Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)

906. The Progenitor of The Corrupted

Indeed. Those 500 Blessed owed their lives to the Kingdom of Slimia. In fact, the reason why they were searching for a Healer was to help the Blessed. It was during the same day that they sent the request via a Herald, that a Missionary arrived to personally escort the Blessed back to the Nexus.

It was not known why the Slimes or the Slime Queen rescued them. But considering that Blessed did not typically attack humanoid or semi-intelligent Slimes, it was perhaps a way of repaying them.

That being said – this was where the good news ended.

The Amalgam had found the one person she wished to personally punish.

“Five hundred Blessed and you didn’t think it was wrong?”

“I… It was for… the pursuit of greater knowledge!”

The woman argued back as the Amalgam clasped onto the woman’s cheeks. Her thumb reached into her mouth, jamming her jaw open. Her teeth parted from her gums with ease.

“You understand, Amalgam! You should – Mppgh!?”

“Know you place. What can a little girl like you possibly know what I want?”

Then, the Amalgam slit her thumb with a nail, causing the woman to ingest her blood.

Immediately, the woman entered a trance-like state. What should have been soul-rending pain subsided as she stared into the Amalgam’s eyes.

“Tell me, what brought you to believe that this was worth it?”

“I… was never special. My own research assistant… became a Blessed.”

“Do you remember what you did to them?”

“I killed him. I ate him. So that I could one day become something more than what I am.”

“Can you tell me why?”

Suddenly, the voice of the woman changed as her body began to morph.

< “I just wanted to be special. Healers. The Blessed. Adventures had more freedom than me. I was relegated to devoting my life to my research for something I envied.” >

“Then, what do you see yourself as?”

< “Envious. I sink my roots into the hearts of those I envy. I take their bodies… I devour pieces of them, hoping to become something I’m not.” >

Gradually, her flesh shrank until she was nothing but bones. Her bones compressed into a giant vase-like shape. Maggots appeared from the bones, and they reached out and grabbed her aides, dragging them to fill what was missing with their flesh.

This is… Corruption… The Amalgam… She can…

Mary wasn’t the only one who realized what was happening before their very eyes.

Few knew that people could Corrupt. But no one knew exactly how it happened.

Seeing the Amalgam forcibly Corrupt someone caused them to concede every last ounce of resistance.

And finally, the Corrupted woman uttered:

< “I am the core of an envious apple. A fleshless husk gnawed by expectations and self-loathing. What isn’t mine shall become… mine.” >

She transformed into a boney, 2-meter large core of an apple. The maggot-like tentacles plastered the flesh of her aides along her body. Boney crunches and the sound of squelching flesh filled the Stage as she transformed their flesh into her own, creating a false, crimson apple.

“Who was the Star that visited the Stormweaver Continuity?”

“It was I, Amalgam.”

A Star raised his hand.

“Deliver this to the Stormweaver Continuity. Let them deal with the fruit of their research.”

The Star bowed and leaped down onto the Stage. At once, he grabbed the Corrupted with his bare hands and heaved it over his head.

“A docile one, isn’t it! They must call this it’s ‘inactive’ state.” The Star laughed.

“I’d send it to ImpulseWorks if it was worth anything. But it’s a Trickle Corrupted… at least when sated.”

The Star knew precisely what she meant. In time, the Corrupted would return to its active state and require new flesh to feast on. Only then would the Stormweaver Continuity know what sort of monster was in their hands.

If the Amalgam can create Corrupted out of people… then she’s more than just the Progenitor. No. What if the Progenitor means more than just blood? What if…

“Since I’m here, I may as well finish with you. Mary D’ Grace of the Larin Empire.”

The Amalgam loomed over her.

The scarlet strands of hair glowed ominously as she stared down at her with contempt.

… What if she’s the Progenitor of all Corrupted?

“Now, tell me why you require a Healer. Answer carefully. I am in a particularly foul mood right now.”

Mary couldn’t lie if she wanted to. Her blood was compelled to obey this being.

