The Herta had long been aware that the Plasma Spark Tower she had created was dangerous. After all, even Herman had classified it as an ultra-high-risk technology.
As for Noah, Zagi, and even Ultraman King becoming existences surpassing Emanators in the future and accomplishing countless great deeds, The Herta had been surprised when she first heard about it, but she quickly accepted the fact with equanimity.
After all, she was Herta... Noah and Zagi were Herta's creations. It was perfectly normal for them to be somewhat extraordinary.
The only thing that truly shook Herta was what Silver Wolf had just told her over the phone. By creating the Plasma Spark Tower, she had added another possible timeline to the future of the cosmos—an apocalypse brought about by giants.
Had her path of scientific research already reached the point where it could directly influence the strength of an Aeon's origin?
That was something The Herta had never anticipated before.
Huff.
The Herta took a deep breath and calmed herself. She raised both hands and stared at her slender, delicate palms while silently thinking.
Since I can already influence the origin of an Aeon, once I conduct even more research and investigate even more projects in the future, the day will eventually come when I unravel the essence of Aeons and discover a method of ascending into one.
When The Herta finished contemplating this, she heard Herman's voice within her mind. 'In the future Silver Wolf described, your creation, the Plasma Spark Tower, drove the cosmos itself toward doomsday. Even the creations of your creation—Noah and Zagi—surpassed Emanators... Yet Silver Wolf never said what became of you in that future.'
"That's right."
The Herta came to her senses and asked Silver Wolf the question weighing on her mind.
"I don't know," Silver Wolf answered swiftly. "Elio cannot see your fate in the future. According to him, you are someone whose destiny remains uncertain, someone capable of influencing the future course of the cosmos."
He cannot see my fate? As expected, I am the most exceptional of all.
Herta first indulged in a moment of narcissistic pride. In the next instant, however, she understood with absolute clarity that the true reason even a special existence like Elio could not perceive the course of her life was Herman, the Research System.
After all, Herman had once told her that, according to Nous' original calculations, the Fourth Instant of the cosmos would mark Irontomb's coronation!
And when Irontomb was about to kill Nous, Herta would step forward and take the blame, becoming the Third Emperor... While losing her self-awareness, she would also become Rubert III, a calamity hunted by the entire cosmos.
The only difference between Third Emperor Herta and the Herta of the present was not the extent of their genius, but Herman. It was because she had obtained Herman that she now possessed the most exceptional destiny in the entire universe, one so extraordinary that even Destiny's Slave could not glimpse it...
As The Herta thought this far, she became even more deeply aware of Herman's importance.
Without Herman, her fate would still have been bound by its original trajectory, leaving her unable to transcend it. She would have been no different from an actor performing onstage, forced to dance according to the script.
Now that she had obtained Herman, although she had not truly transcended fate, she at least possessed the possibility of escaping her original destiny. As long as she continued her research, the day would eventually come when she accomplished it.
'Thank you, Herman.'
Once Herta finished thinking, she sincerely thanked Herman within her heart.
'Why thank me? With the relationship between us, there's no need to say so much,' Herman replied earnestly within her mind. 'Besides, if you truly want to thank me, then research more things and produce more scientific achievements.'
'Mm.'
Herta nodded seriously.
In the past, scientific research had been Herta's personal interest and hobby, as well as the thing she enjoyed doing most... But now, things were different. It had also become her way of repaying Herman.
Herman was the Research System, the spirit of the system, so she would repay him properly from now on. If one day in the future she truly reached the end of the path of scientific research and solved every mystery, then the two of them, who had accompanied each other for an entire lifetime, might not remain merely system and host.
At that moment, countless thoughts passed through The Herta's mind. She did not return to her senses until she heard Silver Wolf's voice.
"The Herta, why did you suddenly space out? Did what I just told you shock you that badly?"
The Herta came back to herself. She gazed at the silver-haired girl on the other side of the video call and slowly said, "Yes. What you said just now was indeed somewhat astonishing."
Silver Wolf sighed from the other end of the call. "Exactly. Who could have imagined that you would cultivate three giants who surpassed Emanators in the future?"
