Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)-Chapter 1116. When Stars Collide
Frost could see numbers in the billions. For them to appear as question marks meant that either the numbers were absurdly high, or, the more likely reason was that her Soul Quality was not high enough to view a Star’s stats.
And to think this was not even a Star at its fullest potential.
The White Star Arbiter, for example, was level 600.
The Icon of Judgement by comparison was level 500. There was also no telling if this was the limit of a Paradise Lost Corrupted because it was the only one known in existence.
Furthermore, she had only defeated the Icon of Judgement because of its Subjugation Requirements.
This did not have any criteria to go by.
Frost’s instincts screamed at her. For once, she considered retreating. This was not enemy she could feasibly face alone. If she had Cer and Jury by her side, then it was entirely possible.
Not me. Not by myself…
If she could not fight, and she did not dare to, then the only other weapon she had was her mouth. She steeled herself and gazed upwards at the Star Sign. Without revealing a hint of fear, she spoke on equal grounds.
“What is your goal?”
It did not reply. No, more accurately, it responded with a recoil as though offended by her question. The music screeched as it came to an abrupt end, and Frost suddenly witnessed nothing but darkness no matter where she looked.
She would be dead in the next three seconds.
… Just like that…? I’m going to fade to black?
It was too abrupt to carry any emotional weight. Thus, it was impossible to manifest the Fifth State even though she was on the brink of death. She had never envisioned her death to be so sudden. Not with her HP pool.
But that implied that the Star Sign’s damage capabilities was over hundred million.
She sought for something: anything: but came up short. Her best option was to retreat into a [Shortform Warp] portal…
… But that was not necessary. Frost’s wedding ring cracked, and she was granted a split second of immunity. The darkness she had witnessed came from one of the fingers which had crushed her.
Her body was grounded into a crater. Had it not been for the ring, which was infused with Jury’s [Angelic Kiss], then she would have died. The finger that crushed her moved faster than she could perceive. It had seemingly teleported.
It raised itself high, ready to finish her off.
“A remnant of what appears to be from the Angel who bore the Spears.”
“A Child of the Tree of Life. A Light deeply craved by Stars. Shatter, Amalgam. Perhaps this Fourth Shattering will bring about an age where Stars may be born no longer bound to the likes of tales.”
“I have seen that Light. With no mouth I cannot take it for my own.”
“Thusly, it shall be shattered and dispersed.”
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Frost suddenly smiled. Death was mere seconds away. But her precognition revealed a sight for sore eyes.
A blinding white light appeared overhead, and the finger was repulsed by an Angelic being. Twelve wings flapped behind the figure.
One swooped down to help Frost onto her feet.
“When I heard that there was a Star’s presence in Act X, I assumed they had meant there was a Gift From A Star, no different from Mort Toll. Imagine my surprise when I sensed a disturbance in the Waft. You are lucky Nav relayed your sudden disappearance to me. No mere Arbiter’s Zone of Arbitration is enough to sever your connection.”
It was Michaela. She arrived bearing the feathers of four Main Sequence Corrupted Judgement Birds. The Listening Bird, the One Thousand Eyed Bird, the Castigation Bird, and finally, the Icon of Judgement.
But she did not manifest her White Star Arbiter form.
It was not needed.
The Arbiter
Michaela
< Archetype of Judgement >
Floor: Judgement
Advent: Name Unknown (Judgement)
Beholder: GaliaLEVEL : 500 (600 in Star Form)
ORIGIN : ArchetypeHP : ???
ATT : ???MAG ATT : ???ATT DEF : ???MAG DEF : ???MP : ???
RESIST : ???AGI : ???
“My hunch was correct. What stands before us is a Star Sign. A piece of a Star. They are approximately on par with the strength of a powerful Faux Angel. Frost. As per my promise, I shall deal with the Stars. I trust you can handle the Beholder.”
“Marionette isn’t moving.” Frost stated. “She’s unintentionally ingested my blood. If you can keep it off me, then I’ll see if I can probe into her mind.”
Frost didn’t know how she’d get Marionette to change, outside of perhaps using Die Agnosis to force an Ego Crystallization. But she feared that this would only worsen Marionette, since she was wholly devoted to the strings.
But a voice then spoke to her. It belonged to the Director. Since the Star had manifested itself here, and since the Director was its counterpart, he could now contact Frost through a more direct method.
The Director
< Amalgam. There is a way to help Marionette! It begins with moving the strands that tethers her! >
“That will kill her!”
The Director
< Let me finish! Ahem. And then, you must move them to me. I’ll tether her. The moment she is able to see worth in the ad libs, then I will be able to take hold of her. I’m not fond of my counterpart’s methods. Purpose is not strict in my book. The ad lib components are what livens up a stage play and introduces a natural element. It makes it less composed and truer to life. In any case, I will show you how! The first step, I’m afraid, is to break into Marionette’s heart! >
“And have her Crystalize an Ego? Force a Corruption!?”
The Director
< Either or the other. It will be easier to deal with her if she Corrupts. But, alas, we are not villains in this tale. What are we if not the heroes!? >
Frost thought otherwise. No one knew what a Corrupted Beholder was capable of, and she did not wish to be the first to find out. Frost gave Michaela a confirming nod and threw herself towards Marionette.
At the same time, blue and white explosions filled the skies around her. They lingered for seconds. It was like watching stars explode into supernovas. Cosmic dust swirled together, forming incredible nebulas as Michaela brandished her pale sword: Paradise Found.
“I’m putting my faith in you. Please don’t let me down. What happens when the strings move to you!?”
The Director
< I will be able to directly interfere with the messages she receives from my counterpart. I have no stake in Act X at all. But through this, even if I tether her to one string, I will be able to make significant alterations to Act X >
All Archetypes required a Beholder, if the status was anything to believe. Having an Archetype replace the Star that controlled Act X, even partially, was the compromise she had come to Act X for.
She only needed to reach Beholder Marionette’s…
… No.
Clothina’s heart.
