Chen Luo personally isn't very fond of the original Void Archives because the original Void Archives requires fully understanding the structure of an item to replicate it, and the replicated weapons are weaker than the originals.
If that were all, it might be acceptable—after all, gains and losses go hand in hand, and it's normal for something as powerful as Void Archives to have some drawbacks.
But the problem is that Void Archives has another, bigger, and more fatal flaw.
Void Archives possesses self-awareness. It is a combination of the Herrscher of Reason's core and a fragment of Prometheus, the super AI designed by the first Herrscher and Dr. Mei. Its core and microelectronic information are engraved with the ultimate mission to "save humanity from the Honkai."
Therefore, in a sense, Chen Luo, who has no intention of eliminating the Honkai—at least not currently—is not qualified to use Void Archives.
The consciousness of Void Archives governs the library within it, and suitable individuals need its permission to enter the library.
Although Chen Luo's Furniture Mastery allows him to control Void Archives, its self-awareness is actually quite strong.
Chen Luo can control Void Archives to change its form, but Void Archives' consciousness can prevent Chen Luo from entering the great library.
Although this resistance diminished somewhat after prolonged contact with Void Archives, Chen Luo isn't particularly fond of Void Archives' consciousness.
Can you tolerate a tool that might betray you?
Although its mission to combat the Honkai isn't wrong, for Chen Luo, it just makes Void Archives harder to use. This can't be criticized or refuted.
In Chen Luo's view, the consciousness of Void Archives is almost like a human bound by Aponia's commandments—it has gone too far down the rabbit hole.
Especially in the post-Honkai Odyssey, it indeed fulfilled its mission of saving humanity from the Honkai—by summoning an even more terrifying enemy.
An advanced extraterrestrial lifeform—Lukanni.
This can't even be called "driving away a wolf by inviting a tiger"; at least in that scenario, both sides might end up wounded.
Saying it harms others without benefiting itself would be praising it.
This Void Archives seems to only care about removing the Honkai; whether humanity still exists after the Honkai is gone isn't its problem.
The world was already at peace, but you just had to stir up trouble—who could tolerate that?
It's just too damn absurd.
So Chen Luo suspects it might even end up destroying itself.
Therefore, Chen Luo is more than satisfied with this particular improvement.
Chen Luo snapped his fingers and began summoning Void Archives' original consciousness.
Void Archives' consciousness doesn't have a specific form. Although Prometheus resembles Bronya in appearance, Void Archives is the core of the Herrscher of Reason combined with a part of Prometheus.
Chen Luo successfully summoned Void Archives' consciousness, not by bringing it outside, but by entering Void Archives himself.
Chen Luo appeared in a vast, boundless, enormous library.
In front of him stood a golden Herrscher of Sentience.
This is also a common tactic of Void Archives' consciousness—simulating the appearance of someone familiar to the other party.
"You... what have you done to Void Archives?" The moment Chen Luo entered, Void Archives asked him with a dark expression.
"Hey, don't look so gloomy. Senti would never make such an expression. At most, she'd be furious after being tricked by her 'mother'." Chen Luo felt that Void Archives was simply insulting the Herrscher of Sentience's image.
Someone as carefree as the Herrscher of Sentience—would she ever be gloomy?
At most, she'd be livid.
"You know that's not the point."
"Huh? What point? I just came in to see you for the last time." Chen Luo didn't understand what Void Archives was talking about.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, don't worry, I won't completely erase you. I'll keep a part of you." Chen Luo said sincerely.
"What exactly are you—"
"Alright, stop. I don't want to hear any more from you." Chen Luo snapped his fingers again, and the [Herrscher of Sentience], who originally had absolute control over Void Archives as its consciousness, instantly lost even the ability to speak.
Void Archives is extremely adept at tempting people. Although Chen Luo doesn't think it can tempt him with anything, he feels it's better not to let it spout nonsense, just in case it does have something that could tempt him.
