Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)

933. A Sinner’s Friend

Sixty figures gathered at the footsteps of a large staircase. Fifty-three of which were Repenters, another five being Harrowers, and the last two being Frost and Jury.

The sea of Oboros Infinitas’s Repenters collectively wore company issued suits that were made of Quality VI Cloth. They were not as cleanly looking as what Icara wore, nor a uniform-black like the Orange Disruptors.

Rather, their suits had washed out colors, grime, were unbuttoned or hung around their shoulders like a towel. As long as their Division’s insignia could be seen, then Oboros Infinitas could not care less about what they wore.

Still, Quality VI Cloth provided better protection than steel armor.

One had to wonder why Repenters were given such valuable cloth. In truth, it was not valuable. Quality VI Cloth was easily mass produced in such overwhelming quantities that Kingdoms regularly lined the insides of the armors of their finest knights.

It was also the lowest tier of Strings that could be used for clothing. For instance, Quality V Strings were better suited for musical instruments, and Quality IV were called Future Strings, which guided Heralds to act based on precognitive intuition.

That aside –

The staircase’s pale splendor matched the white marble bricks of the single most important building within Emershine.

The town’s clinic.

The stairs were almost as wide as the building itself, capable of supporting thousands of people at once in the event of an emergency. Likewise, the grandeur archway that led into a highly secure vestibule.

It gaped at over eight meters high and stretched approximately twenty meters across.

Sacred columns with depictions of doves lined the outer walls. The symbol of a feather was masterfully chiseled into walls between each column.

While the sight of what was considered a sacred site awed the fifty-eight figures ahead of her, Frost was more impressed with the craftsmanship. Even from over thirty meters away, she was able to view every minute detail in the artworks.

They were perfectly carved out down to a millimeter. Each contour was intricately replicated across each and every wall. If she did not know any better, then she would have believed that they were pressed by a machine. Ignoring the fact that marble would split under the immense weight of a pressing machine, it was the minor imperfections that proved they were hand carved.

Dwarves were gifted in their ability to manipulate stone. It was not a surprise for a mostly subterranean race. But one had to consider that the stones and bedrock of Dwarhelven were anywhere from two to five times denser than those found anywhere else in Elysia.

Generations of conditioning, magical advances and adaptations allowed Dwarves to handle stone with ease. If paper was the medium of the other humanoid races, then stone was theirs and the chisel were their pens.

And as if the clinic couldn’t appear any more sacred, the sound of a holy choir resonated deeper within.

“A sermon at this time?”

“With the appearance of those Stuffed Drillblowers, the town’s aught to be on edge. They reckon worshiping the Celestial Heavens will give them protection. If that really was the case, then why weren’t they protected? The Nexus doesn’t care.”

“You’re wrong. The Healers are proof of the Nexus’ mercy. They stand as the only divine connection with the power of the Heavens above, defended by the Head, and beloved by all but the wicked. Like us.”

“Good timing! I’d like a blessing from a Healer!”

“The likes of your type are bound to burst in a ball of flames if you were to approach a Healer.”

The Repenters spoke amongst themselves, spewing venom to those outside of their groups. Their lack of mortality allowed them to speak without the fear of consequences. She half expected them to fling vitriol her way too, but none of them dared to look her way.

This was because Frost had been unconsciously Scrutinizing them.

The thought of Repenters entering… no, breathing the same air as her Healers infuriated her.

“I wasn’t aware that Healers are treated like priestesses.” Frost said. “Are the clinics serving as a site of worship as well?”

“Half and half.” Jury replied. “It just kind of happened. The world took Healers for granted, then watched as the Nexus swooped in to take them back to what they believe is heaven for mistreating them. Nowadays, you can only find them at clinics. Pair them with being so closely associated with the Nexus and you have a holy figure.”

What Frost forgot was that the Nexus itself was seen as a holy monolith. It defied all reason and rose beyond the heavens, eventually becoming synonymous with heaven itself. No matter how far or where one was, the Nexus would always be watching over them.

Given how the Blessing could be bestowed from anywhere in the world, people believed that the Nexus judged those who were deemed worthy of its Blessing.

“As they should be treated.” Frost murmured.

As they neared the archway, a flight of footsteps approached her from behind. A figure with white hair joined their group. Then, when they were close enough to be noticed by Acedia’s team in the back, they spoke.

“You can imagine how people will perceive the reconciliation and mandated sparsity of Healers as divine intervention.”

A Blood Angel. Her voice was heavily muffled by her nebulizer.

People noticed her right away upon hearing her, but quickly turned away when they noticed her narrowing, scalding gaze.

She twisted a cylinder attached to her nebulizer, flooding her mask with a greyish fluid. The scent of iron bellowed from her concealed mouth as a spray of red mist hovered above her.

“Jury. An honor. I’ve heard of your accomplishments by a relative of mine. Black Dove. An equal if not greater honor. I’m almost tempted to remove my mask and breathe the same air you exhale. The purity of your breath alone exceeds that of my own blood.”

