"Impossible!"
"Screwllum!"
"You and I both know that all the Scepters have long been destroyed. Now, they are merely scenic spots for cosmic tourism."
Herta stated decisively.
"That's just our perception, Herta. What if there's still a Scepter hidden in a corner of the galaxy?"
Saying this, Screwllum looked at Ryuga.
"Deduction: The establishment of the Virtual Universe Company must rely on immense computing power, and only the Emperor Scepter can achieve this."
"Correction: Sserkal's Meta-Realm Space can also do it."
Ruan Mei shook her head: "But that was a thousand Amber Eras ago. The Spider Civilization's Meta-Realm Space has long been lost."
"Therefore, the conclusion: Ryuga must have found a complete Emperor Scepter. Correction: Its authority should not be low."
Screwllum said.
Swish!
Lines of cold, piercing gazes swept over. Herta, Ruan Mei, and Screwllum stared at Ryuga like nails, their eyes fixed on him.
The atmosphere suddenly froze.
Herta almost wished her true body was there.
"Heh~" Ryuga smiled, "Mr. Screwllum, please enhance the 'security protocol.'"
Herta rolled her eyes, speechless.
Kid, are you being overly cautious?
Irontomb isn't just wandering the universe like a street bum for no reason.
And even if Irontomb really came, with her strength, she could detect it in seconds.
Ryuga's caution was a mystery, but Herta still performed the operation, locking down her room.
"Alright."
Though he didn't understand, Screwllum wasn't one for idle chatter.
He immediately enhanced the communication's security protocol to the highest level.
"As Mr. Screwllum surmised, yes!"
Ryuga nodded.
Screwllum: I knew it.
Hiss, Herta gasped, her eyes suddenly lighting up: "I understand! It's Irontomb, right? That Scepter is self-evolving! Irontomb is what the Scepter evolved into."
She muttered to herself, but then became puzzled.
Her brows furrowed.
"That's not right. Even if the Scepter is evolving, you wouldn't need to be so cautious, unless..."
As she spoke, her voice abruptly stopped.
Herta suddenly looked up, staring intently into Ryuga's eyes like a hawk, and said decisively.
"I know, I know! When you disappeared earlier, you went into that Scepter, didn't you?"
"That's why I couldn't find your trace, because your coordinates weren't in 'reality.'"
Screwllum realized upon hearing this, his eyes behind his lenses flickering continuously.
No wonder his tracking system had completely failed earlier, unable to locate Ryuga's coordinates.
"Yes."
"Due to some special reasons, my spaceship accidentally crashed in there."
"Only after entering did I discover that the Scepter had simulated and evolved a world composed of data and Memoria."
Ryuga nodded, then sighed.
"The reason I'm cautious isn't because of Irontomb, but because of the Scepter's administrator, a guy named Lygus."
"A sentient machine, his security protocol is on par with Screwllum's, and he even claims to have been glanced upon by Nous."
"The Destruction Equation, Irontomb, was released by him before, just to verify the effect of the Destruction Equation."
As Ryuga's voice fell, all three were somewhat stunned.
Herta narrowed her eyes: "Glanced upon by Nous?"
Ruan Mei's eyes flickered: "A sentient machine on par with Screwllum? That's uncommon!"
Screwllum murmured: "On par with my security protocol? Could it be another 'Rubert' living in seclusion on the galactic frontier?"
"Ryuga, this matter, I'm afraid..."
Screwllum hadn't finished speaking when Ryuga raised a hand to interrupt him.
"Herta."
"Ruan Mei."
"Screwllum."
"The reason I'm telling you this is to say that I have a way to seize control of the Scepter's authority."
"My items are all 'conceptual,' like the 'Anywhere Door' – as long as I think of it, I can go anywhere."
At these words, Herta and Screwllum froze again.
Recalling the scene in Herta's office, they both had a sudden realization.
Screwllum: "Question: Has Nous ever glanced upon it?"
Ryuga shook his head.
"Analysis: Ryuga's 'Anywhere Door' can ignore the Imaginary Law and traverse boundless space-time!"
"Deduction: Such a wondrous item should be enough to alarm Nous and attract a glance." Screwllum was puzzled.
"I completed it in a sealed star system where there was no Path."
"Also worth mentioning, your student was found there."
Ryuga shrugged.
