However, as Herta gradually breached the system, attempting to crack the firewall, she began to feel that something was off.
"Huh... Why are these structural logic patterns exactly like my own style?"
While dismantling it, Herta didn't feel like she was facing off against a stranger.
Instead, it was more like confronting a mirror image of herself.
Though this firewall couldn't truly stop the real Herta, its logic, habits, and architectural methods were—without a doubt—identical to her own.
For a moment, Herta even wondered, had she, out of boredom on some idle day, written a custom firewall for the Herta Space Station, only to forget about it later?
"How could this be? Is this really my work? It can't be... No, no... tsk..."
The more she thought about it, the more it felt like her own handiwork.
After all, if she were to write a firewall for the Space Station, she'd probably just whip something up in her spare time—functional, but nothing excessive.
And this firewall, in both its design and strength, was exactly what she would have created.
"Well, isn't this strange? I thought it was the work of someone from the Tavern, but now it doesn't seem that way..."
Herta's intrusion gradually slowed, and she fell into deep thought. At first, she suspected it was some Masked Fool or nosy reporter causing trouble.
But even if they could perfectly imitate her face, they could never replicate her mind.
If it were that easy to mimic her, there wouldn't only be 83 recognized geniuses in this world.
"Unless... there's some mystical artifact out there that can perfectly replicate a person? Or is some Aeon just messing with me for fun?"
After all, the universe was full of wonders.
Herta's first guess was that some strange artifact might be at work.
Her second thought was that even an Aeon might be pulling the strings.
As absurd as it sounded, that clown Aha had done even more ridiculous things before.
Herta's lips twitched, and she made a disgusted face.
If someone really intended to wreck her Space Station, then she might as well consider the whole place a lost cause.
--+--
Meanwhile,
Of course, the moment the main Herta appeared in the dreamscape, 'Herta' knew the lady had discovered her.
On her own panel, the lifespan that had been less than a day, along with the gacha progress bar below 10%, had just skyrocketed minutes before!
The total lifespan accumulated over the past twenty-plus days was only a dozen hours or so.
But after Herta noticed her, it nearly doubled in an instant.
As for the gacha progress bar below, in just those few minutes, it had surged to 33%. Her judgment had been correct.
Emotional fluctuations from the original herself really did yield much richer rewards.
With a little over a day left of this painful ordeal, it was indeed about time to wrap things up. She still needed about half the bar filled for the next gacha pull.
It looked like she'd have to put in some serious effort from here on out.
Thinking this, 'Herta' gently brushed her thumb over the ring on her middle finger.
A faint blue light flashed, and a spatial gate flickering with flames formed before her. On the other side of the gate was clearly the Curio Repository, with only a single AllSpark core floating alone at the very center.
'Herta' didn't move an inch. Instead, the spatial gate swept over and swallowed her whole.
Arriving in the Curio Repository, 'Herta' reached through the barrier, and the moment her fingers touched the AllSpark core, she activated it, marking the entire Space Station as the transformation target.
Hum—!
The AllSpark core began to vibrate intensely, a sign that it was drawing power at an extreme rate.
The Space Station was massive, designed from the start to house numerous Curios. To transform a structure of this scale would require an extraordinary amount of energy.
Soon after, a brilliant light burst from the AllSpark core, striking the metal floor below.
But instead of causing damage, the light transformed into massive waves of energy, rapidly spreading throughout the entire Space Station!
Of course, AI Herta was the first to detect this. When 'Herta' had originally created the AllSpark core, AI Herta had been there assisting.
So, she knew better than anyone what was about to happen.
Thus, AI Herta once again issued an emergency broadcast on all frequencies:
"Attention all Space Station personnel: Please immediately enter the nearest cabin, sit down in the closest chair, fasten your seatbelts, and hold on tight—the Herta Space Station is about to experience its first impact!"
The broadcast, accompanied by the tremors shaking the station, reached everyone's ears and began repeating its warning incessantly.
Naturally, Lady Herta, who had just broken through the firewall, also received this unencrypted message.
"What's the meaning of this? Hmm? The Imaginary energy readings are spiking?! Wait... Is that pointy-headed impostor trying to blow up the Space Station?!"
Lady Herta was shocked by the Imaginary energy levels detected by her mirrors.
Without another thought, she hacked into the Space Station's broadcast system and issued a stern warning:
"Damn it! If you dare use my face to destroy this Space Station, I, Herta, swear I'll make sure you suffer inside a Prison until the end of time!!"
No sooner had she spoken than the entire Herta Space Station gave a violent jolt!
Hum—
The massive station, once quietly drifting in orbit, began rapidly disassembling and reassembling.
As for the personnel inside, they were, of course, safely secured. Everyone, along with their chairs, was shifted into newly formed spaces as the station reconfigured.
Right before Lady Herta's eyes, the Herta Space Station transformed in ways that blatantly defied its original design logic, morphing into a giant, mechanical version of Herta's head, complete with an oversized mechanical hammer!
And then—it stood up!
"Hello, hello, hello, everyone! Wishing you all a wonderful day... Time for a spin~ Wheeee—!"
The cheerful white-and-black Herta—wasting no time, began waving her hammer and twirling in a lively dance.
The sight left everyone on The Blue and those inside the Space Station utterly dumbfounded.
Especially the technicians who had participated in the Space Station's design—they had no idea the station could transform into a giant robot!
Meanwhile, 'Herta' watched the numbers on her panel leap upward once again:
Rising so fast.
A faint smile touched her lips.
She gazed at the now calm AllSpark core, which had been re-contained. It seemed she wouldn't need to face Lady Herta directly after all.
The remaining energy should be enough to fill up her gacha pull counter completely.
"Mmm~ Almost time to go."
Just as 'Herta' was about to activate her ring and make her escape, a voice, cold and sinister as a vengeful ghost, sounded from behind her:
"Leaving? And just where do you think you're going? Why not come take a seat inside my mirror for a while... Im-postor—"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.