I, The Aeon of Trailblaze, Trailblazing the Multiverse

"Huh? Herta."

Himeko looked in surprise at the adult version of Herta before her.

Although she had interacted with Herta many times, this was her first time meeting the real person.

Previously, all her interactions had been through humanoid puppets.

While the humanoid puppets were connected to Herta's consciousness, the sensory difference between the real person and the puppets was significant.

"Surprised?" Herta approached, removing her blue-purple pointed hat with a calm expression.

"Didn't expect to meet the real me this time?"

Himeko nodded thoughtfully. "I honestly didn't expect you to come in person, let alone to greet us yourself. I assume this isn't just about the Curio I was tasked to find?"

For a figure like Herta, a genius of the highest order, to personally arrive and greet them could only mean one thing—she was here for Lord Elias.

The news of the Aeon of Trailblaze's return would not have escaped the notice of the universe's dominant powers.

Naturally, the Astral Express would become the focal point of attention across the cosmos.

Every major power in the universe would have their eyes locked on the Astral Express.

As the train's navigator, Himeko had anticipated this from the beginning.

The rest of the train's crew listened intently to Himeko and Herta's conversation.

Before their arrival, Welt had already briefed the newcomers—Saeko Busujima and the others—on the origins of the Herta Space Station, the Genius Society, and Herta's identity and abilities.

Because of this, the three newcomers regarded Herta with intense curiosity.

As the saying goes, "newborn calves are not afraid of tigers."

Had it been anyone else standing before her, they might not even have dared to feel curious, let alone stand calmly—they would have been trembling in fear.

"If it were just about the Curio, I wouldn't have needed to come here myself."

Herta's gaze turned complex as she looked past Himeko to the silver-haired young man standing with his arms crossed. Her eyes reflected awe, curiosity, fear, and a deeply buried terror.

How terrifying… Clearly visible, yet no means of observation reveals anything about him.

All I can perceive is the outer facade of a human form.

As a Emanator of Erudition, Herta had been granted the authority to wield the immense Imaginary Energy of the Path of Erudition.

By utilizing her full capabilities, she could theoretically annihilate an entire planetary or stellar system in a single second.

Yet, every bit of Imaginary Energy she could access now lay dormant.

Her understanding of the universe had turned completely alien.

For there existed a being with absolute control over Imaginary Energy.

In the presence of such an entity, even she, a Emanator of Erudition, could not mobilize so much as a drop of it.

Herta felt cold sweat bead on her forehead as she faced the young man, who was now smiling at her with an amused expression. She quickly bent slightly at the waist in a gesture of deference.

"I presume… you are the Aeon of Trailblaze, Lord Akivili, returned once more. It is an extraordinary honor to behold your true form."

She had sought an audience with the Aeon of Erudition several times in the past, and each encounter had left her utterly awestruck.

Thus, she deeply understood the magnitude of power wielded by a Aeon.

When the Aeon of Erudition deliberated, even the standing waves of its thoughts could alter the trajectory of the universe and its scientific laws.

For example, when Rubert II was killed by the Lord of Silence, the computational power left behind by the Scepter system had fallen into the hands of Dr. Patavia via of the Intelligentsia Guild.

Patavia chose to use the Scepter system's computational power to observe the thoughts of the Aeon of Erudition.

After only 0.1 seconds, the Scepter system suffered a catastrophic overload and collapsed. Its computational core was reduced to a heap of scrap metal.

This alone demonstrated the unimaginable strength of a Aeon.

Even the most brilliant minds in the universe could not comprehend a billionth of a Aeon's power.

Elias looked at the reverent Herta and waved his hand dismissively. "Herta, the Emanator chosen by that big heap of scrap, Nous. I understand your sincerity."

"You don't have to pay attention to my presence. Treat me as an ordinary person if you'd like."

Herta let out a breath of relief. Only after regaining her composure did she realize how much she had been sweating. "You truly live up to your reputation as the most 'approachable' of the Aeons."

Elias noted the sweat-drenched Herta with a sly grin.

Look at you, little Herta, he thought. The grand genius, always calm and omniscient in her simulated universe, always trying to peer into the secrets of the Aeons.

But now, faced with a real Aeon, she was paralyzed, fumbling for words.

This is classic 'The armchair expert.'

"Himeko, carry on with your tasks." Elias strolled off the platform as though the Herta Space Station were his home, moving with the ease of someone who owned the place.

Not that a mere space station mattered to him. In fact, was there anywhere in this universe he wouldn't dare step into? If he so chose, he could declare the headquarters of the Interastral Peace Corporation, Pier Point, as a parking port for the Aeon of Trailblaze, and the Corporation would likely move out overnight.

"Yes, Lord Elias," Himeko responded respectfully.

"Saeko, you and the others can explore with March 7th. Don't hold back—just have fun."

"Yes, Lord Elias," Saeko replied.

"Lord Elias?" Herta asked, turning to Himeko.

Himeko explained, "Elias is the name Lord Akivili used during his human years."

Herta glanced toward the figure disappearing into the interior of the Herta Space Station. She took a deep breath, struggling to calm her rapidly beating heart.

Calm down, calm down…

Now isn't the right time. I'll wait for a moment when he's in a good mood to ask my questions.

The purpose of her Simulated Universe was to uncover the history and secrets of the Aeons.

Here was a Aeon, willing to communicate with humans, standing before her. How many in the entire universe would ever have such an opportunity?

"All right, Himeko. Let's first exchange the Curio I tasked you to find," Herta said, turning to business. "And as for you new faces, the 'Nameless,' there's no need to be formal here. Just don't touch the instruments; other than that, feel free to explore."

March 7th excitedly led Saeko Busujima and the others on a tour of the Herta Space Station.

Himeko and Herta began discussing the rewards for the Curio-retrieval commission.

Meanwhile, Welt and Dan Heng were left without much to do and were shown to the station's coffee lounge for a break.

…

"The story has changed completely."

"No… it's because I began exploring the first world. The connection of the Silver Track introduced new variables to the universe, and this has brought about a certain chaos."

Elias appeared in the Storage Zone of the Herta Space Station.

This was where the station stored miscellaneous items, including Herta's collection of Curios.

Long before the train arrived at the station, Elias had already discerned the state of the Herta Space Station. Anywhere connected to the Silver Track was within his perception.

The expected scenario, where the Antimatter Legion would be drawn by the Stellaron and attack the station, had not occurred.

What did surprise him, however, was Kafka and Silver Wolf launching a solo raid on the station.

Though they had ultimately managed to steal the Stellaron and extract Stelle, all three of them had been captured by Herta and imprisoned in the Collection Room.

At this moment, the gray-haired girl, Stelle, looked utterly confused, squirming because her back itched. With her hands restrained by photon handcuffs, she awkwardly rubbed her back against the containment platform.

Silver Wolf couldn't hold back a groan. "This is bad, really bad… None of this is going according to Elio's script."