At the edge of the galaxy, in a desolate star system devoid of life, a mysterious tower appeared faintly within a vortex.
Herta's private secluded little castle.
Today, a special visitor had arrived.
Ruan Mei, Genius Society Member #81.
"He... disappeared?"
Ruan Mei's fingertips lightly pinched a porcelain cup. She took a sip of black tea, savoring the tea fragrance that slowly blossomed on her tongue.
A water-ink colored qipao hugged her figure. Her right leg raised beneath the dress hem gleamed like white jade under the lamplight, dazzlingly pale.
Her gaze lowered slightly, and for a moment beneath her gentle temperament, there was a flash of distraction.
"Hmph! I admit, he won this time—he actually managed to escape my field of vision."
Lady Herta reclined in her chair, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest with a hint of unwillingness and displeasure.
"You like him!"
Ruan Mei suddenly spoke, her tone gentle yet stirring up a thousand waves.
"Cough cough—You, what nonsense are you saying? Simply ridiculous!"
Herta nearly choked. Her cheeks flushed with a layer of pink as she hastily picked up her teacup to cover it up, though her fingertips trembled uncontrollably.
"Heh~"
"This is the first time I've seen you maintain enthusiasm for a person... no, for a 'thing' for six whole years."
"This isn't like you, Herta."
"Moreover, he even took your treasured Curios."
Ruan Mei chuckled softly.
Everyone knew Herta valued Curios like her life.
"Cough cough... I admit I am somewhat interested in Ryuga. After all, there aren't many people in the universe who can refuse Nanook face-to-face."
Herta coughed lightly twice more, trying to conceal her emotional turmoil.
Her gaze drifted, recalling that day.
When Nanook looked over, that rich gaze heavy enough to crush everything.
She thought another Lord Ravager was about to be born in the universe—who knew he'd refuse? He refused!?
In that moment, even she felt a suffocating shock.
"Such courage... even I have to admire it."
Back then, when the Erudition gazed at her, from that point forward, the world had one less potential Emanator of 'Beauty'.
Herta couldn't refuse.
Yet Ryuga accomplished it.
(Ryuga: I want to become someone like Sister Acheron. (￣︶￣) hands on hips)
"Oh, so there's this as well?"
Ruan Mei slowly opened her eyes, fire flashing through them.
Refusing Nanook?
"Enough about me," Herta shifted the topic, her gaze sharp yet smiling as she turned to Ruan Mei, "you're no different yourself?"
Ruan Mei didn't answer, gently setting down her teacup.
White porcelain touched the wooden holder with a clear ring.
Then she raised her eyes toward the vast starry river outside the window, murmuring softly.
"I'm just interested in his flames. I've never seen such fire—like it's burning through the void yet also gestating new life."
Herta fell silent.
Indeed, this was also why she could maintain six years of fascination.
Ryuga's flames could burn people to death, devour souls, yet also create entirely new life.
Reborn from death in flames.
"Tch! Though that little thief took quite interesting Curios, it seems... there was some targeting?"
Herta narrowed her eyes, pondering.
"'Robe of Beauty', 'Tail of Joy', 'Split Gold Coin', 'Split Silver Coin'. Hmm, he also asked me about the whereabouts of 'Rupert's Difference Engine'?"
"Oh~, right, and a photo of Kakania."
Ruan Mei was also somewhat confused: "A photo?"
Taking Curios was understandable, but taking Kakania's photo—what for?
"Yeah, though the face was erased."
...
Ryuga: Code, here I come ("▔□▔)/.
When seizing the Scepter's authority, he'd change the Universal Fragments into Coreflames. Hehehe!!
At the end of 3.4, part of the Scepter's authority had already been seized.
'Robe of Beauty': For every 100 Coreflames possessed, DMG increases by 16%.
'Split Gold Coin': Upon entering the next area, gain Coreflames equal to 12% of the current amount held.
'Split Silver Coin': Immediately gain Coreflames equal to 50% of the current amount held.
'Tail of Joy': All Curio effects that trigger upon acquisition trigger 1 additional time, up to 3 times per area.
Unfortunately, he couldn't get the remnants of the Difference Engine designed by Rupert I.
'Split Gold Coin' + 'Split Silver Coin' + 'Robe of Beauty' + 'Tail of Joy'...
