Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)

828. The Light That Grants Wishes

“The world requires a perfect rose. That abomination would have allowed us to access a reservoir of souls. All of it could have been yours. Dare to believe in ‘what ifs’?”

“I would’ve been used! That power would never have been mine!”

“You’re mistaken. It would have been for the greater good!”

Frost’s mouth parted, but no words could form. Her eyes trembled as his bold-faced claim when they both knew deep down that was not the case at all. Or, was it that Iscario truly believed that this was the case? That what he did was righteous?

It caused Frost’s irrational side to slowly chip away as she reflected internally and externally into herself, and the world she knew. In the meantime, blue diamonds emerged in the skies. Their beams of light formed a blue diamond in front of Frost, and like the emerald, it began to whine as it powered an attack.

“There… is no such thing as the greater good. Across all my iterations… across my life here, I’ve not once seen anyone bring light to that. It’s always been for someone else. People couldn’t live for themselves. They still can’t. There’s so much greed in our world that we’ve rearranged our needs and wants. People shouldn’t need to suffer for another’s want!”

“Is that your childish revelation!?”

“I’m a realist. I’m not a dreamer like you who still hasn’t yet to wake up and let go of the past!”

“You’re no less insane than me –!”

The ultrabright, blue beam of light sent Iscario the scarlet district. Heart-shaped buildings broke his fall as Frost closed in behind. She screamed out at the top of her lungs:

“NONE OF THEIR HEARTS WERE EVER THEIRS! THE IMPURITIAS ARE THE LIVING EMBODIEMENT OF EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH THIS WORLD!”

< [INSTABILITY: Heart of Mine] >

< Towards that collective dream of theirs >

< EFFECT: Deal 100% more damage to those who refuse to abandon their aspirations. Let them aspirate on them. Your Hearts will aid you to deem their worth. You may compress the woes of civilization to perform an attack dealing 5,000,000 damage. Unavoidable attack >

This time, the False Heart she carried began to glow. Cracks formed across it, revealing the same infernal flames that plagued Frost. But steadily, those flames that were supposed to represent the inferno from hell, became a flame that embodied humanity’s determination.

Somehow, Frost could feel the Genesis Stone reacting to her woes.

“There must be a Star to guide them. A Star so bright that they will never go astray. I became that Star. I was the reason why so many were allowed to live!” Iscario roared.

Frost grit her teeth in response, holding him by the collar like a child.

“You became the reason why people could no longer dream in Grandis. Puritas judged countless. It became an excuse to control and execute those who didn’t think like you!”

Suddenly, countless rods surrounded Frost. They orbited around her, awaiting the order to skewer her at once.

“They were flawed. They died because they allowed themselves to be judged.”

But that never happened.

Dozens of red hearts surrounded Frost and blocked the barrage of lances. Crystal shards hailed across the city skies. The unified heartbeat of countless red hearts sounded like the beat of one.

“Even people close to you? You betrayed your own people! You tried to kill Mae! And because of that –!”

The False Heart brimmed with immense energy. It glowed like a second sun, and Frost sent a devastating slam that threw Iscario towards the final district.

“– Impuiritas have figured out that their own blood ties were no more than watered down bonds!”

The dark city held buildings that were indestructible. They were closer to obsidian obelisks than buildings. Pulsating, obsidian crystals in the shape of spades flew to the skies. Unlike before, they assailed Iscario like magic daggers.

Tens of thousands swarmed him as he was battered across the city like a human ball.

< [INSTABILITY: Spades of Watered Bonds] >

< It was better to brave the world alone >

< EFFECT: Deal 100% more damage to those with watered bonds. Your Spades will bury them for you. You may compress the woes of civilization to perform an attack dealing 5,000,000 damage. Unavoidable attack >

The sensation of the throes of the Genesis Stone returned to her again. She couldn’t pinpoint what it was. It wasn’t like she was resonating with it. But it seemed like her emotions… or perhaps Iscario’s dwindling rationality was affecting in some manner.

“Would you not sacrifice one of your own if it meant –!?”

“No, because unlike you, I wouldn’t do it for my own personal gain! They all call you the Brightest Star, but all I see is a worthless deserter. The only reason why you’re even considered a ‘Star’ is because you’ve surrounded yourself by people who constantly feed you with that notion!”

Frost grinded him against the obelisks. The spades spun like giant blades, further whittling down his HP.

Iscario | HP: 17,000,000

Then, Frost rose to the skies, her form illuminating the world like the celestial object that Iscario brazenly called himself.

“We are nothing alike! What is a Star that only benefits itself and those who pretend that they’re something they’re not!? A Star who can’t grant their wishes on their own? Corruption? You’re hilarious, Iscario. Corruption won’t turn you into a Star.”

“… Enough…” Iscario’s voice trembled for the first time.

“You’ll still be the same as you always were. Just a worthless traitor fooling himself into believing that he’s a Star. A chosen one. There’s no better way than to convince the world by taking the lives of those who disobey you. What would they think of you now after seeing how you’ve armed yourself with Qliphoth?”

The cracks gradually disappeared from Frost’s body, reverting her to a more stable state as her mind returned to her. The spades gradually scattered into millions of fragments. The wind carried it away.

“… Enough!”

“Iscario. Your completion never had to be this way!”

“ENOUGH!”

Iscario brought the Price of Paradise to the skies, sending a column of light into the cosmos. Frost anticipated an attack, but her precognition did not detect any danger. She was about to close in on him again, but a sudden force repelled her backwards.

“It’s… incomplete, but you… have given me no choice! Their incompetence will lessen its effect, but it will be enough to at least eliminate you once and for all!”

The dark city was suddenly illuminated by an incandescent light. It emerged from far above Iscario, dimming the stars and even the moon with its sheer blinding majesty.

Nav! What’s going on!?

“I might be jumping to conclusions, but… I believe that Iscario is invoking the power of the Piece of the Fallen Star!”

… that ‘device’. But I don’t see it. Is it… could it be a ring?

A continuous stream of energy warded Frost. Nothing could come remotely close to Iscario as he stood in the center of a crossroads, lifting his arms up in jubilation to the light. He basked in it, and he refused to remove his gaze no matter how blinding it was.

“Were it complete then it would have made things easier! But the outcome will not change! Amalgam… Perhaps this will change your opinion of me as the Brightest Star!”

Then, it appeared. The same warning that Frost was shown during the abrupt arrival of the star that appeared over the Nex Megalopolis.

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

< AN ADVENT HAS EMERGED >

< THE PIECE OF THE FALLEN STAR >

< The Third Advent >

< Wishes will be granted by its whimsical discretion >