Amphoreus, Grove of Epiphany.
"So this is the Black Tide? Hmm..."
Arriving here with Lumina and taking in everything this place was currently experiencing, Herta couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"I thought it would be something miraculous, but it turns out to be exactly as I imagined."
For the native inhabitants of Amphoreus, they had never seen such a thing, so calling it the Black Tide was perfectly fine.
But to Herta, this so-called Black Tide was, to put it bluntly, nothing more than a program virus.
This program virus would turn the data inside a computer into its own, preventing you from controlling it. Eventually, as Time passed and the virus encroached on more and more data, your computer would crash.
And for a data space like Amphoreus, a crash meant Destruction.
Then what were those Chrysos Heirs fighting against the Black Tide?
Antivirus software?
"This Amphoreus is truly interesting."
"It truly lives up to being something repeatedly deduced by an Emperor's Scepter over countless years."
Even Herta couldn't help but marvel at these things.
If she could, Herta wanted to pack up this Emperor's Scepter, take it home, and use it as the processing brain for the Simulated Universe.
That way, with the combined efforts of the Simulated Universe, the Emperor's Scepter, and several geniuses, the so-called Aeon Mysteries might not be completely out of reach.
But that most likely wouldn't work.
At least not right now; whether it would work in the future was another story entirely.
As she thought about it, an unprecedented fiery passion suddenly surged within Herta's eyes.
Well... actually, it wasn't completely unprecedented.
It was only unprecedented when it came to her experiments. If applied to all her life experiences, it wasn't unprecedented at all.
Before this passion, there had been many others that were far more intense.
It was just that all those instances were related to a certain someone...
Herta glanced at Lumina beside her and said flatly, "So, what are we doing here?"
"Saving people?"
"Or is there a pretty girl here?"
After saying that, without waiting for Lumina to answer, Herta briefly scanned the Grove of Epiphany and remarked before Lumina could speak, "If it's to save people, we're too late."
"There aren't many people left in this place. Most of them have turned into those... well, monsters that look a bit like the Antimatter Legion."
Herta took another look at the monsters in the Grove of Epiphany—which had roughly the same appearance and shape as the Antimatter Legion, with only some minor variations and color changes—and spoke calmly.
If they hadn't turned into monsters yet, Herta would have stepped in to save them.
Whether they were data or reality, as long as Herta saw them, she would naturally save them.
But now, it was clearly too late; they had all turned into monsters.
There was nothing Herta could do. Without the slightest bit of pity in her heart, she merely took one glance before withdrawing her gaze.
The people are already gone, what else do you expect me to do? Sparing them a single glance is already an honor for these monsters.
Without thinking much of it, Herta continued, "There aren't even many people left, so the beautiful girls you've been yearning for naturally don't exist at all."
"Of course I know there are no beautiful girls here." Having briefly observed the Grove of Epiphany, Lumina didn't pay much mind to Herta's words.
Wouldn't Lumina know if there were beautiful girls in the Grove of Epiphany or not?
Whether there were actually any beautiful girls in the Grove of Epiphany or not, Lumina would know just by glancing in this direction from Okhema's room.
Her purpose for coming here was never for beautiful girls in the first place.
Otherwise, why would she only come now?
Or why wouldn't she go block one of the paths leading from the Grove of Epiphany to Okhema?
"Oh, I get it. Then you're here to complete the prerequisite quest to make contact with a certain beautiful girl, right?" Realizing that Lumina wasn't lying, Herta revealed a look of sudden understanding.
"..." Hearing this, Lumina's eyes drooped slightly. Giving Herta a speechless look, she withdrew her gaze and spoke flatly, "My reason for coming here has absolutely nothing to do with beautiful girls."
"I merely came over to save some people, and to casually check on a certain someone while I'm at it."
After saying this softly, Lumina's gaze fell upon those few Black Tide Spawns.
She casually struck them with a streak of green light.
