Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)-Chapter 1155. A Prescription Is The Best Medicine

Solemn Promise

< Aspect of Technology | The Head | Golden Index | Scarlet Logic >

< May the liar swallow a needle and die >

< EFFECT: Create binding Contracts. If a Contract is broken, then the predetermined consequences will immediately be applied >

The consequence was, of course, the loss of one’s Soul. The promise she made was binding to the Soul. She did not require this Aspect of Technology since she had an Ability to do this for her, but she wanted to showcase it to the others, since she planned to distribute it to the Stars at the very least, who were her messengers.

Furthermore…

The azure string went taut before suddenly becoming blood-red. A bloody trail connected the two, like the red string of fate. Arata’s eyes broaden, even though she had no eyelids. Her body trembled as the strands began to weave between her ribs, each strand carrying a Commandment of Frost’s Will.

“… A Script…”

“What will help you moving forward is called a Prescription. Heed it well. My words and your body are intertwined as one. You are my puppet. That is your purpose.”

Prescription

< The Amalgam’s Will infused into the strings that weave the Warp and the Wefts. Your Commandments (Will) are transmitted via vibrations along the strands as a force of Fate >

They were not an Aspect of Technology but were rather a direct product of Frost’s [Fate Weaver] Ability, and the || Unstringed Prophecy || Beholder Skill. Mostly the former, since the latter was more of a natural phenomenon, whereas [Fate Weaver] required her to actively attach people to her strings to directly control them.

It functioned very similarly to how the Stars interpreted the throes of the Nexus as her Will. Funnily enough, the Stars relied on vibrations of the Nexus. Perhaps the strings used the same vibrations?

In any case, Arata now lived to obey the Prescription.

“… it… states… to offer… my… limbs…”

“Believe me, Arata, it is for your own good.”

Hideous, metallic screeching came from Arata’s body. She ripped out both her legs before severing her arms. Once they were placed before Frost’s feet like an offering, she applauded Arata with a single clap.

“Now then, it’s time to eat. But don’t worry. Your Soul will be preserved. Your body as a Beholder… is far too valuable to discard. Be a good puppet and follow the Commandments of my Prescription.”

“… [Sealed Fate: Completion]… By following it… I… am… rewarded… with such bliss…?”

Sealed Fate: Completion

< A Condition rewarded upon the successful completion of a Prescription. Awards the follower with boons, including emotional regulation, empowerment, Prescription favorability, and reduced future consequences. Opposite of this Condition is [Broken Fate: Failure] >

“See? How my medicine helps you?”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“… I understand… I understand so… So please–”

Frost gracefully placed a hand atop Arata’s head…

... only for her head to violent erupt in an explosion of gore.

“I was already planning on devouring you. Now then, your Gift is as good as mine. We’ll strip your body of its magic, your Soul from your body, your blood: everything. Arata will no longer exist. You will be rewritten.”

Frost feasted on her body, starting by lapping the gore from her hands before chewing through her limbs. They were no more than giant pieces of breadsticks to her, and she seemed to enjoy the flavor. She left the heart for last, and upon gnawing through its surprisingly resilient outer layer, she received a prompt that caused her endless satisfaction.

“Another Beholder Skill and an Ability. You’ve served me well, Arata. You’ll continue to serve me well into the future.”

The gnawing echoed throughout the stage. The others were hardly appalled by this. After all, they had watched her devour countless beings before. A Beholder was nothing by comparison. But this was the first instance that a Beholder had their Gift absorbed outright.

“And people wonder why you’re called the Amalgam…” Beholder Descartes 3 murmured. “… Will you be applying your Prescriptions on us?”

“Never. I believe in free will. But there are people who don’t deserve it.”

“Free will… I see.” Descartes 3 nodded to herself, affirming something.

Unique Ability Gained

GIFT FROM A STAR: Aching Departure

< Gone before we knew it. The weight of responsibility hangs high. That price will be paid in full >

< EFFECT: AGI increases the lower your HP is reduced. AGI also increases as Emotional State rises. Create items capable of increasing one’s speed. Your presence applies a -30% AGI Condition onto chosen targets with less RESIST than you. Skill cast times, and the speed of projectiles are also affected. May also affect the mechanisms of organic and inorganic structures >

< BEHOLDER SKILL GAINED >

< (B) Speed >

< A variable proceeding all else >

< EFFECT: Increase AGI in increments of 50 per 2,500,000 NEX used per minute > 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

< COST: 2,500,000 NEX per minute per +50 AGI >

It was astronomically costly, but having the power to increase her AGI at any moment was a massive power up. This combined with [Fate Allotter] meant that some battles would end in an instant.

She had become absurdly powerful, but even so, she still needed more.

“We’ll turn this into an Aspect of Technology and distribute it among the Beholders as well.” Frost stated, wiping her lips with a napkin. “My Moons, Healers, and Stars will also benefit from bonus AGI. I’m just curious what the drawbacks will be, or if there’ll be any limitations.”

“You honor us.” Galia devilishly smirked, already pondering the possibilities. “It will make us better combatants too. I can see it being useful in transport.”

Descartes tilted her head to the side and suggested: “A greenhouse effect could also work, if combined with an Isolation Sphere…”

“Oooh!” Jury clapped, removing her hand from Joy’s ears. “Ten times Relative Time, plus the acceleration effect of Arata’s power!”

“Good catch.” Galia hummed to herself. “It could greatly increase the production rate of my crystals, as well as the Liquid Nex output from the ImpulseWorks Sites. It will require an abundant amount of Nex, won’t it? With this amount of tech, the Nexus will quickly run dry.”

“It will. I’m happy you brought it up.” Frost said. “There’s still more to be done, but I’m quickly reaching the end. Just seventy days in RT left. Please keep watch in the meantime. And Descartes 3. I thought you would have returned.”

“I thought so too. But I remain as the Reality Principle.” Descartes didn’t know herself, but she wasn’t opposed to being here. “Enoch is supposed to be here as well.”

“Now that you mention it… Well, she must be busy.” Frost smiled and bid them farewell with a nod. “Tell Enoch I’ll be needing her soon when she returns.”

“That I shall.” Descartes 3 returned a curt nod as Frost, Jury and Joy disappeared into the column of smoke. “… What?”

Galia gave her an incriminating, yet sly look.

“Since when were you concerned about another Beholder?”

“Ever since the Nexus became unified.”

“And Enoch of all people?”

“I’ve become acquainted with her since the defense of the Nexus. Does it surprise you? If crosses your mind that this is due to that emotion you call attachment, then perish the thought.”

“I was just surprised. Don’t take it to heart. It is not like you to be so emotional.”

“Perhaps it’s because I’ve forgotten what emotions are that I am like this.” Beholder Descartes sighed. “… Ego Crystallization. I’ve yet to find a proper psychological model to describe the phenomenon. But, in due course, I believe I and the other Descartes will come to a parallel conclusion.”

“Isn’t it better to just leave it to the Amalgam?”

“I’ve made that argument once, and was nearly replaced with an incubated Descartes 6, who would have taken my place… Were it not for my continued attendance within the Nexus’ affairs, I’d be long, long replaced.”

“Then, the reason why you’re sticking around is because…?”

Descartes did not answer this. But the way she stared at Galia’s manifested Ego: her armored, pale arm: spelled what Descartes secretly yearned for.

“Because it is not yet my turn to test whether I believe in what I believe in.”