"Ah, it came out. Hm? This is... a Warp Trotter?"
March's reaction speed wasn't as fast as Stelle's. She froze for a moment before reacting.
But that couldn't be helped. After all, Stelle had already "hunted" enough of them to build muscle memory...
Just like Nero's legend spread among Fragmentum creatures, terrifying stories of the Bat-Wielding Pig Hunter were also circulating among the Warp Trotter population.
"Warp Trotters... these are extremely rare Aether Spirits, but they aren't very strong. Why are those IPC employees trying to catch it?" Giovanni asked in confusion.
"I think they still want to offer it to Sister Topaz. After all, the Trotter around Sister Topaz is also a Trotter, and she even has a special place for raising pets."
Nero said from the side, "Isn't there a collection feature in games? And even outside games, there are plenty of people who like collecting things.
"Something might not be useful, but people still suddenly want it. After getting it, they might not even use it much. Even if it just sits in a corner, seeing it once in a while still gives them a strange sense of satisfaction."
Giovanni nodded. "That does make sense."
"But they probably still want to offer it as a gift more than anything else. Whether it's for a promotion or to get more attention from Sister Topaz..."
Nero continued, "Giving gifts is one way to gain favor and attention, right? Especially when the gift is rare and valuable, the favor and attention you get back are greater."
"Very true." Giovanni nodded deeply in agreement.
While everyone was discussing things, the released Trotter looked left and right. After seeing such a large group surrounding it, it shrank back and let out a few warning snorts.
"Huh? The way it's acting... is it scared?" March noticed the Trotter's movements. "What do we do? Did we do something wrong?"
"Don't worry, Miss March." Giovanni said from the side, "This Warp Trotter is probably just naturally timid."
After speaking, Giovanni paused for a moment, then muttered with slight confusion, "This is actually rather strange. All biological data packaged into Aether Spirits shouldn't have unique personalities.
"According to the program, they should only obediently listen to the player and faithfully carry out the player's commands... not act like this."
"This is also why, after seeing Boss Nero's factory, I immediately came up with the idea of developing the Aetherium Wars DLC, 'Real Aether Spirits,' and started working on it."
"Those Fragmentum monsters busily working in Boss Nero's factory let me see hope. While working, they also showed different instincts and all kinds of emotions."
"'Real Aether Spirits' would involve marking out a safe zone within the Fragmentum factory's activity range."
"Then, using Punklorde technology along with the IPC and Intelligentsia Guild's virtual projection technology, players could freely explore a large open area and find ways to capture Aether Spirits, or Fragmentum monsters."
"In the Real Aether Spirits content, players will gain the closest possible experience to reality. The Aether Spirits there will have their own emotions, and their growth methods will no longer rely on levels and chips."
"Instead, players will need to train them. During battle, players will also gain a deeper sense of involvement because they need to command them in real time..."
At this point, Giovanni stopped, then apologized to everyone. "Sorry, I seem to have talked too much. Still, Real Aether Spirits has already entered development. If you're interested, I hope you'll all come try it when the time comes."
"As for this Warp Trotter, its situation is rather special. This kind of independent emotion and personality is something other Aether Spirit biological data in Aetherium Wars currently does not possess."
"In other words, as an individual with independent thoughts, personality, and emotions, in a sense, it is no longer simple biological data, but a truly living lifeform."
"But compared to Warp Trotters, its race should perhaps be classified as a virtual lifeform, like Data Demons and Electronic Nightmares."
Hearing Giovanni's words, Nero curled his lips at the side.
There were really all kinds of strange creatures in the Star Rail universe. Speaking of which, the names Data Demons and Electronic Nightmares didn't sound like things that brought any benefits.
'Probably something similar to viruses?'
'The kind that deliberately destroyed the data and files in your computer? Or maybe something like Sadako's videotape?'
Nero's thoughts wandered out of habit, but after thinking carefully, with his current situation, he probably didn't need to fear those things.
Meanwhile, after hearing Giovanni's explanation, March looked somewhat flustered. She seemed unsure how she should view this Warp Trotter Aether Spirit now.
"Huh?! Then what do we do..."
"No matter what, it really is an Aether Spirit released from an Aether Coin right now..." Nero moved his gaze away from the Trotter and looked at Stelle. "Why don't you try giving it an order?"
Stelle nodded, then immediately pointed at Giovanni and shouted at the Trotter, "Warp Trotter, use Tackle!"
Giovanni: "?"
The Warp Trotter showed no reaction at all to Stelle's command.
"Looks like it didn't work..." March said.
"Hm... I understand now. This is probably the result of some kind of data anomaly." Giovanni said.
"Under normal procedures, we would need to submit its situation to the Aetherium Wars project team and have them find a way to dispose of it..."
"They're actually going to dispose of it?" March felt a little reluctant. After all, Giovanni had just said that this Warp Trotter was now basically a living being.
Suddenly, March's eyes lit up. "Wait, you just said it's a data anomaly, right? A data anomaly means something somewhere is broken, right?"
"You could understand it that way." Giovanni nodded, then looked at March in confusion, unsure what this lively girl suddenly had in mind.
"In that case, maybe we can try having someone else give it orders instead!" March turned toward Nero. "Little Nero, you try giving it a command!"
"Sure." Nero blinked. There wasn't really any reason to refuse.
Giovanni, standing at the side, became even more confused. He frowned and looked over at them suspiciously.
Nero stepped closer, then copied Stelle's exact pose and pointed at Giovanni. "Warp Trotter, use Tackle!"
"Humph... hum!"
Almost the instant Nero finished speaking, the Trotter reacted.
Its black-and-white chubby body twisted around as it quickly charged toward Giovanni. Then it leaped up and slammed toward Giovanni's stomach.
Of course, as biological data, the Trotter didn't physically hurt Giovanni and simply passed through him.
The Trotter carried out Nero's command, but because of the difference in biological nature, its tackle didn't actually hit the target.
That seemed to make it feel disappointed, and both its ears drooped down.
Watching this scene, Giovanni, who had twice been used as the attack target: "...???" Huh?? This really is... amazing. Aha damn it, just what kind of principle is this?