After the green light surged into the bodies of the Black Tide Spawns, it immediately caused their entire forms to shimmer with waves of light.
A moment later, the monstrous exteriors on their bodies completely peeled off, revealing the human forms inside.
Thud...
In less than a second of time, those monsters corrupted by the Black Tide had all returned to their original states.
They lay on the ground, their eyes closed.
Were it not for the gradual rise and fall of their chests, it would probably be difficult to tell if they were dead or alive.
"You can even save this?" Taking in the scene before her, a hint of shock suddenly surfaced on Herta's brow.
If the people before her were real...
If these people were creations corrupted by the [Destruction], Herta wouldn't be surprised that Lumina was able to heal them and restore them to their original state.
But here... this simply defied common sense.
These people were all data. They were all just a cluster of simulated data within the Emperor's Scepter.
How on earth did Lumina manage to do this?
Herta's mind was filled with confusion.
Herta knew that the power of the [Abundance] could heal all things, but could this data truly be considered a "thing"?
If Herta had the administrator privileges for the Emperor's Scepter, she could naturally do it too.
But Lumina didn't.
What difference was there between Lumina right now and a hacker?
Recklessly modifying someone else's program...
Hmm... wait a minute.
"Could I use this [Abundance] ability of hers to let the Simulated Universe try out some new things?"
As Herta thought about it, her initial confusion shifted into deep contemplation.
She began calculating how to maximize the utility of Lumina's ability.
"Little Herta, don't be so surprised." Unaware of Herta's inner thoughts, Lumina, upon hearing her confused, surprised, and bewildered words, immediately puffed out her chest with a proud expression.
To be able to make a genius show such an expression, it would be impossible for Lumina not to feel a little smug.
Thus, completely oblivious to Herta's scheming, Lumina proudly patted her chest, her voice carrying a hint of "Isn't your Sister Lumina amazing?" as she said:
"This is an ability I only recently discovered."
"As long as I consider the target to be a lifeform, and as long as I believe I can save them..."
"Then no matter what it is, be it data or an Intellitron, as long as I believe it can be saved, then it absolutely can be saved!"
"As long as I consider it a [lifeform], then I can definitely cure all of this [lifeform]'s negative statuses."
Herta: ???
Hearing Lumina's words, Herta snapped out of her thoughts on how to maximize the potential of Lumina's ability.
She shot Lumina a look that clearly said, "Are you even human?"
If you consider it a lifeform, then it's a lifeform.
If you think you can save it, then you can save it.
Just completely ignoring all the actual logic and circumstances involved, huh?
No, seriously, Miss Lumina, are you for real?
Even as a member of the Genius Society, Herta couldn't help but show an expression of "You've got to be kidding me" and "Are you out of your mind?" when faced with Lumina's utterly unreasonable ability.
Where did this Conceptual God come from?
"You're not joking, are you?" Herta frowned, seeking confirmation in her disbelief.
"Mhm." Lumina hummed softly, blinking playfully at Herta.
Then she turned her gaze back forward and said softly, "Of course I'm not joking."
"I am being serious, and I am speaking the truth."
Herta: ...
Hearing this answer, Herta stared intently at Lumina for a while before suddenly lowering her head and pressing her lips tightly together. Various thoughts intertwined in her purple eyes, making one wonder what she was thinking.
"What are you thinking about? Do you need the great Sister Lumina to be of service?" Taking in Herta's thoughtful expression, Lumina chuckled with a hint of curiosity.
For something to make Herta fall into such deep thought, Lumina was quite curious about what was on her mind.
"N-No, it's nothing." Herta shook her head, not answering Lumina's question.
This kind of thing... it was better left for later.
Lumina's strength was growing day by day.
And now, a conceptual ability comparable to an [Aeon] had actually appeared.
Didn't that mean...
That Lumina, completely unconsciously, was taking step after step toward becoming an Aeon?
Herta didn't know what the price of becoming a [god] was.
