Herta Xianzhou, boarding platform.
This platform had been built along the Xianzhou's side, an absurdly vast expanse of deck.
Herman slowly walked up the steps. The moment he raised his eyes, he saw the distant sea of stars, a section of the Star Rail opened by Akivili, and six world-ships lined up neatly in a row.
First was the ship in the center, the Luofu.
Calling it a ship was somewhat misleading. It looked more like a mountain growing upside down, and its peak was as large as a sun. More importantly, it contained Delve technology, which meant the Xianzhou's habitable space was even greater than it appeared from the outside. It was a true world-ship in every sense of the word.
To the Luofu's left was the Yuque.
Its hull rose layer upon layer, forming a towering divination pavilion that seemed to pierce the clouds. A massive compass floated above the top floor, its pointer slowly rotating. Each time it completed a revolution, a ring of glowing patterns resembling divination symbols lit up around the ship.
To the Luofu's right was the Zhuming.
It was an enormous Xianzhou shaped like a furnace. Red light constantly flickered across its surface, and faint sounds of metal being forged seemed to drift from within.
Farther out was the Yaoqing.
Its hull was narrow and long, resembling an unsheathed blade. Flags covered the ship, each embroidered with fox tails.
The entire vessel radiated a kind of forcefulness, like someone standing in the very front row of a formation, ready to charge forward at any moment.
Beside the Yaoqing was the Fanghu.
This one was the most interesting. Just like its name suggested, the ship really did resemble a giant pot.
It was square, with its mouth facing the sky.
An entire world existed inside the opening. However, some of its Delves were still damaged and undergoing repairs after being pierced by the Reignbow Arbiter's arrow of light during the Battle of the Fanghu.
The final Xianzhou was the Xuling, an ancient-looking bronze-colored vessel.
Herman looked over all six before silently thinking, All six Xianzhou are pretty good.
Then he lowered his head and looked at his own Herta Xianzhou beneath his feet.
Its hull was black and violet, larger than a star, and shaped like a pointed hat that had been taken off and placed in space. It radiated mystery and wisdom. More importantly, she could transform into a humanoid shipgirl.
Herman could not help thinking, The Xianzhou built by Herta is still prettier and more perfect.
With his evaluation complete, it was time to get to work. Thinking this, Herman called for Fourth Mirror.
"I'm here." Fourth Mirror's voice came from a speaker beside one of the boarding platform's surveillance cameras.
"The Xianzhou Alliance's marshal and six Arbiter-Generals will be boarding soon. Arrange a welcoming ceremony as quickly as possible and prepare a proper reception for them."
"Understood," Fourth Mirror replied crisply.
However, after answering, Fourth Mirror remembered that she was still an Intellitron AI without a physical body.
If she wanted to formally arrange a welcoming ceremony, the Hertas would still have to do the actual work.
So Fourth Mirror began making calls.
...
The Blue, Herta City, inside a dormitory.
Herta 05 was sprawled across a sofa, enjoying the one day off she only got once a month.
Crouched beside her was a small white creature with long ears and red eyes. It was Kyubey, the familiar newly born from the Soul Gem factory.
The girl and familiar were curled up together watching this episode of Keeping Up With Star Rail, hosted by Owlbert.
At that moment, the communicator rang.
"Herta 05." Fourth Mirror's voice came from the device. "Madam Herta has issued an order. Immediately prepare a welcoming ceremony for the Xianzhou Alliance. Location: Herta Xianzhou's reception platform."
Hearing this, Herta 05 shot upright from the sofa. "Today's my day off!"
"I know."
"You know and you're still giving me work?!"
"You're the most capable Herta under Madam Herta."
"Being the most capable means you get to work me to death? Isn't that bullying an honest person?" Herta 05 grabbed Kyubey beside her. "Besides, I still have to take care of Kyubey."
Fourth Mirror said, "In any case, I've delivered the notice. So, Herta 05, start working."
Herta 05 complained, "If Second Madam Herta were here, she definitely wouldn't work me like this! Second Madam Herta is so gentle."
Complaints were complaints, but the work still had to be done.
One system hour later, a team of Hertas from the Soul Gem factory, led by Herta 05, activated their super gene · spacetime wormhole technology and quickly boarded Herta Xianzhou.
Some rolled out the red carpet.
Some set up ceremonial cannons, while others hung banners. Written across one banner were the words:
[Welcome, Marshal and Generals of the Xianzhou Alliance, to Herta Xianzhou]
Herta 05 directed everyone with a megaphone:
"Herta honor guard, line up properly! You over there, yes, I'm talking to you. Stand straight!"
"And the ones handling the ceremonial cannons, remember this: fire them the moment their feet touch down!"
The little Hertas answered in unison and continued bustling about.
...
Meanwhile.
