Herta Space Station — Herta's Office
While maintaining and monitoring the Simulated Universe, Screwllum was the first to notice something was wrong.
At the same time, Ruan Mei, who had been working in the laboratory below, received the alert and immediately came upstairs.
"What happened, Screwllum?"
It was rare to see such anxiety on Ruan Mei's face.
"Allow me to explain."
Before Screwllum could answer, Herta walked over.
"Evan entered the Unknown Domain."
"It's been thirty system hours already."
"Not long ago, a massive wave of corrupted data erupted inside the Unknown Domain."
"And then..."
"I was forcibly kicked out."
"You were kicked out?"
Ruan Mei stared at Herta in disbelief.
Although the Simulated Universe had been created jointly by the four geniuses, its core technology was primarily handled by Herta and Screwllum.
Their authority within the Simulated Universe was the highest.
Below them came Ruan Mei and Stephen.
Stephen's work focused on optimizing the system's algorithms, while Ruan Mei contributed the biological vessels used to simulate the Aeons.
Their shared goal had always been the same—
To uncover the truth behind the Aeons.
All four possessed administrator-level authority.
They were the architects of the Simulated Universe.
And now...
Herta was saying she had been kicked out?
Ruan Mei looked at her speechlessly.
Herta simply spread her hands helplessly.
"I didn't expect it either."
"That data surge directly forced me offline."
"Forget you—even I have no idea what happened."
She had only just begun investigating the scholar who created the Solitary Wave Algorithm.
Before she could study anything further...
Darkness swallowed everything.
Who exactly was she supposed to complain to about that?
"Will... will he be alright?"
Herta looked uneasily at Evan.
His consciousness had completely entered the Simulated Universe.
If something truly went wrong...
His body outside would become nothing more than an empty shell.
That was precisely why Herta had called Ruan Mei over.
"Theoretical conclusion," Screwllum replied calmly. "Evan is an Emanator. Unless he encounters something that specifically counters his Authorities, the probability of a fatal outcome remains extremely low."
That was true.
Evan was an Emanator.
But Herta knew better than anyone what existed inside the Simulated Universe.
There were simulated Emanators.
The Swarm Disaster.
Gold and Gears.
Even simulated Aeon consciousnesses.
And behind the Unknown Domain...
There was someone whom even Herta regarded with extreme caution.
Genius Society Member No. 4.
Polka Kakamond.
Unknown Domain — Rupert's Mechanical Empire Graveyard
This was where both generations of Rupert had been buried.
Unlike Rupert I, Rupert II possessed a flesh-and-blood body.
Yet he inherited all of Rupert I's knowledge.
He created the Scepter System.
He sought to crown himself king.
Unfortunately...
Just before the coronation succeeded...
A cold hand appeared.
Holding an equally cold surgical scalpel.
It pierced directly into his heart.
"Such confidence."
"You should know that neither you nor I are truly here."
"To be more precise..."
"We're nothing more than data inside this Unknown Domain."
Evan narrowed his eyes.
The killing intent directed at him was unmistakable.
She was clearly stronger than Phantylia.
"I saw it."
"I saw His calculations."
Polka Kakamond's voice remained as cold as ever.
"The hour when geniuses struggle..."
"Has arrived."
"You."
"Herta."
"Stephen Lloyd."
"Ruan Mei."
"Screwllum."
"A swarm of insects trapped within a web."
"Struggle with everything you have."
Polka slowly turned her shattered, indistinct face toward Evan.
A chill unconsciously ran down his spine.
There were countless rumors surrounding Polka Kakamond.
She had personally destroyed every portrait and sculpture depicting herself throughout the universe.
Even the Garden of Recollection had no record of her true appearance.
Some even suspected...
She originated from the mysterious Ninth Mechanism.
A secretive organization associated with the Path of Nihility whose existence had never been confirmed.
Even so...
Evan genuinely felt pressure from her.
She truly was dangerous.
Fortunately...
He wasn't exactly helpless either.
As Polka smiled faintly and walked toward him...
A tremendous pressure suddenly descended upon her.
The Authority of Consciousness.
Empowered by multiple Emanator Authorities.
An endless ocean of consciousness instantly halted Polka in her tracks.
Outside the Simulated Universe, Stephen's projection finally appeared.
"We've confirmed it."
"It's Polka Kakamond."
"She's trying to kill Evan inside the Unknown Domain."
"Polka Kakamond?"
Herta frowned.
How could she possibly be unfamiliar with that woman?
Could it be...
Every strange phenomenon she'd encountered inside the Simulated Universe until now...
Had been caused by Polka?
"Stephen."
"Can you seize her permissions?"
Stephen scratched his head.
"Give me some time."
