The torn sea of stars trembled, space fractured everywhere. One great star after another had already fallen. Several warships within the Borisin fleet failed to deploy their defensive arrays in time and were blown apart by the aftershock of the collision between the Star-Crushing Bomb and the Herta Magic Cannon.
As for the gaseous planet Ruanruan, she preserved herself with raging storms. Of course, doing so consumed a great deal of energy, and her body shrank considerably once more.
On the other side, the sun locked in a frenzied battle with the demonic star Rahu. It was not affected by the aftershock of the clash between the Herta Magic Cannon and the Star-Crushing Bomb. However, the Irontomb virus still plagued it, preventing it from exerting its full strength. Its internal systems continued to flash with error warnings.
The demonic star, too, remained unaffected by the shockwave. Thus, it continued its great battle against the sun. The second round of the stellar war unfolded.
...
Elsewhere, Herta, using her fourth-generation divine body, also withstood the explosive aftershock without being harmed.
Ruan Mei was a master of biology and an Emanator of Erudition. Naturally, she remained unscathed as well.
Meanwhile, Celenova, observing the battlefield through the Antimatter Legion's surveillance, narrowed her eyes and murmured, "Even though Ruan Mei has been restrained by the Irontomb virus, Herta alone was able to block my Harmonic of Destruction. Incredible..."
The moment those words fell, Celenova intensified her efforts, deploying even more of the Antimatter Legion and commanding the legion's monsters to sing more—better and more exquisite—harmonics of Destruction.
Through the resonance of harmonic sound, she sought to further empower the Doomsday Beasts and grant the two geniuses of the Yongmei Star System utter annihilation.
"Ahhh..."
Celenova sat upon the sea of stars, one hand pressed against her chest as she lifted her head and sang loudly. The stellar ring above her glowed brilliantly.
At the same time, countless Antimatter Legion troops freshly born from the Warforge charged toward the star rail.
Their destination—the shattered world of the Yongmei Star System.
...
"The numbers of the Antimatter Legion, Doomsday Beasts, Tramplers, and Voidrangers are still increasing." Ruan Mei, who possessed the highest authority over the Yongmei Star System, instantly detected the anomaly within it. She turned her head and said to Herta,
"It seems that if you refuse to join the Destruction faction this time, Celenova is determined to kill you."
Herta raised an eyebrow. "Who kills whom is still uncertain. I am the genius Herta, destined to surpass everything. I will not die, and I have a countermeasure. And I believe I am not the only one with a solution—Ruan Mei, you have one as well, don't you?"
Ruan Mei nodded lightly, then shook her head. "I did have a countermeasure. Whether it was a Lord Ravager of the Destruction faction or the demonic star of the Abundance faction, I could have dealt with them. But just now, things changed... The arrival of the Irontomb virus has rendered my defensive measures ineffective."
"So from here on out, it all depends on me?" Herta arched her brow again. "If that's truly the case, then let me act."
Ruan Mei fixed her with a serious gaze. "Are you certain you can handle a Lord Ravager's virus, another Lord Ravager striking from afar, and the demonic star and Borisin fleet of the Abundance faction?"
"I can. Don't underestimate me. The Irontomb virus is nothing. It cannot affect my upgraded Super Herta Astral Computer 2.0. As for Celenova—or even the Borisin fleet—I can deal with them all."
Herta's voice brimmed with confidence.
Of course, there was a reason for such confidence. Part of the structural blueprint for the Super Herta Astral Computer 2.0 came from Scepter δ-me13—the very place where Irontomb was nurtured.
One could say that the Scepter was Irontomb's mother. And the Super Herta Astral Computer, having integrated the mysteries of the Emperor's Scepter, was Irontomb's stern parent.
Super Herta Astral Computer—activate!
At the edge of The Blue star system, the Super Herta Astral Computer roared into full operation, drawing Imaginary energy from the Imaginary Tide and even siphoning solar energy from the stellar system.
Vast computational power was mobilized by Herta, activating the Solar Radiance Gene.
In that instant, boundless radiant flames ignited upon Herta's wand. The blazing light shot forth and plunged into the sun of the Yongmei Star System, temporarily loading it with the Solar Radiance Gene.