“To bathe in their blood. I never would have hurt them any further. I would have taken their blood as peacefully as possible. Healers… are beautiful things. I love beautiful things. I would never… never... hurt a Healer…”

She had to pause between phrases. Her breathing was unstable. Any closer and she’d no longer be able to control her lungs.

“Is this to maintain your youth?”

“It’s a ritual I’m copying after Bathory, the Scarlet Fall.”

“I see. So you must be a vampire. A Third Generation Vampire. Hm. Rise.”

Mary rose immediately. It was not done out of her own violition. Her body simply moved as though she was being possessed.

“Sit. Jump. Open your mouth. Blink.”

The Amalgam uttered orders, to which she followed as closely as possible. Her aides kept their eyes sealed shut, their bodies on the verge of collapsing.

“Tell me your full name.”

“Mary D’ Grace.”

“What is the name of your Gift?”

“The Mirror of Beauty.”

“I see… How amusing. My commandments work on Third Generation Vampires, Fifth Generation Vampires, and even a Seventh Generation Vampire. Unfortunately for you, you will not be granted a Healer.”

“I understand.”

“But, I am not done with you.”

Suddenly, the Amalgam cupped Mary’s face.

“Princess!” Yanarin exclaimed, battling through the pressure through sheer will only to be knocked unconscious by a Black Wing.

Mary’s life flashed before her eyes. Was she going to turn into a Corrupted too? Was she going to die? She tried to wrap her mind around what the Amalgam had in store for her, and all of it turned to a cruel, miserable end.

The Amalgam cut her thumb again. Then, she sank that same thumb into Mary’s cheek.

“I’ve heard of what you did to those Guild Members. They are still alive from what I understand.”

“Yes… they are. I made efforts to remove their beauty. I was envious at how a lowly Receptionist could be as beautiful as me.”

The Amalgam ran her thumb across her face, scarring her permanently.@@novelbin@@

“The only reason I haven’t killed you is because this is the extent of your sins. They’re mentally scarred, no doubt. But they are alive and have not been further abused. All things under the Nexus are under my command. A lowly Receptionist still represents the Nexus, even if they belong to another Atelier.”

Something broke inside of Mary as the Amalgam dragged her finger down past her chin, down her neck, and past her chest. It was an extensive scar that could nbever be healed. Mary could already sense that the Amalgam’s blood was interfering with her Blood Manipulation powers.

But somehow…

“I understand~”

… the fear that once dominated her became ecstasy.

“Good. I have no doubt you won’t make the mistake again. Your scar will never Heal. Nor will any wound Heal ever again.”

“I… will never let it Heal. It is your mark…” Mary muttered, her eyes narrowing as she fell into a trance-like state.

Something was wrong. Her heart should not be fluttering. It was a trick of the mind. It had to be. But in her heart, she could not help but feel attracted… no – attached to the Amalgam after just this one small encounter.

“You’ve marked me.” She touched her wound, which was closed to form a scar, courtesy of the Amalgam. “I was marked by the Amalgam… I will help them immediately…”

“No need. I’ve already sent a Moon to rescue them.”

It was horrifying to Mary herself. But how could she control herself in the face of someone as utterly beautiful as the Amalgam? Not only that, but who was the Progenitor of all Honored Ones?

“Sit. Don’t ever forget your place.”

The Amalgam warned. The words that should have felt like a stake driving through her heart were oddly arousing.

Ahhh… Don’t go. Why… was I so afraid from the start? Haaah. I was scarred by the Progenitor. Her blood is inside me. The Progenitor is inside of me…

She did not openly show this in fear of disgusting the Amalgam. Her eyes lingered on the disappearing back of the Progenitor, and she felt that it was a shame that her pressure was already slipping away from her throat.

If I knew that my only sin was mistreating those Receptionists… I could have been on the other side. Aaaaah… How can I get on her good side?

Unfortunately, she had lost something more valuable than her kingdom and her life.

It was her dignity.

From this day onwards, Mary D’ Grace was hereby known as Mary Dis’ Grace.