Inside the Blue Federation's conference chamber, the gathered high officials stared at the satellite projection. On the screen, Miss Herta held her wand high and annihilated every Honkai Beast in sight. One by one, their pupils trembled violently.
Especially the Supreme Leader of the Blue Federation. Not long ago, he had even arranged bodyguards for Miss Herta. But now it seemed... those arrangements had been completely unnecessary.
Though Herta appeared beautiful and delicate, giving off the impression of someone fragile and in need of protection, her true strength was terrifying.
At the very least, eliminating one hundred thousand Honkai Beasts within mere seconds—such a feat was utterly beyond the Blue Federation's military capability.
More crucially, the satellite footage clearly showed that even after wiping out so many Honkai Beasts, Herta's expression remained calm and composed. Not even a single drop of sweat appeared on her face.
At that moment, the Supreme Leader decided to add a new line to Miss Herta's personal file:
83rd Seat of the Genius Society, Miss Herta—suspected to possess planet-destroying-level combat power.
Her Herta Magic Wand has evolved from a Soul Gem. The Blue Federation must place an order for Soul Gems and cultivate magical girls of its own.
...
Mars.
The demonic dragon Benares lowered her head, revealing a posture of submission.
Seeing this, The Herta nodded in satisfaction. Then she glanced at Ruan Mei and said, "The Honkai Beasts are dead, but the concentration of Honkai energy across Mars still remains. As long as we continue stacking the density, we can create even more Honkai Beasts."
Ruan Mei gave a slight nod and began synthesizing additional Honkai energy by hand.
The concentration surged once more at a frenzied pace. In an extremely short span of time, more Judgment-class Honkai Beasts appeared—such as Chiyou, and Garuda.
This time, The Herta did not make a move. She handed the opportunity to Ruan Mei.
Ruan Mei did not refuse. She merely glanced at Ruanruan.
The super-biological battleship Ruanruan instantly expanded from a single white cloud into its combat form—a gaseous planet.
Its surface churned with storms and extreme heat. In shape, it resembled Jupiter... filled with planetary vortices, terrifying beyond measure.
Rumble—
Ruanruan advanced. The colossal gaseous planet approached the surface of Mars and extended two storm-formed hands, each vast as a continental shelf, seizing Garuda and Chiyou in its grasp.
"Roar roar..."
Garuda and Chiyou struggled violently, attempting to break free.
But the power of a gaseous planet—one enhanced by an Emanator of Erudition—was not something two mere Judgment-class Honkai Beasts could escape.
In the blink of an eye, the two were dragged into Ruanruan's interior, swept up by planetary storms and hurled about endlessly.
Like clothes tossed inside a washing machine drum...
In only a few seconds, Chiyou's massive body was carved open with countless wounds within the raging storm. Its screams echoed continuously.
As for Garuda, her fate was even more miserable. Her body was completely torn apart. She remained alive solely due to her immortality, shrieking in agony without end.
Ruan Mei observed calmly and commented, "Impressive vitality. Honkai Beasts of this tier are adequate experimental specimens. They should allow me to produce research of real value."
Those words—combined with the agonized howls of Chiyou and Garuda echoing nearby—sent a chill through Benares.
Only now did the demonic dragon truly recognize a terrifying reality. The two tiny humans she had looked down upon were genuine monsters.
In fact, compared to Herta, Ruan Mei felt even more terrifying. At the slightest disagreement, she summoned a combat celestial body to fight. Just look at what had become of her fellow Honkai Beasts.
At that moment, Benares even suspected that had she not chosen submission earlier, she too would now be spinning helplessly within the grasp of the super-biological combat celestial body—Ruanruan.
With that thought, Benares shrank back, pulling her massive body behind The Herta, attempting to convey: You can spin my Honkai Beast brothers around... but don't spin little dragon me.
As for The Herta, she looked up at the sky at the wildly expanding Ruanruan in combat mode and inwardly clicked her tongue.
Ruan Mei's pet is just like Ruan Mei herself. Harmless on the surface... but maximum danger beneath.
Herman also sighed. "Indeed. Who would have thought that a biological battleship named Ruanruan would become so violent and terrifying once it entered combat mode? The contrast is extreme!"
The Herta replied, "Ruan Mei possessing such power is only natural. She is an Emanator of Erudition, after all."
Herman added, "I've heard you chatting before. Ruan Mei once said Ruanruan began as nothing more than an ordinary white cloud."
"That's right," The Herta said. "From then until now, she must have invested countless efforts into Ruanruan to shape it into a portable super gaseous battle planet."
Herman nodded thoughtfully. "In combat mode, the gaseous planet Ruanruan feels comparable to those activated demonic stars empowered by Emanators of Abundance."
"Relax," The Herta said confidently. "In the future, we will also possess such a super combat tool. Of course, it won't be a biological gaseous planet like Ruanruan. It will be Herta Xianzhou, or perhaps a Super Herta Shipgirl!"
"I've never doubted it," Herman replied. "After all, you are my host—the genius Herta."
"Hmph."
Herta let out a soft snort, then sat beneath the gaseous planet and continued converting Imaginary energy, fusing it with crystals to produce more Honkai energy, further raising the Martian concentration.
...
Within the Blue Federation's high-level conference chamber, the officials watched as Ruan Mei—81st Seat—casually transformed a white cloud-shaped vessel into a gaseous planet rivaling Jupiter in scale. They collectively inhaled sharply.
"So this is the 81st Seat—Miss Ruan Mei, senior genius to Miss Herta?"
"That white cloud is something so dangerous... If she were to deploy its combat mode on The Blue, the planet itself might be torn apart within moments!"
"No wonder the Interastral Peace Corporation, the Xianzhou Alliance, and even the Family treat geniuses with utmost courtesy. Geniuses truly defy all reason."
