Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)-Chapter 954. Deja Vu

“Just because I’ve got thick skin doesn’t mean I can’t tell how cold the environment is. Like–Fire is still hot for me. It’s just bearable. That’s all.” Frost promptly explained, turning her attention again to the rest of the Fifth Level’s Reception.

It was easily larger than the previous Levels combined, and it boasted various sub-Levels to contain a massive assortment of Corrupted.

And yet, it was eerily quiet.

Murals of faceless figures decorated twenty-meter ceiling. Chandeliers shaped like childish stars hung on thin threads, twinkling along the background of blue like stars.

In front of them were eight rows of fifty seats. They were arranged in a semicircular shape, each facing inwards.

A theater best described it, as each row was a lower level from the last. In fact, it was possible that this was indeed a theater. Because at the furthest end of the reception was a glass wall that oversaw a stage.

“They called the Fifth Level the Auditorium. