So, I completely forgot about scheduling chapters here on webnovel ORZ. My apologies. Here's a mass release of 50 chapters to hopefully make up for it a bit.
Also, for anyone interested - I retranslated the first 137 chapters.
Anyway, hope you enjoy the novel. Please forgive any wrong terms during Amphoreus. There were so many weird and different terms, and many of them weren't on the wiki.
*****
"Then, welcome aboard the Astral Express."
At the scene.
Under the flickering lights.
Welt extended his hand to Sunday.
"Thank you... everyone."
Sunday also reached out.
The moment they shook hands, it also meant that Sunday would temporarily join the Astral Express as a passenger.
"It seems the story and reality have overlapped once again."
Himeko watched the live broadcast of the story on the screen.
Her pupils reflected the glow.
So far, the story of Honkai: Star Rail had been guiding things in a positive direction.
Himeko sometimes wondered.
How was the version of herself in the Honkai Impact 3rd world doing...
Would everything in the end,
turn out as they said—
transforming this imperfect story into the one they hoped for?
Perhaps,
the emergence of Honkai: Star Rail was meant for this purpose.
If the outcome was good, we could follow the story's development and progress in that direction.
If the outcome was unfavorable, we could avoid it in advance and change reality.
And now it was version 2.7. Would the next version be 2.8?
Or...
would it jump straight to 3.0?
Given Yu Ling's style.
Version 3.0 should be about the events on Amphoreus.
Himeko's thoughts were racing.
The screen dimmed.
Inside the venue, with the loss of its only light source, it grew somewhat dim.
Only the occasional flickering sparks illuminated the varied expressions on everyone's faces.
Suddenly.
A voice rang out!
"No, not quite yet."
A familiar voice!
This was—
Herta's voice!
For a moment, Himeko thought Herta had appeared at the scene!
But the screen lighting up immediately dispelled that thought.
The story's perspective shifted to the Herta space station!
Staff members were shutting down their computers and turning off the lights, preparing to leave the office area in an orderly manner.
"Let's go, it's time to leave the space station."
At the entrance to Herta's office.
Asta still glanced back with some concern.
But this was, after all, Lady Herta.
She seemed to think her worries were unnecessary.
She followed the other staff members and left.
...
"???"
"Herta gave all the staff a holiday?"
"This atmosphere feels like a storm is brewing."
"Wow! Is Herta really going to meet Nous at the space station?"
"Probably the entire space station will be wiped out. No wonder she evacuated everyone first."
"So soon? I thought there'd be more buildup..."
"Friend Caelus, it seems you still don't quite understand Lady Herta."
"Giving advance notice is already an act of Mercy from Lady Herta. Of course, it might also be because the station's staff would interfere with her progress..."
"Makes sense!"
...
Seeing this sudden scene on the screen!
Everyone had no time to say much to welcome Sunday.
They all turned their attention to the story!
In the audience seats.
Everyone also instinctively stopped what they were doing.
Watching the next scene with tension and anticipation.
The bright, clean, and efficient space station seemed to fall into a "standby" state for the first time.
The perspective shifted to Herta's office.
Just beyond a single door.
Herta stood there expressionless.
No,
To be precise,
It was Lady Herta's doll.
At this moment,
The doll remained completely motionless, as if it had truly become a lifeless puppet!
As all personnel evacuated.
The doll suddenly moved!
And began speaking to itself.
"Indeed, this is merely a tiny ripple no one will ever know about..."
"And you must understand, for a genius,"
"The importance of asking questions even surpasses that of finding answers."
As the doll advanced.
The surrounding perspective unlocked.
Along both walls,
Rows upon rows of Herta dolls stood neatly arranged!
The vast office now felt crowded and cramped!
She arrived at the entrance to the Simulated Universe.
Lights flickered on.
Around her, glowing mirrors shimmered into existence!
Each mirror reflected the figure of a woman.
Tall and elegant.
Wearing a pointed witch's hat on her head.
"Even so-called magic has its principles,"
The doll gradually ascended.
Shattered glass intertwined and coiled around her!
"There are no unsolvable problems in this world."
"Then..."
As Herta murmured to herself.
All the Herta dolls overloaded and collapsed.
Even the space station's Energy was fully concentrated!
A crimson light,
Surged forth!
Bathed in the radiance,
Was an exquisitely beautiful yet utterly indifferent face.
She slowly spoke:
"Omniscient existence—"
"I pose to you a question—"
"—What is divinity?"
The dazzling crimson light before her.
Was unmistakably the symbol of the Aeon of Erudition!
Upon the massive disc,
Mechanical patterns were clearly visible.
It seemed,
In the next moment,
It would descend upon this space station!
...
"You're actually serious!"
"Damn! I'm having trouble breathing!"
"Using the Energy of an entire space station and all her dolls just to face an Aeon... How much effort did that take..."
"As expected of Herta herself, I never even thought of this question..."
"Could Lady Herta be aiming to become a god herself?"
"Did she even manage to crash Nous with her question?"
...
[A New Venture on the Eighth Dawn, Completed]
[Trailblaze Mission, Interlude]
[To be continued in the next installment]
Although the 2.7 storyline has temporarily concluded.
This final ending undoubtedly stirred up a storm across the entire universe!
Just minutes later.
[Lady Herta Audiences Nous] skyrocketed to the top of the trending charts!
Beneath the related tags.
Countless players gathered to discuss!
[Aeon]
[The pressure is overwhelming, truly worthy of the God of All Machinery. It's hard to imagine how awe-inspiring it will be when the Trailblazer glimpses the Path of Erudition in the future!]
[No way! Why would the Stellaron creature deserve a glance from the Aeon of Erudition? [facepalm]]
[Nous: Let's examine this internet-famous creature ( ]
[It's hard to imagine what expression Professor Ratio will have then...]
[Herta's Audience]
[ [Image] This should be Nous simulated by the Simulated Universe. Shutting down the dolls and the space station was likely to provide Energy for the Simulated Universe.]
[I lean more toward it being the Aeon itself. During the Gold and Gears storyline, when the protagonist played as Akivili, didn't they already meet Nous? Meeting an Aeon in the Simulated Universe wouldn't require such a grand setup.]
[The computational power of the Simulated Universe is quite high (70% of the Scepter), so it's not strange at all to use it to meet the true Aeon—neither too much nor too little, just right. And don't forget, Herta is an Emanator of Erudition! I guarantee that Herta is meeting Nous in person, definitely not the Aeon from the Simulated Universe!]
[What Is Divinity]
[What is divinity? This topic is truly fascinating. This question will most likely be answered throughout the entire Star Rail 3.0 version (just like "Why does life slumber?").]
[It feels like the current plot is focusing on gods. Jingliu and Luocha want to slay a god, Tingyun also wants to make a god pay the price, the Lord of Sunday is half a step away from ascension, Sunday openly questions Xipe, Kafka says the final battle will be against Nanook, the Ten Stonehearts of the company are also preparing for a divine war...]
[I'm really looking forward to seeing the spectacle when the divine war breaks out later!]
[If a real divine war breaks out, you won't be happy about it.]
[By then, both you and I will just be casualty numbers in the background.]
[Dear Caelus friends, why not join the Harmony Choir now and become part of Harmony? There might be a chance to survive~]
[I think I'd rather have Nanook blow me to ashes directly—it'd be quicker...]
...
And at this moment,
Herta Space Station.
The staff who had just finished watching the storyline were all starting to sweat profusely!
Because,
just moments ago!
Lady Herta had indeed ordered all staff to leave the space station!