During the meeting, they also constructed Ruan Mei's dossier.
81st Seat of the Genius Society, Miss Ruan Mei—an ultra-genius in cosmic seclusion.
Accompanied by a plum-blossom-shaped white cloud capable of raining down seven-colored light and transforming into a gaseous planet for combat.
Combat capability suspected to be planet-destroying—or perhaps even star-system-destroying.
Alongside Miss Herta, she is an entity the Blue Federation must treat with the utmost respect.
...
Mars.
As The Herta continued generating more Honkai energy and further increased its density, even stronger Honkai Beasts were born.
This time, Vipralopa-class entities emerged—Brahma and Maheśvara.
Yet at the very instant of their birth, they were terrified by the rapidly spinning gaseous planet Ruanruan overhead.
Especially after noticing that two Honkai Beasts inside were already being shredded and spun by storms, reduced to miserable states.
None of them dared move. Like frightened quails, they shrank in place.
Upon seeing Vipralopa-class Honkai Beasts appear, a faint smile curved at the corner of Ruan Mei's lips. "So there are even stronger tiers. Herta, don't stop. Increase the output further. If you lack Imaginary energy, I can supply you."
"No need," Herta replied confidently. "I'm producing Honkai energy at full capacity. As for Imaginary energy—I will never run short."
Hearing this, Ruan Mei realized that Herta must have completed some special research granting her limitless access to Imaginary energy.
Another three minutes passed.
The Honkai energy concentration on Mars grew so dense it could increase no further. The entire planet was shrouded in violet mist.
And at that moment—the Will of Honkai was finally born.
The instant it came into existence, it sensed that countless Honkai Beasts had been slaughtered. Rage, killing intent, and countless negative emotions flooded its consciousness.
It prepared to act—empowering the Vipralopa-class Honkai Beasts and the others... to fight... to kill the thief who had slaughtered so many of its kind.
It constructed a massive energy organ—an eye formed of Honkai energy—to witness the world with its own gaze.
And then it froze.
What is that thing in the sky?!
If that thing falls down... I'll die. I'll definitely die!!
Boundless terror surged within the Will of Honkai. It immediately changed its strategy, choosing to lie dormant and conceal itself until the massive combat celestial body departed.
But at that very moment, The Herta—who had long confirmed that the Honkai concentration had reached its critical threshold and that the Will of Honkai had already been born—turned toward a region thick with violet mist and spoke slowly:
"Will of Honkai. You've been born, haven't you? Hiding instead of showing yourself? Frightened by the current state of Mars?"
"..."
Mars remained silent.
Yet within, the Will of Honkai trembled in horror.
I've been discovered!
Impossible. No one can perceive my hidden state!
She's bluffing!
Thinking this, it concealed itself even deeper.
At that moment, Ruan Mei turned her head and asked, "The Will of Honkai? What is that? Another species among Honkai Beasts?"
"No." The Herta shook her head slightly. "According to my research, when Honkai energy accumulates beyond an extreme critical point, consciousness is born from the energy itself. That is the Will of Honkai. It should have already manifested."
"An energy consciousness... like the heliobi?" Ruan Mei showed interest and began sensing—but could not locate it. She frowned slightly. "Herta, can you find it? If you cannot, I will use other means to force it out."
"Of course I can. In fact, I've already locked onto its position."
Inwardly, Herta silently praised Herman's Research System. Attribute Appraisal truly is convenient for locating hidden energy lifeforms.
"Naturally. None of my functions are inferior," Herman laughed in response.
A smile curved on Herta's lips as she looked toward a direction dense with Honkai energy. "You're right there, aren't you, Will of Honkai?"
She's bluffing. She must be bluffing!
Don't move!
The Will of Honkai destroyed its eye and buried itself like an ostrich, while transmitting a command to all Honkai Beasts—under no circumstances were they to expose information about it.
Benares, Brahma, Maheśvara, and the others received the signal. They looked up at the terrifying combat celestial body overhead and were just about to open their mouths to betray the Will of Honkai—
—but before any of them could speak, the Will of Honkai exerted its power, sealing their mouths shut.
Damn it... betrayal!
They are Honkai Beasts—my natural subordinates—why won't they obey!
Fury filled the Will of Honkai.
Then it sensed a figure approaching.
The woman with the pointed hat—Miss Herta.
Its consciousness trembled.
Have I truly been discovered?
No!
I am the Will of Honkai. I am destined to forge a Honkai civilization, connect to the Imaginary Tree, and ascend into the Cocoon of Finality!
It roared internally.
Yet Herta's footsteps never paused. She continued forward, raised a massive crystal, and wrapped the invisible core of the Will of Honkai with immense power of the Path of Erudition—sealing it into the crystal.
In that instant, the enormous azure crystal turned pure violet.
A voice of disbelief echoed from within it.
"How is this possible... you truly found me..."
It attempted to escape.
But Herta had long been prepared.
She directly activated the No Lower Bound · Xianzhou Delve Seal.
This technique originated from Xianzhou Delve technology.
Herta had acquired it through a transaction with General Yao Guang of Xianzhou Yuque.
While accelerating her thoughts within the Simulated Laboratory, she had already considered how to manifest and control the Will of Honkai in reality. Accordingly, she researched this spatial Delve technology—capable of stretching and expanding space—and developed a sealing formula from it.
And she was Herta. If she chose to research something, success was inevitable.
Indeed, after investing two thousand research points, she successfully mastered the No Lower Bound · Xianzhou Delve Spatial Seal.
As the name implied, under the No Lower Bound · Xianzhou Delve Seal, even if the Will of Honkai sealed within the crystal struggled to escape, it would fall into an absurd predicament—no matter how desperately it fled, it would never truly break free from the seal.