The Herta gently shook her head. "That is not what shocked me. I can completely accept the fact that the three giants will surpass Emanators."
???
Silver Wolf sent a string of question marks, while the Soul Gem she wore began flashing violently.
The Herta's voice continued through the phone's speaker. "It is entirely reasonable for me, The Herta, to cultivate existences surpassing Emanators... After all, the extent of my genius far exceeds everyone's imagination. It is not impossible that, like Zandar One Kuwabara, I may cultivate or create an Aeon in the future."
Herta delivered those words with complete calm and natural confidence.
She genuinely believed that, with Herman, the Research System, at her side, she could accomplish everything she had just described.
Yet when those words reached Silver Wolf and αWolf's ears, they rang like a deafening bell, causing their expressions to shift repeatedly.
Herta was actually confident to such an extent that she sincerely believed her creations could surpass Emanators!
That degree of self-confidence was simply absurd.
More importantly, neither of them had any way to refute Herta's claim. After all, in the possible world Elio had described, she truly had accomplished achievements without equal.
It was her creation that influenced the destruction of the cosmos and drove the universe toward the Four Apocalypses.
It was also her creation that used the light of miracles to support the universe for one second, delaying its fall toward Finality!
The black giant who survived beyond Finality was likewise her creation!
If even the three beings she created were that outrageous, then her own achievements within that possible future spacetime had to be even more exaggerated. She might very well have already become an Aeon!
Huff.
Several seconds later, Silver Wolf drew a deep breath and finally steadied her emotions. She slowly addressed The Herta through the video call. "So what truly surprised you was that the dangerous technology you researched, the Plasma Spark Tower, influenced Terminus, Aeon of Finality?"
"Naturally." The Herta wore an expression that said it was only obvious. "I originally believed the Plasma Spark Tower could influence nothing more than mortal beings. I never imagined it could even affect the origin of Finality and the possible worlds of the apocalypse."
"However, this has also allowed me to gain an even deeper understanding of my own research capabilities. As expected, they are incomparably formidable!"
"I, Herta, have no limits!!"
The Herta had no limits.
In the past, neither Silver Wolf nor αWolf had agreed with that declaration.
But things were different now. Herta had developed the Plasma Spark Tower and altered the origin of Terminus. She truly possessed the qualifications to say such a thing.
Perhaps The Herta truly has no limits!!
Silver Wolf thought this as she looked at The Herta's confident smile on the other end of the video call.
However, Silver Wolf quickly recalled something αWolf had told her not long ago. Perhaps Herta was not the only exceptional person in this universe.
Silver Wolf herself might also be special. After all, she already possessed the Soul Gem containing αWolf as a core item, along with the Level 999 Invincible Player cartridge.
As long as she worked hard, she might truly break through her upper limit in the future, reach a realm beyond Emanators, and even surpass Aeons... All right, Aeons were beyond her reach.
But surpassing Emanators was genuinely possible!!
Just then, Elio's meowing echoed through the room.
Upon hearing it, Silver Wolf immediately realized something and earnestly asked Herta on the other end of the call, "Elio just gave me an extremely special mission. He wants me to invite you on behalf of the Stellaron Hunters..."
"Me?" The Herta raised a hand and pointed at herself. "Then I definitely refuse. I already rejected Elio's invitation on Punklorde. You haven't forgotten that, have you?"
"Of course I haven't. This time, however, I am not inviting you to join the organization on behalf of the Stellaron Hunters. I want to invite one of your creations to join us."
"You mean the Hertas?" The Herta continued shaking her head. "That won't do either. Many people throughout the cosmos know that the Hertas are my creations. If a Herta joined the Stellaron Hunters, many factions would assume I was connected to them."
"Besides, I do not want to see any of the Hertas under my command placed on a wanted list..."
"Madam Herta, please let me finish. The one I want to invite is neither you nor little Herta... but a creation made by your creation."
"You mean Noah and Zagi?"
After speaking, The Herta turned her gaze toward the two giants within the Warp.
