The final Arbiter’s Council was upon them.

It would be the last meeting before the Nexus would engage in total war against Emvita. The readiness of war was at an all-time high ever since the War in Grandis, so there was no need to send out orders for the Ateliers to prepare.

They were unquestionably ready to move their forces as required by the Amalgam. However, it would be foolish and draconian of the Amalgam to move the Ateliers according to her wishes.

Her experience in war was no different to that of a fawn who had just learned how to walk. Thus, she required the guidance of the Beholders who were well versed in the art of war before they could practice it.

The Nexus entered an unnaturally busy state. The Blessed of the Common Hub fills the streets as the murmurs of war filled their conversations. Atelier personnel were also spotted patrolling the Common Hub, as well as an Impulse Artificer who had set up shop to provide free gear to the Blessed.

War was coming. The Blessed were well aware of this fact. The Receptionists issued widespread warnings across the Nexus, and within a single day, the Blessed began sharpening their fangs.

The zeal of the Blessed could not be understated. After all, the Blessed were victims of atrocities committed by various Kingdoms across Elysia. Moreover, their families: which were located in Atlas: had strong feelings about their family members being tortured by those Kingdoms.

War was always on the back of their mind ever since news of the Head’s slaughter of foreign envoys broke out from the Assembly months ago.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that they have been preparing for war this entire time.

However, they would not be participating in the offensive. Emergency warnings blared across the Common Hub, alongside periodic public announcements to remind the Blessed that they were not to enter Emvita under any circumstances.

It was the equivalent of a travel ban. But there were exceptions.

For instance, Guild Quest allowed Blessed to operate within allied territories. Their duties there ranged from simple monster hunting to research assistance, since regular person were not equipped with [Appraise Object].

Other than this, they were prohibited from engaging directly in the war. At best they could assist defending allied citizens in the worst case scenario.

The Middle Sanctum experienced the same haste as the Lower Sanctums. The Sacral Appraisers of Justica Arms tirelessly tended to the crystals under the watchful eye of Candidate Moons. From a distance, one could liken the Middle Sanctum to a termite’s nest with how busy it had become.

Defense structures in the same shade of Ignis’ creations were strategically installed along the floating landmasses of the Middle Sanctum. It was the most under-defended section of the Nexus which also held the Dimensional Seal, the Warped Stone and the entrance of the Eternal Library. As such, it was paramount that they placed their strongest defenses here, rather than the Upper Sanctums where the Archetypes and the Corrupted alone could fend off any attacker.

Additionally, each Sacral Appraiser was equipped with a myriad of Symbio Pharmaceuticals’ equipment, including living bags, living clothes, and walking sticks capable of expanding into a ten-meter stomach.

Slimes that were created using Ignis’ cells also patrolled the Middle Sanctums. Strapped to their backs were biological turrets capable of shooting thorn-like projectiles. For close ranged targets, they could expand their bodies to up to ten times their size to digest their prey, just like the Puff Puffs.

This was just a glimpse of the newly deployed defensive measures the Nexus had employed in preparation for the war. The Upper Sanctums did not require as much planning aside from determining which Floors and corridors would become hotspots and thus required the most amount of personnel to defend.

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It was not perfect, since no one could determine which Floors would be targeted in the event of another invasion.

But that was a problem for Lailah, Nav and the Archetypes who were tasked with defending the Nexus.

* * *

Gathered at the Arbiter’s Council were the Archetypes, the Beholders, the Stars, the Moons, the Level 200 Exalted, alongside the Ravens, Tear Retrievers, the Sanguine Doves of RedTribution, Head Receptionists, and every available Candidate and Aspiring Moon of the Nexus.

The pale chamber was significantly larger than last time. Since this space belonged to Michaela, she could freely change it within reason, much like how Frost was able to alter the appearance of the Amalgam’s Summit.

It was the most that the Arbiter’s Council had ever hosted. Normally, the Arbiter’s Council was reserved for the Beholders, with the Stars and the Moons to serve as an audience. But today, at the eleventh hour, every significant member of the Nexus was present.

Frost and the Archetypes occupied the northern side of the ring-shaped table in the center of the room. The Arbiter’s Council was shaped like a dome, with multiple levels of audience seats. Standing around the table at their respective banners were the Beholders.

Because of the nature of the situation, there was no preamble or introductions made. Under normal circumstances, each Beholder would have to introduce their namesake and affiliation before entering the Arbiter’s Council.

However, that could not occur today.

At least not for every Beholder. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Frost raised a hand to silence the room. There was no sound being made in the first place. Rather, this gesture was to silence their minds as she directed her gaze to the audience above.

“Formalities will slow us down here, so we’ll speak without worrying about it.” Her words were obeyed like law despite her lack of formality.

Even if Frost slurred, stuttered or spat as she spoke, it would not detract from her aura of divinity. Seated above her head was the fractured halo and the broken crown, the latter of which instilled greater reverence.

To the Stars, they were inclined to believe that it was a sign of Frost taking the reins of the Nexus in its entirety. She had become its rightful ruler: not that she wasn’t already in their mind. It merely reinforced their loyalty to the Amalgam.

Then, she continued:

“We are at the precipice of war with Scarlet Logic. Make no mistake, they will not be our only enemies moving into Emvita. Expect resistance from the Kingdoms and the Impuritas. We will also have to worry about the timing of the First and the Second Nights.”

A sculpture of flesh burst in the center of the chamber. It stretched itself across the air as veins and nerves ran along its thin surface, creating a map of Emvita. Dotted along the living map with protruding bones were various key points of interest, including allied Kingdoms, enemy Kingdoms, Scarlet Logic bases, Main Sequence Corrupted and finally–

–The Piece of the Fallen Star.

“I will not be here for long, because I will serve as the spearhead of the assault. The Arbiter and the Archetypes of the Nexus will take over in my absence.” Frost added, then continued: “We have three outcomes to fulfil in order to achieve victory. The first is the eradication of Scarlet Logic.”

Indeed. Frost wanted to strike while the iron was hot.

They would be delayed by at least a few hours if she remained to dictate the flow of the Council, manage the Atelier troops, etc. That was Michaela’s responsibility, alongside Galia who would manage the strategic placement of their armies.

Frost raised two fingers.

“The second is the defense of the Nexus and its allies. If we cannot protect them, then, how can we expect to protect ourselves? We must not lose our footholds in Emvita. They are our conduits into the greater regions of Elysia.”

Then, she raised a third and produced a luminous stone no larger than her fist. The object drew gazes of fascination. It appeared no different from an ordinary stone, but the incandescent bead of light within was proof that it was otherwise.

This object was the Locating Stone. With a sufficient amount of desire, it could locate the Piece of the Fallen Star. The reason why the Nexus was suddenly fulfilling the weapon requests of the Blessed was because they required an extraordinary amount of desire to charge it.

Of course, this knowledge only became available after Frost received [Twenty-Seven Trillion Neurons].

“Finally, the retrieval of the Piece of the Fallen Star: The Advent of Desire. You must recall the incandescent light that plagued the Nex Megalopolis half a year ago. That light was the source of the abnormalities that appeared across the Nex Megalopolis. It must not fall into the hands of the Impuritas under any circumstances.”

It was paramount that they do not allow the Impuritas to use its power again. If they could not eliminate Scarlet Logic, or, in the worst case scenario, fail to protect their allies: then they at least needed to accomplish this.