Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)-Chapter 1085. News of Another Archetype
The end of the dream did not return them to the real world. A long, somber silence stretched for what felt like hours as Jury revealed her encounter with another Archetype. Evelyn, the Archetype of Attachment, and Michaela’s 2nd Apostle.
The two hadn’t moved from their place as chunks of the cocoon endlessly fell from the amalgamation of gears above. Cer stood around beside them, kicking debris as she listened to Jury’s recount, all the while eyeing distant, poised strings.
“She’ll be joining us in the Nexus. That’s what she said.” Jury croaked. “Mm. She was kind… She has hair like a Black Wing. Do you think she once had white hair?”
“I’m guessing, though, we’ll get our answers soon enough from her. Nav, let the others know we’ll be getting a new Archetype.”
Frost was happy they had now established contact with two Archetypes, one of which had remained elusive since she knew of their existence. The Director, and now, The Savior of Existential Wholeness.
Nav began speaking in the tone of various people from the Nexus.
Lailah
< I do recall Evelyn. But her hair was originally black. She tended to the Captured Star in her own manner from what I am aware of. The Director, Frost, is an uncertainty >
Michaela
< The Second Apostle of mine. I will not weave lies to you, Frost, but I hardly know of my Apostles outside of their names. Evelyn, however, was quite close to Adam. I am aware that while the past is important to you, it is not your identity, and thus, I shall not waste your time with baseless speculation. As for the Director and his ‘counterpart’, assume you are dealing with a Star >
A Star? I had that on my radar, but I didn’t want to commit to believing in it. Then again, if this place isn’t a Corrupted Zone but a Zone of Arbitration, and not Marionette’s then just what is its relationship with Act X? The Fate Mechanism as well. I have a lot of questions for the Director.
Magus
< Well, well, well, my friend! You’ve met a human I’ve never personally seen, and a fool who parodies me. I must have given him a lasting impression in the past! I must say, do be careful. The mere mention of the Director riles me up like you can’t imagine! >
Star Child
< *Smiles* >
Anna
< Oh, hi Frost! Nav’s sent the news at a weird time! No clue who Evelyn is, but Attachment… It has a lot to do with the past and the self. The latter is much different than Lailah’s idea of the self. I think? Should be. Wouldn’t make sense for a double up. Don’t quote me on that! But um, we’re on our way! I’ll see you shortly! Ber should be on her way! They were launched from the canister platforms the Architect installed around the exterior of the Nexus! >
Indeed. These platforms were what allowed the Moon and Star to appear in the City of Spades. One of the level 200 Exalted: Zermillion the Architect: could shape the walls of the Nexus.
Zermillion was one of the Exalted Evelyn must have granted unique powers to, though, neither Zermillion nor Weave knew who she was. To put it simply, they had changed one day and were given this power.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Evelyn called the Nexus her home. I guess it makes sense that she can grant powers that change how things work inside of it. You have a mom huh~?” Frost was delighted by the news.
“You think I can call her that?”
“Well, she called you her ‘child’ so why not? She sounds like a nice person.”
“Mhm! She’s wonderful! You’ll definitely like her!”
While Frost was used to being called ‘mother’ by more than a hundred people at this point, she did not know how another person would react to this name.
It was safer to restrain oneself than to make assumptions.
That said, Cer could not stay here for long. The strings assailed her again. Thankfully, she didn’t have to worry, since they were not seeking to shred her like the cocoon. Instead, the strings, according to the Director, sought to expel her from the Audition for good.
The Director
< You do not need to worry about your fuzzy friend. My counterpart will regurgitate her at the Grand Stage. I do believe Act X will be waiting there! >
“Not to welcome us, right?”
The Director
< I am afraid that I cannot precisely–! >
“Why not?”
Frost was suspicious.
She was inclined to trust another Archetype by the sole virtue of them being an Archetype.
After all, they all had their own Floors within the Nexus.
However, Frost was the Archetype of Amalgamation. Her allegiance was with the Advent of Amalgamation of course. But what about the other Archetypes?
Anna rarely ventured into halls of the Nexus.
Evelyn had contact with the Gate.
What about the Director and the Fate Mechanism?
No one spoke for minutes. Frost kept her gaze on Cer as she was dragged across the horizon, eventually disappearing past a wall of clouds. Finally, the Director spoke in a severe tone.
The Director
< I will explain in full. The cut down version comes down to the delay between my interception, the interpretation, the weaving of the strings, the creation of the Scripts, and then the ad lib executions of the Commandments. I do not have direct access to Act X. I tinker with the Fate Mechanism. My counterpart on the other hand does >
The image of a playful, merry person shattered. He was punctual and emphasized his utter inability to intervene due to the delay. Once an order was ordained it could only be stopped once a new order arrived.
But this was also a problem.
The Director further explained as Frost noticed that loose debris was shaking around her. Dust began spilling in one direction as well, but she had not noticed anything else awry.
The Director
< I can, if you wish, accelerate a Commandment. But know this, friend. How many lives do you believe are equivalent to the weight of the twins? >
“What exactly are you asking? A sacrifice?”
The silence that followed was confirmation.
The Director
< When a Script goes unfulfilled, no matter the circumstances, the strand of said Actor shall be severed without due process. Amalgam. To introduce a Commandment into a Script demanding the survival of the twins invalidates the Commandment to eliminate them. How many are you willing to sever? >
Jury recognized the problem immediately.
“That introduces a deontic paradox. The Scripts are absolute. Even a delay might not help us.”
It was a philosophical concept called Deontic Logic, where two binding obligations cannot be fulfilled as one would violate the other.
It had not crossed Frost’s mind that introducing a Script that invalidated the first could lead to: without exaggeration: the collapse of Act X.
The lack of emotion on the Director’s part only emphasized the gravity of the situation. Yet there was a layer of caution in his voice, as well as apprehension to say this out loud.
He was right to want to refrain from uttering this, because Frost found her resolve sudden shaken at the mention of causing another massacre.
“None if possible. I’m not looking to destroy Act X. We need them. But they’re not making it easy for us. And now that people I love have been hit in the crossfire…”
The Director
< Then you and I shall get along well. Do note that my counterpart dabbles very closely with Act X. I have little control over them. I’m more or less in my corner of the Fate Mechanism overseeing but the tips of grand instruments >
“What’s your influence on Act X then? I’m still confused about your role and this ‘counterpart’s role as well. The whole Fate Mechanism, the strings, this… Star. Can you explain?”
The Director
< As soon as you’re comfortable. Right now, the illusion will start to break. You are also in your living forms, meaning you can very much die here! >
Parts of the world darkened. Once the colors had become muted and grey, the sky cracked, and debris began showering them. Chunks smaller than a fist punctured through her barrier as though it was nothing more than an air net.
Pieces of the floating landmass crumbled into the sea. Fissures split the earth beneath her feet, and she had to jump from each crumbling chunk to remain at the top.
The Director
< But know this: I am the reason why the Scripts can be lenient with their interpretations. My decree, as the Director, has and will always be the ad libs of the Actors… Please stay where you are. You will be escorted out by a familiar face shortly >
