Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)

902. The Ruler of Rulers, The Amalgam

Exactly 56 rings of seats made up both sides of the Stage. A black walkway cut between the two sections, leading to clearing shaped like a giant dodecagon (12-sides) in the center of the grand hall.

Golden strips ran along the edges of the black-marble floors. The entire room was illuminated by these lights as the reflective walls and ceiling dispersed it evenly across the chamber.

The shape of the Stage allowed all participants to view the center as well as the raised platform at the northernmost end. The desks of the right section of the Stage had white-marble tops, whereas the left was black to indicate the seats of the virtuous and the sinners.

Mary had never personally attended an Assembly before. She had only heard of the marvels of the Stage by her missionaries and vassals. Her mouth was left agape at the sheer size of the chamber, which was easily ten times as large as her own throne room.

As a woman of extravagance, her own throne room was amongst the largest and most decorated. But it was utterly put to shame here.

Whatever family she came from, whatever bloodline she held, the riches she possessed, the power – it was beneath what Atlas possessed…

No. This is the Nexus now. It’s no longer Atlas and the Exalted who’ll mediate between the nations.

Standing on a second floor above were 20 Stars of the Nexus, who were each draped in long, white robes and ribbons like they were priests about to conduct a sacred ceremony. Beneath them and standing in a recess that ran across the walls were 120 Moons of the Nexus. Among them were 40 Moons, and 80 Aspiring Moons.

They were separated into 3 areas around the chamber, each with a banner

The white-suited Hora Therapeutics, who were located at the bottom right of the Stage.

The blue-suited Minu Auditors, who oversaw the bottom left side of the Stage

And finally – a group of Moons who were decorated in the second highest quality-level Cloth. They wore a black two-piece suit with golden veins running across their bodies.

Attached to their left shoulder was a scarf-like mantle made from black and golden feathers.

“Quality… IX Cloth?” Yanarin noticed this immediately. “All of them… Every Moon is wearing clothes made from Quality IX Cloth.”

Indeed. From Aspiring Moons to the Departments of Time Reverberation – Not a single Moon adorned anything less than Quality IX Cloth.

* * *

Quality IX (9) Cloth was a resource hard to come by due to how it was normally harvested. One needed to enter a near-Corruptive state for Quality IX threads to be produced.

Corruption was not as simple as causing immeasurable suffering or exposing one to nightmares beyond comprehension. An individual’s sense of self or existence had to be challenged to the brink of inducing a Corruption.

The purpose of the revamped Lament Cycle was to harness as much Nex as possible from the Repenters. Beyond just serving as workers for CogitO, they were the embodiment Oboros Infinitas’ slogan.

Infinite Burdens.

This was not the extent what caused a Corruption.

For example, it was now known that trauma, inner turmoil, emotions and contradictions in the Shadow verses the Ego/Self were the driving force of a Corruption. But fundamentally, the existential despair and unresolvable conflict of the psyche (the Shadow) was what ultimately caused a Corruption.

That, and an Epiphany which enabled the Shadow to overwhelm the Ego and one’s sense of Self, allowing it to become their living Persona.

Of course, knowledge was strictly limited to the Nexus and its bodies. The rest of the world were kept in the dark.

So long as there was something to gain, then there was no limit to the depravity that people will go to harvest it.

Quality IX Cloth was one such material.

* * *

To the rest of the world and to people who knew the rarity of Quality IX Cloth like Yanarin, it was a treasure that not even Kings could enjoy, let alone wear. Only 15 legendary apparels made from Quality IX Cloth were known to exist in Elysia.

Among the 15 were the Cape of Cadavers, the Gloves of Extreme Prejudice, the Gown of Defenders and the Boots of Everflow. Each were kept in the treasuries of a Kingdom, never to see the light of day.

They were treated like Gifts.

Yet here, there were over a hundred on full display.

“Keep calm… and move forward.” Mary gulped as she was faced with a dilemma.

It was not just her. The Kingdoms struggled to decide which side of the room to take their seats. Mary did not believe that she had done anything wrong. Her heart told her to sit on virtuous side.

But what if I did do something wrong? What does the Amalgam know? If I sit at the sinner’s side and I end up being virtuous… then will I still be punished?

She looked at Yanarin, whose eyes motioned to the left side of the room.

“We were labeled as sinners. It will be wise to adhere to what they believe us to be.” She advised.

Mary agreed, albeit reluctantly.

They became amongst the first to move into the Stage. The Chlam Empire passed by them, taking their seats at the virous side, much to the delight of one of the five figures that stood around the Amalgam.

