Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)

647. Conclusion of Michaela’s Past

“The birth of Sinder was the advent of the Second Shattering. It was my goal in the end to release the Captured Star. But it proved far more difficult than I imagined. To fully Shatter the Light – the vessel that held the infinite possibilities – required immeasurable torment to release it. I was against this, but my pride only perpetuated it unbeknownst to me. We were able to create world-altering miracles thanks to the Second Shattering.”

“… I had foolishly thought that I could have ‘Her’ without the Light. But both came hand in hand. When one was removed, the other would follow. She… was the Light itself.”

“But it was ultimately Elysia’s loops which resulted in everything being touched by the Light. The final reset was the birth of the Third Shattering. No one could have the infinite power of the Light. Even Elysia is not invincible. She merely manipulates those with lesser ‘Light’, as she, like you Frost, carries a significant amount of it.”

Michaela then stepped back, allowing them ample time to digest it all. The residents of this world had no idea what she was talking about, but Cer seemed to be the most intrigued by it.

Galia simply uttered: “I can see Earth heading into that direction one day. We already have allusions of the ‘Light’ ourselves. But I did not think it was real. My manuscripts will be laughed at one day. A shame to see my life’s work go wasted.”

There were three distinct moments of the past that involved the destruction of the Light, giving birth to even more miracles born from the infinite power of the Light, which was given by The Source.

When all seemed ready and eager to learn more, she described the design of Paradisio. The many Spheres that dictated one’s quality of life. It was all designed with her Apostles in mind, most notably Abraham who was her Architect of Paradiso.

The memories became blurred, signifying that the Arbiter had truly lost these memories rather than had suppressed them. Her mind was open to being scrapped free of all secrets.

“The facility served the purpose of funneling all of the City’s hopes, dreams, woes, despairs and wishes through the River Gihon beneath.”

“Emotions filled her vessel. Her body devoured the first resemblance to Nex.”

“The Wishcatcher slowly filled the 11 Nodes associated with the Affinities with its Light. The Captured Star swallowed the torment and experiences of my city, giving birth to conceptual constructs that were the repressed Affinities.”

“Only to one day be born to be harvested. Fuel were its memories.”

“G-Z7 was my ultimate success, and a failure. The Captured Star and Lailah suffered immensely because of my oversight. My Apostles. My Angels. ‘Her’. You, Sinder. Anna. Jury. You all suffered because of me...”

Michaela trailed off.

“… Only I could defend the City and the eventual fruition of the Captured Star from Stars and impurities.”

“Thereafter, my Angels were responsible for defining a City in a Starless world.”

“I was not called the Arbiter because of my combat prowess against all Stars through Arbitration.”

“But because it was an ironic title.”

“A mockery of what I was supposed to be.”

The golden branches disappeared, but the light in their eyes did not disappear. Were it any other person, then they would have likely Corrupted from the following existential questions. Frost stared at Michaela, then, she took a step forward and held one of her hands.

“… Were you afraid that I’d lose my sense of belonging if I learned that?”

“Your sense of self. The Captured Star was born from the collective call of humanity to bring forth a miracle. Emotions and thought condensed into a light, contained in the vessel of ‘Her’, which is why you –”

Frost suddenly took her other hand, displaying her initiative over the Arbiter for the first time.

“But I’m not ‘Her’. I know who and what I am better than anyone else in this world. And if I don’t then the people closest to me do. I learned the hard way what happens when you let yourself be swayed by the thoughts of others… So Michaela, you shouldn’t do that either. The Arbiter used to be an ironic name, but now it’s something people venerate.”

“Indeed it is.”

“There’s a lot neither of us know. Like why I have memories from Earth.”

“I unfortunately do not have the answer to that. You don’t have any resemblance to my Apostles. Though I have not seen several of them personally.”

“… you made people you’ve never seen before your own Apostles? To work on the Captured Star thing?” Cer raised her brow suspiciously.

“Vergilia was their guide. Abraham was my Architect. Lucifinia was an Angel-turned-Demon of mine. Lailah and Elysia are self-explanatory.” Michaela answered. “Be warned, Frost. Now that you know of this and are willing to expose yourself to the world further – More people will be made aware of your existence.”

“… Is this in relation to Uriel?”

“Is it. And why you were kept within the Black Forest.”

Frost was immediately intrigued by this claim. Knowing what could be done with the Captured Star alarmed her that Iscario’s plan was to imprison her rather than to let her die. She doubted that they could have harnessed her powers from allowing her to suffer. Letting her Corrupt seemed like the more obvious answer.

“Answer me, Frost. Knowing that your life will further be endangered, will you soar ever higher?”

There was no reason to say no.

“I must. For revenge. To carry on our dreams. And besides, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself for having all this power and not being able to use it.”

Satisfied with Frost’s burning conviction, the Arbiter’s tails wrapped around her body, finally getting a hefty feel for Frost, much to Jury’s irritation. So long as it was only an embrace, then it was fine.

“Let us all soar together. I hope this knowledge of the old world can be of help in the future. Frost. We will now be facing my very own Angels. Things have only escalated since you have come into this world. But this will be the first time you will see significant power displayed before you, like the likes of high-leveled Corrupted, the Beholders, and I.”

The Arbiter’s warning put into perspective just what kind of battles awaited them. Everything she had faced was hard enough but had some degree of control. Even the Icon of Judgement was manageable, mostly thanks to her being ‘Her’, and its admittedly easy Conditions.

As powerful as Frost was, fighting a foe at the level of the Arbiter, who had no Conditions was a wall she did not know if she could climb yet. But still, she placed her foot into the footstools and climbed.

And she would not stop climbing until she reached the top – the only place where a Star should be.