Participating in the Simulated Universe, the Aeon of Joy Aha is Drawn In.

{He is coming, he is coming, and he is bringing a mask with him.}

{Let me ask everyone, should we let Theresa grow into Otsukiyo this quickly, with Judas also able to transform into chainsaw mode? Or wait until we reach Belobog? Because the Stone Mask is the key item—for example, passing it off as a mask bestowed by Elation.}

Herta's proposal was also acceptable to the Stellaron Hunters. Dan Heng stated he had no interest, Himeko and Welt said it was fine for Stelle and Theresa to participate, and March 7th said her strength was average, so she would pass.

So Herta led Stelle and Theresa to the location where the Simulated Universe device was stored.

It was a vast, dark blue space. At the end stood a complex yet exquisite device shaped like a clover. Near the device, another Herta automaton was standing by. "Hey, there's another Herta automaton!"

Stelle pointed at the automaton and shouted. Herta rolled her eyes at her and said that in this Space Station, she had placed over two hundred Herta automatons.

"Alright, we're here. This is the Simulated Universe we developed. Its purpose is to understand the secrets of the Aeons, as well as some events, loves, and hatreds that have occurred in the universe."

"And we've designed seven Paths: Preservation, focusing on shields and counterattacks; Remembrance, focusing on freezing and mental separation; Destruction, focusing on buffs and crude low-health builds; Elation, focusing on follow-up attacks; Nihility, focusing on sustained damage; Abundance, focusing on healing and damage buffs; and the Hunt, focusing on stacking critical hits."

"You'll naturally understand the specific abilities once you're inside."

"First, Stelle, you give it a try."

"There's only one slot for now. We'll consider opening more experience slots later."

Herta's words made Stelle carefully step onto the device. Following Herta's instructions, she closed her eyes and relaxed her mind. As the Simulated Universe device activated, Stelle's consciousness arrived in a snowy field.

[Hey hey, can you hear me?]

Herta's voice came through, making Stelle want to complain—this was more like seeing, wasn't it?

[Because of your unique nature—after all, you have a Stellar Core inside you—I've disguised you as the deceased Aeon Aqevili, to see if I can lure some simulated Aeons into contacting you.]

[If one really appears, just answer according to my prompts. Don't panic.]

With Herta's words, Stelle began her Simulated Universe journey. Since it was her first test, Herta told her to just pick any Blessings she liked.

Stelle thought about how she had been gazed upon by the Aeon of Destruction, so she should probably choose Destruction.

During the subsequent journey, she encountered Qlipoth, the Aeon of Preservation, followed by Fuli, the Aeon of Remembrance.

She tentatively tried to communicate with Him. Stelle voiced the questions Herta had preset, but Fuli spoke a string of chaotic, disordered words before withdrawing and leaving.

Stelle ended her Simulated Universe journey without understanding what had happened.

"Stelle, how did you feel? I couldn't contact you for a while. What did the simulated Aeon Fuli say to you when He met you?"

Herta looked at Stelle curiously and asked.

"I'm not sure. His words were too messy. I couldn't understand them."

Stelle scratched her head and said. Herta sighed upon hearing this, then turned her gaze to Theresa.

"My turn now, right? Let me state in advance—I might not necessarily attract Their attention. Herta, you'd better prepare to be disappointed!"

Theresa quickly said. Herta nodded and urged Theresa to test the Simulated Universe.

[Theresa, I will help you seal away the memories that don't belong to this world, to prevent people or those Aeons from prying into them.]

The Herta Space Station System's voice came through. Theresa thanked it silently in her heart.

So Theresa carefully stepped onto the login device and closed her eyes. With the hum of the machine, her consciousness entered the Simulated Universe.

When Theresa opened her eyes, she found herself in a massive tavern.

"Hey, Herta, didn't you say I'd need to fight monsters? Why am I in a tavern right away?"

Theresa quickly called out, but unexpectedly, Herta did not respond to her.

"Sigh, looks like something's wrong again. Where is this?"

Theresa looked around the tavern in confusion and asked. The people here were also strange—each one wore a different kind of mask. Theresa suddenly realized that she wasn't wearing a mask here, which would make her stand out, wouldn't it?

"Oh, little sister, are you new here? Where's your mask?"

A young girl with twin tails and a fox mask walked over. She was wearing a cool kimono, pulled Theresa to sit beside her, and laughed.

"Who are you?"

Theresa stared warily at the twin-tailed girl and shouted.

"Whoever you think I am, that's who I can be~"

"Welcome to the Masked Fool's tavern. My name is Sparkle~"

{Sparkle} narrowed her butterfly-shaped, rose-red eyes as she stared at the adorable Theresa through her fox mask and smiled.

"Here, this drink is on me~"

{Sparkle} smiled at Theresa and said. The others, also wearing masks, watched the bewildered Theresa with amusement.

As for that drink—it was a cup that had toothpaste mixed in with vigorous stirring. As for what effect drinking it would have, they were very much looking forward to it~

Theresa looked at the expectant Masked Fools. She pretended to drink, then suddenly grabbed the startled {Sparkle} and poured the drink into her mouth.

"Mm-hmm?"

{Sparkle} let out a sudden soft moan. Theresa clearly saw hearts appear in her eyes, and she knew that drink was no good.

"Damn it, I let my guard down and didn't dodge?"

"I actually messed up?"

Sparkle stared at Theresa with hearts in her eyes and laughed.

The Sparkle at this moment seemed to carry a hint of something off in her cheerfulness.

"Sister, you (?▽?) smell so good~~"

Sparkle giggled as she hugged Theresa, the sheer vibe of leaning in for a kiss making Theresa break out in a cold sweat.

"Let me go, World's Cutest Flying Kick!"

Theresa kicked Sparkle's mask, sending the fox mask flying, and then Theresa was shocked to find another mask underneath—and it was a comical one.

Refusing to give up, Theresa climbed on top of Sparkle and frantically tore off masks. At this point, Theresa didn't notice that with every mask she ripped off, one of the laughing Masked Fools in the tavern vanished.

At the same time, the pile of masks around her grew larger and larger. Theresa's stubborn streak flared up—she was going to see this through to the end!

"Hehe, it's useless, hic~"

"You'll never finish pulling off all my masks (?▽?)"

Sparkle laughed loudly through a drunken hiccup, making no move to stop Theresa.

Theresa naturally didn't buy her bluff and kept tearing off masks like crazy. She didn't realize the Masked Fools in the tavern had gradually disappeared, followed by the tavern itself starting to vanish. By the time Theresa came to her senses, she found herself sitting on Sparkle's stomach, surrounded by a floating mass of masks.

And beneath her was no longer Sparkle, but a huge pile of overlapping masks with all sorts of exaggerated expressions—she was sitting right in the middle of a mask heap.

{Theresa is turning into a fun-seeker~}

Daily meme. This UP's videos are really fun, Silver Wolf getting her butt slapped by Liu Ying.