How many Coreflames did Phainon have now?
Oh right, 400 million.
100 Coreflames add 16% damage.
12%.
50%.
Then all effects trigger an additional time.
Nanook ∑q|OДO|p: Bro, are you trying to kill me?
…
As for Kakania's photo?
As soon as Lygus sees it? 'Big Sis Kaka, I kneel, please spare me QAQ.'
Then move in a resurrection device.
With just a tiny bit of Coreflame, all the Chrysos Heirs could be revived.
Woohoo, takeoff~
...
Inside the chat group.
[13th Sect Master of Mount Yunjian]: "Data? You live inside a game console?"
[Customer Service Pink Elf Miss]: "I can understand data, but what is 'memoria'?"
[Jingliu]: "Memoria... is like liquid from the spiritual realm. It flows, evaporates, gathers. It can dissolve, boil, solidify."
Then the group members became even more confused.
[Snowy Mountain Qingxin Melon]: "Emotions?"
[Jingliu]: "Memoria does have a very strong connection with the concept of emotions. You could say joy, fear, desire—whether positive or negative emotions—all stem from memoria."
[Director Fu]: "Uh, even more confused."
[Desert Reaper]: "Let me think about how to explain this."
"Hmm, got it. Memoria, you can understand it simply as 'material of memory'. Memoria is equivalent to the primordial material of all things."
Based on the fact that dream-world items based on memoria could transform into reality under certain conditions.
'Fuli' could reshape the universe using Pure Beautiful Heaven as the blueprint—this was THEIR confidence.
[Istaroth]: "I roughly understand. I'll take time to send you some ingredients."
As the Sovereign of Time, this was a small matter.
Fruits and vegetables mature instantly.
[13th Sect Master of Mount Yunjian]: "The universe is truly vast—to think such a wondrous world exists? Though 'Carefree Temple' is in disrepair with everything waiting to be restored, a bit of supplies won't matter. I'll have Fufu buy some for you right away."
[Director Fu]: "Fu-Fu also has a little nest egg."
Group members expressed their willingness to help.
[Desert Reaper]: "Nothing more to say—if anything comes up in the future, everyone just speak up."
Though memoria food was edible, how to put it?
Probably equivalent to pre-made meals.
The inferior kind at that.
Furina directly went offline—looks like she went shopping.
Hustling and bustling.
The 500-year Water God, gourmet, director—her little nest egg was quite substantial.
[Customer Service Pink Elf Miss]: "My wallet isn't very full, but once I get to the Flame-Chasers, Elysia can smuggle some over for you~ (☆ω＜)☆"
[Desert Reaper]: "Ely↘sia↗, ("▔□▔)/!"
[Customer Service Pink Elf Miss]: "So supportive? Low-key, low-key ￣ω￣."
[13th Sect Master of Mount Yunjian]: "Seems Ryuga really likes Elysia."
[Desert Reaper]: "Who wouldn't like Elysia?"
[Customer Service Pink Elf Miss]: "Giggle~, oh right, Ryuga, you haven't checked in yet. The daily maximum points are 100. With good luck, you can also obtain abilities, items and such. Try it quick—it's almost past midnight."
[Desert Reaper]: "Who has the highest?"
[Customer Service Pink Elf Miss]: "Me, 66! (hands on hips)"
[13th Sect Master of Mount Yunjian]: "I'm 1 point less than Elysia."
[Istaroth]: "The lowest is Jingliu, only 13 points."
[Jingliu]: "..."
Emmm, if Klee came, she should be able to get max, right?
Check-in.
[Congratulations Desert Reaper for obtaining 'Doraemon Blueprints'.]
[Customer Service Pink Elf Miss]: "O_O?"
[13th Sect Master of Mount Yunjian]: "O_O?"
[Snowy Mountain Qingxin Melon]: "O_O?"
What the heck?
An item dropped?
[Istaroth]: "Blueprints?"
Ryuga was already dumbfounded.
Good grief.
'Doraemon Blueprints'?
Now he had no choice but to go 'Revered Inventor' Heimerdinger.
With the Revered Inventor's IQ combined with Nasus's Library of Knowledge, as long as materials were sufficient, he could build anything in minutes.
To be continued…