The gene integration succeeded flawlessly. In that moment, immeasurable brilliance surged across the Yongmei sun. Its control over its own energy became far more refined, and the power it released increased dramatically.
Originally suppressed by the demonic star, it now struck back in an instant—pressing Rahu down instead.
Rahu was utterly dumbfounded.
What is happening?
Herta merely fired a beam of light, and the sun is no longer affected by the virus?
And its combat strength has risen so drastically that it can suppress me?!
Confusion flooded Rahu's mind. Then it was driven backward by the increasingly fierce assaults of the sun. Even the countless material substances covering its body began to ignite under the solar blaze.
The outcome of the stellar battle began to shift. The sun of the Yongmei Star System started gaining the upper hand.
Seeing this, surprise flickered through Ruan Mei's eyes. "Herta, your Super Astral Computer is unaffected by the Irontomb virus?"
"It has undergone an upgrade." Herta smiled faintly. "Naturally, it will not be affected by the Irontomb virus."
"And what exactly was the enhancement you just granted it?" Ruan Mei closed her eyes briefly to sense it. "Its combat strength increased so drastically that it could immediately suppress the demonic star. Yet in my perception, the sun is still influenced by the Irontomb virus. It should be weakening further, not growing stronger."
"A super gene—the Solar Radiance Gene. A form of genetic ascension technology capable of allowing life to unleash attacks as fierce as the sun itself." Herta paused slightly before continuing, "Of course, the reason the Yongmei sun could load this super gene is also because you biologically modified it, Ruan Mei. You granted it true life. Only then could it integrate the super gene."
Ruan Mei's heart stirred. "Does this super gene relate to your previous research into the Dark Plane? I can also sense that you are currently channeling the computational power of the super astral computer into the sun itself, which is why it grows braver and stronger as it battles Rahu."
"Correct. Your analysis is entirely accurate." Herta nodded.
At that very moment, the will within the Blood of Abundance—Shuhu, Emanator of Abundance—let out a sinister laugh.
"One demonic star you two geniuses can repel. But what about two?"
The instant those words fell, the star track trembled.
Another demonic star once created by Shuhu—Roaming Star Ketu Mirage—emerged within the shattered Yongmei Star System.
It was an enormous celestial body covered in countless trees, lush and jade-green, hauntingly beautiful.
The moment it appeared, it joined forces with Rahu and launched a ferocious assault upon the sun of the Yongmei Star System.
The two demonic stars fought the sun together, forcibly interrupting the momentum of its imminent victory.
The sun's radiance was once again obscured by the demonic stars... once more falling into a disadvantage.
Seeing this, Shuhu's eyes flashed brilliantly.
"With two demonic stars, how will you two geniuses respond? And now it is not only demonic stars present. The Borisin fleet is still advancing along the star rail. Even more forces are on their way!"
"Likewise, Celenova contacted me just now. She says she will deploy even more Antimatter Legion monsters. You two members of the Genius Society are finished!"
"Today, this star system shall be the place of your fall."
"Hahaha..."
After finishing his words, Shuhu burst into loud laughter, utterly delighted.
Herta was about to retort when Ruan Mei suddenly sensed something and spoke first.
"Herta, I can confirm what Shuhu said. The situation is indeed deteriorating."
"First, another demonic star has arrived. The Borisin fleet is pushing forward along the star rail."
"They will soon reach the Yongmei Star System. And the Antimatter Legion monsters deployed by Celenova are increasing in number... This war is about to evolve into a full factional conflict!"
"Are you afraid, Ruan Mei?"
"Afraid? I have never experienced such a negative emotion. I am only worried something might happen to you." Ruan Mei's gaze remained fixed on Herta as she spoke. "No matter what, I am an Emanator of Erudition. In the chaos of a factional war, I can preserve myself. But you, Herta—at this moment, both you and your creation, the God Tree, are being watched by Shuhu, Celenova, and even Lygus. You are in great danger."
Herta smiled faintly. "If you are not afraid, then neither am I. As for something happening to me... rest assured. I am Herta, destined to stand at the pinnacle of the universe. How could anything happen to me?"
