Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)-Chapter 1133. Mariana Aphasia

–A blinding light rose along the horizon like the rising sun. The surrounding world faded to black as that light became the sole source of light. A figure that was a fusion between an angler fish and a human woman emerged from the summit of the highest scrapyard. A pair of emerald illicium bounced above her head, and they flickered like distant stars.

“A Woe of the Fallen Star’s Corrupted Zone shouldn’t be overtaken this easily. The Silence of the Stars is an Eternal Night Corrupted. However, since it was limited to an Isolation Sphere, we can assume it was weakened.”

Frost casually monologued as she formed a crimson spear overhead. Then, by merely waving her hand, it was hurdled straight into the heart of the zygote. It burst through every layer and perfectly skewered the twin fetuses.

The impact created a cleansing shockwave that erased the statues from the hills. Then, a secondary shockwave dissolved the scrapyard. In its place was a dark, shallow sea. This came from the Corrupted Zone of Silence of the Stars.

< [Progenitor Art: Civilization: Blood Crystallization] >

< [OOO] [Progenitor Art: Ego: Die Agnosis] [OOO] >

Immediately, blood began to diffuse into the bodies of the fetuses, and once they were saturated, Frost’s voice thundered from within their minds.

“You didn’t choose to become a Healer.”

“I am now offering you a way to choose to become whatever your heart desires.”

“But I cannot do that while you pursue death.”

“I cannot help you if you want to let go.”

Raoul in her heart knew that the twins did not want to die. Otherwise, they would not have begged her to hold onto them. Raoul wanted to speak, but she stopped herself, understanding that merely being here for the twins in this moment was the only thing stopping them from choosing death.

And so, she allowed Frost to take over, sealed her eyes, and placed her head against the slime.

Morality: ???

< Zodizygotmortem has reached a Sub State >

< “What do we want…” >

< “… It’s hard to pick it out.” >

< “Because we don’t know if it will hurt.” >

< “If we will continue hurting others.” >

< “Our nature wasn’t chosen.” >

< “We became contradictions not by choice.” >

< “What is it that we want?” >

< “What does our heart wish to be?” >

“Raoul.”

A voice that only Raoul could hear spoke to her. It belonged to Frost’s.

“You cannot remain silent.”

“Nor can I grant them a method to help them build their future.”

“The sorrow they hold can only be mended by the realization of what they are.”

“That begins with your voice.”

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

Granting a Corrupted Persona was out of the question. Thus, the next best thing for the twins was enacting a Realization. There was no known criteria for this. However, both Frost and Raoul sensed what needed to be done, and so, Raoul reminded them of a distant memory.

“The fishes… Do you remember the coral reef? There was a city down there, where Aquatids swim and the tropical fish thrive. It was your wish. Freedom. You won’t have to be a Healer, or a bird that can’t fly. Nor will anyone cage you.”

< “The fish.” >

< “Not like the Nightingale.” >

< “I remember it.” >

< “We do.” >

< “You remembered the shadows…” >

< “… Like the stories about the shadows and the cave you used to tell us.” >

< “Raoul…” >

< “… Raoul…” >

Their voices became heavily distorted.

//////// < WARNING > ////////

< Zodizygotmortem is undergoing further Corruption >

The fetuses began fusing into a singular organism. It resembled a plankton, an insignificant speck of life. They were not special like the marlins, nor the deep sea creatures of the abyss. Yet, they were special in their own manner. A network of neurons could be seen through its transparent flesh, and its enormous, fifteen-meter size floated in the air as if drifting through a still sea.

Four large arms protruded from its side, and it had a pair of legs. Along those arms were brightly colored patterns which resembled an eye. The way they moved also mimicked wings.

Mariana Aphasia

< To think not is to live happily ever after >

AFFINITY : Hope

LEVEL : 290ORIGIN : TraumaHP : 25,500,000

ATT : 55,000MAG ATT : 55,000ATT DEF : 23,000MAG DEF : 23,000MORALE : 100

RESIST : 1,000AGI : 65

An even more powerful Corrupted emerged. The name alone implied irreversible damage had been done to the psyche of the twins. If not, then they believed that their minds were a detriment to their freedom, hence why they resembled a simple, unintelligent creature.

However, that did not mean their Ego and sense of self was destroyed.

Raoul, standing before this creature, dropped to her knees. She was not aware that the twins were still in there. In her mind, she had lost them the moment the blob dissolved between her fingers.

“Agh…” Raoul shuddered.

Her hands clawed into the ground, and she began piling the dust into a small mound, attempting to reshape them from their remains.

“… Orth… Thras… Please…”

Her tears mixed with that patch of dirt. Suddenly, her tears hovered in place, as if time had stopped. A hand descended to her face, and a thin tentacle brushed away a tear. Several million- no, billion nerves now ran through its body.

A billion more of the blue thread then fanned behind it like the feathers of a peacock. A bright blue current ran through the nerves, and the image of an animated face appeared. It vaguely resembled the twins.

< “Raoul.” >

< “Mister Raoul.”

< “We don’t hurt anymore.” >

< “We’re free.” >

< “But we don’t want you to be hurt too.” >

< “Not you.” >

< “We have twenty-seven trillion neurons firing all at once.” >

< “So many connections. The sea beneath the shores is so lively.” >

< “… But it is lonely.” >

< “Verily.” >

< “Don’t want to be alone.” >

< “Don’t want to be separated.” >

< “… Want to try again.” >

< “Want to learn new things.” >

< “Of the mister who we saw as a father.” >

< “Of his sisters we saw as best friends.” >

Raoul’s tears became unstoppable. She collapsed into the tentacle as another large hand moved to embrace her. The transparent membrane was cold and spongey, but it was irrevocably the twins, and for that reason, Raoul did not care what form they took.

She was simply happy that they were alive.

Res and Ber sat down where they stood, and Cer eventually joined them with a soft exhale.

“… We’d be glad to have you back. I miss you. The funny faces I made. The dumb stunts I did… I also wanted to see you smile again.” Cer confessed. “… Frost. Can you do it?”

Frost softly smiled, and nodded, like a parent addressing the concern of a child.

“It shall be done.” 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

“Welcome back, Orth and Thras.”

* * *

< Realization Criteria Reached >

< Do you wish to grant Mariana Aphasia your Blessing? >

< Confirm! >

< … >

< Mariana Aphasia has successfully been Blessed >

< Gaining the Stats from Zodizygotmortem and Mariana Aphasia >

< Zodizygotmortem and Mariana Aphasia has been added to your Corrupted Persona Collection >

< Unique Abilities Gained >

Zodizygotmortem

< ABILITY: Zodiac Sign >

< Twelve lives. Not enough choices >

< EFFECT: Allows for the manifestation of certain animal body parts, including ears, tails and characteristics. Synergizes well with [Misunderstood Tale]. If the characteristics come from an animal of the Twelve Zodiacs, stats may increase to reflect their specialty >

Mariana Aphasia

< ABILITY: Twenty-Seven Trillion Neurons >

< Connect with the unknown >

< EFFECT: Increase mental bandwidth. Able to read any written language as long as it has been comprehended by a sapient being once. Your neurons extend beyond your body. May you never find where they reside >