Now, Herta, Ruan Mei, and Screwllum felt Ryuga was even more mysterious.
Appearing inexplicably in Herta's office.
Ineplicably noticed by Nanook, yet refusing him.
Ineplicably absurd wondrous items.
He is not simple.
And that sealed star system is also not simple.
"You, are you really confident?"
Herta tilted her small head, watching him.
Ryuga clearly didn't want them to interfere.
The reason he told them was just to inform them that he had confidence and trump cards, making it easier to recruit them to join the Virtual Universe Company.
Of course, he might invite them to act when necessary.
"Okay, I'll join."
Herta nodded decisively.
"Since Herta supports her 'little boyfriend' so much, I naturally have to contribute too."
Ruan Mei joked.
After spending a long time with Ryuga, she had become a bit more human.
Unlike at the beginning of the story.
"Answer: Ryuga, I am also very interested."
...
After staying at Herta Space Station for a few days, Ryuga set off with Sakura to return to Omphalos.
Rin was a little disappointed and reluctant, but fortunately, she didn't cry.
Ruan Mei didn't rush to arrange for Mobius and Klein to depart, letting them stay a few more days to adapt to the academic atmosphere of the space station.
Okhema, in the Weaving Workshop.
"Ryuga, you're finally back."
March 7th's eyes were red, looking up at Ryuga, appearing pitiful.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Ryuga's heart tightened. He raised his hand and carefully ruffled March 7th's hair.
The atmosphere in the Weaving Workshop was somewhat oppressive.
Tribbie was curled up on a cushion in the corner, arms wrapped around her knees, her face buried low.
And Trinnon...
"Eh, why is she unconscious?"
Ryuga stepped to her side, knelt down, and checked her pulse.
Fortunately, it was just abnormally chaotic and weak.
"We lost another companion."
Tribbie spoke, her voice hoarse, unlike her usual self.
Ryuga's breath hitched, his brows suddenly furrowing.
He knew what that meant.
The Tribbie sisters were originally one, their hearts connected, their destinies interwoven.
When one fell, the other Tribbies could feel the way she died.
It was like having bones carved and flesh gouged, a pain that pierced the soul.
Trinnon's unconsciousness was precisely because of the other's death.
It was too painful.
"Triguard... she lost connection in the Northern Territory. Not even a final cry for help could be sent back."
Tribbie clutched her chest tightly with her small hand, breathing slightly rapidly.
"Lord Demon, we can feel that Triguard suffered greatly. And Trissha... her aura is getting weaker and weaker."
"Trissha? The one in Aidona, in charge of the DayThunder Knights?"
Ryuga's brow furrowed.
Tribbie nodded vigorously, choking out: "The lord of Aidona (fic original place) has been chasing them. Her condition is very bad. I... I'm afraid she won't be able to endure two more Hundred-World Gates."
In the Weaving Workshop, there was a deathly silence.
Ryuga opened his mouth. Trissha is still alive?
Trissha had been comforting Cyrene until her death.
In the DayThunder Knights chapter, there are 'message stone tablets' recording the final moments.
When Trissha died, Cyrene had already merged.
"Don't worry, I'll bring Trissha back."
"You all send her a message."
Ryuga patted Tribbie and Trinnon's heads one by one, assuring them.
Tribbie: "Mm, we believe in Lord Demon."
"Where is Cerydra now?"
Aglaea: "Your Majesty has conquered Lycia and is on her way back."
Ryuga looked at the map: "Mm, Tribbie, send a message to Trianne, inform Cerydra to change direction and march to Aidona to avenge Trissha."
"I'll be there shortly."
Saying this, Ryuga walked out of the Weaving Workshop and released the World-Ender.
In an instant, a massive dragon shadow covered the sky, its scarlet vertical pupils sweeping over the crowd, scaring the Okhema people into retreating.
Ryuga leaped onto the dragon's back.
"I'm coming too."
March 7th stepped forward, her eyes as firm as iron.
Sakura smiled softly: "As your assistant, I can't be left out either."
"Alright!"
Ryuga smiled, reaching out and pulling both of them onto the dragon's back.
With a dragon's roar that shook the clouds, the World-Ender flapped its wings and soared high, breaking through layers of clouds, speeding towards Aidona City-State.
The wind howled in their ears, and clouds churned beneath their feet.
Ryuga's eyes held an unconcealed rage.
To be continued…