Chapter 535 528: Pay Homage to Nous for the Third Time? Earthquake at the Herta Space Station!

"I only have one 50/50 pity left. Should I pull for Sunday or the new Tingyun? I'm so torn!"

"Once you lose your 50/50 to Yanqing, you won't have to worry about that anymore."

"Shut up!"

"I want both, but I've saved up less than a hundred pulls. What am I supposed to do, ahhh!"

"Can I get an advance on this month's research bonus!?"

"The research bonus is meant to advance your scientific work. You want to use it to top up in Honkai: Star Rail?"

"How does spending money on Honkai: Star Rail not count as advancing scientific work? Pulling Sunday helps us better explore the abilities of Harmony Pathstriders, and pulling the new Tingyun lets us gaze upon Madam Ruan Mei's work and witness the healing potential of the Foxians! Tell me, how does that not count as advancing research!?"

Herta Space Station.

A large crowd of researchers gathered before a giant screen, arguing endlessly.

What was once an efficient and brisk laboratory had turned into something resembling a chaotic stock exchange.

Just then.

A stern-faced woman strode up in front of everyone.

Pushing up her glasses, she glared coldly at the crowd.

The atmosphere instantly plummeted below freezing!

The boss is here!

Sweeping her gaze across the room, she had yet to say a word, but many researchers were already lowering their heads in shame.

The woman let out a soft huff and spoke:

"Every single one of you was a one-in-a-million talent in your respective homeworlds."

"That is the only reason you were granted the opportunity to conduct scientific research on the Herta Space Station…"

"Have you all forgotten?"

"The thrill and reverence you felt deep down when you first arrived at this magnificent space station?"

"To dedicate yourselves heart and soul to scientific research under the guidance of Madam Herta!"

"Was that not the greatest lifelong aspiration for all of you?"

Her voice grew louder and more resonant, like an alarm bell tolling in the hearts of everyone present.

Her uniform was crisp and neat, and her entire being exuded the signature aloofness and rationality of a dedicated researcher!

"As researchers of the Herta Space Station, your duty is to focus on experiments, focus on development!"

"Even if the universe were to end, our scientific research must continue!"

"That is the very reason we gathered here at the Herta Space Station!"

"Not for you to gather around discussing game plots and debating which character to pull for tomorrow!"

"Are you living up to Madam Herta's expectations of you?"

The woman sighed, regaining some composure over her agitated emotions.

"I can understand your love for Honkai: Star Rail; I am a player myself."

"We can watch and discuss it in private."

"However! Do not neglect your primary duties!"

"From now on, gathering during work hours to watch non-research-related content is strictly forbidden!"

"Turn off this livestream right now!"

Just as a staff member was about to shut it down.

Suddenly.

New content appeared on the screen!

A pair of puppet legs walked forward.

As personnel of the Herta Space Station, everyone recognized them instantly!

Those were…

The legs of a Herta puppet!

Immediately following that, the scene shifted!

The setting unexpectedly changed to Herta's office!

Numerous puppets were gathered together in the room!

It seemed as if something monumental was about to happen!

Sure enough!

The very next second, a voice both unfamiliar and familiar rang out!

"All-seeing presence."

Right at this moment, the staff member's hand was already resting on the power button!

The woman who had just been scolding the researchers suddenly changed her expression!

"Stop!"

Bursting forward with astonishing speed, she shoved the innocent staff member aside and dropped to her knees before the screen!

"What do you think you're doing?!"

"Th-that's Madam Herta!"

"Not a remotely controlled puppet, but her true self!"

"What are you doing, Honkai: Star Rail, ahhhhh!"

"You're actually revealing my Madam Herta's true body!?"

The woman was visibly trembling with excitement, her face completely flushed red!

"Uh…"

"Didn't you just say we can't watch Star Rail during work hours?"

"I take it back! I take it all back!"

"Nobody is going to stop me from witnessing Madam Herta's true self today!"

"Honkai: Star Rail is the greatest game of this Amber Era! We must thoroughly study the developers' innovative spirit and humanistic core!"

"Ahhhhh, Madam Herta is on screen!"

Set against the backdrop of the starry cosmos, a brilliant red light poured down from above.

A hand lifted slightly, seeming to want to catch that crimson glow.

As the perspective shifted, the full scope of the scene was unveiled!

"All-seeing presence."

"I pose my question to you."

Seeing this scene, everyone inside the Herta Space Station was left dumbfounded!

Then, overwhelmed by shock!

It was a vision beyond the reach of mere words.

In the vast cosmos, that crimson light—far more powerful than any star—was no celestial body.

It was…

The Aeon of Erudition!

—Nous!

Before Its colossal form stood the true Madam Herta!

Wearing a wide, rounded hat, she held what appeared to be a weapon resembling a scepter.

The livestream's chat exploded instantly!

…

"????"

"Huh?"

"There's more?!"

"Bro Feathered, what are you doing?!"

"The voice changed, this is definitely Madam Herta's real body!"

"Small Herta fusing into Big Herta."

"Something huge is going down!"

"Erudition!!"

"My god, they actually summoned an Aeon?!"

"It's over!"

"All hail Nous!"

"Holy crap, Herta's third audience with Nous!"

"Nous's presence is utterly suffocating…"

"Holy shiiiit, ahhhhhhh!!"

"I'm completely stunned!"

"Sunday and Tingyun entering the banner pool, Madam Herta's true body making an appearance, and an Aeon showing up… I can't even fathom how wild the next version is going to be!"

"Th-this is a total game-changer!"

"Is this really not Version 3.0?"

…

In the space station, all the researchers stood as though turned to stone!

Frozen in place, unable to snap out of it for the longest time!

Even the female director kneeling before the screen wore a totally dazed, smitten expression—a stark contrast to her previously sharp, imposing demeanor!

Of course, no one could blame them.

Nobody had anticipated that right at the end of this preview trailer, Feathered Spirit would pull off something this massive!

Revealing Madam Herta's true self was one thing…

She was actually—she was actually going to hold an audience with Nous once again!

Furthermore, she was posing a question to the Aeon!

From the looks of it, Madam Herta had made extensive preparations for this very moment!

Every single puppet in the space station was going to be utilized!

After a long silence, a researcher finally asked in excitement:

"Madam Herta is having an audience with the Aeon here… Does that mean we might have the honor of witnessing it in person?"

"That… actually sounds possible!"

"Oh my god…"

"Our space station hasn't had any story content in so long, and now an Aeon-tier entity drops right on us!"

"I feel like I can hardly breathe!"

"Before that day comes, I must make thorough preparations."

"This is a pinnacle moment one might not even witness once in a lifetime!"

However, as the researchers grew increasingly excited, someone suddenly realized a grave problem!

"Uh, gentlemen…"

"In that shot just now… there didn't seem to be a space station behind Madam Herta, did there?"

"Think about it carefully."

"If Nous truly descends here and casts Its gaze upon us…"

"Aside from Madam Herta's true body,"

"Everything else…"

"Will cease to exist!"

"Forget having the honor of witnessing it—"

"I doubt even our molecular structures would remain for a single instant."

The moment those words were spoken, everyone was violently dragged back to cold reality!

Inside the space station, dead silence fell.