There was a reason Herta was acting so unlike herself.
Naturally, she had noticed certain hidden details.
The power of a Path, whether wielded by a Pathstrider or an Emanator,
could not simply be concealed at will.
Not unless one's authority over the imaginary energy within that Path had reached its absolute peak.
According to Herta's usual understanding,
only Aeons could wield and withdraw their power freely in this vast universe.
Aha, the Aeon of Elation,
had once poured all his power into a worm.
He had wanted to see whether a worm endowed with an Aeon's mighty power
could successfully join the Genius Society.
The answer, of course, had been no.
After he withdrew all his power,
the worm died instantly, meeting a rather gruesome end.
In the records of Elias Salas, member number 54 of the Genius Society,
there had once been an account
of that Aeon, who sought amusement without restraint,
transferring and bestowing all his power.
As an Emanator of Erudition, Herta was certain
that she could not transfer, bestow, or temporarily disperse her power.
After all, an Emanator's Path power also came from an Aeon's favor.
The limitations of her standing meant that, although she possessed immense power,
she could not control it with complete freedom.
Thus, when Lin Chen proposed entering
the Simulated Universe as an ordinary person,
Herta was so shocked that her mouth could have fit an egg.
Of course, Herta would not actually do that.
After all, Lin Chen was right in front of her.
Looking like someone who had never seen the world hardly befitted her status as a genius.
"Stelle... how does this thing work? Do I just stand here?"
"I think so. Relax and let your consciousness dive deep along with the pull."
"That should get you into