Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)

704. Pop Goes the Ankou

A seismic quake caused the earth to ripple like the surface of a pond. A gravitational anomaly swept through Seer’s Town before anyone could realize what was happening.

The short seconds that the portal to the Derma Layer was opened had caused Quantified Gravity to leak into the Epiderma Layer.

* * *

Quantified Gravity was simply the measurement of Gravity compared to the standard and universal gravity which had the value of 9.8 Quants of Gravity. Generally, this matched the measured speed of Elysia’s gravity which was 9.8 meters per second – Precisely like that of Earth.

It was a resource used to create products of Caldera Industries and what ultimately enabled their products to manipulate gravity in the first place. It could be stored, transferred, transformed and manipulated.

A powerful gravitational influence correlated with a higher number of Quantified Gravity.

As such, the metals used to take advantage of its power required immense compressive strength to withstand the enormous pressure of such heightened gravitational fields. This was why major installations were done in colossal subterranean cavities and far away from civilization.

Else, disaster was all but certain.

What occurred in Seer’s Town was the result of this phenomenon.

It was when a region of higher Quantified Gravity entered the space of a lesser concentration. The same principle applied in many aspects of their products, namely their weapons.

The gravity hammer, for example, did not just use Quantified Gravity to increase its mass. It also dispersed it into its intended target, often resulting in it crumbling under its own weight, like what was happening in Seer’s Town.

Inversely, a negative amount of Quantified Gravity could remove mass entirely and help stabilize a gravitational field.

Although, this had its own caveats.

One had to remember that the reason why the Dwarves were so short was not because of genetics or a racial trait.

It was because their bodies were built to best suit higher levels of gravity.

* * *

The fissures of Seer’s Town were only a distraction. The true danger came in the form of two blurs that wiped out the Ankous before they could realize what was happening.

Frost’s AGI enabled her to move faster than they could perceive, resulting in a festival of decapitations of level 120 Ankous across Seer’s Town.

“Eh…? It’s… gone…?” A man blinked as the head of an Ankou disappeared before his very eyes.

Headless corpses stood in place as if their bodies had not yet recognized that they were dead. A single strike was all Frost needed to eliminate them. So long as she did this with her bare hands, then their souls were reaped alongside their heads.

Five, ten, fifteen – it was not until the death of the twentieth that they noticed something was wrong. But as one moved to raise their voice, they clasped their throat and were unable to utter a single word.

Scrutiny was all Frost needed to force them on their knees.

“E-Eliminate… Cull your lives… Release the smoke!” One was able to relay, shouting over the heads of the crowd that gathered in the center of the town. “The Hearts must know at once! I will…! What is this presence that befalls us?”

Many fell to their knees, clutching their heads in fear of losing it as more Ankous lost their heads. One by one, the surrounding ring of Ankous gushed a black fluid from their necks. A spectacular fountain of toxic blood showered the center of Seer’s Town.

“A Corrupted…?” The same Ankou tried to make sense of the madness as he released a torrent of steam into the air.

He turned his gaze to a seemingly random direction towards the mountains as if to relay their peril.

Figurative icicles pinned them in place as Seer’s Town was ravaged by a calamity, and yet, not a single person cried out for help.

The cold wave of Scrutiny kept them silent save for this one.

“Can they not see us!? This impending darkness that clouds my eyesight… Am I dying?”

*Pop*

Frost amended this immediately.

His head burst like a rotting melon as Frost cleaved through with only her bare hands.

It took her less than 30 seconds to eliminate over twenty Ankous.

She darted through every road, shattering glass and breaking down doors by the rush of air that followed in her wake. Homes possessing hearts of ill intent were ravaged along the way with a short flurry of flames, regardless of whether there were slaves kept within.

Slaves from neighboring homes watched her acts of cruelty through windows, cages, and whilst chained to porches. But by some miracle, those same people that should have been taken by the flames emerged unscathed.

They were just as shocked as the others.

The Hired Arm had no issues on her end either.