The woman’s voice was perpetually on the edge, as if she would lash out at any moment. Yet at the same time, it held a tired, slurred quality. It matched the way she strode beside Frost.

She did not lift her legs when walking.

Rather, she dragged them behind her like the hems of a draping mantle.

She gravitated straight for Frost as if compelled by an invisible force.

“Relative? Oh! Is your name Morgause by chance?” Jury managed to recognize her by the shape of her face.

It was similar to her Advisor’s – Ragnelle.

“I see that my sister has spoken of me.”

It was one hell of an introduction.

Her stats only further surprised Frost. They were incredibly high for a Healer. Even the base stats of a Black Wing were not this high. The highest leveled Black Wing was currently 120 with ATT stats that barely reached 700.

Frost was under the impression that Blood Angels were weak due to their sheltered lives. But the more she learned about them, the more she realized that they weren’t being sheltered.

They were being sealed away.

“A relative, hey? Are all Blood Angels tightly knit?” Frost spoke casually to her and even leaned forward with an unintentionally cutesy attitude.

It scrambled the brain of the Blood Angel, who could only stare at Frost like she was dreaming.

“… We consider ourselves sisters by the shared blood of our covenants. More so for Witches who have collaborated in the past. Benevolent Icara. A pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

The two shared a knowing look.

Afterwards, they never acknowledged each other again.

Morgause then monologued:

“The concept of a Repenter still baffles me. On one hand, such people will begin to repent. But on the other hand, can such repentance be considered genuine? I question Oboros Infinitas’ methods. The prospect of freedom undermines the very meaning of repentance. In hell we live. At least I can work as a governor of hell and watch them suffer… Pay no heed to my ramblings. As deranged as Witches opt to be, I assure you that I am of the stable kind. Ultimo does not produce any notable side effects.”

That explains her strength then. Serum U – Ultimo is a super soldier Serum.

However, what use was a super soldier Serum to a Healer? Her offensive stats were still at zero. From what she knew, they couldn’t hurt another person directly outside of the sole exception of feeding.

There is more to it than just feeding.

“I’ll take your word for it.” Frost smiled, causing the Blood Angel’s mind to short circuit again.

* * *

Justica Arms’ Private Defenders guarded the vestibule.

Each Harrower presented documentation, set aside all weapons on hand and any Atelier Items they may possess.

An extensive body search ensued, requiring them to strip down to their essentials as magical devices were waved over them. It served as a primitive form of x-ray, allowing them to detect items that may be stored within a Repenter’s body. It was not uncommon for ill actors to hide illicit items within their cavities.

Frost, Jury, the Blood Angel, Horus and – surprisingly – Icara were exempt from this search.

Once they finished, the Repenters and Harrows scrounged up their belongings and were welcomed into the vast inner chamber of the clinic.

Although, calling it a clinic would be a disgrace. The highly reflective floors gave off the illusion of a pit beneath them. It perfectly recreated the image of the glass ceiling above which revealed the Nexus in all its glory.

Multiple doors and entrances that were covered by blue cloth gave off the impression that this place was far larger than it appeared. At one side was a chiseled pillar that represented the Nexus. People gathered around it, hand in hand, and recited tales of the Healers.

At least three hundred people waited at various seating and table arrangements, listening to the inspiring lives that Healers lived, as well as the atrocities they faced.

Running around Healing the injured was a short statured Healer. She was Emerbright’s dedicated Healer, and she served around the clock with a vibrant, fulfilling smile that healed what Healing magic couldn’t – the heart.

Seeing a Healer spread her wings and fly freely warmed Frost’s soul. She stared at the Healer with a motherly expression, eventually waving at her when their eyes met.

“Adorable.” Frost whispered. “I feel like a parent watching their kid in class. Haah~”

However, this innocence was seen differently by the Repenters.

“See that? She was wavin’ at me. If she keeps goading people on like that then it’s only a matter of time before someone drags her off and –”

*Crack*

The sound of falling metal echoed where the woman was last seen standing. Her polearm had fallen, and her toes were suddenly dangling inches off the ground. Frost was close to removing her head, but another figure had swooped in to take matters into their own hands.

“Moderation of thy tongue is required within the premises of our Healers.”

A Justicer. The massive, three-meter-tall man donned in illustrious armor held the head of the offending woman with a single hand. His palms were large enough to hold her like she was no more than a plum.

“My… head…!”

“In accordance with the Head and Benevolent Galia’s honored decrees, it is an unforgivable sin to taint a Healer.”

“I was just saying…! Ghhhhk!”

His fingers perforated her skull, digging in as blood gushed from her wounds. The sound of cracking, grinding bones was the sound of her life ticking away.

“Oral taint. Verdict: guilty, for I hath seen.”

Her arms involuntarily twisted to her chest. With her brain invaded by his fingers, she had lost all forms of motor function. She drooled and her legs kicked. The only reason why her death was prolonged was so that the Justicer could announce her punishment.

“Sentence: execution.”

*Splatter*