Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)

905. Deepening Inquisition

But how would the Amalgam know about that incident?

Mary didn’t understand. It wasn’t a well-known incident either. But somehow, the Amalgam knew what had happened down to who was involved by name.

“So long as it has happened, then traces of the past will remain.”

The Amalgam uttered ominously as she looked over to her Minu Auditors.

Are they responsible for finding that? How is that even possible? No. They could have interrogated people. Unless the Amalgam is implying that she can view the events of the past. How absurd. There is no such thing as a power to manipulate time.

She was certain of this. No matter how powerful the Gifts were, or if she was the Ruler of Rulers – tampering with time itself was impossible in her eyes.

And yet, her heart ached as though she was wrong to believe this.

Suddenly, the Amalgam raised a hand.

Then, when she brought it down, all 12 heads of the Emperor’s closest aides exploded simultaneously like bursting pomegranates.

“A soul for a soul. I merely took back what was owed to me.”

“Be at ease. Their souls are not destroyed. Nor will they have to suffer.”

“My… servants…”

“I do not kill indiscriminately.”

“Anastasia, Brok, Gilamar, Dave, Julian…”

The Amalgam recited their names, ending with:

“They were involved with the death of my Blessed.”

“I consider ourselves neutral now.”

“It is a small price to pay…” The Emperor, who looked like he was on the verge of breaking down, suddenly trembled with relief. “Oh, most merciful Amalgam…”

Their deaths did not bother him the slightest.

* * *@@novelbin@@

Everyone wanted a Healer for one reason or another, and the Amalgam had correctly known that they did not arrive with good intentions. Furthermore, she also knew the sins they had committed against the Blessed, resulting in various degrees of punishment.

It felt like it was a coin toss between losing a limb or being killed on the spot. The Amalgam had yet to outright kill a King, Queen, Emperor, Empresses, or ruler for that matter. Some had lost their limbs, whereas others had their aides killed on the spot.

It was a stern reminder that they were not untouchable.

The Amalgam’s expression remained immutable. Their suffering mattered as much as the possibility of sparking wars following the Assembly. But who in their right mind would go against the Amalgam?

Especially when they saw how well the Kingdoms on the other side were being treated. Dozens of Healers populated the seats, tending to injuries or casually waiting around the Amalgam’s honored guests.

Mary had to wonder just what qualified one to be virtuous. Was it the utter absence of wrongdoing? Or had they managed to hide their sins from the Amalgam well enough to fool her?

The Warrior Princess is getting a lot of attention. I might be able to drive a wedge between her and the Amalgam. She is not as virtuous as she looks…

That train of thought came to an end as the Kingdom beside her was called by the Fang of the Head.

“The Stormweaver Continuity!”

A woman in a black garment rose. What she wore was made from mediocre-quality Cloth, but one could tell it was enchanted with hidden inscriptions that further amplified its strength. These came in the form of various transparent rings that riddled the cloth, appearing similar to how the thin strands of a spider’s web glistened in the light.

“… Are the Healers… that precious to you?”

The woman, who had already begun to sweat as though she was placed in front of a furnace, uttered in defiance. The room fell silent. The Healers at the other side froze, wearing faces of concern as the woman glared at them like livestock.

“As I said – I consider them my children.”

“What is the reason that you wanted a Healer?”

“… Research… to unlock our potential as mages. Hasn’t the Nexus chosen them as vessels for a fraction of its power?”

“It has. They’ve been Blessed by the Nexus.”

“With how little Healers there are… isn’t it wiser if we managed to understand how Healing Magic works? We wouldn’t need a Healer in the first place if we were able to use Healing Magic ourselves.”

“I disagree. Healing magic should never be widespread.”

“Diseases – Plagues – none of it will ever exist!”

The woman grew bolder with each passing exchange.

“The propensity for suffering sharply increases as well.”

“I’m aware of how the Gifts function.”

“I’m sure you are as well.”

Human suffering was one major component of activating a Gift or was at least the easiest method. Mort Toll for example rang its bell to cancel out stories of grief and death. The Ateliers required Nex, which was infinitely easier to gain through immense suffering.

“What we do to our prisoners is insignificant compared to our pursuit of knowledge! What is the sacrifice of one Healer when they’re already the brides of monsters!?”

