"Equilibrium... it actually aligns with the theoretical system I'm currently developing. No wonder I was glanced at. However, I don't feel any substantial energy from this Path. Is it some kind of hidden bonus, or is there some other reason?"
After tinkering for a while and failing to figure out the changes brought by the Path of Equilibrium, Caelus temporarily set it aside, preparing to explore the secret cabin first.
Returning to the present, Herta was watching Caelus's appearance through the mirror reflection with great interest, then looked at Stelle, who had been awakened by the Astral Express and captured by the surveillance equipment nearby.
At this moment, Herta's eyes were filled with curiosity.
Perhaps because of the fluctuations and interference caused by Caelus, an individual outside of fate, Herta had jumped out of the original predictions of fate, arriving at the Herta Space Station at an earlier point in time.
And because of this interference from outside fate, Elio had not observed this situation.
Thus, this situation led to Herta witnessing how the Stellaron was placed into Stelle's body, and she also heard Caelus say that he crawled out of Nihility, a possibility that was not chosen!
This sounded simply too interesting. Someone was actually able to crawl out of Nihility, and even symbolized the side of fate that was not chosen!
Herta's thirst for knowledge was completely maxed out, and she could not wait to catch this little guy immediately and study him properly. But she absolutely could not do that right now, the other party had not yet completely stepped into the trap she had set.
If she made a move at this time, given the other party's special situation, there was a possibility they might use some method to escape directly. Finding one person in this vast universe would be too difficult, especially when this person was already very skilled at stealth.
Caelus continued to advance through this sealed cabin. The surrounding lights were very dim, possibly because the Antimatter Legion invasion had caused problems with the power supply here.
On the way, Caelus also found some experimental reports, but those reports were written too complexly. For someone like Caelus, who only specialized in data verification, he could not understand them at all.
However, it wasn't a total loss, he found some Memory Bubbles condensed from the residual memories of this sealed cabin, from which he saw various situations that had occurred in this cabin in the past.
This cabin didn't seem to be open under normal circumstances, it appeared to be a place specifically used by Herta to welcome guests.
But for someone Herta would specifically design an area to welcome, they must have been either a colleague from the Genius Society or some famous big shot in the universe.
Ah, as for why the Genius Society wasn't included among the ranks of famous big shots in the universe?
That was because the members within this club were simply too mysterious, even the members of the Genius Society themselves could not have a concrete understanding of all members.
Rather than saying the Genius Society was an organization, it would be better to say that the members inside were all special individuals marked by Nous, perhaps they could also be called dangerous targets?
Caelus continued to explore deeper along the residual traces, and finally, he arrived at a core area, a vast and empty platform.
The empty platform, the nearly sealed conditions around it, and the fact that there was only one passageway leading to this platform...
"Did I fall into a trap?"
Caelus turned around and saw the path he had walked along disappear, along with a mirror that was slowly floating in the distance, though he didn't know when it had appeared.
"You've finally stepped in, little guy. Rest assured, I'm only interested in your existence and what you know. Cooperate with my research obediently, and I will give you the reward you deserve."
The person reflected in the mirror was none other than the legendary Emanator of Erudition, seat #83 of the Genius Society, the solver of the Isolated Wave Algorithm, the founder of the Simulated Universe, the owner of the Herta Space Station, Madam Herta!
"So, are you showing off your achievements to me?"
Caelus looked at the sign held by the small Herta puppet beside the real Madam Herta in the mirror, on that sign was written a series of titles.
"It's just to show you exactly what kind of genius you are facing in the cosmos. You are quite lucky, this genius is indeed very interested in you now. I'm curious, how did you manage to achieve such a perfect balance between Nihility and Remembrance within your body, preventing you from continuously falling into Nihility like those Self-Annihilators?"
"Also, how did you crawl out of Nihility like you said before? This is a rare opportunity for me to understand that special Aeon, Nihility."
"Moreover, it seems you can see some of the future and know things to come, even calling yourself an unchosen possibility... I'm very curious about all these questions and want to get answers from you."
Seeing the undisguised thirst for knowledge in Herta's eyes as she looked at him, Caelus understood perfectly. After all, during his time at this space station, the most common "flavor" he encountered was the desire for knowledge.
"Everything follows the principle of 'no pain, no gain.' If I am willing to cooperate with your research and let you get the answers to your questions from me, what do I get in return?"
"Oh, you're not even trying to run? I thought you'd be like some people, thinking they'll be studied, strapped to an operating table and sliced into pieces, and then running away in a panic."
"I've seen everything during your time at the space station, so I know what you want. How about this, if you're willing to cooperate with my research, I'll tell you one of the stories I know for every research session we complete. What do you think?"
"Not enough, the price you're paying isn't equal. Cooperating with your research means I have to entrust everything to you throughout the process. Even if you were to kill me during it, I might not be able to resist. Yet, all you're offering is a story after the research, one that might be fabricated or completely meaningless."
"Hmm... then what about Light Cones from the Garden of Recollection?"
"Deal. After each research session, give me one Light Cone from the Garden of Recollection."
"Fine."
Caelus could clearly feel a certain barrier or shield around him being removed. Then, the mirror in front of him formed a crimson vortex, and Herta's voice came from within.
"Those little ones on the Astral Express seem to have run into some trouble. Go give them a hand. While you're at it, let me observe the situation between you and that Stelle."
At this moment, on the Platform of the Herta Space Station, a Doomsday Beast was letting out a roar.
Facing this Doomsday Beast were the newly awakened Stelle, along with Dan Heng, March 7th, and Himeko from the Astral Express.
Just as the four of them prepared to battle this "starter village boss," the sound of shattering glass rang out, followed by the appearance of a crimson spiral. A figure stepped out from within that spiral.
Suddenly, a pink figure appeared in front of the laser beam being spat out by the Doomsday Beast.
"Mem!"
The domain of idel expanded at this moment. Whether it was the four people facing the Doomsday Beast, the attacking Doomsday Beast itself, or even the laser beam it was spitting out, everything within this domain was paused.
Within this domain, the young man, moving as usual, silently approached the monster's core. A strange, spiral-shaped weapon appeared in his hand, covered by a layer of black mist that looked like a thin veil.
However, the young man thought for a moment and put the weapon away. Instead, black mud surged continuously over his right hand, eventually forming a pitch-black beast claw.
That pitch-black beast claw tore through the Doomsday Beast's core with ease.
Caelus silently led Mem away from the battle. Then, as the idel domain ended and everything returned to normal, the laser beam collapsed halfway, and the Doomsday Beast let out a wail, falling onto the Platform and losing its ability to move for a short time.
The four who were just about to enter battle looked at this scene in a daze, but they knew the Doomsday Beast had not been completely dealt with yet. Now was not the time to search for the cause.
The enemy is paralyzed, it's time for an all-out attack!
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)