After speaking, Herta began mobilizing the immense computational power of the Super Herta Astral Computer, channeling it into the sun of the Yongmei Star System and pushing the Solar Radiance Gene to its extreme—reaching the level of a third-generation divine being.
At that moment, the Yongmei sun, which had been suppressed by the two demonic stars, seemed to enter a berserk state. Even while infected by the Irontomb virus and flashing endless error warnings, it erupted with terrifying light and heat.
Solar core fission. Fusion.
Helium flash. Ignition.
Boundless radiance and heat transformed into devastating solar attacks, striking toward Roaming Star Ketu Mirage and Devourer of Worlds Rahu.
The two demonic stars had clearly not anticipated that the sun could enter a second frenzy. Caught off guard, they were forced into successive retreats.
Shuhu, who had been laughing wildly moments earlier, fell silent once more. He could no longer laugh. Grinding his teeth, he snarled,
"How is this possible? A third force has already intervened and spread the virus. The virus has clearly affected that sun. How can its radiance still rise?!"
The moment he uttered those words, a terrible premonition surged within him.
In the next instant, that premonition came true.
Herta raised her wand high. In a blink, the micro-wormhole transfer technology she had pushed to its absolute limit was unleashed.
With the support of the Super Herta Astral Computer 2.0, her spacetime genetic ability reached its peak. Micro-wormhole transfer evolved into full wormhole transfer.
A colossal wormhole opened within the Yongmei Star System.
Its other end connected to the coordinates of Mars within The Blue star system.
At the same time, through the link of the Stigmata space, The Herta contacted Herta 09 and issued an order.
"Understood, Madam Herta. I will increase the Honkai energy concentration on Mars and send the Honkai Beasts that have not yet been castrated into the wormhole to join the war!" Herta 09 responded swiftly.
In the very next moment, she broadcast the announcement across Mars.
Instantly, countless Honkai Beasts that had not yet been castrated—still retaining their innate instincts for slaughter and destruction—grew excited and charged frantically toward the wormhole.
...
"Roar. Madam Herta, your finest mount, Benares, has arrived."
The Judgment-class Honkai Beast Benares flapped her wings and was the first to emerge from the wormhole, releasing a roar that shook the void.
The next moment, even more Honkai Beasts poured out from the wormhole in a surging tide. Without needing Herta's direct command, they immediately locked onto the Antimatter Legion monsters of the Path of Destruction and charged at them.
Honkai Legion VS Antimatter Legion.
Voidrangers clashed with Seraph-class and Knight-class Honkai Beasts.
Tramplers faced off against Chariot-class and Templar-class Honkai Beasts.
Doomsday Beasts collided with Emperor-class, Judgment-class, and Vipralopa-class Honkai Beasts.
...
The Yongmei Star System descended into even greater chaos.
More crucially, both Celenova and Herta continued deploying additional forces under their command.
Overall, the number of Antimatter Legion troops under Celenova far exceeded those under Herta.
However, this war in the Yongmei Star System had erupted suddenly. Even Celenova could not mobilize vast numbers of legion soldiers instantly.
More importantly, she had never anticipated that Herta could summon billions of Honkai creatures into battle—and that those Honkai monsters could fight the Antimatter Legion soldiers to a standstill.
"Honkai Beasts..."
Celenova murmured the name softly, the halo above her head flickering as she rapidly accessed related information.
This was Herta's invention. In collaboration with the Interastral Peace Corporation, it had been launched as a product and had already become a best-seller across the cosmos.
At first, the Destruction faction had classified Honkai Beasts as mere pets. Now, it was clear that judgment had been absurdly wrong.
The Honkai Beasts developed by Herta possessed terrifying wartime potential.
After arriving at that conclusion, Celenova felt even more strongly that Herta was perfectly suited to join the Destruction faction and become a Lord Ravager.
After all, Herta had single-handedly developed the biotechnology of Honkai Beasts.
Moreover, judging by how the Honkai Beast swarms were sold cosmic-wide through the IPC without exhausting biological stock, their production capacity was extraordinarily high—perhaps even rivaling the manufacturing speed of Antimatter Legion monsters.
At this moment, Celenova's gaze toward Herta was filled with admiration.
She was already preparing to extend a second invitation to Herta—this time offering even better terms to persuade her to join the Destruction faction.