Looking at them closely, Mary’s heart dropped.

Is – That… That – THAT – Is that… Quality X Cloth!?

The first were three wolfwomen dressed in apparels made from the highest Quality Cloth known to exist. Merely glancing in their direction caused one to instinctively lower their gaze, as if they were told by a higher power that they were unworthy to be in its presence.

These were the Eye of the Head, the Fang of the Head, and finally the Claw of the Head. Collectively, they made up the Three Heads of Security and were the strongest Moons to ever exist.

Mary should not have known this.

But there was a voice that was narrating all of this in her head. It was a small murmur; one that permeated the silence as the Kingdom representees took their seats and gazed upon the figures at the front.

* * *

Quality X (10) Cloth was unheard of. Master craftsmen were unsure if there existed a level of Cloth above that of the already exalted Quality IX Cloth. At that point the only real pieces of apparel comparable to Quality IX Cloth were Corrupted Items and in extreme cases, a product of a Gift.

Adamantium was a close contender, and in some cases exceeded Quality IX Cloth. But neither compared to the protection of Quality X Cloth. For reference, Quality IX Cloth provided 2,000 DEF.

Quality X Cloth provided an astounding 5,000 DEF at the minimum.

No Moon, Star or Exalted could dream of leaving a scratch on the bodies of the Amalgam’s Eye, Fang and Claw.

* * *

Standing to the left of the Amalgam was a being whose entire right arm was encased in pale, feather-like scales. They adorned a black, feathery coat made from Quality 9 Cloth.

This was a Beholder of the Nexus.

Her presence rivalled that of the Amalgam’s; as expected of a living god.

And then, to the right of the Amalgam was a less impressive scribe with silver eyes who wrote into a book that was over 2 meters large; a being that that was introduced as the Archivist by a small voice in her head.

< “Now that you are all seated, we can begin.” >

And finally – the Amalgam herself.

She had not yet spoken, but the murmurs that invaded Mary’s mind made it seem like she had been talking this entire time.

Her black hair and speckles of gold were evidence of her godhood. The Fang had a similar hair color, but it was incomparable to what the Amalgam possessed. A single patch of hair between her eyes was red, proving that she had blood-manipulation powers either as a Vampire or most likely an Honored One.

But they called her the Progenitor…

Her apparel was equally as gorgeous as it was terrifying. It perfectly encapsulated the type of person the Amalgam was – a ruler above the echelon of rulers. Her gaze alone froze them in place.

Then, the murmurs became a deafening, mental boom.

“Welcome, our dear guests. I am elated that all 59 Kingdoms have answered my summons to the Stage.”

This voice belonged to the Amalgam.

Mary knew it.

The rulers trembled. The Amalgam had powerful telepathic powers, playing further into the idea that she could scour their minds.

She wore an elegant smile before continuing.

“Before we begin, I must apologize for the conduct of my Moons and my Black Wings.”

As she said this, a brigade of 100 Black Wings joined the Moons. They were not there to apologize or to show their sincerity. Each one carried a weapon that was lowered to the ground.

It was another way of the Amalgam to showcase how utterly helpless the Kingdoms were.

“Please pardon their behavior. It has not been easy for the Healers these past few months. Their aversion is only natural towards Kingdoms who are seeking for a Healer to call their own.”

So it was because we wanted Healers…

Mary bit her tongue again. The Amalgam presented herself like a fair and just deity. She apologized on behalf of her personnel, and even wore a face that appeared sincere.

“All Healers belong to the Nexus. Whether you agree or not is no concern of mine. Their powers are derived from the Blessing of the Nexus. What they give back to the world is nothing short of a miracle.”

However, her tone suddenly darkened as a wave of pressure clogged the throats of the attendees. Her golden eyes emitted a faint glow as she finally spoke.

“So why is it that Healers are treated like commodities?”

“I fail to understand the logic behind such thoughts.”

“Perhaps you, the Kingdoms of Elysia, can enlighten me.”

The Amalgam ceased her invisible hold over them, allowing them to breathe freely once again.

Then, she finally introduced herself with a pleasant smile.

“I am the Amalgam, the Archetype of Amalgamation and the sole ruler of the Nexus.”

“All bodies, people, organizations and items in relation to the Nexus are under my sole authority.”

“Therefore, Healers are rightfully under my command.”

“What you seek is something that belongs to me.”

 @@novelbin@@

“Something I consider dear to my heart.”

“I consider them as my very own children.”

“Why is it that you seek them?”

“It will do you a favor to answer me as truthfully as possible.”