Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)

857. Cer – The Awakened Star

It was not just Cer who had finished from a grueling battle.

Now that she had a closer look at the other people who roamed across the deck, she noticed that their clothing was in tatters. Wheelbarrows carrying limbs were brought into giant, smoking incinerators.

Cer had thought that was the engine… no, it was the engine.

It required biomass to sustain the engine that ran this ship.

“Just what is this ship?”

“The Iron Voyager. I’m not surprised that it’s your first time hearing it. Tales of sailors often die with them at sea. But we’re fortunate enough to have several experienced crew members. Without them, we may never have returned. And here we are, in another dangerous sea. It’s a miracle that you weren’t killed by the Gravity Wells.”

The sea between Grandis and Brandar/Dwarhellven was polluted with Gravity Wells. They were known to have trapped tens of thousands of Aquatids and Impuritas, and those were the only the numbers of identifiable people.

The vast majority were those who dreamed of entering the Nex Megalopolis or Atlas. Of course, there was no shortage of enemies who wished nothing but harm to both.

The Gravity Wells did not discriminate between friend or foe. It killed all those who dared to approach from the sea. Then again, Moons could hold their breaths for a long time. Death by asphyxiation was one of the rarest causes of death for a Moon.

Typically, the stronger one was, the less breaths one required. Most possessed the [Hyper Saturated Blood] Passive which kept their blood constantly saturated with oxygen. This was why the blood of Moons and stronger beings were usually brighter.

A long sigh left Cer’s lips. She threw one of the suits away and remained in a white button shirt and trousers. The chest area was a little loose since she had expected to see major developments there, but she was satisfied with herself regardless.

After flicking her tail clean and finding that the tip was still colored with a hint of gold, she looked back at Asmodeus. It made her squeamish in a good way. Being able to look at someone eye to eye was surreal.

But she was happy.

No one could look down at her ever again.

“Regardless of where we both stand, I’m still thankful for your help.” She admitted.

“Ahh… Such a tease.” Asmodeus slithered aside. “It has been an honor, Fang of the Head.”

Cer was easily over 170cm excluding her ears. Tall, and probably not as cute as she was before. But was she ever cute to begin with? It put her close to Ber’s height. Maybe she was even a little taller.

Just thinking about it made her want to see them again.

How would they react if they saw her now?

She reached for her neck expecting to find a tie but there was nothing to hold onto.

< They would be elated >

 

Cer’s hands slowly creaked down to her sides. Shock filled her eyes as she both heard and saw the prompt.

Nav…?

 

< I didn’t expect you to be the last of your sisters to talk to me >

 

< But I always felt like you would be the one to do it on your own >

 

… Are you just saying that now I’ve Awakened?

Cer mentally laughed.

< I can joke, but I have no motivation to lie >

 

< You’ve always been at the forefront, unwavering and unafraid >

 

< Weren’t you the one who knew their inherent value? >

 

That was back before we even knew what each other looked like. You remember that. Nav… You sound like you’re right next to me. I thought your voice would be more mundane. It’s not so bad.

 

< There is a lot I need to show you >

 

< I am currently calculating your stats >

 

Chuck them my way when they have it ready. I want to see where I stand now.

“Speaking to the… Nevermind~ I should leave you be. Depart however you wish. The Iron Voyager was built to withstand the might of false Angels.” The Demon was about to leave her, but Cer had more to say.

“Wait. There’s something I have to ask.”

Both had their backs turned. Neither of them spun around to face the other.

“Was I the only one who washed aboard?” She asked.

“You weren’t alone.”

Cer bit her lip. She knew the answer to the question she was about to ask. It was redundant, but she felt like hearing it from this person would bring her closure.

“Is he dead?”

“He may as well be dead now. That is the fallen Star and Ex-Wayfarer Raoul. His crimes were deemed worthy enough to place him into an Iron Coffin. Oboros Infinitas and CogitO are aware of that much. But from what we can extrapolate from his condition, there may be more crimes he’s guilty of.”

Cer didn’t answer for an entire minute. A swarm of thoughts assailed her as she struggled to find the right one. Eventually, she sifted through her thoughts and arrived at the only one that made sense.

“What happens if I leave him with Oboros Infinitas?”

“What all criminals are destined to become. A Repenter. But he’ll be a special case considering he’s guilty on a count of treachery. Oboros Infinitas no longer creates the Condemned. But he can be an honorary Condemned. A fate worse than a Repenter.”

Asmodeus answered succinctly as another similar-looking woman approached her. Cer didn’t turn to see them, but she could hear them slowly approach.

