"Entering the Simulated Universe for the first time may be accompanied by a certain degree of physical discomfort, such as dizziness."
"Recommendation: you can move slowly within a nearby safe environment and gradually adapt your body." Screwllum's voice sounded.
"Mm, I've already gotten used to it." Nero nodded as he spoke, while watching the indicator lights turn red and the robots rushing rapidly toward him. He rolled up his sleeves.
"The map's initial area is a combat zone. You may choose to defeat or bypass the enemies that appear here."
"Recommendation: conserve your energy for exploration when facing harsh environments, perhaps it would be…"
This time, Screwllum only spoke halfway before stopping.
Because with three dull thuds, the three robots that had discovered Nero and launched attacks at him were all slapped into scrap metal with a single strike.
Dealing with these mechanical soldiers was nothing more than a casual action. Nero's strength far exceeded imagination, forming a huge contrast with his appearance.
But then again, he could already call Aha his brother, so this didn't seem particularly unreasonable.
Screwllum's processor did not dwell on this matter, but within his rapidly operating, highly intelligent mechanical brain, an odd thought still emerged uncontrollably.
For Miss Stelle, exploration within the Simulated Universe required facing many trials.
But for this Mr. Nero, he really did seem to be here to play a game.
After dealing with the three robots, Nero stood still and didn't move. After waiting a few seconds, he raised his head in confusion.
He finally noticed what felt off.
Based on his experience playing the Simulated Universe in his previous life, after defeating these small fry, he should have received a Blessing… why was there no reaction at all today?
Oh, right, no. Today was already this life.
Nero blinked twice and looked up. He didn't know whether Screwllum could hear him speaking, but since the other party was willing to guide him, then he should be monitoring his current state at all times.
After all, even someone like Herta would constantly monitor equipment status when Stelle was exploring the Simulated Universe. Screwllum would be even less likely to just leave someone behind.
Based on all the plot he had encountered in his previous life, setting aside Stephen Lloyd who didn't appear much, among the three geniuses, Herta, Ruan Mei, and Screwllum, Screwllum, as an intelligent machine, clearly showed a higher degree of "humanity" in his behavioral principles and way of handling things compared to the other two human geniuses.
So Nero tried calling out, "I heard from Stelle that you can get Blessings from Aeons in the Simulated Universe. Why is there nothing right now? Are you listening, Screwllum?"
Very quickly, Nero received a reply from Screwllum. The voice of this mechanical genius remained steady, the vibration of reeds transmitting into Nero's ears.
"We have indeed filled the Simulated Universe with simulated information of Aeons, but this will not provide you with fixed Blessings."
"Logic: on the path of seeking an audience with Aeons within the Simulated Universe, your exploration and actions may attract the 'Aeons' to pause and glance at you. At that time, you will receive Blessings from the Aeons."
"Mr. Nero, you remind me of a member of the Stellaron Hunters I once had contact with. Your attitude toward exploration in the Simulated Universe is highly consistent with her views."
"Conclusion: based on your behavior and expectations, I judge that you regard exploration of the Simulated Universe as a game."
"But please note, although the Simulated Universe has a certain degree of game-like qualities, it is fundamentally a universe constructed through information simulation, or a model of the universe within a certain time interval."
"In order to study the accuracy of information, we cannot provide testers with 'strong assistance.' Such influence may lead to greater errors in the simulation results of the Simulated Universe."
Nero: "…"
He didn't ask anything further. Screwllum was clearly patient and would explain Nero's doubts in a clear and organized way from multiple angles.
In short, from this conversation, Nero understood what Screwllum meant. If he wanted to obtain Blessings in the Simulated Universe, it depended on luck, whether he could attract the glance of an Aeon here.
After all, this was the Honkai Star Rail universe. What he was playing… no, experiencing, was a real Simulated Universe.
Although the geniuses had added some elements beneficial to testers, most of the exploration here was still based on a realistic environment.
This forced Nero to reexamine the route he had planned.
Since he had come to the Simulated Universe, what Nero most wanted to experience was, of course, the Blessing system.
Although he already had quite a few Blessings from Aeons on him, that was completely different from experiencing it within the Simulated Universe.
The kid's goal was very clear. As for what everyone cared about, seeing Aeons within the Simulated Universe, although Nero was somewhat curious, compared to experiencing the Blessing system, it felt somewhat insignificant.
Unless the Simulated Universe could let Nero see how Paths were actually born. Compared to Aeons, Nero cared more about that.
In Nero's view, Paths were something far more worth studying than Aeons.
For example, the concepts represented by Paths had clearly existed long ago and were even designed by intelligent lifeforms.
But why was it only at the moment an Aeon ascended that they spread out in this mysterious form called Paths?
Since Paths only unfolded before everyone after an Aeon's ascension, why was it that they themselves were greater than Aeons?
Aeons were merely one of the countless beings walking within Paths, and were even constrained by them.
What form did Paths exist in?
Did they have a physical form?
If they did, what would it look like? A river or a road? What kind of energy composed them, and in what way? Or should they be treated as concepts themselves?
Summing up all these questions: Aeons were "slaves" of Paths. Paths were intertwined with concepts, and concepts were proposed by intelligent lifeforms. Then could it be determined that humans were greater than Aeons?
The questions in Nero's mind seemed closer to philosophy than science, but he still hoped someone could study what exactly Paths were.
Of course, Nero didn't have time to keep letting his thoughts wander on these matters right now.
Since Screwllum had made it clear that there was no way to stack Blessing buffs through combat enjoyment like in his previous life's gameplay, then next he needed to choose nodes of the event type.
Although choosing event nodes didn't necessarily guarantee triggering events within the area, generally speaking, based on the characteristics of such areas, the probability of encountering Blessing fragments here was relatively higher. Maybe he could even run into someone like Ruan Mei.
Although Nero usually acted carefree, the kid still had some brains.
After making his plan, Nero looked around and found a route diagram on the stone wall beside him.