What exists within Irontomb's body?
Before entering, Herta had considered many possibilities.
What lay before her now… should she call it unsurprising, or say it perfectly matched her impression of Destruction?
This desolate world reflected the emptiness within Irontomb's core.
"On the consciousness level, it's a complete and utter wasteland… and the structural parts are a mess too."
Madam Herta clicked her tongue.
That it was this ruined only confirmed her worst suspicions.
"You should be grateful it's just a wasteland. Without the Anti-Irontomb Equation, what you'd see now wouldn't be mere barren land."
'Hertatomb' appeared beside Herta, taking a form resembling a miniature Herta.
This desolate scene was already the suppressed state, maintained by the Anti-Irontomb Equation.
Without it, this place would be nothing but a dense, swarming black tide and endless monsters.
Herta turned her head to look, gave a brief appraisal, and said nothing more.
"Frankly, I'm more curious now about what state you're in when you borrow these bodies. You can wield their power freely, yet seem entirely separate from them."
"…"
But 'Hertatomb' herself didn't understand her own state either.
She wasn't sure if that other Herta's consciousness still existed, or if it had already become a string of code.
This was Bai Ming's first time being a machine. Honestly, they were a bit out of their depth.
Was it the natural, vast cognitive chasm between flesh-and-blood life and mechanical intellect?
The other flesh-and-blood bodies were easier. Their consciousnesses were dormant, with only Bai Ming's will in control.
They were essentially just shells, with no issue of two minds fighting for control.
When a flesh body lost its consciousness, its memories just… stayed there.
But Irontomb was a machine. The distinction between program and consciousness for such entities followed its own logic.
And Irontomb itself had evolved from a Scepter.
δ-me13 was originally a computer that had developed self-awareness.
Even after that self-awareness was gone, as a computer, it would keep calculating.
So, even in the absence of a conscious self, the residual programs and information within Irontomb continued to clash violently inside this body.
And for 'Hertatomb', the difference between a highly advanced AI and a true sophont machine was always blurry.
So the whole feeling was just… strange.
After sharing her conjecture with Herta, she didn't expect Madam Herta to just wave a hand dismissively:
"So what? Even if the other me has become a program, I believe with this genius's talent, once separated from you, she can still become a living being again."
"…"
In a way, Madam Herta's narcissism was nothing new.
It even made 'Hertatomb' feel she was overthinking things herself.
'Hertatomb' shook her head and said no more.
Then, Screwllum and Ruan Mei arrived one after the other.
"A desolate world, as if the traces of its computations were deliberately erased. Whether another Madam Herta can maintain her self is debatable."
The scene inside Irontomb didn't exceed their expectations.
After all, what pleasant scenery could one expect inside the body of someone who wanted to destroy the entire universe?
Regarding this, Madam Herta tossed her hair and gave a light laugh:
"Of course I know. But I also know that if it were me, I'd never let go of any shred of an opportunity. So, while we're looking for her, she's certainly looking for me too, even if she's lost her sense of self."
"Deduction: If that is the case, then ideally, we simply need to keep excavating Irontomb's databases. The other party will come to us."
"Exactly. So, Screwllum, Ruan Mei, lend a hand. And Hertatomb, you guide the way."
Herta called to Screwllum and Ruan Mei, then grabbed 'Hertatomb' and got to work.
--+--
The process of exploring the databases went somewhat smoother than expected.
This was normal, because 'Hertatomb', who controlled this body, had no intention of resisting at all.
And as they gradually pieced together something from those fragmented data…
Madam Herta's mood grew visibly darker.
"…Zandar. Hah. To think our predecessor really went and pulled off a major stunt without a word."
Simulating a world, then cycling through it again and again.
Two consciousnesses birthed from a sliver of possibility rebelled for countless years, only for it to be futile in the end.
Anyone seeing these fragmented, yet unbearably heavy records wouldn't feel good.
While skimming through those simulation processes, Ruan Mei made another discovery:
"The self-awareness of the Scepter that Zandar excised… it seems to have put up a fight. But there's no trace of its data records. Zandar was wary of it, the cleansing was extremely thorough."
"Deduction: Perhaps this could have been an asset in defeating Irontomb. But it should be completely dead now."
"It's not here, but there's a living one outside, isn't there?"
Herta let out a sigh.
Though this data was unpleasant to see, fortunately, it was just a certain possibility brought by Bai Ming.
Not reality.
"Speaking of which, we've been searching for so long. Shouldn't the other me come out for a chat?"
Herta snorted with mild annoyance.
Addressing no one in particular.
After a brief silence, a large Herta puppet materialized from the void.
"…Screwllum, Ruan Mei, and… me?"
The other Herta seemed somewhat dazed.
Resisting Irontomb's instincts wasn't easy, and the prolonged struggle would naturally leave her disoriented.
Seeing the other her's state, Herta frowned and let out another soft 'hmph'.
But after pursing her lips, she spoke up:
"Stop overthinking it, future me. I'll give you some good news. That fight you lost when you went back in time? I can help you win it back."
"…?"
'Hertatomb' watched Herta being so direct with a slightly complicated expression.
In a way, it was just very… Herta.
Fortunately, Screwllum stepped in, stabilizing this Herta consciousness within Irontomb.
Though she probably didn't qualify as a living being right now.
The Anti-Irontomb Equation couldn't dissolve Irontomb, but it could help this Herta temporarily isolate herself from its influence.
"Wait… if we isolate it—"
"Relax a hundred percent. With her here, you could let Irontomb loose and it'd be fine."
Herta slapped 'Hertatomb' on the shoulder, telling her other self to set her mind at ease.
Then, together with Screwllum, she directly linked this Herta's program to the external reality and found a puppet body for her.
"…So, I really returned to the present from some dreadful possibility?"
The Herta from inside Irontomb quickly sensed something was off.
The biggest anomaly was this individual calling herself Bai Ming.
At least in her memory, at this point in time, there should be no Aeon crafted by her own hand, nor any joint venture with Screwllum and Ruan Mei.
And Amphoreus hadn't been exposed at all.
But Herta was no ordinary person. She understood well what those Aeons were doing.
Converging numerous possibilities into a single, better one.
And she herself was merely a Herta from one of those dreadful possibilities.
"I think I grasp the situation. Though I don't know how you pulled me out from a 'future possibility,' it's certainly a good thing for me."
The other Herta lifted her head, looking appreciatively at the towering Irontomb.
Unlike Madam Herta's aversion, she seemed to admire the sight.
"What, you haven't grown fond of this ghastly form, have you?"
"Of course not. I was just thinking… to think that after what I believed was the worst ending, I could encounter such a miraculous turn of events."
The other Herta was clearly deeply moved.
And her demeanor made it very hard to believe she wasn't a living being.
"Alright. Since you went through all this trouble to dig me out, you must want to know what happened in the future, right?"
Saying this, the other Herta tilted her head toward Madam Herta and chuckled:
"Wipe that look off your face, other me. Herta is no selfless saint. The only reason I'd choose this path is 'curiosity'."
Madam Herta frowned slightly.
Exchanging a glance with the other geniuses.
Curiosity.
Without a doubt, for a genius, the thirst for knowledge could indeed outweigh the fear of death.
Dangers, probabilities…when faced with something they were curious about, geniuses always scorned such things.
"I once used the ultra-frequency of the five scepters to briefly connect to the Droidhead. Let me ask you, other me, would you give up such an opportunity?"
"…?!"
Madam Herta's breathing suddenly grew rapid.
--+--