Perspective Shift · System Space
Within the pure white void, Madam Herta stood still. Beneath the wide brim of her witchs hat, her purple-black eyes stared intently at the massive light screen floating before her.
Complex data and images flowed across the screen like a waterfall. At the core was the topological map of the Type-Moon World, with a flashing red dot highlighted—Fuyuki City.
"Positioning accuracy has been upgraded to city level."
The System's steady, emotionless electronic voice reported from the side, "Based on the periodic characteristics of abnormal magical energy convergence during the Holy Grail War, as well as the signal transmission from the target individual 'Huo Huo', there is a 97.3% probability that the target is located within the time slice of the Fuyuki City Holy Grail War."
Black Herta nodded slightly, her fingertips unconsciously tapping her arm.
The Holy Grail War... she had heard of it for a long time.
She hadn't expected that fellow Aha to be so 'particular' when throwing someone away at random.
"Time flow comparison?" she asked.
"Based on observations from the initially established cross-universe space-time anchors, a significant difference currently exists."
The System quickly pulled up another set of data. "The rough conversion ratio is: 1 day in this System's primary reference time (honkai: star rail universe standard) is approximately 7 days in the Fuyuki City time slice of the Type-Moon World."
"One week... that's relatively ample time."
Black Herta pondered.
This gave her more room to plan calmly, without worrying that if she delayed for a moment, Huo Huo would have already lived out her entire life over there.
Subsequently, she thought of a key question: "The 'counter force' of that world... existences like Gaia and Alaya. Will our intervention trigger their rejection or direct interference?"
"Attempting to establish a preliminary communication protocol."
The System replied, the data stream in its inverted cross pupils flashing faster. "Based on a non-hostile premise. However, the other party seems to... require some proof of'sincerity', or rather, an evaluation of whether our side possesses the ability to achieve our goals without excessively disturbing their world line."
The corner of Black Herta's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. "...Just like last time in the Honkai Impact 3rd world, when I 'demonstrated' a little something to that world will?"
"The logic is similar. However, this exchange will take place in a 'Neutral Buffer Space' temporarily constructed by the System. This will isolate your aura to the greatest extent possible from causing direct panic in the other world, avoiding unnecessary escalation of misunderstandings."
The System explained in a matter-of-fact tone, "Demonstrating 'ability' rather than 'malice' is an efficient way to obtain transit permission."
"Efficient, but crude."
Black Herta commented, though she didn't object.
When dealing with these 'administrators' who maintained world stability, a straightforward display of power was sometimes more effective than tedious diplomatic rhetoric.
Just then, the System's voice carried a slight tremor. "Madam, the preliminary connection has been established. The other party... seems to agree to a 'face-to-face' evaluation. The communication space is stabilizing."
As the words fell, not far in front of Black Herta, the pure white space was like ink dropped into water, quickly staining a patch of deep darkness that then condensed into a pitch-black gate with edges shimmering like the starry sky.
The door opened silently, its interior an impenetrable gloom.
"Should I be a bit 'forceful'?" Black Herta raised an eyebrow, seeking confirmation.
"This buffer space has maximized the isolation of direct influence penetration. You may more freely... manifest your form."
The System stated euphemistically, "You only need to make the other party 'understand' that our side is not a variable they can easily handle or ignore."
"Understood."
The corner of Black Herta's mouth curled into an almost mischievous arc.
She adjusted the brim of her hat, took a step, and walked straight into the black door.
Perspective Shift · Temporarily Constructed 'Neutral' Buffer Space
This place seemed to be a phantom of the universe.
Beneath her feet was an infinite darkness, and in the distance were dotted slowly rotating, model-like exquisite star systems.
The most striking thing was in the center of the space: a projection of a beautiful blue-green planet—Earth—slowly rotating on its axis.
Black Herta's figure appeared in this void, still in her human form.
But she did not wait, nor did she adopt any posture for dialogue.
She simply looked up slightly at the projection of Earth, and then, she reached out both hands.
Silently, with her as the center, the space began to vibrate violently!
Purple-black light, resembling both circuit board patterns and abyss cracks, erupted from her body, instantly tearing through the curtain of the surrounding 'universe'!
"Crack—Boom!!!"
Amidst a bone-chilling sound of shattering, an incredibly massive 'hand', covered in ferocious purple-black machinery with ominous energy swirling at its fingertips, forced its way out from behind the ruptured space!
It was like a demon god tearing through a canvas!
Immediately after, a second giant hand grabbed the edges of the rift and tore it open toward both sides!
"Riiip—!!!"
The 'curtain' of space was crudely torn open to reveal a massive gap!
An 'existence' whose grandeur and eeriness were difficult to describe with words slowly'squeezed' into this buffer space from the gap.
First to come into view was that iconic witchs hat, now enlarged to the size of a mountain. Beneath the brim was not a human face, but a smooth, deep purple plane.
Countless deep purple cross-shaped starlight of varying sizes, acting as both guards and decorations, floated around this massive existence, rotating slowly and emitting a cold, divine glow.
Its body was colossal and non-human, with a complex structure that seemed to be a fusion of the most precise alien machinery and some kind of biological matter. Its lines possessed both geometric beauty and an oppressive sense of power.
In the center of its chest, a deep purple core pulsed like a small star, emitting a ghostly light that seemed capable of devouring souls.
This was the form of Black Herta's side that was closer to her origin—not her complete form, but already enough to transcend the 'powerful' categories understandable by ordinary worlds.
Its featureless 'face' turned slightly, as if looking at the projection of Earth that appeared so tiny before it.
There were no words, no deliberate release of pressure. Simply the unreasonable way this 'existence' descended and its visual impact constituted the most direct 'demonstration'.
Silence permeated the buffer space for about three seconds.
Then, in Black Herta's ear, the System's calm report sounded: "Communication complete. The other party has unilaterally permitted our side to enter their world to conduct target search and retrieval operations. The condition is: our actions must be as restrained as possible to avoid irreversible disturbance to the 'Human Order Foundation' and the primary world line."
Almost at the same time the System's voice fell, Black Herta felt a gentle 'dismissive' intent wash over her.
The cosmic illusion, the Earth projection, and even the gargantuan body she had manifested all began to crumble and dissipate like a shattered mirror.
In the instant before her consciousness completely returned to the pure white System Space, Black Herta seemed to... vaguely catch a lingering echo of a soft, terrified voice:
"So... so scary... (whispers)"
System Space
As the light and shadow reassembled, Black Herta had returned to her normal human form, standing once again before the System as if that shocking appearance just now had only been a dream.
"That... was enough?"
Black Herta's tone carried a hint of strangeness.
She had thought there would at least be a dialogue or a bargaining process.
"Yes, Madam. Deterrence diplomacy was effective."
The System confirmed, "The other party has marked our case as a 'high-priority force majeure event' and opened a green channel. They seem to hope we finish our business and leave as quickly as possible."
Hearing this, Black Herta shook her head with some regret. "I thought I'd be able to say a few words to that world will with the 'loli' appearance from the rumors."
After all, the related'settings' of the Type-Moon World were quite interesting in her memory.
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