act according to your instructions."
"Good."
The Herta nodded, then turned her gaze toward the still-glowing Plasma Spark Tower.
The Herta could sense that, when the Plasma Spark Tower's light shone upon her body, it had also granted her the ability to transform into a giant.
Of course, The Herta had no desire to transform. She still considered her human form the most beautiful.
As for her giant form, it could merely serve as a hidden trump card in battle... After all, as creator of the Plasma Spark Tower, Herta could freely alternate between light and darkness and transform between forms while in giant form.
This meant that she could absorb the hopes people placed upon her and enter a miraculous light form. Alternatively, she could absorb the terror generated by those around her to increase her own attributes.
For example, if The Herta fought on her home ground against a powerful enemy, every living being on The Blue behind her would be concerned for her safety. All she needed to do was have the Fourth Mirror call out once, and the people of The Blue would contribute their hopes, allowing her to enter her Miracle Giant Form and multiply her combat power.
If she fought on foreign ground against the Swarm Disaster, the Antimatter Legion of Destruction, or any other terrifying army in the cosmos, Herta could instead absorb people's fear of those catastrophic legions to strengthen herself.
It could be said that Herta's giant form was underhanded to the absolute extreme and utterly unreasonable.
At that moment, Herta extended her hand toward the Plasma Spark Tower. In an instant, the mountain-sized tower also transformed into a giant—a caped being whose enormous face bore a beard.
Inside The Herta's body, Herman needed only a single glance to confirm that this appearance corresponded to Ultraman King, one of the Four Mysterious Ultras. He could not help thinking:
Not only Noah and Zagi, but even Ultraman King has been born in the Star Rail universe... And Ultraman King is the giant transformed from the Plasma Spark Tower itself. This development is truly getting absurd.
Wait... According to The Herta, the power of multiple Plasma Spark Towers can be stacked. In other words, as The Herta constructs more Plasma Spark Towers, Ultraman King's strength will continue to rise.
That also means Ultraman King possesses potential equal to Noah's.
Even in the Star Rail universe, these two members of the Four Mysterious Ultras have lost none of their splendor!
As Herman pondered this, he glanced out of the corner of his eye and discovered that Noah had quietly opened a miniature Warp gateway and tossed the Evoltruster through it.
Borrowing The Herta's authority as master of the Warp, Herman quickly sensed that the Evoltruster's destination was a frontier world at the edge of the Warp's current range. It was also a world suffering a large-scale invasion by monsters of the Antimatter Legion.
The world was called Azurewater World. Nearly its entire surface was covered by oceans, and its people lived upon islands.
However, most of those islands had already fallen beneath the shadow of Destruction.
A Doomsday Beast was preparing to fire its Total Annihilation and annihilate every remaining living creature!
At that moment, the Evoltruster descended from the sky and landed before an ordinary boy named Komon, whose homeland had already been bombarded by the Doomsday Beast's Total Annihilation and who had lost both of his parents.
Not long ago, Komon had learned through news broadcasts that the IPC had already evacuated the rich and powerful from Azurewater World in advance.
No one remained who could save Azurewater World. Even under such circumstances, however, Komon had not succumbed to despair. He still wanted to survive until the final moment, and his heart burned with fury toward the monsters of the Antimatter Legion.
He wanted power. He wanted to become a Pathstrider. He wanted to drive every monster of the Antimatter Legion away and restore Azurewater World to its former peace.
That day, a hurricane began raging across the sky, and everyone on the island revealed expressions of terror. Everyone knew that the Doomsday Beast had arrived and the end was about to descend!
Another island was about to be destroyed beneath the Doomsday Beast's Honkai projectile.
Everything was over.
Komon, however, did not despair. He continued running, determined to survive. He believed that as long as he remained alive, he would eventually find a way to embark upon a Path and obtain power, allowing him to fight a Voidranger to the death or even defeat a Trampler.
At that moment, while he fled for his life, he saw a beam of light appear in the empty air ahead of him and transform into a small object that resembled a toy.