Aboard the many Xianzhou vessels surrounding the Star Rail, Cloud Knight officers and soldiers climbed to high vantage points and gazed toward Herta Xianzhou.
They could hardly help it.
The ship opposite them was larger than all six of the Xianzhou Alliance's world-ships and even more beautiful.
The Xianzhou generals were observing Herta Xianzhou as well. Before long, Huaiyan stroked his white beard and slowly said, "Herta Xianzhou is indeed extraordinary. In terms of grandeur, even if we tied all six of our world-ships together, they still couldn't compare."
"As for beauty..." He paused, then sighed. "We can't compare there either. The world-ship Xianzhou Herta built truly surpassed its origins."
No one objected.
Because it was true.
Herta Xianzhou was so beautiful it looked as though some deity had taken off Their hat and casually placed it in the sea of stars.
And yes, it really was the hat of a deity—the Aeon of Spirituality—placed among the stars.
"It's not just that ship." Jing Yuan stood with his back to the window, eyes narrowed. "Look farther out."
The Arbiter-Generals followed his gaze.
Behind Herta Xianzhou, a "star" shone quietly. It was not a star, but the Super Herta Astral Computer, currently drawing energy from the Imaginary Tide Belt to sustain its own operation.
Farther away, another "star" sat motionless.
That was World City.
It was the artificial Gaia planet The Herta had only recently created. Its volume exceeded that of a star, and billions of immigrants from across the galaxy lived within the city.
And behind those two "stars" were two invisible dimensions.
The Dark Plane.
The Warp.
"Astral computer, World City, Herta Xianzhou, plus those invisible dimensions..." Feixiao counted on her fingers. "All of them are megastructures."
"All built by Herta alone."
At that moment, Yao Guang picked up the thought:
"And the amount of time Herta needed to accomplish all this was absurdly short."
"Counting from the day she solved Solitary Waves Theory and joined the Genius Society until today..."
"Less than four months."
All the generals fell silent upon hearing this.
Four months.
An ordinary war between the Xianzhou Yaoqing and the Borisin could last longer than that even when it ended in an epic victory.
"Everyone." Marshal Hua, standing at the very front, turned around and looked at the Arbiter-Generals with a solemn expression. "Yao Guang used Fortune Hexagram to divine The Herta. You all know the result."
"The Herta will one day open the Path of Spirituality, ascend to godhood, and become an Aeon."
"Her current self is that Aeon's anchor, Their past incarnation."
"Just by standing here, she is already a singular existence beneath the stars."
"You should all understand how such an existence must be treated."
"Officially, our purpose here is to invite Shipgirl Herta into the Alliance."
"But in truth..."
She looked toward the enormous black pointed hat that was Herta Xianzhou's true body at the other end of the sea of stars and spoke word by word.
"We are going to pay our respects."
"The Xianzhou's formal request for audience was sent to Herta Xianzhou several system hours ago. Now we must await their response and are not to move without permission."
Just as Marshal Hua finished speaking, Yao Guang's phone vibrated. She picked it up, checked the message, then raised her head and addressed everyone beside her:
"The Herta replied. She wants all of us to board Herta Xianzhou together. She will receive us."
"Good. Then we'll all use the power of Arbiter-Generals, Emanators, to perform a spatial jump!"
Seven streaks of light appeared around the Star Rail.
Seven figures jumped through space, crossed half a star system, and landed on Herta Xianzhou's boarding platform.
Marshal Hua came first, followed one by one by Jing Yuan, Yao Guang, Huaiyan, Feixiao, General Xuanquan Fubo of the Fanghu, and General Youwu Chenming of the Xuling. The moment they raised their eyes, they saw a red carpet stretching toward the horizon.
The Herta honor guard stood rigidly on both sides of the carpet. The instant the visitors landed, they saluted in perfect unison.
Boom!
The ceremonial cannons fired right on cue.
Then all the little Hertas shouted together:
"Welcome, Marshal and Generals of the Xianzhou Alliance, to Herta Xianzhou!"
The Xianzhou generals: "..."
The Arbiter-Generals stood frozen at one end of the red carpet, unsure which foot they should move first.
They had originally believed that after Herta became the future Aeon of Spirituality, she might lose her humanity, or perhaps begin to look down upon mortals like them.
Yet unexpectedly, her attitude toward them remained the same as always. She still treated their arrival with great importance.
The group walked along the red carpet and soon saw someone standing at its end.
A black-and-violet dress, a pointed hat, and a black-and-violet magic wand in hand. It was Madam Herta.
Beside her stood a small figure who looked extremely similar to the Hertas in the honor guard.
Marshal Hua stopped upon seeing this and was the first to clasp her hands in greeting.
"I have long heard of Madam Herta's great name. To finally meet you today is truly an honor beyond measure."
Hearing this, Herman raised his head and looked at Marshal Hua, then paused.