"I'll see if I can sneak in through a back door."
"Just... don't let her notice me."
"I'd rather not die."
As he spoke, a miniature model of the Plasma Spark Tower appeared beside him.
He immediately began typing.
"Then..."
"I suppose I can offer him a little assistance as well."
Ruan Mei casually placed a piece of pastry into her mouth.
A faint fragrance of plum blossoms spread throughout the room.
Herta frowned briefly before relaxing again.
Even after becoming a Genius Society member...
Some habits never changed.
Ruan Mei still adored sweets.
Sometimes Herta genuinely wondered whether Ruan Mei was actually from the Xianzhou.
She had never spoken of her origins.
Herta had never asked.
It didn't matter.
As long as it helped Evan.
Rupert's Mausoleum
The End of the Self-Coronation
Unfortunately...
Someone had arrived before Evan.
The instant hope shattered...
The moment struggle froze...
Was when a butterfly became most beautiful.
"So..."
"So this is what the Omniscient Domain feels like."
"Miss Polka Kakamond."
"Every move you make..."
"Is now completely within my grasp."
"What?"
"Still not making your move?"
"The universe is an exquisitely crafted clock."
"And the moment when geniuses cease struggling..."
"Has finally arrived."
Polka slowly polished her scalpel as she approached.
"Oh?"
"Is that so?"
Evan smiled.
To Polka...
That smile was unbearably irritating.
Even now...
He still refused to give up?
"Didn't I already tell you?"
"Even inside the Simulated Universe..."
"This is still a world of consciousness."
"I can't alter established data."
"But..."
"I can introduce a virus into it."
"What do you think..."
"Miss Polka?"
He deliberately addressed her by surname alone.
It was obvious how dissatisfied he was with her.
The next moment...
He raised a hand.
A battered gondola suddenly crashed into the sea of flowers surrounding the Imperial Graveyard.
Gondolas were elegant, slender boats beloved by the Knights of Beauty.
Who said nothing could be created inside a world of consciousness?
Within the realm of consciousness...
Even the Omniscient Domain couldn't stop it.
"What a magnificent display of beauty!"
"Mr. Evan!"
"To think we'd meet again in such a marvelous virtual world!"
A crimson-haired knight leapt from the distant gondola and charged directly toward Polka.
"Argenti."
"We'll have a drink after we get out."
"Gladly!"
Turning toward Polka, Argenti smiled brightly.
"My beautiful lady, though your face remains hidden..."
"Do you acknowledge that the great Idrila possesses unrivaled beauty?"
Polka remained silent.
This man...
Damn him.
He had actually used the Omniscient Domain to introduce entirely new chaos into this world.
Outside, Herta's fingers flew across countless virtual keyboards.
Then...
She suddenly froze.
"Wait."
"Stop, Ruan Mei. Stephen."
"The Simulated Universe has generated an even larger data surge..."
"Evan..."
"He's fighting Polka Kakamond."
Herta slowly lowered her hands and stared at the Simulated Universe.
Endless streams of new code were appearing inside the existing framework.
These weren't Ruan Mei's backup measures.
Nor were they Stephen's interventions.
They were being generated spontaneously—
From the administrator permissions Herta herself had granted Evan.
Evan...
Was directly confronting Polka Kakamond.
"Huh?"
"I haven't even started yet."
"What exactly is Evan doing?"
Stephen stared in astonishment.
He watched Evan's data endlessly duplicate and expand.
Understanding. Reconstruction. Reconstruction through understanding.
That...
Was the Authority of Truth.
A world built from data.
An ocean made of consciousness.
The Authority of Consciousness itself.
Even Ruan Mei stopped eating.
A small piece of pastry slipped from her fingers.
Before it could hit the floor, a tiny pink Cake Cat happily caught it in its mouth and swallowed it.
"Conclusion."
Screwllum finally spoke.
"Evan is mobilizing every permission available within the Simulated Universe."
"He is confronting Miss Polka Kakamond head-on."
As the ruler of Planet Screwllum finished speaking, Herta, Ruan Mei, and Stephen all lowered their hands.
Silently...
They waited for the battle to reach its conclusion.
Simulated Universe — Unknown Domain
For the first time...
Shock appeared beneath the veil concealing Polka Kakamond's face.
Descending from the heavens came Argenti, the Knight of Beauty.
Nearby...
A History Fictionologist loudly shouted,
"I'm not fictional!"
Masked Fools burst into laughter.
The bells of the Omen Vanguards echoed through the air.
The sorrowful cries of the Mourning Actors drifted across the battlefield.
And in the distance...
The blazing roar of a Cremator's flamethrower filled the world with scorching heat.
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/nani_kaito