Villains die because they talk too much.
Even though he isn't a villain.
"Hmm, how should I set this up? Let me think... Prometheus... Bronya... Got it!"
Chen Luo just said he would let Void Archives' consciousness retain a part of itself.
But he didn't specify which part.
Moreover, the character creation system of the upgraded Void Archives isn't limited to one-time use. You can create multiple times, and it's not completely fixed—you can revert whenever you want.
As Chen Luo set Void Archives' original consciousness as the first backup file, he began the engineering of creating a second consciousness.
After all, it's a scientific creation, so having multiple backups is normal, right?
And only Chen Luo can modify these backups.
The reason he didn't delete the original backup consciousness is that Chen Luo thought this backup might be useful when he travels to the Previous Era.
Character creation isn't difficult, or rather, character creation within the Elysian Realm isn't difficult. You just need to provide an image and imagine it in your heart to achieve perfect character creation.
The more data you have, the more realistic the character creation. Alternatively, you just need to set a few keywords and some emotional tags, and Void Archives can customize an image for you.
But even with such convenience, Chen Luo spent a full half-hour on Void Archives' character creation.
This sufficiently shows how seriously Chen Luo took Void Archives' character creation.
"Hmm, not bad." Chen Luo's consciousness, projected within Void Archives, looked satisfied at the two different images with the same personality displayed on the backup screen.
This time, Chen Luo created two images, but these two images share the same personality.
Or rather, Chen Luo didn't change Void Archives' personality much; he only removed its extremely fanatical mission to combat the Honkai and then restored it to a certain extent.
Of course, he also mixed in a tiny bit of his own personal preferences.
As Chen Luo snapped his fingers once more, countless quantum light points appeared.
These quantum light points piled up in the same location, gradually forming a human shape.
"...Master." When the human form fully coalesced, the figure opened its eyes and gave a slight bow toward Chen Luo.
"Hmm, not bad." Chen Luo looked at the figure with satisfaction.
"Although I don't agree with Master's habit of judging people by their appearance, since Master insists on using such superficial criteria to shape Void Archives' form, I have nothing more to say." The figure Chen Luo had created spoke respectfully while bowing.
"Huh? Wait... that..."
"Master need not explain. As an artificial intelligence personally crafted by you, I have no complaints about my fate. I merely wish to express my views on certain... peculiar aspects of your preferences. Besides, wasn't this also part of your design, Master?" After finishing the bow, the figure looked at Chen Luo with a clearly disdainful expression.
"Wait..."
"Master, you needn't say more. Even though creating my form was to satisfy your rather basic tastes, as your eternal servant, I'm still willing to offer this insignificant gesture of respect."
"..."
Wait, when I designed her, didn't I set the [Sarcastic] tag to 'minimal'?
Does this seem like 'minimal' to you?
What would 'extreme' be like then?
"So... Master, are you satisfied with my current form?" Void Archives' consciousness stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Chen Luo's right arm.
"Whoa, you, don't be so..." Chen Luo subtly tried to pull away, but the other's appearance and initiative left him somewhat conflicted.
Let's be honest, who could resist this?
"Ah, as expected, Master's questionable tastes are an inherent flaw that can't be discarded. But as one born for Master, I naturally must fulfill them wholeheartedly." Seeing Chen Luo's conflicted expression, she released him, took a step back, and gracefully lifted the hem of her skirt.
"Though Master is already thoroughly familiar with me, let me reintroduce myself. Bronya Zaychik, always at your service, Master. The adult version of Bronya, that is." The white-haired girl, nearly as tall as Chen Luo and quite generously endowed, introduced herself.
"Of course, you may also call me Bronie." Bronya bowed again, her voice becoming noticeably younger and more lively. Her form shifted from a mature, steady older sister to a cute little lolita with a rebellious edge, her clothing transforming accordingly.
"...This feels somewhat strange." Chen Luo looked somewhat troubled at the girl before him.
