Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)

936. Trouble In The Administrative Layer

The metallic rods belonged to an entity that could barely fit through the five-meter wide and tall doors that segregated the corridors of the facility. What laid on the other side was a hermit crab-like entity, with metal rods squirming out from gaping opening beneath its shell.

A terribly weak Corrupted managed to instantly kill the level 40 to 60 Repenters. It made clicking sounds as it slowly glided towards the group of Repenters.

< “Can you come in? Knock knock. You don’t want? Stab. Stab.” >

The carnage, and the way they threw themselves into battle, and used each other’s bodies as shields or steppingstones – it was a scene straight out of a nightmare. The only way to fight was through attrition, to wear the enemy down before one’s spirit could break.

The fatigued Repenters forced themselves to fight at the risk of losing their right to claim their Soul. If they stopped here, if they gave up, then their life would be forfeited.

Any semblance of teamwork and strategy broke down in the face of an insurmountable foe. If attacks could not pierce it, and if magic could barely whittle down its HP, then was it any different from fighting a brick wall?

Frost came from humble beginnings. She knew the despair associated with fighting such a foe. It was a grave reminder of how powerful the Corrupted were to the ordinary. But where the darkest shadow loomed, the brightest light could shine.

*Boom*

< “Come inside. I won’t bite. Awww. You stabbed me…” >

“Usari can’t believe the incompetence of you fodder!”

The bullet pierced through the shell of the Corrupted, revealing a maze of steel wool.

“Lack of MAG DEF.” The Orange Disruptor hummed. “It’s highly susceptible to magic.”

How does she know that?

It was odd. Blessed could not see the DEF stats of creatures at all. Only Frost’s Blessing of the Amalgam was capable of deciphering MAG DEF.

And yet, Horus’ eye could see it.

< “Will you scoop out my meat again?” >

“Annihilate the tentacles. Hayte, kill.” She gave a simple command, and at once, Usari changed targets. Bullets obliterated the tentacles one by one with expert precision.

“Usari is on it!”

“Without delay.”

As a marksman herself, Frost was amazed by her level of accuracy. Not a single bullet missed their mark. In the meantime, Hayte charged forward. Tendrils came his way, riddling his metallic body.

But he did not relent. When it seemed like he would die, he kept on pushing onwards.

< “Stay with me. It’s safe in here. The world outside is scary.” >

“I pity those that carry steel shells only to protect nothing but a pretend Soul. But even then, carrying a Soul is not as liberating as we are led to believe.”

His HP did not drop, as it was only his outer, metal body that was injured. Indeed, his core contained his HP. And yet, they were a real part of him. He plunged his arms into the hole of the Corrupted’s body, and then, he self-destructed.

Flames engulfed the entity.

The shell was stripped entirely, revealing an amalgamation of steel rods that curled inwards, attempting to defend itself as arrows and magic bombarded it. Icara watched ominously, snapping her fingers which caused icy arrows to riddle the beast.

With its shell gone, the Repenters were able to swarm it with their weapons, hacking, slashing, and pulverizing it until the mass of steel tentacles could no longer bleed their black fluids.

“Fuck… Safe to assume that this entire floor’s infested with Corrupted.” A Harrower growled. “… G-Y7. Oi. No time to rest. We only have so much time before this place becomes G-Y0!”

Indeed. The Repenters did not have the luxury to catch their breath. If they needed to, they could always respawn.

Frost was as shocked as she was awed by this.

The Nex is incredible. I’ve gained nearly a thousand Nex from just that one encounter. And these aren’t even the high-level Repenters.

She had many more things to say.

Firstly, as the Repenters moved the Corrupted’s carcass away, she activated a CognitO Filter to isolate Morgause and herself. She asked how she was able to produce Reconsittuing Fluids, as Frost had thought that she was carrying it rather than having to create it.

“A technological fusion. I have two hearts. One pumps my own blood. The second is a Blood Reservoir that has fused with my flesh. Beholders undergo the same process with their technology. It destabilizes them. But we, as Healers…”

She clasped at the right side of her chest.

“… Have an aptitude that allow us to fuse with it. We are compatible with Gifts to a great extent. Healers of the Maw of the World are living Artefacts with an assortment of Gifts fused to their flesh~”

Another artificial organ she carried was the Soul Anchor. As a Witch, she possessed the ability to relocate a person’s Soul. Thanks to this, she could manipulate the Repenter’s Soul and then reconstitute them according to the blueprint of their Soul.

Jury mentioned that this was Ragnelle’s proposition. Black Wings can be fused with Gifts and Aspects of Technology to enhance them… These Blood Angels are insane.

Satisfied with the response, she moved to the Orange Disrupter, hoping to ask just how she was able to see DEF stats.

But before she could open her mouth, the sirens began to blare with an ear-splitting noise.

Red and purple lights flashed along the walls as the Site groaned as if being compressed.

“Ah shit. This early?” Horus sighed.

“This noise. We heard it in F-H5, right Frost?” Jury said.

“Yeah. But I thought it was supposed to be the sound of a chain shattering.” Frost wondered and was quickly corrected by the Blood Angel.

“You’re thinking of the Site’s emergency system. That uses the chains. Tribulations are an entirely different matter. They correspond with the amount of accumulated Liquid Nex a Site procures. Meaning this Site has been producing enough Liquid Nex to attract a Tribulation. No doubt the work of White Midnight and the Germinated Seed.”

“Question. How did they end up here if the only entrance is the hatch?” Usari asked.

“There is no such thing as a single passage.” Horus grunted. “Fuck. We’ll have to deal with these ourselves buuuuuut. Maybe not. I’m not in the mood for it. Let the Repenters take a crack at it. Oh? Black Dove? You want in on this?”

//////// < WARNING > ////////

< TRIBULATION IN EFFECT >

INFECTA ROT

< Dungeon >

< We arrived one day, asking ourselves why we exist. The futility of finding our sense of self-determination undermined the meaning of our existence >

Frost nodded as she followed the Repenters through the gaping passageway.

“This is a perfect opportunity to learn more about our enemies. I’m not going to let this slip from our hands. Jury, let’s go. Horus, stay there with your team.”

“The date continues~!” Jury skipped over to her.

“Yeah, yeah. Defend the Blood Angel. Got it. How pushy, the lot of them… So, sweety. Chances of you and I getting along?” Immediately, the Orange Disruptor attempted to flirt with the Healer.

“You have a better chance of a pancreas replacing the functions of a brain before getting close to me. It should be no secret that I’m married to Gawain with my dearest sister.” She flatly rejected her. “Professionals should have standards. Go find a stable partner if you’re going to act like an Elf in heat.”

“Haaah. I would if I could.” Horus said dejectedly.