A voice seemed to echo from somewhere beyond perception, warning him, "Grasp the Evoltruster, and you will gain the power to kill the Doomsday Beast, directly confront the Antimatter Legion of Destruction, and even save this world! Of course, if you suffer injuries while using this power in battle, you may still die!"
A trap?!
No, that is impossible... I am only an ordinary person. No one would deliberately set a trap specifically for me.
In other words, this really might be something capable of helping me drive away the entire Antimatter Legion!
Whichever god sent this, please... Let the Evoltruster truly grant me power!
I am not afraid of death. I am only afraid that my death will have no value!
Komon seized the Evoltruster and pressed it.
Noah's light crossed the Warp and entered the real world, completely enveloping Komon's body.
In an instant, Komon transformed into a black-and-white giant dozens of meters tall, a being who represented hope—Nexus.
Power!
So this is power!
"Doomsday Beast! Antimatter Legion! Your end has come!"
With a furious roar, Komon charged toward the Doomsday Beast in the sky.
...
After Herman sensed everything through the Warp, doubt surfaced within his heart:
Why did the Evoltruster's chosen candidate transform into Nexus, Noah's juvenile form, instead of transforming directly into Noah?!
Herman turned toward Noah, only to discover that Noah's true body within the Warp had raised a hand and was scratching his head like an Ultra. Humanlike confusion appeared across his enormous face, as though he were asking:
Why did my chosen candidate not transform into my appearance and receive the greatest possible increase in combat power?!
Herman then opened the Research System's appraisal interface and conducted an appraisal. The result soon appeared:
Noah and the chosen candidate Komon had resonated for the first time, and their resonance remained weak.
Furthermore, Noah, the Giant of Light, had been born within the Warp and was therefore a life-form of the Warp. He had never encountered the real world, causing his light to be unaccustomed to reality's environment... As a result, Komon had failed to transform directly into Noah and had instead become Noah's juvenile form, Nexus.
Herman fell into deep thought:
Insufficient resonance, together with Noah's energy needing time to adapt to reality... That means Noah's light can only grow stronger as time passes.
The only question is whether Komon can endure the Antimatter Legion's wave of Destruction!
If he cannot, then Noah's light will become a bond and continue passing from one person to the next...
As Herman thought this, he sensed Zagi beside him also tossing a transformation device into the real world—the Dark Evoltruster.
Zagi sent it toward a world overrun by interstellar pirates. He intended to give the transformation device to a slave who had been enslaved by the pirates and harbored immense hatred toward them.
Zagi believed that once such a person obtained the Dark Evoltruster, they would make excellent use of his power and destroy those pirates.
Of course, Zagi did not do this merely because he wished to watch his chosen candidate destroy others. He also acted because Herta had ordered him to kill only evildoers.
Interstellar pirates survived through plunder and had inflicted immense suffering upon the surrounding powers... There was no doubt that they were evil.
Since they were evil, he was permitted to act.
...
Within the pirates' world, a ragged, emaciated boy was imprisoned inside a cage. No one knew how long it had been since he had eaten. He glared viciously beyond the bars at the interstellar pirates drinking and laughing without restraint, his lips opening and closing as he mouthed voicelessly:
"I'll kill you. I swear I'll kill all of you! Even if I die, I'll become a Sin Thirster and tear every last one of you apart!"
"Kill you. Kill you. Kill you!"
The slave boy's killing intent boiled within him. Yet despite the intensity of his emotions, he did not fall outside Zagi's notice. A black Evoltruster appeared in the hardworking boy's hand.
At the same time, Zagi's frenzied voice rang within the slave boy's mind:
'I have given you power. Do not disappoint me. Bring complete destruction upon those interstellar pirates! Let me witness your fury blaze into the sky!'
When the slave boy heard those words, his desire to kill grew even more intense.
Without hesitation, he pressed the Dark Evoltruster.
In an instant, the slave boy fused with dark energy. The juvenile Dark Zagi descended upon the pirates' world and began his slaughter...