【After inquiring with Asta, Stelle finally arrived at Herta's office.】

【Herta: "Yo, you're finally here. I won't beat around the bush. Recently, my colleagues and I have been working on a big project. If it succeeds, we can tackle the ultimate conundrum that has baffled us for thousands of Amber Eras in one fell swoop: the mystery of the Aeons."】

【"Aeons! Just think about it—what miraculous beings! Don't you want to know?" Herta grew more and more excited as she spoke. "Some Aeons were once ordinary humans just like you and me, but somehow, they attained power beyond our imagination! They are enigmatic, powerful, silent, and terrifying! The mysteries surrounding them can't be explained in just a few words!"】

【"How were they born? Why were they born? What was the purpose of their birth?... Let me ask you, Stelle, have you ever thought about these questions?"】

"Ordinary humans?" Mavuika's eyes widened instantly at those words.

Starting from the first Pyro Archon, Xbalanque, a thousand years ago, successive Pyro Archons had also possessed mortal bodies. Though endowed with divine power, they still could not escape the human cycle of birth, aging, illness, and death.

Ascending to godhood from a mortal body was pure fantasy to people of other nations, but in Natlan, it was a goal that even an infant could dream of, longing for and striving toward.

Yet the weight carried by an "Aeon" was entirely different from that of a "Fire Archon." In terms of power and Authority, the Aeons of the other world seemed far superior to the deities of Teyvat. When Nanook of Destruction opened his eyes to gaze at her, even someone as strong as Mavuika felt a Chilling Scream of icy dread.

"That dark-skinned man, Nanook of Destruction... could he have once been human as well?" Thinking of this, Mavuika's interest was piqued. If this petite Madam Herta could truly unravel the secret behind the Aeons' immense power, could such an understanding be applied to the rules of Teyvat?

Regardless of whether it could or not, this was undeniably worthy of close attention and experimentation.

【"Four geniuses from the Society joined forces to write a program. See that massive machine in the office? Inside that machine is a universe, only more streamlined and customized..."】

【At this point, a cunning smile appeared on Herta's adorable face, seemingly proud of her supreme intellect. Resting her hands on her hips, she puffed out her chest subconsciously and declared with pride, "I call it: the Metaverse."】

【Stelle scratched her head awkwardly. "Maybe let's not ride that hype train?"】

【"Is that so? My partners said the same thing, so now I call it the 【Simulated Universe】. Go ahead and try it out now. Not only do I guarantee you won't suffer any harm, but I'll also pay you a handsome reward."】

【Hearing the word "reward," Stelle's interest was finally aroused. She walked over to the machine and was just about to ask Herta how to operate it when she felt a sudden bout of dizziness, as if her consciousness had been sucked into something in a split second. When she opened her eyes again, she was back inside the Herta Space Station.】

【Only, there was not a single soul around except for herself, accompanied only by a few scattered Voidrangers.】

【Right at that moment, a light screen appeared before her eyes, and Herta's voice soon emanated from it: "Stelle, can you hear me speaking? If you can see me, tap the screen—"】

【"Your body is still in the office; this is a Simulated Universe generated from your Remembrance. Of course, it's currently just a beta test. Move around a bit and take a casual stroll first."】

"The body stays where it is while the consciousness travels to another world. Hmm... if it were a technique formula, that might be quite troublesome, but fortunately it has nothing to do with us~"

Gojo Satoru pushed up his sunglasses, tilted his head back, and downed the milk tea in his hand with a Varies by context: (1) Gulp, letting out a refreshed "Ah—".

Looking at his teacher who seemed a bit overly relaxed, Yuta Okkotsu was at a loss for words for a moment before asking, "Is Gojo-sensei also interested in what's happening on the light screen?"

"Of course. I'm actually pretty interested in those Aeons they're talking about."

Gojo Satoru gently lowered his sunglasses, a faint smile concealed within his eyes that were as clear as the azure ocean. "Yuta, you felt it too, didn't you? That dark-skinned man..."

Recalling the eyes that Nanook of Destruction had opened, beads of dense cold sweat instantly broke out across Yuta Okkotsu's forehead.

"Haha, even without thinking, anyone would know that man—is ridiculously strong!" Gojo Satoru chuckled heartily, seemingly unfazed. "With someone that strong, even if I weren't curious, that guy definitely would be."

Even without him naming names, Yuta Okkotsu could guess that "that guy" referred to Ryomen Sukuna.

In fact, that was indeed the case. On the other side, Ryomen Sukuna was genuinely paying close attention to Stelle's every move on the light screen.

Rather than focusing on Stelle, Sukuna was actually far more interested in the "Origin of the Aeons" that Herta had mentioned. Compared to the Doomsday Beast that had appeared earlier, that dark-skinned man named "Nanook" caught his attention far more.

Especially the instant their gazes crossed—that split-second feeling...

Was it Fear?

...Even he couldn't say for sure. Regardless, ever since his birth a thousand years ago, throughout his tediously dull, long life, he had never once experienced such an emotion.

On the other hand, the mortals who died before him had worn remarkably similar contorted expressions right before their ends.

"Some Aeons started out as humans too. Who knows, maybe Gojo Satoru is paying attention to this right now, researching how to turn into an Aeon, huh?"

Kenjaku, having acquired a rocking chair from who knows where, was lounging comfortably on it while soaking in the Sunlight. Compared to Ryomen Sukuna's dead seriousness, he appeared far more relaxed.

"Boring." Ryomen Sukuna crossed his arms and snorted coldly.

"Oh?" Kenjaku took off the sunglasses from his eyes, his already small eyes narrowing into mere slits under the sun. He chuckled teasingly, "If it's so boring, why are you staring so intently at that young girl?"

"..."

Sukuna had no intention of explaining himself. Withdrawing his right hand from his chest, he flicked his index finger toward Kenjaku. A sharp Slash generated out of thin air sliced through the two wooden legs under Kenjaku's rocking chair in the blink of an eye. The poor chair instantly lost its balance, sending Kenjaku, who was relaxing mid-rock, tumbling hard onto his backside into the dust.

"Hey! You bastard!..."

【After Stelle walked around for two laps following Herta's directions, Herta said with deep satisfaction, "Very good. I want you to play the role of Akivili. Go find a few monsters to fight first, and let's see which simulated Aeon will be the first to notice you."】

【"That's easy, leave it to me." With that, Stelle was just about to swing her bat into action when two figures suddenly projected beside her—it was March 7th and Dan Heng.】

【Though virtual, the pair's martial prowess was in no way inferior to reality. Under their coordinated assault, the monsters were completely wiped out in an instant.】

【Yet the moment the monsters collapsed, the surrounding environment abruptly transformed.】

【Stelle felt her five senses engulfed in a flash, finding herself once again in a pitch-black Knowhere.】

【Soon, however, an amber the sky materialized, and countless chunks of copper ore, amber, and opal rained down before Stelle. It was a spectacular mineral rain that commanded all attention.】

【Amid the steaming fusion, a colossal entity extended its spine from the Ley Lines, its massive palm gripping a gigantic hammer. As Stelle looked up, within that vast expanse of nothingness, a golden figure slowly materialized before her like an indomitable deity out of myth, revealing a corner of its majestic stature to her.】

【—Preservation Aeon Qlipoth!】

Outside the light screen, Gojo Satoru, who had just finished his milk tea, coughed violently, almost choking himself. He steadied the wobbling sunglasses on the bridge of his nose, staring in sheer disbelief at the gargantuan entity that had boldly appeared on the light screen.

He had thought the Aeon of Destruction was already powerful enough.

Could it be... there was someone even stronger?!