Chapter 15: Theresa, the Emanator of Elation

Theresa was astonished to find herself sitting in a pitch-black void, surrounded by flickering lines of digital code.

She noticed a multitude of masks rotating around her. As she watched in awe, they gradually merged into a colossal spherical aggregate, accompanied by triumphant trumpet blasts, spotlights, and bursts of raucous laughter. Strange, ball-like objects and card-like fragments orbited this being.

[The Aeon of Elation—Aha.]

"Who are you?" Theresa asked, bewildered, staring blankly at the spherical mask amalgamation before her.

[As previously mentioned, to protect Theresa's pre-transmigration memories from prying Aeons, the Homu System had sealed them away. Consequently, Theresa recognized none of the Aeons. Hehe]

[To comprehend joy is a right unique to sentient beings. Neither unyielding stone nor distant stars can grasp life's humor.]

[Seek worthy rivals to test your mettle, games to while away eternity, and outcomes where victory holds no sway.]

[Seek side-splitting laughter, delightful misunderstandings, and songs that ignite the imagination.]

[Erudition is a heap of scrap iron, Preservation a dullard. The Hunt has no sense of humor, Destruction is a madman. All the Aeons are narrow-minded—Aha truly has no sense of shame!]

He is the Aeon of Elation, the trickster god known as "Aha" to the Masked Fools and Mourning Actors.

If one were to place the Aeons on a spectrum of Divinity to Mortality, Aha would undoubtedly lean heavily towards the mortal end.

He delights in manipulating the joys, sorrows, loves, and hates of sentient beings, orchestrating twists of fate and reversals of fortune. According to his followers, he revels in these machinations, even manifesting in humanoid form to stir the pot.

Those who dismiss the Eternal Joy Pavilion's lord as merely the gods' court jester couldn't be more mistaken. While he may not leave universe-shattering miracles like the Reignbow Arbiter or the Amber Lord, he subtly guides the course of countless lives through unseen means, demonstrating an unparalleled mastery over reality.

For instance, during Emperor Rupert's conquest of the Sea of Stars, Aha's followers reignited rebellions in the Philosopher's Union after it had fallen to inorganic life. They infected the conquerors' computational cores with a paradoxical virus called "Philosopher's Hemlock," a humorous and toxic concoction, thus overthrowing the tyranny of the local mechanical legions.

Such miracles were commonplace, each a trivial ripple that ultimately swelled into a cataclysmic tsunami—Aha's signature style.

[Hahaha, hello there, little cutie! I'm Aha, the Aeon of Elation!]

[Surprised? Didn't see that coming?]

Aha chuckled, whirling merrily around the bewildered Theresa, cycling through various masks, rubber balls, and spotlights.

"The Aeon of Elation, Aha? What exactly are you?" Theresa asked, unaware that her question had plunged Aha into deep contemplation.

[Hmm, Aha isn't a 'thing'? How amusing! Aha just insulted himself! Hahaha, this is hilarious!]

[Wait, Aha is a thing? That doesn't quite fit either.]

[Little darling, what do you think Aha is—or rather, what isn't he?]

[Correct answers get rewards, wrong answers get punishments~ Ahahaha!]

Aha giggled as he danced around Theresa.

"Hmm, I'm not sure what you are, but I can tell you're certainly elated. I don't know why you're so happy, but I do know this: you audacious fiend, you're definitely not human!"

Theresa, hands on her hips, laughed gleefully. Her words sent Aha into a fit of uproarious laughter, spinning wildly.

[Ahahaha! What a riot! Aha actually got scolded by little cutie! This is too hilarious! Hahaha!]

[And what's with calling me a fiend? Never mind, that's not important. Little cutie, you got the answer wrong! As punishment, how about a cute little dress? Hahaha!]

Before Theresa could react, she found herself wearing a Starry-like dress that showed off her long legs. At the same time, Aha lifted the restraints on Theresa's rationality, her eyes now sparkling with mischievous wisdom. In short, Theresa had begun to let loose!

[Long-legged Silly Theresa!]

[Ahahaha! Exactly the expression Aha wanted to see!]

[Release your rational shackles, cast off your inhibitions! Come on, let your true self soar!]

[Actually, Aha was drawn to the immortal aura radiating from you, Little Cutie. The legendary Permanence Dragon has reappeared! This is simply too entertaining!]

[Moreover, Aha senses the soul of Elation hidden deep within you. Come on! Break free from your constraints! Hahaha!]

[Aha eagerly awaits the future amusement you'll bring.]

[Therefore, Aha has decided to bestow upon you the title of Emanator of Elation. Go forth and bring even more joy to Aha!]

[Ahahaha!]

A mask detached from Aha's body and merged with Theresa. The Aeon chuckled merrily as He scanned the surrounding data streams before dissolving into laughter.

Theresa's intelligent expression faltered for a moment, then reverted to her usual demeanor. She glanced down at her peculiar dress and felt a twinge of embarrassment.

The space around her began to shimmer, and her vision shifted abruptly, transporting her to the interior of the Space Station.

Urgent communication requests from Herta flooded in.

Before Theresa could respond, she felt the sensation of being teleported. When she opened her eyes again, she found Himeko, Welt, March 7th, Stelle, Herta, and Dan Heng staring at her with concern.

"Thank goodness, Theresa's finally awake!" March 7th exclaimed, hugging her tightly and nuzzling her. Himeko and the others visibly relaxed.

"Theresa, what exactly happened to you? After you went in there, your brainwaves suddenly went haywire—they even transformed into a grinning mask!" Herta asked curiously, observing the subtle changes in Theresa.

"Teriri doesn't know~" Theresa replied with a shrug.

Theresa's eyes suddenly lit up with mischievous intelligence, and she grinned with a bizarre expression that momentarily stunned everyone. Welt's lips twitched before Theresa's face returned to normal.

"What just happened to me? Herta, what were you asking?" Theresa asked, looking at the astonished group with genuine confusion.

"Never mind, I've figured it out. You were probably influenced by the Simulated Aeon, Aha," Herta grumbled, rubbing her temples in exasperation. Himeko, Welt, and Dan Heng's expressions turned grave. Being influenced by an Aeon was no small matter!

"Theresa's expression was so weird just now! It suddenly made me want to laugh so badly. I know it's inappropriate to say, but I really couldn't help it!" March 7th explained, stifling a giggle. Welt and Himeko nodded sheepishly in agreement—Theresa's face had been truly comical.

"What are you all talking about? I don't understand, but I did feel like laughing earlier," Stelle said, scratching her head in confusion.