Chapter 134: Another Reward from The Elation

After completing his first playthrough of the game, Welt thought the game would end there. But little did he know that after entering the Eye of the Universe, there was still another surprise waiting.

Returning to the game menu, he noticed the option for "New Game+."

Upon selecting it, he found himself in the familiar deep space, witnessing the explosion of the space station once again. And there by the comforting bonfire, he embarked on the new game.

However, in this new game, the protagonist found that the launch code he knew was now incorrect. Consequently, he had to return to the original space center to observe the launch code.

While on the way to the space center and passing by the museum downstairs, he noticed a photo of the entire solar system. However, there appeared to be a shadow on the photo, representing a new celestial body beyond all known solar system planets.

After obtaining the correct launch code and returning to the spaceship, he found that all the logs from the previous cycle were still intact.

But to his surprise, a new puzzle had emerged in addition to the existing entries: the mystery of the shadow seen in the museum.

Following the clues and locating the specific coordinates where the photo was taken, Welt also spotted the mysterious shadow. It conveniently obscured the sun.

Summoning his courage, Welt flew towards the shadow. As darkness gradually enveloped his vision, he finally saw what was hidden within the darkness: a massive space station!

No, judging by the scale of the planets in the entire game, it appeared to be some kind of artificial world roughly the size of a planet.

Docking his spaceship inside, Welt discovered that the technology within was highly sensitive to light. Using the flashlight on his spacesuit, he could activate various mechanisms, such as the main gate of the entire space station.

Entering through the gate and passing through darkness, everything suddenly became clear. It was a spacious and vibrant environment, completely different from the architecture of the Nomai. It seemed to be a circular world built by another alien race, resembling a gigantic wheel. The edge of the wheel served as living quarters, while a massive river flowed along it endlessly.

As Welt floated along the river on a light-controlled wooden raft, he couldn't help but marvel at Bronie's exquisite design.

"I have to say, Bronie has never disappointed in designing scenes, whether it's the Twin Planets or the Intruders. It's all very impressive. And within these twenty minutes, I'm sure the interior of the space station will undergo some special changes. So, before we explore, let's take a quick look around this space station along the river," Welt remarked.

The game continued, with exploration at its core. This process might be lengthy, but exploring with curiosity always made one forget about time.

Bronya also played the game quickly. Bronie told her that watching videos would detract from the fun of the game.

To learn and trailblaze, knowledge was the only way to unlock the mysteries of the universe.

After entering the Eye of the Universe for the second time, Bronya truly understood why her sister never let her watch when she was making the game. Because after truly starting to play this game, the shock brought by the game could be enjoyed, in the end, could only be described in two words: romantic.

"Sister Bronie, I've finished the game!" Bronya exclaimed.

When Bronya entered the Eye of the Universe for the second time, at the bonfire at the end of the universe, there was another Deerhead alien playing again.

In the echoes of the second playthrough of the game, as the exploration deepened, the protagonist needed three passwords to unlock the final puzzle. However, the passwords had already been destroyed. The real way to solve the puzzle was the knowledge learned during the exploration.

"The secret to unlocking these three passwords is to learn to face the unknown, face fear, and face death. This is also my understanding of the Path of The Elation. I wonder if Aha will be satisfied with this explanation," Bronie pondered aloud.

"To face the unknown, fear, and death..." Bronya reflected.

In the past, Bronya didn't quite understand death. In her concept, death meant dying, the end of life, with nothing afterward. But with more knowledge and connections, Bronya couldn't view death the same way as before. Bronie indeed developed a fear of death and also a respect for it.

"[How about this, Aha will let you be the Elation?] Aha suddenly suggested, dropping a red mask, undoubtedly the very iconic mask Aha wore.

"Don't, I'm not really interested in becoming an Aeon. Quickly take it back, take it back!"

[Hahaha! Aha is being rejected, how embarrassing! But Aha has decided to reward Bronie with something!]

As Aha spoke, a game cartridge dropped in front of Bronie.

The game cartridge looked very similar to those used for the NES, but the pictures and words on it were unfamiliar to Bronie.

"What is this?" Bronie was very curious.

The things given by the Aeon shouldn't be anything bad, right?

["I don't know, a game cartridge?"]

Aha didn't say anything else, and Bronie wasn't sure if Aha was busy.

Picking up the cartridge, Bronie had a guess in her mind.

"Maybe... I know what this is."

"What?"

"Well... Punklorde. There's a planet in the universe where the line between reality and imaginary is much blurrier than other places. In such world, countless hackers believe that life is just a game. They wander through cyberspace, using ether editing techniques to rewrite reality. However, among these hackers, there was a genius who accidentally left his hometown, a newbie village, and arrived in the vast universe to become a legendary hacker known for upholding justice as a wandering cyber pirate. In the end, he left behind this ether cartridge, which records his life, his thoughts, everything about him."

Listening to Bronie's explanation, Bronya's eyes widened.

"Wow, let's open it and see!"

"I'm sorry, Bronya, but I currently don't know the programming language of Punklorde, nor can I understand its text. As for ether editing technology, I'm even less familiar with it. I'm more of a self-taught kind of person, so for now, this thing can only be treated as a collectible, and it might even offend some people."

"Huh? Offend who?"

"Herta from the Genius Society, for one. She's quite a big deal in the universe. And there's also the possibility of angering Silver Wolf, a wanted criminal with a bounty of several billion, who might join the Stellaron Hunters in the future. Offending two sides, truly befitting of The Elation."

If you calculate the timing, Silver Wolf is definitely still playing in Punklorde right now, but who knows what the future holds?

Bronie didn't feel much discomfort holding onto this hot potato. Instead, she was a bit excited.

Yes, this was a gift from the Aeon which aligned very much to Bronie's taste.

