Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)

784. Every Cer Must Suffer

Cer’s departure from her norms frankly annoyed Raoul.

Anything that Cer did which was out of the norm resulted in a deadly spiral spin that caused his blade to extend to over 50 meters, cleaving apart everything – including the fake Cers – inbetween.

Their heads rolled moments before they disappeared as Cer watched with a heavy heart. Cers that hadn’t seen the sun were met with a cruel star. Cers that had nothing to do with this perished in cold blood. Cers that lived in a peaceful world died unexpectedly, never able to live a life of peace that she would have loved.

They were all imaginary Cers. Just things born from her mother’s mind. But even so, watching them die like this made her understand the nature of the tales from the Rivers.

The Cycles…

“Do you see it now, Cer? Every ‘you’ was destined to live a life of anguish. Every tale of ‘Cer’ and her sisters were destined to experience a life of suffering!”

“But even so, we have a choice, don’t we!? Are you saying that I don’t at least deserve to live the way I want!? I’m over my past!” Cer erupted.

Blue highlights appeared on her hair, like the streaks of gold on Frost’s. Her Emotional State rose again and this time, she charged headfirst towards Raoul. She sprinted on all fours like an animal.

“You still don’t understand. Why would mother go so far as to delete every Cer?”

“How about you start filling me in instead of expecting me to read between your fucking lines!?”

“… The nature of tales demand that this is the only way.”

“You decided that! What the fuck are you spewing! You don’t know a single thing about these tales and Rivers!”

< ACTIVE: Bond of Ionic Indulgence >

< To be eaten is the only way we can be together forever… I think? >

< EFFECT: If you are swallowed, eaten, or a part of you is stolen by the target, then deal damage equal to 90% of their total HP >

“The Amalgam broke through her own Cycle! And in doing so… she broke the Arbiter’s! Who the fuck are you –!”

Raoul stabbed his blade into the ground like a shield, attempting to block Cer’s attack. But she was fast, and she leapt to the side, trying to get close enough to at least strike his wolf.

“– TO BEREAVE FOR MY LIFE!”

However, a splash of red appeared before Raoul’s eyes. It caused them to gape with shock, like he didn’t expect this outcome. Cer’s left arm was taken by one of the heads of the wolf. Her body was flung away like a ragdoll as the wolf thew her arm into the air and finally devoured it.

“… Cer…?”

“Worry about your own life instead of mine! I… didn’t come this far… I didn’t sacrifice my psyche… my luxuries… my fucking mind, just for some piece of shit I call my brother to tell me that it was all for nothing!”

Cer ran close again. Raoul was perplexed by her behavior, to the point where he remained still, allowing her to come close.

I messed up my arm… but I have hope in using that special condition. Raoul’s electric field isn’t stronger than mine, meaning I can fulfil it… Corrupted are so fucking handy.

Cer | HP: 22,000 | 50,000

But Cer didn’t come to die. Rather, her mere proximity to Raoul allowed her to gain HP Overheal and MP back. Overheal automatically allowed one to heal their injuries, as the underlaying principle of Overheal was an accelerated regrowth of flesh.

Raoul had a similar ability, but it did not allow him to Overheal like Cer. Rather, it only replenished HP and MP.

It hurts… and luckily, he didn’t fuck me up enough in our first fight to see this.

Cer was technically immortal so long as she took electric-based damage. Not only that, but her HP and healing factor was not just affected by Overheal.

Suddenly, a surge of power engulfed Cer as she formed a [Bolt of Tasty Levin].

The head that devoured her arm corroded until it was just a skeletal figure. It perished to a single bolt, leaving only two heads remaining. She backed off as Raoul sent another swing.

“When did you become so fast!?”

“Think you can keep up with me!? I’m the one that’s been chasing you all this time! If you just turned you head back once to look at me… then you wouldn’t have to be that surprised!”

< ABILITY: Craving Blue Currant >

< Irresistibly sweetened lightning bolts can strike the same heart twice >

< EFFECT: All effects and damage of electric-based Skills are enhanced by 1.5x. When HP is lower than 50% gain 25 Defibrillation Stacks. HP will not drop below 25% until all Defibrillation Stacks are used. Gain Defibrillation Stacks at 1 per minute when electric-based Skills are not used >

Defibrillation

< Gain 25% of HP and MP back when an electric-based Skill is used. Increase all electrical effects by 50% for 30 seconds after any electrical-based Skill is used. Defibrillation Stacks are used automatically when HP reaches 25% >

Indeed. Defibrillation was what brought her arm back so quickly. Bones formed before veins tangled around it. Muscles wrapped it, and then, skin appeared. Her sleeve was gone of course. That could not be restored.

The 50% increase in all electrical effects included her Skills, her ATT applied from these Skills, as well as the Conditions they could apply. This meant that that her AGI jumped from 82 to 123 for only 30 seconds.

But this was more than enough time for her to at least land one [Bolt of Tasty Levin]. She wanted to see if [Paralysis] could be applied to Raoul.

“Raoul… Clench your teeth, you fucking snake!” Cer hurled a [Bolt of Tasty Levin] straight for Raoul’s head.

He made no effort to avoid it. It was as if he had finally accepted his fate then and there. His eyes sealed shut, waiting for his time to come.

“That’s…!? What the fuck… is that…?”

But that never came. It seemed that even if Raoul wished to perish, fate would not allow it. The dark swirls saw from earlier condensed around his face, creating a barrier that blocked the [Bolt of Tasty Levin].

“… A [Barrier] of any kind would’ve had some feedback. Raoul… How… the fuck do you have [Invulnerability]?”

Precisely. Cer recognized it immediately. The way the [Bolt of Tasty Levin] vanished upon impact was exactly like how her [Electric Fangs] were neutralized by the One Thousand Eyed Bird’s [Invulnerability] phase during the rematches.

“… What the fuck are you, Raoul?”

“I’m a wolf with enough wrongs to have a ballad of tragedies under my name. Yet, they call me the Wise Black Wolf… Cer…”

That thing that Raoul possessed was not a Skill. Cer could not call it a Skill, nor could she call it magic. That pure, black spiral of darkness could only be called that.

Darkness…?

“You’ve made a terrible mistake coming here. This is a place where the Light of the Nexus can’t reach.”

Never had Cer been assailed by an impending premonition of death. Nothing compared to this. Nothing.

That darkness disappeared, but she felt its presence remain. Raoul swung his blade with renewed vigor, calling forth multiple dark lightning strikes.

“Neither will the Light of the Amalgam save you!”

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