The two enormous giants, one black and one white, revealed looks of surprise. They clearly had not expected that, immediately after being created and while their true bodies had remained within the Warp the entire time, they would already be invited to join another faction.
"Exactly. Them." Silver Wolf spoke earnestly from the other end of the call. "They will surpass Emanators in the future... According to Elio, if that power joins the Stellaron Hunters, then the Hunters will be able to make the script even more perfect!"
"So please, Herta. You must let them join the Stellaron Hunters."
"You should ask them yourself." The Herta turned the phone screen toward Noah, Zagi, and Ultraman King, then asked whether they were willing to join the Stellaron Hunters.
"No."
Noah shook his head without hesitation. Rather than joining the Stellaron Hunters and guiding the universe toward some vague and uncertain perfect script, he preferred to begin spreading light throughout the cosmos from this very moment and protecting worlds on the verge of collapse beneath the invasion of darkness.
"If Noah won't join, then I will." At that moment, Zagi, whose appearance greatly resembled Noah's despite his black-and-red coloration, spoke up. "Madam Herta, I want to join the Stellaron Hunters... Getting placed on the IPC's wanted list, causing trouble throughout the universe, and collecting Stellarons, the Cancer of All Worlds, sounds extremely interesting."
"Hah."
Noah turned his head toward Zagi and said, "You only want to join the Stellaron Hunters to satisfy your desire to kill..."
Zagi did not deny it. Instead, he asked Silver Wolf on the other end of the video call, "If I join the Stellaron Hunters, will I be allowed to kill villains who interfere with our missions while hunting Stellarons?"
Silver Wolf nodded.
"Then I will join. Please grant me permission, Madam Herta," Zagi said to The Herta.
The Herta nodded. "Very well. Since you are willing, I will not object. From now on, you may separate a portion of your power and accompany the Stellaron Hunters as they harvest Stellarons throughout the cosmos."
Upon hearing this, Zagi swiftly condensed the energy within his body into a small black-and-red Spark Doll. He then addressed Silver Wolf on the other end of the video call. "Take this doll with you. Shake it during a mission, and it will transform into a giant and fight. A portion of my power and will resides within it."
"All right. Elio will take that Spark Doll." Only after Silver Wolf finished speaking did she belatedly realize something.
Were there not a few too many people among the Stellaron Hunters who could transform?
First was Silver Wolf herself. She could use cartridges and her Soul Gem to transform into Magical Girl Silver Wolf LV.999, attaining the pinnacle combat power of an Emanator of Elation.
Then there was Firefly, who could also transform. Moreover, after Herta and Ruan Mei's modifications, Firefly looked incomparably heroic whenever she held the Empress Transformation Device and transformed into her Empress Form.
Now, with the addition of Zagi's Spark Doll, the number of members capable of transforming had reached three.
Countless thoughts passed through Silver Wolf's mind at that moment.
Meanwhile, Herman's consciousness within The Herta also witnessed Zagi joining the Stellaron Hunters and creating the Spark Doll.
Upon seeing this, Herman could not help thinking.
(In the game, according to the analyses of many Star Rail scholars, the Stellaron Hunters and the Nameless of the Astral Express are always two sides of the same coin. They correspond to and mirror one another.
(For example, Kafka of the Stellaron Hunters corresponds to Himeko of the Astral Express. Both are Stelle's elders—or perhaps her mothers?!)
(Likewise, the Stellaron Hunters and the Express each possess a girl capable of transforming: March 7th and Firefly.)
(Both of them possess transformation abilities!)
(One is March Evernight. The other transforms into Glamoth's Iron Cavalry!)
(Moreover, both possess unspeakable pasts, and both were found and taken in. One became a firefly drifting among the stars and was discovered by Kafka, while the other was sealed inside Six-Phased Ice and found by Himeko.)
(Likewise, both the Stellaron Hunters and the Express possess powerful guardians.)
(Blade.)
(Dan Heng.)