But Herta knew that upon becoming a god, unless one traveled upon a special Path like the [Trailblaze], their humanity would inevitably be lost.
Ultimately, Divinity would take the initiative.
If, in the end, Lumina really began to be dominated by Divinity, then Herta...
Herta constantly pondered this question in her heart, but no matter how much she thought about it, she simply couldn't come up with a single solution.
Although Herta's goal was to study the [Aeons].
Truth be told, even though the existence of the Simulated Universe could give this research a massive push, this so-called "massive push" was nothing more than uncovering a short Story within the mysteries of the [Aeons].
To truly research the mysteries of the [Aeons], relying solely on a Simulated Universe was far from enough.
So, if Lumina really did... during this Time...
What was she supposed to do then?
"Alright, Little Herta. I don't know what you're thinking about, but whatever it is, it definitely isn't going to happen."
Just as Herta was agonizing over this, the top of her head suddenly felt cool as her Witch's Hat was lifted away.
Then, before Herta could say a word, a warm sensation blossomed across her head.
Lumina had rested her palm on Herta's head, gently rubbing it.
"Mhm~ Little Herta, this feels nice." Although it was no longer the first time she had rubbed Herta's head.
But when it came to the head of a beautiful girl of Herta's caliber, whether it was Lumina's first time or not, it would always feel exceptionally comfortable.
The feeling was absolutely amazing, just like her lap pillow.
Perfect!
In her heart, Lumina silently gave another 5-star review to the head that had already received a 5-star rating.
Although this beautiful scenery is easily within my grasp, I won't share it with you all to enjoy.
Little Herta is mine!
Feeling the continuous warmth coming from the top of her head, a strange emotion also surfaced in Herta's heart.
The negative emotions she had just been feeling vanished into thin air in an instant.
That's right, why was she worrying about Lumina?
If her Divinity really did overtake her humanity, Lumina herself would probably panic even more than she would.
Why?
Because if Divinity became dominant, wouldn't she lose the greatest hobby and interest of her entire life?
If Lumina lost her interest in [making friends with beautiful girls], could she even still be called Lumina?
Come to think of it, such a thing was impossible to happen.
If one day, a god came before Lumina and told her that choosing the left hand meant becoming a god, but the price would be losing all interest in beautiful girls and never feeling any affection for them ever again.
And the right hand would be...
Well, is there even a need to listen to what the right hand offers?
Upon hearing that the price was losing interest in all beautiful girls, Lumina would probably just turn her back and walk away without hesitation, right?
Actually, probably more than that.
Before turning and leaving, Lumina would probably give this "lunatic" a severe beating.
Unless this "lunatic" god happened to be a...
-
Amphoreus, Grove of Epiphany, at the Throne.
"Heh, my eyes, I can't see anymore..."
Arriving here, Lumina and Herta saw a somewhat frail-looking scholar.
"No matter... as long as I throw this body directly into the Array Core."
"For Amphoreus... be buried with me, Titan."
The words spoken by this seemingly frail scholar were incredibly shocking.
He seemed to want to perish together with the Titan.
"Hmm... it's actually a man?" Seeing this man, Herta looked at Lumina in surprise.
It wasn't that Herta thought there was anything wrong with the man.
She was just surprised that Lumina would actually come here to watch a man's scene.
In Herta's mind, even if it wasn't some beautiful girl, it should at least be some beautiful animal, right?
"I already told you, my purpose in coming here isn't for a beautiful girl." Sensing Herta's surprise, Lumina sighed helplessly.
"Of course, it's not for this man either." After glancing at him, Lumina withdrew her gaze.
He was just about to die, a minor issue.
She would just revive him after he was completely dead.
"The person I'm waiting for is here." Suddenly, as if she perceived something, Lumina turned her gaze in a certain direction.
Seeing this, Herta also followed Lumina's line of sight.
"This is..."
Then they saw a Black-Robed Swordsman.
"This guy..." Herta seemed to have noticed something.
"He..."
"Is a bit fiery."