“Why do you ask?” The second woman spoke. Her voice was gentle. It was like listening to the notes of a harp. But at the same time, there was a dangerous undertone that was far worse than the most depraved Elves or Aquatids.

Their presence was similar to that of the White Wing.

Status.

 

Insane...

Her stats were nothing short of ridiculous. Cer had never seen anyone with a question mark to describe their stats.

Cer took a deep breath and answered her truthfully.

“I was only curious about what you were going to do with him.”

Asmodeus then responded with a hint of confusion.

“I thought you would be interested in finishing what you started. You had your claws resting inside his chest cavity when we found you. If you wish, you can eliminate him right now. His corpse would be collected however you want. The Abyssal Mother can even create a weapon out of him here at this very place.”

Cer didn’t need to think about it further. She had already made her choice.

“I’m done chasing him. What happens to Raoul now is none of my concern anymore. Condemned, a Repenter, a Corrupted. Do whatever you want. I don’t care. Break protocols or laws of the Head. I won’t lift a brow. Neither will the Head respond.”

Cer did not speak out of spite for Raoul.

She simply did not care what they did, or how they did it. She stared up at the blue tree belonging to her mother and began to walk towards it as she uttered her last words to them, and – her last ever mention of ‘Raoul’.

“The Raoul I know is already dead. But if there comes a day when he asks about me, then I want you to point to the stars. Oh, and before I forget. Ensure the Amalgam meets with him first before you do anything to him. He has lost his privilege to be amongst the stars.”

The halo pulsated as she prepared to rush back to Grandis. The tiny back that struggled to stand straight stood proudly.

“Nav. I’m able to talk to the others, right?”

She asked as her speed picked up.

< Indeed you can >

 

< But I think letting them see it for themselves will be better >

 

“I think so too. It’s nice to have a second opinion, huh!?”

And just like that, cracks of light spread across the surface of the ship. It wasn’t as intense as what ruined kilometers worth of land before. She didn’t want to hurt anyone here with her newfound powers.

But still, her speed was more than enough to send her flying back to her friends…

… and her mother.

* * *

< I’ve compiled everything I possibly could for you Cer >

 

< First of all, congratulations for becoming the first recorded non-Archetype Awakened >

 

< Magus has not stopped bragging about you >

 

< Secondly, your resonance with the Light has lifted several biological restrictions >

 

< LEVEL LIMIT REMOVED >

< The Level 200 limit of Moons, Stars and certain Exalted will not apply to you. The Level 250 limit of the Beholders will not apply to you >

 

< As it turns out, the quality of one’s soul is proportional to the quality of the Light they possess >

 

< This is why the higher one’s level is, the higher their Soul Rank >

 

< The Blessed such as Moon become vessel capable of facilitating enough Light to reach Level 200 >

 

< Beholders carry Gifts of a Star from the Eternal Library which allows them to extend their limit to 250 >

 

< Beings from the Rivers are vessels powerful enough to empower their own Light to exceed the Level 140 limit >

 

< But you will be different >

 

< What heights will you reach? >

 

* * *

 

 < HP and MP have tremendously increased >

< New Professions have been granted >

< Additional Active and Passive Skills have been granted >

< A new title has been granted >

 

< Title: Electric Certus >

< This will replace the Electric Fang >

< Confirm? >

 

< New title received >

< Electric Certus >

 

< Here are your stats >

 

< PROFESSIONS >n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

 

OFFENSIVE

THE WOLF WHO COULD: 50

< The wolf who hopped over the sun and moon >

Formally – DIGNITY OF THE WOLF

 

GALVANIZED BLOOD: 350

< The enabler of electrical manipulation >

 

GALVANIZED ARTS: 0

< Art of those with galvanized blood >

 

WARPED ACCELERATION: 0

< A replication of an Angel’s power >

 

DEFENSIVE

DYNAMICISM: 0

< To adapt to any situation >

 

SUPPORT

APPRAISAL: 50

< See the world as it is written >

 

COMPREHENSION: 0

< Comprehend the incomprehensible >

 

EXPLORATION

MEMORY BANK: 0

< Precious memories must never be forgotten >

 

< AWAKENED SKILLS >

 

DESIRE

< (A) Warp Speed [O] >

< (A) Godspeed [OO] >

< (A) Lightspeed [OOO] >

 

WRATH

< (A) Brightpaw [O] >

< (A) Ascended Claw [OO] >

< (A) Deconstructing Swipe [OOO] >

 

< ABILITIES >

Serum S (Galvanic Blood)

Charged Blood Tether

Awakened

Glimmer

Blessing of the Magician

Craving Electric Currant

 

Serum H (Redundant)

Atelier Jaw (Redundant)

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