Three or more strikes was more than enough to eliminate what was supposed to be among the strongest of the Memento Mori.

However, her priority lay in rescuing the slaves. Frightened slaves cowered at the sight of the Hired Arm. But that fear turned quickly turned to hope when black particles lifted from their bodies as she passed by.

They were like the stray feathers of a passing raven. A healing aura mended untreated wounds as they stared at the woman’s back with a seed of optimism. Carnage and healing followed in their stead.

The Hired Arm’s certain that we’ve cleared all the Ankous. As much as I’d love to stick around and deal with these slave traders myself, I’m going to leave that to her.

Frost mentally spoke to the Big Frost.

She felt the Hired Arm acknowledge her message.

Remember – what enters the Isolation Sphere cannot leave. Everything will look the way it was from an outsider’s point of view. If more Impuritas trickle in, then you know what to do. Finish up any strays I’ve overlooked. There is nothing in their arsenal that is more powerful than you.

< The Hired Arm shares your sentiments >

< She is happy to be fighting by your side once again >

It has been a long time, hasn’t it?

< She agrees. She must remind you that she is a mercenary for hire. Acting as a nanny for the Nexus is technically part of her profession so she cannot complain >

< That is why she asks of you to leave the rest to her >

Did you hate doing that?

< The Hired Arm does not want to call it hate. It was an interesting experience keeping the likes of Stella and Sana company >

The Hired Arm crossed paths with her. Cradled in her arms was a Demi-Human girl with bandages wrapped around her eyes. Frost didn’t know the extent of the Hired Arm’s relationship with Stella, but it seemed to be a core memory her Alter-self kept close to her heart.

< Seeing them reminded her of the first time she was brought into this world >

< As above, so is below >

< The Hired Arm requests to extend its current employment >

Is that a roundabout way of saying you want to stick with me? I’ll consider it.

This was enough to satisfy the Hired Arm.

Fighting to the Hired Arm was like what food was to Frost. It wasn’t necessary for their survival, but it was a craving that needed to be fulfilled. Except it wouldn’t lead to any adverse effects in the case of the Hired Arm.

A strange thought came to Frost all of a sudden.

What would happen if she were to starve?

That train of thought was quickly cut off when she sensed a disturbance deep underground.

“I’m picking up an abnormal amount of Nex under you.”

Do you think someone Corrupted?

The golden light she observed earlier had shrunk. But the light was much brighter than it used to be. Next to it was another light that dwindled before it was eventually snuffed out by black tendrils – the same kind she noticed on the hearts of the Icon of Judgement and Elysia, except that the heart itself was no longer there.

Nothing of it remained.

Normally, a spark of light would linger for a short while after one’s death. Then, it would disappear for good.

“Unlikely. The quality of the Nex is different. I’m detecting positively generated Nex… Bizarre. Mixed into it is the same kind of Nex that was generated when you fought the Venus Flesh Trap. I believe a Seed is the result of this abnormality…”

Nav paused suddenly as Frost dashed towards the broken elevator shaft. Her sudden appearance caused a resurgence of fear to keep them from moving. None stood taller than her, for their bodies instinctively knew their place.

She didn’t even use Scrutiny…

Usually when you trail off like that it means something is awry.

She prepared her descent.

“… Lailah wants me to tell you ‘Well done’.”

“Huh?” Frost blurted out. “What are you talking about?”

“Someone has just received her Blessing thanks to your Will.”

“Meaning?”

Finally, seconds before her descent, Nav messaged:

< Lailah has confirmed the existence of the first person to manifest their Corrupted Persona thanks to your Will >

< An Ego has been reinforced >

< The Archetype of Ego can pinpoint precisely where they gained their Corrupted Persona, so long as it occurs in the Epiderma Layer. That is where the Nexus resides, after all >

< Do you think the Archetype of Despair might be able to do the same? That is, if they were to oversee those who Corrupt? Just a stray thought >

< Hmm… Oh. Good news >

< You’re right above them >

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