(Not only were both members of the High-Cloud Quintet, but they also possess transformation abilities. One can transform into a Vidyadhara High Elder, while the other will one day use Voracity as the furnace and Abundance as the iron... transforming into the Mortenax Blade.)
(As for Welt Yang, the character corresponding to him in the game should be Silver Wolf.)
(In another setting, those two were the second and third Herrschers of Reason. Presumably, they share some kind of corresponding relationship within the world of Star Rail as well.)
(Then there is March 7th. She may correspond to more than just Firefly.)
(After all, she possesses another identity as the Pure Child of Anāsrava. She is one of the schools of fish tracing backward with Fuli, and perhaps even the most exceptional among them.)
(Just as Elio is the most exceptional wisp among the fragments of Terminus' divine body descending from the Aeon of Finality.)
Herman considered many things before finally turning his attention toward Zagi.
Zagi had now chosen to join the Stellaron Hunters.
Then Noah, who corresponded to Zagi, might join the Astral Express once it set sail again in the future!
He could become another colossal fighting force in addition to Pana's legacy mecha, the Starbreaker!
As Herman thought this far, the third giant, Ultraman King, also spoke.
"I have no interest in joining the Stellaron Hunters. Besides, Madam Herta could not possibly allow me to leave. My true body is the Plasma Spark Tower. If I were accidentally stolen, the universe might fall into an enormous crisis."
"I will remain within the Warp and continue becoming stronger. Only when no one is capable of stealing me will I leave the Warp, enter the real world, and pursue my ideals."
After hearing this, Silver Wolf also felt that Ultraman King was correct. Given his circumstances, he truly was unsuited to joining the Stellaron Hunters.
If an accident occurred during a field mission and Ultraman King reverted to his true form as the Plasma Spark Tower, releasing its radiance, then the memetic phenomenon of giants might spread uncontrollably throughout the universe.
The disaster of giants and Harmony might spread ahead of schedule, causing the universe to advance toward Finality prematurely!
"Herta, thank you for this. Thank you for being so reasonable and allowing Zagi to join the Stellaron Hunters," Silver Wolf said sincerely over the phone.
"Mm."
Herta nodded and prepared to turn off the phone, ending the call.
"Please wait, Madam Herta," Zagi hurriedly said. "There is still something I wish to ask that member of the Stellaron Hunters."
"Very well. Ask her directly."
"Understood." Zagi nodded, then looked toward Silver Wolf on the other end of the video call. "I want to know what was said between me and Terminus in the possible future Elio witnessed, when I survived until Finality arrived and endured for three moments afterward."
Silver Wolf shook her head slightly. "I do not know anything about that."
Zagi did not mind. He simply asked Silver Wolf another question.
"According to the information I obtained from the sun within the Warp, Madam Herta, the Stellaron Hunters can draw power from the future. Madam Silver Wolf, your Level 999 cartridge was obtained in this way. Can I also obtain power from my future self—the power that survived for three moments beyond Finality?"
Zagi was certain that, as long as he obtained the supreme power of his future self who survived for three moments after the apocalypse, he would undoubtedly surpass that detestable Noah.
That was the true reason he had joined the Stellaron Hunters!
Silver Wolf froze upon hearing Zagi's question. She quickly concluded that, with Terminus' abilities, such a thing might genuinely be possible, so she immediately went to ask Elio.
Elio froze for a moment. He soon closed his feline eyes and reached out toward Terminus, Aeon of Finality, who had yet to be born in that distant future spacetime.
Before long, Terminus opened Their eyes, and a trace of surprise flashed within them.
"Zagi is preparing to join the Stellaron Hunters, and he wishes to obtain the power of that possible future!"
"It does not matter. Power surpassing that of an Emanator... is still not the true power of an Aeon. I can bestow a blessing upon him and grant him the strength to survive for three moments after Finality."
With that thought, Terminus extended Their hand toward the past, preparing to wield the great power of Finality. Yet They immediately discovered that bestowing this blessing was extraordinarily difficult. It could not descend.
More precisely, a force hidden within the workings of the universe was obstructing Them.
And the one obstructing Them was another supreme existence within the cosmos...