Even though she was crafted according to his specifications, there was a subtle feeling that she wasn't quite what he'd imagined.
Or was his understanding of 'minimal' [Sarcastic] different from Void Archives' interpretation?
Then what would an 'extreme' level of [Tsundere] look like?
Ahem, young people always harbor certain unrealistic fantasies; it's normal, perfectly normal.
"Though I can feel your desire to stay with me longer, perhaps you should go check on things outside now." Bronie said after stretching lazily.
Though Bronie and Bronya shared the same system, they were different forms, so naturally there would be some slight differences.
But... Chen Luo felt the gap between this and his expected image was somewhat significant, though still within acceptable limits.
So upon hearing Bronie's suggestion, Chen Luo decided not to remake her and exited Void Archives.
This was Chen Luo's first time creating a person, making it essentially his maiden work. Thus, he felt somewhat emotionally attached to it.
Though she was an artificial lifeform, the upgraded version seemed more human. This was like forcibly creating a person through Chen Luo's efforts, so as long as this personality didn't disappoint him, he wouldn't change or remake it.
Moreover, it was predictable that Chen Luo would likely do this kind of thing frequently in the future.
After all, as the Herrscher of Domination, he would inevitably encounter enemies with great potential and power who were completely hostile. At such times, transforming them into his puppets would be necessary.
These people were different from Welt - Welt had requests for Chen Luo, so he wasn't very resistant. But if it were someone like Yvette, whom Chen Luo hadn't killed...
Thus, personality modification was essential.
Additionally, as a puppeteer, Chen Luo's future goal would inevitably be to create the most realistic puppets. And how could realistic puppets exist without souls?
"My, my, such a huge library - finding anything must be so troublesome. Better to categorize things properly. Also, I feel there are some things Master probably needs very much." As Bronie spoke, the massive library began to reorganize itself.
* * *
When Chen Luo emerged from Void Archives following its guidance, he found Book of Fuxi floating right in front of him, staring intently.
"Huh? What is it, little ancestor?" Chen Luo asked while transforming the golden cube in his hand into a ring and putting it on.
"Nothing much, I was just curious. Were you reading in Void Archives' great library just now?" Book of Fuxi asked from her seated position on the sphere.
"If that's what you're asking, then yes." Chen Luo nodded.
"Another question: as someone with scientific talent, why did you apprentice yourself to that blockhead? She doesn't seem like the research type?" Book of Fuxi was quite curious about this.
"Sen... Master, toss me the ring." Instead of answering, Chen Luo called out to the Herrscher of Sentience.
"Okay." Though unsure what Chen Luo wanted, the Herrscher of Sentience still complied and threw her storage ring to him.
"You might not believe this, little ancestor, but I'm actually a fighter." Chen Luo explained.
As he spoke, Chen Luo carefully compared the ring formed by Void Archives that he wore with the storage ring.
Within seconds, the Void Archives ring gradually transformed to match the storage ring's appearance.
Channeling a faint amount of spiritual energy into it, he could see the empty space inside the Void Archives ring.
It actually worked.
The upgraded Void Archives could simulate not just items from the Honkai world, but any item from any world rated five stars or below. Moreover, unlike the original Void Archives, it didn't turn them gold.
And storage spaces naturally fell into this category.
"You're actually a fighter?" Book of Fuxi looked somewhat skeptically at the ever-changing Void Archives in Chen Luo's hand.
But she soon relented.
Book of Fuxi recalled that according to records, Void Archives' previous owner was Su, and Su was also a MANTIS.
"Alright, you two keep chatting, I have some business to attend to outside." Checking his watch, Chen Luo spoke to Book of Fuxi and the Herrscher of Sentience before tossing the storage ring back.
Time to go see that white-thigh-high-wearing succubus... ahem, Yun Lian'er.
After all, the [Complete Guide to Basic Elemental Magic] had been very helpful - he should thank her properly. He wondered if there was an advanced series...