They waited for quite a while, with Herta still muttering to herself about the first update for her big project—whether it should focus on Permanence or Propagation.
And how exactly Permanence should be handled.
"...So what do we do?"
Stelle didn't want to interrupt someone else's train of thought, but hanging around here indefinitely wasn't an option either. For a moment, she wasn't sure whether to keep waiting or not.
Sylvia shrugged. She wasn't in any rush to do anything, so she didn't really mind.
But the Astral Express was still waiting for Stelle's reply.
It really wouldn't be right to keep them waiting too long.
"Maybe let Himeko know? If there's still no movement after a little while longer, we can probably head out first. After all, it looks like Herta's going to be heavily invested in this project for a good while yet."
As for Sylvia, she'd definitely see them off, but she'd probably come back afterward to try out the Simulated Universe first.
At the very least, she had to get in one combat run. Pure bliss!
Of course, that was assuming Herta ever snapped out of it.
Sylvia watched the Herta puppet in front of her, caught up in a burst of inspiration.
Honestly, she wasn't holding out much hope.
Just then—
Herta suddenly looked up, her gaze settling on Sylvia and Stelle, who were sitting and resting on the steps nearby.
"Hey, you two. I'll keep it simple. You see this massive device here? A few colleagues and I have simulated an entire universe inside it. It's just like the world we live in, only more streamlined."
"And inside, I've simulated the existence of the Aeons to study them. You two will go in and experience that universe, and find a way to draw the gaze of the Aeons. Simple as that."
As she spoke, Herta began fiddling with the enormous apparatus, motioning for the two of them to come over quickly.
"Come on, give it a try. I'll guide you inside, guarantee you won't suffer any losses, and you'll even get a hefty reward!"
Herta's eyes burned with intensity as she stared at the two of them, especially Sylvia.
Simulating Permanence was comparatively tricky, mainly because there's genuinely very little material on this Path in the world.
Most of it was concentrated on the Xianzhou.
And the Vidyadhara were extremely strict about controlling that kind of information.
For Herta to simulate Permanence and update it using conventional methods would take quite a bit of time.
But there was a faster way—have Sylvia play the role of Permanence (Lite Version).
Then, using the model of Permanence clashing with Nihility that Sylvia had previously employed, try to use Nihility to construct a framework for Permanence.
After that, she could find a way to exchange for some materials from the Xianzhou to refine this model further.
In short, she had plenty of ideas, but whether they were actually feasible or not, Herta wasn't sure.
It was only when her thoughts reached this point that Herta remembered Sylvia was standing right there beside her.
Just pull her in and run a test first.
And Stelle, of course, would go in too. Having just received a glance from Nanook, she might just get looked at again inside the Simulated Universe.
Data on Aeons—the more, the merrier.
Suddenly called out, Sylvia and Stelle, who had been leaning on the floor, turned their heads to look at Herta.
After exchanging a glance, they got up and walked over to the platform.
"Right, stand right there. The machine will read your brainwaves and automatically match you with the immersion simulation system..."
--+--
Soon after Sylvia took her place in front of the machine, she felt a tugging sensation in her consciousness.
By the time she regained her senses, she found herself inside a compartment of the space station.
Sylvia looked around. Stelle was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Stelle? Did Herta forget to add a matching option when she built this system?"
At the same time, an odd feeling in her body made Sylvia frown. She looked down, surveying herself.
Then she realized she had grown a dragon tail wreathed in flames. Instinctively, she reached up to touch her forehead.
Sure enough, a pair of dragon horns had sprouted from the top of her head...
"Well then..."
Just as Sylvia was feeling a bit bewildered, Herta's voice chimed in:
"Don't question the system I built. Separating you two was intentional—you're testing different things. When you see the message, tap the screen in front of you—"
Herta's subtitles appeared alongside a glowing screen before Sylvia.
Sylvia raised her hand and tapped it, and new text emerged:
"Your physical bodies are still in the office. This is a beta version, and the features are simplified for now. Start by trying to walk around—"
Following Herta's instructions, Sylvia attempted to walk while asking curiously:
"Why have I taken on the form of a Vidyadhara?"
If Sylvia remembered correctly, Vidyadhara don't just grow dragon tails and horns at random.
Such ancestral traits were only seen in the High Elders and some exceptions.
Herta didn't beat around the bush, replying directly:
"I'm trying to get you to portray Permanence, but the problem is there's too little data on it. So for now, I have to borrow Vidyadhara data. You might need to help me figure out a way to refine Permanence data."
"...Even the Genius Society doesn't know much about Permanence?"
Sylvia voiced her confusion while curiously playing with her own tail—the scales were fine and orderly, and the flickering flames were warm.
It actually felt pretty interesting.
"No helping it. None of us in the Society are Vidyadhara geniuses. Alright, enough chatter. Go find a few monsters and test out a fight first."
Hearing Herta's urging, Sylvia pursed her lips, then engulfed herself in crimson flames, raising her greatsword high as she charged toward the Anti-Matter Legion ahead!
--+--
"Phew... combat, bliss!"
The joy of mowing down enemies without worrying about environmental damage was even more satisfying than Sylvia had imagined.
Still, Sylvia exercised some restraint—for instance, in this battle, she used only the power of Permanence as her energy source.
And right on cue, Herta's voice came through:
"Not bad. I've collected a fair bit of data on Permanence. Honestly, this is the first time I've researched this Path. Before this, I hadn't even planned to list it..."
As she spoke, Herta's voice suddenly distorted.
Sylvia felt a sense of dislocation wash over her, and even the scene before her eyes shifted from the space station to an immensely vast, breathtaking cosmic spectacle—so vast it left one speechless with awe.
[Oh—oh—who do I see, who do I see—]
A strange figure appeared before Sylvia. It had no head, instead cradling a jester's mask, and it circled around Sylvia.
Its voice was chilling, an uncontrollable madness seeping through its tones, infecting Sylvia.
Aha, the Aeon of Elation.
Before Sylvia could say anything, she saw it extend a trembling finger toward her, then wave it through the void—
Immediately, Sylvia felt her perspective begin to rise, her vision broadening.
She began to realize she was growing larger, longer, at a terrifying speed.
Fine, divine-looking scales spread across her entire body, her limbs transforming into sharp claws.
Planets seemed to turn to dust, the galaxy merely a swirl in the wake of her turn.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.