A genius among geniuses, using ether editing technology to leave his hometown and become a wandering cyber pirate who upholds justice in the universe, then ending his journey under the gaze of his companions.

Everything he experienced could be incorporated into the simulated universe, becoming an essential cornerstone of the simulated real universe.

This alone was enough to illustrate the importance of this thing.

Of course, this kind of gift also came with hidden fun, which was probably what Aha wanted to see.

"So, Sis Bronie, let's crack it!"

"Hmm, you can give it a try. Anyway, it won't hurt you, but I think the data inside must be very large, so be careful not to connect it to your brain and personally experience the other person's life. If you don't recognize yourself by accident, I'll be very sad."

"So, Sis Bronie, you mean the data inside might possess Bronya's body?"

"It's possible, who knows~"

Listening to Bronie's vague answer, Bronya felt annoyed, but didn't know what to say. After all, she wasn't proficient in programming, and even less so in handling this game cartridge.

Moreover, as Bronie said, this was an ether cartridge made with ether editing technology.

What is ether?

It's the basic substance inside the Sea of Quanta.

It can resonate with various thoughts at any time and transform into something.

It can also to some extent modify reality and create reality.

This thing, Bronya couldn't touch it now.

So, Bronya reluctantly returned the cartridge to Bronie.

"When Bronya becomes powerful in the future, she'll slowly analyze these things. But, Sister Bronie, do you have such things?"

"Me? I don't know anything~" Bronie responded with a subtle smile.

Bronya wanted to pin Bronie down on the bed, tie up her limbs, and make her honestly answer.

But forget it.

She can't win.

In terms of physical development, Bronya is indeed growing, and even the signs of female growth, the monthly visits, have appeared.

But in the current situation, Bronya still feels her growth is far from enough.

This time, Bronie directly made the Outer Wilds DLC, but she didn't say it directly. It was only unlocked during NG+.

Just when all the players thought the game was over, another surprise suddenly came up.

This caused quite a stir on the internet.

The altar fell on Bronie's head again, and this time, there weren't many players discussing the plot, but rather a unanimous focus on reading comprehension and various discussions.

Strategy?

There might be game guides, but before all the gaming guide videos, all the broadcasters unanimously advised players to personally experience the game.

Yes, Outer Wilds is this kind of game, no, strictly speaking, it should be considered an artwork. It perfectly demonstrates to players the romance of exploration, the usefulness of knowledge, and the unknowns of the universe.

Now, it's time to rest for a while. Bronie temporarily put the cartridge aside and opened her computer for some routine searching.

As long as it's related to Bronie, Bronya can see it.

A lot of praise!

Cool!

As for the theme of the next game, Bronie focused on the cartridge.

"I wonder how Kiana is doing. She should be able to take care of herself, right? If she really encounters a tough opponent she can't beat, Sirin should step in to help..."

With her mind in a mess, sometimes thinking about Kiana, sometimes about the ether cartridge.

But this is inevitable. Both sides are very important to Bronie. The ether cartridge involves Bronie's future understanding of the world, while Kiana involves the issue of the future Herrscher of Finality.

Finally, Bronie shifted her attention to her phone and prepared to contact Kiana.

But at that moment, AE contacted her directly.

This should be Tesla's private number.

"Hey! Bronie! Do you have any plans related to space exploration recently?"

"Whether I have any plans depends on whether I have enough resources to do it. But unfortunately, recently, the exploration plan for the Imaginary Tree has consumed a lot of my resources. It's impossible to spare more energy and resources to explore anything called 'space'."

"You, you're quite cunning! Who taught you that? And do you have the ability to develop space travel technology? Didn't you say that there's an abundance of imaginary energy outside the solar system, making it difficult to leave the solar system?"

"In fact, these are all insignificant. And I think you should have seen the magic show I performed over Thames, right?"

"What the hell was that? Are you finally willing to tell us?"

Previously, Tesla and even Einstein had asked Bronie about it, and it definitely wasn't a magic show, but something left behind by a possible ancient civilization.

But the whole process didn't cause much of a sensation. Instead, Schicksal, like a shark smelling blood, went straight for it. In the end, Bronie and Schicksal reached some kind of unknown agreement.

Later, Welt also tried to inquire, but Bronie was very tight-lipped.

"The Second Divine Key, a part of the Cosmic Juggernaut, but that part isn't important, the core part hasn't been found yet."

"What?!"

Tesla was furious.

If there's the Cosmic Juggernaut, can't they use it to go to the so-called Cocoon of Finality on the Imaginary Tree?

Tesla and Einstein had also considered one thing, how to reach the Cocoon of Finality.

But both of them thought of using the power of the Herrscher of the Void, only now that it had turned into K423, it wasn't easy to act directly.

Siegfried wouldn't allow it, Welt wouldn't allow it, and Bronie, probably wouldn't allow it even more.

"Okay, okay, I know what you guys are thinking. Anyway, the Cosmic Juggernaut is indeed planned to be used in future space travel plans, but before dealing with the Honkai, nothing else will be considered. But why did you suddenly think of this? Is the Honkai solved? Just thinking about doing those things..."

"It's because of you! That Outer Wilds... although there are many things in it that feel very far-fetched, I have to admit, you made a good game..."

"You're playing my game instead of piloting mechs at Anti-Entropy HQ? Do you really think the situation inside Anti-Entropy is good? Recently, I found some strange places in the flow of funds in Anti-Entropy, and recently, the new members of Anti-Entropy seem to have a rogue style, and they like to cause trouble."

"You! You don't need to worry about AE's affairs! As for the issue of funds, it's just that there has been some progress in researching your so-called ether particles recently, but I accidentally consumed a little too much, that's all, it's normal capital manipulation!"

"Yeah, yeah! I hope your so-called normal capital manipulation is completely under your control."