'Hertatomb' fashioned a camera out of thin air, holding it in her hand.
Truth be told, with Irontomb's body, there was no real need to conjure an extra one, but sometimes, a sense of ceremony is important.
"This is all your fault, Celenova. If you hadn't kept coming at me, I wouldn't have to do this."
"You stop that right now!"
"No can do. I have to make sure you learn your lesson, otherwise you'll just attack me again."
That's what 'Hertatomb' said.
Then, right before Celenova's wide, disbelieving eyes, she thrust the camera lens squarely at her chest, where no fabric blocked the view.
Click.
The shutter fell.
The form-fitting undergarments resembled a low-cut dress, while the sleeveless jacket hung open, covering only the sides.
Allowing the naturally proud curve of her chest to display a near-perfect arc under the light.
Celenova nearly fainted from rage. This bastard went straight for her chest from the get-go?
"Bai Ming?! Just you wait till I get my chance!"
"See? You still want to fight me. That means the lesson wasn't strong enough."
'Hertatomb' flashed a wicked grin.
Taking inspiration from those excellent photography examples found on the StarNet.
She began forcing Celenova to pose for her very own photoshoot.
And, thanks to the exceptional quality of the model, Celenova herself, 'Hertatomb' only needed to mimic those examples to capture one perfect photo after another.
Paired with Celenova's expressions of disdain and fury, calling them breathtakingly beautiful was no exaggeration at all.
After shooting an entire set—who knows, hundreds of photos or short videos later—'Hertatomb' set the camera down.
Just as Celenova breathed a sigh of relief, thinking this punitive game was finally over, she saw 'Hertatomb' raise a hand and reach towards her.
"?!?!"
Celenova tensed up immediately, instinctively struggling,
Trying to break the threads binding her.
This bastard! She really was after her!
Just taking pictures wasn't enough, she wanted to do more?!
But it was painfully obvious.
With Celenova's strength, she was no match for the current 'Hertatomb'.
An absolute gap in power, compounded by ability counters, left Celenova little different from a fish on a chopping block.
"Guh... just kill me..."
Celenova watched in despair as 'Hertatomb's' hands landed on her shoulders.
To think she, a Lord Ravager, would meet such a humiliating end.
However, what awaited her wasn't the slipping away of her clothes, but a restructuring of the fabric.
After all, no matter what, 'Hertatomb' couldn't exactly do anything outrageous while wearing Herta's face.
She simply manipulated Celenova's garments, reshaping them into a black-and-white maid outfit, a JK uniform, a cheongsam, and so on.
Then began round after round of shooting.
--+--
As for the other side.
Khaslana, having returned to Amphoreus with the Golden Blood of Nanook, naturally caught World Herta's attention regarding his change.
"Nanook cast his gaze upon Amphoreus just now. Were you the target?"
"Yes, it was me..."
Khaslana trusted the two Madam Hertas completely.
So he held nothing back, revealing everything he had seen and learned.
Hearing this, World Herta gave a slight nod:
"No wonder I sensed a change in your aura. In that case, I suggest you accept this Golden Blood as well."
"But... Amphoreus became what it is because of Destruction's influence. Now, to have me accept a blessing from Destruction, I just..."
Khaslana clearly still had a mental block about it.
He deeply despised the power of Destruction.
Given the reason for his birth, the portion of that power already within him was one thing. But to now accept this external portion... he really couldn't bring himself to do it.
"Tch, dithering like an old woman. I'll get someone else to talk to you."
World Herta clicked her tongue.
She was no good at comforting or guiding people.
She only gave the correct choice and expected those following her to act on it. If they wanted a reason, she could explain, provided they understood human speech.
But if they were going to tie themselves in knots over their own hang-ups, she didn't have the patience for that.
So, she used the intrusion program Herta had left within the 'Hertatomb' body.
Connecting via the Chronocognitive Anchor to reach 'Hertatomb', who was currently outside.
And then World Herta's composure snapped.
What in the world was this guy doing?!
Was that Celenova standing opposite her?
You captured her, fine, but couldn't you just send her off to the Land of Light?
What are you doing now?
Tying her up, forcibly changing her into a cheongsam slit up to the waist, and taking pictures with a camera??
If you're so bored you have nothing better to do, you could come to Amphoreus and help me with overtime.
Instead of catching some female villain officer and flirting with her over there!
And it was her seeing this.
If it had been the other Herta who discovered this, Bai Ming's post-performance 'prize pool' accumulation would definitely have another hefty entry added.
Just thinking about that scene made World Herta nearly laugh out loud.
Had this guy forgotten? Once this performance ended, the other 'her' was waiting to catch him, and he still dared to keep adding to the prize pool here.
Was it fearlessness, or had he simply forgotten all about it?
World Herta shook her head.
Well, she wasn't as possessive as her other self so she had no intention of snitching or anything, but the recording program buried in the 'Hertatomb' body had certainly faithfully documented everything.
It just depended on whether Herta would check it in time.
Mulling over these irrelevant thoughts, World Herta sent a message to the thoroughly amused 'Hertatomb'.
"Hey, hey, stop playing around. Get into Amphoreus and lend a hand."
The sudden voice made 'Hertatomb' pause.
Across from her, Celenova, posed in a humiliating position, flushed bright red upon hearing it.
Her previously resigned posture instantly erupted into fierce struggle again.
Though this disobedient look had its own unique charm, admittedly.
"...Which Herta are you?"
"World Herta. If it were the Herta you know who saw you like this, do you think she'd be as calm as I am?"
"Ahem, fair point, given this face. What do you need me to do?"
'Hertatomb' coughed dryly and put the camera away.
With World Herta's interruption, naturally this photoshoot couldn't continue.
Hearing this, World Herta could only shake her head in resignation.
How could this guy think it was only because of this face?
Whatever.
It wasn't her business anyway.
"Khaslana obtained a drop of Destruction's Golden Blood, but he's unwilling to use it. You come and talk some sense into him. Quickly."
With that, World Herta cut the connection.
As for 'Hertatomb', she quietly released the bindings on Celenova.
The first thing the newly freed Celenova did was change out of the embarrassing garments.
And just as she was about to blow up at 'Hertatomb', 'Hertatomb' preempted her: "Celenova, you wouldn't want those... revealing photos to be seen by everyone on the StarNet, would you...?"
"You!! How dare you threaten me!!"
Celenova's silver teeth were practically grinding to dust.
But 'Hertatomb' nodded generously.
"Yes, I am threatening you. So, no making trouble, alright?"
Having said that, 'Hertatomb' left the area, projecting her consciousness via the Chronocognitive Anchor into Amphoreus.
--+--