It was a disgusting insult – one that immediately had every Black Wing point their weapons at the woman. At the same time, the Healers looked upon themselves in shame. She was not wrong. Healers were known to have slept with the Anids, but it was rarely if ever out of love or affection.

“Give me the word! I’ll take her head off right now!” A Black Wing cried.

“Don’t shoot.” The Fang of the Head warned. “Let the Amalgam deal with that stain.”

“Is that how your Kingdom sees the Healers?” The Eye of the Head spoke judgingly, her eyes sparkling with an electric currant. “Tch. I would have thought the Kingdoms of Emivta would have more tact than the ones in Grandis. It was my mistake to have such high expectations.”

The Claw of the Head was more concerned about the Healers. She seemed to already know the fate that awaited this woman.

Mary’s blood violently reacted, as did her companions. They were forced to sink into their seats for they were able to sense the Amalgam’s rising wrath.

Healers just wanted to survive. Between choosing to sell their bodies to humans or to a monster, Healers chose the latter. At least there, they could not be emotionally abused or tormented.

It was, horrifyingly enough, very straight forward with the Anids and other monsters surprisingly.

Plus, there was a level of affection given to them by the Anids. To this day there were still Healers out there who relied on the Anids for protection, further perpetuating the derogatory name the ‘Monster’s Bride’, ‘Broodmothers’, or ‘Captured Doves’.

The room became ice-cold. Immediately, the Amalgam raised her hand again to stop her Black Wings from eliminating the Envoy of the Stormweaver Continuity. This was why they were dressed considerably less regal compared to the rulers present.

They were not the true Queen of the Stormweaver Continuity, but a Greatmage who specialized in magical research.

“Are you disgusted that my Healers wish to live?” The Amalgam spoke with her own mouth.

Her voice was exactly as the one projected in their minds, only that it was strangely clearer. Or as Mary would describe it –

Beautiful…

“Or, does it bother you that my Healers don’t want to participate in your experiments? Has it not been enough?”

Slowly – agonizingly slowly – the Amalgam slowly walked off the side of the Stage. She was headed for their section.

“What more do my Healers need to suffer? The persecutions. The Frozen Springs. Scarlet Logic’s assault. And now, the Kingdoms themselves. An opportunity to exploit the Healers presented itself, neither you nor the false rulers have the capacity to understand that Healers are a miracle of existence.”

The Amalgam glided towards the Stormweaver Continuity. Her gaze kept them perfectly still. Mary’s face blanched, and her knuckles went white. Her body was barely able to withstand the natural pressure that the Amalgam exerted.

“They offer you help. So why hurt them? Why tinker with the heart, body and mind of a Healer that wants nothing but to hold your hand when you’re sick, or pull you away when you feel like nothing matters?”

The Black Wings vehemently nodded at those words.

“messenger of the Stormweaver Continuity... It wasn’t just the Healers that you wanted to tinker with, was it?”

The woman gulped as the Amalgam drew close enough to touch her. Her aides could not move an inch, not did even try. One fainted whilst they were still standing, for their mind was utterly incapable of withstanding her presence.

“Five hundred of my Blessed arrived with disturbing news regarding your Kingdom of magic. Of the five hundred, why was it that ninety returned mentally scarred? Or that four hundred and ten were experimented on?”

“They… I thought they were supposed to…”

“Be killed? I was wondering how or why they were allowed to be set free. But it makes sense now.”

* * *

Brutal experimentation was conducted on 500 Blessed. It revolved around taking organs, blood and tissue samples, and digging through their bodies in search for what made them ‘Blessed’.

There was a belief that the Blessing carried a physical form. Cannibals and mystics of Emvita believed that devouring the flesh of a Blessed carried the chance of inheriting it. It was not just an effort to research the phenomenon of the Blessing, but it became a business opportunity.

Without a Healer however, there was only so many organs and flesh to extract without killing them.

Therefore, after the experimentations on the Blessed, the Stormweaver Continuity threw them into a river. Their arms were bound, their eyes were covered with cloth, and their mouths were shut with wooden gags. Disposing such a large number of bodies would have poisoned the river which was used by many villages downstream just beyond the territory of the Stormweaver Continuity.

Amongst those villages was the peaceful Kingdom of Slimia. No one would question why there were so many bodies next to a nation of monsters. It was the perfect way to remove their evidence of violating the Blessed.

Plus, there was a chance that the Slimes would devour them.

However, it never occurred to them that their downfall would be because of these Slimes.