After the Aeon of Elation finished his instructions, he turned into a stream of light and slowly vanished from everyone's view.
Seeing this, the researchers at the space station all breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness. I really thought the Aeon of Elation was angry. Turns out he was just joking."
"This observation was very meaningful. From Aha's attitude, it's clear that if Brother Zeig is willing to walk the Path of Elation, he'll definitely receive considerable power."
"No kidding. With how well Brother Zeig fits that Path, the power he'd gain would far surpass other Emanators. He might even be able to trade a few blows with an Aeon!"
For a moment, everyone was talking at once.
Almost all of them were sharing the good news, smiles of surviving a disaster on their faces.
They had originally thought it was already amazing to have an Aeon appear, but they never expected to discover a potential successor to an Aeon.
The key was that everyone knew him pretty well.
If Zeig really gained the title of Emanator of Elation, they'd all get to bask in some of his glory.
After all, they had all personally witnessed the process—how could they not count as witnesses?
In the office.
Everyone relaxed, but only Herta and March 7th remained solemn.
March 7th kept feeling that something was off.
No matter how powerful a virtual Aeon was, could they really affect reality outside the Simulated Universe?
If that were true, the flaws in this project would be far too great.
Looking at Zeig, who was currently lying in the data array.
The shattered fragments of the chair beside him looked so out of place.
"Beep beep beep—"
Herta took out her tablet, seemingly dialing someone's number.
Soon, the call connected.
Herta glanced at the data array and said:
"Screwllum, come back soon if you can."
A puzzled voice came from the other end:
"What happened, Lady Herta?"
Herta stared gravely at the data array:
"An Aeon's consciousness has invaded the Simulated Universe. The Simulated Universe is now out of control."
For a moment.
The entire office fell silent.
Asta listened blankly to the call, her eyes widening: "Uh, Herta, what did you just say?"
Herta gave Asta a faint glance:
"Did I not make myself clear? The Simulated Universe has been invaded by an Aeon's consciousness. I tried the forced exit module, but it can no longer be activated. The entire Simulated Universe is now under the control of a certain Aeon."
March 7th immediately panicked.
She looked at Herta and said anxiously:
"What? Which Aeon? Is it the Aeon of Elation? Did his real consciousness come?"
Zeig's consciousness was still inside the Simulated Universe right now.
Herta shook her head, "No."
"Didn't you notice the tremor earlier? That was caused by the invading Aeon's consciousness. It has already entered the Simulated Universe."
"As for the Aeon of Elation… he only dug a pit under Zeig's feet just now."
At those words, everyone in the office froze in place.
Simulated Universe.
Zeig watched Aha disappear before him and sniffed.
"He's gone already? Couldn't we chat a bit more?"
The surrounding environment changed once again.
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit him.
When he opened his eyes, Zeig found himself on a desolate planet.
"Hm?"
The sky was overcast, wind and sand brushing through his hair, the ground beneath him covered in dead grass and shattered rocks.
A scene of utter deathly silence.
A thick sense of oppression lingered at the tip of his heart.
"Why does it feel so weird?"
After walking a long distance, all that greeted him was still desolation.
Not a trace of life.
"What's going on?" Zeig was momentarily confused.
There was nothing here—surely he wasn't supposed to just waste time in a place like this.
Stepping on gravel, Zeig aimlessly walked for a very, very long time.
When he was drenched in sweat.
Finally, a figure appeared ahead.
The figure stood quietly beside a withered tree, silently gazing at him.
It was a tall, sturdy man, his upper body covered in one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight…
…many abs.
Since he wasn't wearing a shirt, Zeig could see them very clearly.
Each of the man's abs brimmed with power, and paired with that wheat-colored skin, he gave off the vibe of a gym trainer.
There were some golden cracks on his body that looked like scars—Zeig didn't know who had inflicted them.
Long white hair fluttered in the wind and sand, carrying a deep sense of vicissitude.
Zeig walked forward, waved, and greeted him:
"Hey, big bro, do you know where this is?"
The white-haired man didn't respond, only silently sizing up the man approaching him.
Zeig at this moment.
Wearing a black trench coat, long hair billowing in the wind and sand, molten-gold pupils carrying a hint of doubt.
"Hey, say something. Hello?"
He stretched out his hand and waved it in front of the white-haired man, trying to get his attention.
The latter simply gazed silently at Zeig before slowly speaking.
His very first sentence was explosive.
"Do you have any final wishes?"
Zeig was stunned: "What? Final wishes?"
The white-haired man nodded, "Afterward, I'll consider fulfilling them for you."
Zeig laughed casually.
He only thought this white-haired bro in front of him was pretty interesting.
"Final wishes, huh? I've got quite a few of those."
"Tell me."
"For example, I'm too weak. I don't know when I'll ever get to face an Aeon."
The white-haired man gazed at Zeig:
"At your age, your current strength is already sufficient. As for challenging an Aeon with a mortal body, I'm afraid you won't be able to achieve that in this lifetime."
Zeig frowned:
"How do you know? Do you also believe that in this world, people must rely on the power of a Path to survive?"
"This is the law of the world. No one can change it—not even I." The white-haired man's tone remained calm.
His words carried great vicissitude; though he didn't look old, Zeig could feel the vastness of time in them.
Ancient and endless.
"Big bro, you've got a story."
Zeig gave the white-haired man a big thumbs-up.
This guy spoke with real depth.
"Do you know how to get out of here? I'm starting to feel a bit oxygen-deprived."
"…"
The white-haired man silently walked past Zeig, then slowly turned back.
Looking at Zeig and the withered tree trunk, he said:
"This planet has been destroyed for many years. Naturally, you'll feel unwell."
Zeig nodded as if he understood. So this was a planet that had already been destroyed.
Then this bro must be a native.
Next.
The white-haired man declared expressionlessly:
"Very well. Let me send you on your way."
"On my way? To where?"
Suddenly, the entire ground began to tremble.
Zeig grew wary and immediately retreated.
The sky started to crack, falling like shards of glass, leaving only nothingness behind.
"Boom—!!"
The white-haired man instantly erupted with terrifying presence, sweeping in all directions with himself as the center.
In an instant, sand flew and stones hurtled.
The earth writhed like a dragon turning over, shaking mountains.
Zeig could barely stand, so he crouched down, grabbing the ground, staring blankly at the man who had suddenly gone all out.
What's going on? Why did this guy suddenly go full power mid-conversation?
"Hey, stop staring—run!"
Suddenly.
A clear, bell-like voice rang out.
A slender hand grabbed Zeig's collar, yanked him, then dragged him into a mad sprint.
Zeig, completely bewildered, quickened his pace and stared at the girl pulling him along.
Those were eyes of pink and blue.
On her exquisitely beautiful face was nothing but anxiety at this moment.
"You…"
Bang—!!
Before he could finish, a force weighing thousands of pounds struck his back.
The blow sent him flying, tumbling across the ground repeatedly.
He only stopped after crashing hard into a boulder and shattering it.
His body ached faintly.
The intense pain left him somewhat dazed.
Zeig staggered to his feet, blankly touching the corner of his mouth.
A trace of blood appeared on his hand.
…
[…You have exited slacker mode.]