Fu Zhu directed the crowd to clear an open space. After converting the four iron blocks into their MC equivalents, he arranged them in a T-shape.
Then, using the shears, he carved the pumpkin brought by the Silvermane Guards. With a click, a slightly menacing face appeared on one side of the pumpkin.
Xing watched this whole process, completely baffled. "Bro, what are you doing? Building a snowman?"
"Nope, summoning a bodyguard. Just watch."
Fu Zhu held the carved pumpkin in his hand, jumped in place, and placed it atop the pre-arranged iron blocks.
The instant the pumpkin head was set, a somewhat muffled thud echoed across the plaza.
An imposing metal giant burst through the iron blocks, appearing before everyone's eyes.
[Achievement Unlocked: Recruit Reinforcement!]
[Achievement Points Awarded: 2]
Fu Zhu looked at the Iron Golem standing before him, blocking out most of the sun, and nodded with satisfaction. He then turned around with a smile, intending to ask the crowd, "Well? Isn't it cool? Hmm? Where did everyone go?"
Fu Zhu turned to find himself no longer on Jarilo-VI, but in the vast expanse of the galaxy. All around him, streams of various characters and data flowed like rivers.
Though he couldn't see the ground beneath his feet, he felt a solid footing.
The only small comfort was that the Iron Golem he had just created still stood quietly beside him.
"Transported again?!"
Fu Zhu was bewildered. He opened his minimap, which also showed he was no longer in Belobog. Mods didn't lie, which meant he had very likely 'transmigrated' once more.
"March... Dan Heng... Xing..."
Fu Zhu felt troubled. He had just found a group that felt like family, only to be 'transported' again. It left him somewhat irritated.
However, the moment that thought surfaced, a crimson glow flashed urgently above his head.
Puzzled, Fu Zhu looked up. A 'sphere' constructed entirely of various precision parts hovered above him. On the surface of this 'sphere', a massive indicator light was flashing rapidly red.
Aliens?
Seeing it, Fu Zhu's mind immediately conjured images of aliens from various movies and TV shows.
Could it be that it summoned me here?
Fu Zhu immediately looked up, annoyed, and asked, "Who are you?"
Upon hearing Fu Zhu's question, the 'sphere's' massive indicator light finally stopped flashing and remained steadily lit.
'Answer: Humans refer to me as Nous.'
"Nous, the Aeon of [Erudition]?"
Fu Zhu was surprised. Himeko had just recently told him about the Aeons, and now he had encountered one so soon.
Moreover, if he remembered correctly, he had gained a Blessing related to [Erudition] back on the space station, and now he was face-to-face with Erudition itself.
Though surprised, Fu Zhu felt a sense of relief.
At least he was still in the same world, which meant there was a chance to reunite with Little March and the others!
Just as Fu Zhu was about to ask Nous why it had summoned him to this place, where this place was, and how far it was from Jarilo-VI, Nous spoke first.
'Query: Why have you arrived in this domain in your physical body?'
Physical body? Domain?
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Fu Zhu raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding.
The giant indicator light on Nous's surface began flashing again, stopping only after a long moment.
'Answer: I have summoned numerous life forms on many occasions, but only a very small number, when actively seeking an audience with me, enter my domain with their physical bodies. You are different. I was unable to isolate your consciousness alone, including this new life form you created. I could only summon your physical bodies together.'
With Nous's explanation, Fu Zhu began to grasp the situation slightly better.
Firstly, it seemed Nous wanted something from him. It had tried to isolate his consciousness for a meeting, like in some movies or shows, but failed for some reason, resorting to summoning his entire physical body instead.
Is it because of the Steve physique?
MC indeed lacked the concept of a separate spiritual entity. Steve, whether physical or mental, was always a complete whole, never suffering from things like dismemberment or split personalities.
Seeing Fu Zhu lost in thought, Nous seemed a bit impatient, posing another question with its synthetic mechanical voice.
'Query: Are you able to provide an answer?'
"Sorry, I can't. I don't know the answer either."
Nous's indicator light flickered for a moment, as if it had crashed. However, it didn't press the issue further, instead shifting the topic to the Iron Golem.
'Query: Why does the combination of Iron Blocks and a Carved Pumpkin give birth to this type of life form, never before seen in the universe?'
The moment Fu Zhu created the Iron Golem, Nous had noticed the little human it had glimpsed on Herta Space Station. Unexpectedly, he had actually created a completely new life form!
And he used only common materials like iron and pumpkin.
Throughout the universe, geniuses capable of creating life had always existed. But regardless of who it was, the materials used in creating life were invariably rare.
Even manufacturing Intellitron life required various rare elements.
Yet Fu Zhu had used only iron and pumpkin!
This unknown factor was precisely what attracted Nous's attention.
Hearing Nous's question, Fu Zhu scratched his head, troubled.
"If I said that's just how the rules are set, would you believe me?"
Nous's indicator light began flashing wildly again, the blinding red light forcing Fu Zhu to squint.
Rules? A set of rules hidden within the universe, yet undiscovered?
Or perhaps, this is an unknowable element outside the 'circle of knowledge'?
Just as silence fell between Fu Zhu and Nous, several cracks suddenly appeared high up on Fu Zhu's other side, like a mirror shattering.
The next second, an ear-piercing shattering sound rang out. Fu Zhu winced, covering his ears.
Where the cracks had been, a massive hole had opened. Outside the hole stood a colossal 'stone giant' composed entirely of an unknown amber-colored mineral.
Fu Zhu, frowning and covering his ears, looked at the 'stone giant' standing beyond the space. Who is this powerhouse? he wondered.
Shattering the void – definitely stronger than Nous, not weaker.
Nous also noticed the 'stone giant', slowly rotating its sphere to face it.
'Qlipoth, you overstep!'