He knew that face far too well. She looked almost identical to Fu Hua, the Phoenix from the Honkai world of the Solar System who had guarded civilization for fifty thousand years.
The two looked as though they had been carved from the same mold.
Of course, their temperaments were completely different.
Fu Hua from the Honkai world wore a stern face all day and was almost painfully wooden.
The woman before him was dressed in red military attire. Simply standing there was enough to make people's legs go weak even without glaring at them, and her features carried an aura of natural authority and nobility, like someone born to command.
After inwardly marveling at the resemblance, Herman raised a hand and spoke calmly:
"No need for such formality, Marshal. Guests who come from afar are welcome. Welcome aboard."
"Everyone, follow me!"
Herman led them all into a reception room and had them sit down. The moment Marshal Hua took her seat, she could no longer hold back and immediately spoke:
"Forgive the abruptness of our visit. We came for one matter. The Alliance sincerely invites Shipgirl Herta to join the Xianzhou Alliance."
Herman smiled and nodded to show that he understood, then gestured toward the person beside him. "She is Shipgirl Herta, and she is also Herta Xianzhou itself."
All the Xianzhou generals turned their gazes in unison toward the tiny figure who looked remarkably similar to a Herta Puppet.
She was so small that she looked underage, and when she stood there, the top of her head did not even reach anyone's shoulder.
Yet this tiny person was, in reality, Herta Xianzhou, a world-ship larger than a star.
Everyone could not help thinking:
The power of an entire planetary-scale megastructure is contained inside such a tiny body. Then her combat strength...
Every Xianzhou general felt inwardly shaken after thinking about it for even a moment.
Very soon, Marshal Hua rose from the sofa, stepped forward, and warmly extended an invitation to Shipgirl Herta:
"Shipgirl Herta."
"I, Hua, Marshal of the Xianzhou Alliance, formally invite you to join the Alliance on its behalf."
"Will you accept?"
The reception room instantly fell silent.
Shipgirl Herta raised her head, first glanced at The Herta beside her, then turned toward Marshal Hua and voiced the question in her heart:
"I need to confirm one thing with you."
"After joining the Xianzhou Alliance, can I continue staying by Madam Herta's side?"
Marshal Hua answered without the slightest hesitation. "Of course."
"The Alliance is inviting you to join. We will not forcibly require you to station yourself anywhere. After all, we will be allies in an equal relationship, not superior and subordinate."
"And after you join the Alliance, the Alliance will not issue you any compulsory orders. On this point, I give you my guarantee in my capacity as Marshal."
Shipgirl Herta quietly listened to the entire answer, then nodded.
"Then I am willing."
The moment those words fell, a smile appeared on Marshal Hua's face.
She turned her palm over, and a long golden scroll appeared within it.
The emblem of The Hunt was woven across the scroll, while feathered-arrow patterns rotated through the golden light.
This was the Divine Edict of The Hunt.
Marshal Hua had prepared it long ago.
"I, Hua, Marshal of the Xianzhou Alliance, hereby proclaim on behalf of all the Alliance's generals—"
The edict unfurled, and Marshal Hua's voice rang out word by word:
"Shipgirl Herta is hereby invested..."
"As the seventh world-ship of the Xianzhou Alliance!"
"And granted the title of Arbiter-General!"
"From this day forward, the seven Xianzhou vessels shall stand side by side and jointly safeguard the security of the cosmos!"
Boom!
The instant the edict was issued, a tremendous disturbance erupted across the starry sky of The Blue system. A line of light suddenly split open across the sea of stars.
That light was perfectly straight and razor-sharp, like an arrow nocked upon a bowstring but not yet released.
Lan, the Aeon of The Hunt, had turned Their gaze this way.
That gaze fell upon Shipgirl Herta.
Before long, an arrow-shaped emblem slowly condensed on the back of Shipgirl Herta's hand.
It marked that Shipgirl Herta had been acknowledged by Lan, the Aeon of The Hunt, as the Xianzhou Alliance's seventh Xianzhou and its seventh Arbiter-General.
Then Lan's gaze shifted slightly and landed upon The Herta, lingering for a single instant.
That gaze seemed to say, Why did you have to become an Aeon in the future? Now I can't even properly bestow an Emanator's blessing upon you.
After all, from a certain perspective, Herta was already the Aeon of Spirituality, an Aeon just like Them.
The two stood at the same level of existence!
One instant later, Lan withdrew Their gaze.
The line of light across the sea of stars closed.
...
Deep within the Warp, inside the Simulated Laboratory.
The Herta, who was conducting an experiment, sensed something. A faint smile curved her lips as she silently thought
Herta Xianzhou has become an Arbiter-General of the Xianzhou Alliance. That means in the future, I can try researching the Path of The Hunt, and perhaps even comprehend the mysteries behind Lan's original ascension to Aeonhood.