Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)-Chapter 1142. Experimental Modules

Dangolda was only 50% mapped.

For a location to be mapped, the Archivist needed to personally explore it. Much of the exploration was focused on the City of Hearts and Clubs since they were among the safest places in the Nex Megalopolis.

“We’ll be attacking blind. But we will use the old map layouts the Brick and Mortar Association have kindly provided. There are only two major highways that cross into Dangolda. Four exits. Both highways run laterally.” The sixth Black Wing, whose hair was sculpted with French curls harped. Her name was Zia.

Finally, the final Black Wing took a long puff from a gold-encrusted cigar and smothered it against her tongue. The long, disk-shaped hat on her head was angled sharply, covering half of her face. Visually, she was much older than the other six Black Wings yet appeared unbelievably youthful by the virtue of being a Healer.

This was Elena, a Healer whose age rivalled that of the Blood Angels. Next to her golden feathers were four white badges. Each badge represented a century she had lived as a Healer.

“EX 12: 1: Let their days be dark, and their nights be eternal. Let murder fester into a flock and bring forth the rider in black. This nonsense about punishment, morality… justice.” She twisted the air, and the cigar disintegrated as though it were crushed by an invisible weight. “Only makes sense in the context of a judiciary. Our role is not to weigh our options, but to eradicate all threats of the Head’s ecology.”

Of the seven Black Wings, Elena held the highest authority due to her experience. Her experience as a Healer, who had survived countless eras of persecution, forged her into a blade that could cut through any foe.

Her apparel was also slightly altered. Embedded into her coat were black orbs: the same that could be found on Jury’s body. But these were also installed on a subdermal layer, hence, how she was able to manipulate gravity.

Normally, Atelier products had to be used externally as products. But Healers had the unique ability to absorb Atelier technology without the downsides of losing one’s humanity. Ragnelle: Jury’s advisor: was the first to discover this.

The Gravity Cores were an experimental module, since there was no telling how this would affect a Black Wing long term. At worse, they’d succumb to the Gift like the Beholders.

Elena then continued.

“Mother sent a request five days ago after we were sent the experimental module. We have this operation to exercise its efficacy. Who else has received the Gravity Core module?”

Elena raised her hand. Only one other joined her.

“Me! Me! Me!” It was Chiara. “I got one! Dr. Ignis installed it yesterday!”

“Then, will you do the honors of fetching Mother the results?”

“We plan to send one of us into battle?” Akira questioned, though, she was not against this.

“Under normal circumstances, our role is to conduct grand-scale operations. But there is no rule against a Raven from being deployed. The Gravity Core module will increase the gap between us and our sisters. It will also further separate us from the RedTribution Body of the Head.” Elena explained.

“The Sanguine Doves.” Akira nodded.

“And if the results are satisfactory, then Mother can commit to creating more modules for the Black Wings. Firstly, to be used by the Ravens. It will give us a fraction of a Beholder’s power. There is no current intermediate step between a Black Wing and the Moons. But we as Ravens can fill that role.”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Indeed. The jump between a Black Wing and a Moon was enormous. But if a Black Wing were given Atelier tech that could be used like a Skill, then the gap would become much smaller. Not only that, but it would allow a Raven to orchestrate an operation from the battlefield rather than from the Floor of Civilization.

“Send a gardener to snippy snip the blight~ Aww. Why can’t we request Act X to narrow it down?” Chiara sulked, her cowlicks drooping like the ears of a Demi-human.

“Act X are on lockdown. Busy licking their wounds after Mother dismantled their precious Living Loom. It’s been five days. Fifty Days in Relative Time, if Mother has been spending her time creating modules.” Lior giggled as she wiggled her hips, and the slack of her sleeves like a child. “Hmhmhmhm~! Chiara better not make Mother angry by killing a bunch of bystanders~!”

“If they get in the way, then we’re not liable for any injuries or deaths.” Chiara hummed. “The warning should be enough! Oh! We should tell Zermillion to fire off an Isolation Sphere right into the heart of Dangolda! Give the rats zero time to escape~! I’ll jump in, and I’ll give the command to the Black Wings to start sweeping through both highways~!”

Elena placed a firm finger on a single location.

“You will personally head here to test the Gravity Core module. If it works as well as my first impressions, then, you will not be in any danger. Then again, it will be mandatory for a Seci Response Moon to escort you.”

“Yay~! Then Mother can give us more toys to play with!” Chiara gleefully celebrated before kicking away from the table. She struck an adorable pose, kicked her heels up, and stuck out her tongue with a wink. “Chow~ Or as they say in Objet D’ Art, uuuh. Arrivederci!”

“… What language is that? It means goodbye, but in what language?” Sana was curious.

“Ita something, from a place big bro calls Earth!” Chiara disappeared into the holographic labyrinth.

“And to observe. How exciting.” Zia twirled her French curls. “Atelier products being implanted into the body, rather than through weapons. Like permanent Serums or Infusions, if you think about it~”

“You should worry about the long-term effects.” Lucy took a pragmatic approach. “But this is Mother we’re talking about. We take after her.”

“She absorbs Tech, and we can use whatever she makes. Makes you excited about the possibilities, doesn’t it?” Lior performed a front stroke on the book, swimming in midair to cull her boredom. “Hey! Let go!”

Sana clasped her ankle and held her in place.

“Mother rarely spends more than half a week in a single place. She must be creating a lot more than we think. Godspeed to her. Our first incursion into Emvita won’t be long from now.”

“Mhm. She wants to augment us enough to serve as her bulkwark~!” Zia harped haughtily. “Ohh, poor them. Poor Emvita fools. Moons can only be spread so thinly. But the wingspan of a Black Wing can cover much more ground.”

Indeed. Where the Black Wings were perfect for large-scale operations, Moons were better suited for small scale, but extremely high-threat situations. Corrupted for instance. Black Wings were not suited against these enemies. Moreover, Impuritas were also a significant threat to the Black Wings depending on their group size. While a Murder of Black Wings could easily annihilate an Infestation or a Plague, a Complex Heart required a Moon at the minimum.

Or: hopefully: a single Raven with the Head’s newest technological advancements.

It was time to put the Gravity Core module to the test.

Then, there would be much more to come from the Amalgam’s experiments.

* * *

“Warning. Warning. Warning.”

“This is not a drill.”

“Sector D-6-95 to Sector D-6-96 is under the Head’s control.”

“You have ten minutes to return to your homes. If you cannot return home, then please find the nearest shelter.”

“The Head will not be held responsible for any injury or deaths that occur outside of a shelter. Please read the Guild pamphlets or the Brick & Mortar Association Guidelines on what constitutes as a shelter.”

“Ten minutes until the Flock arrives.”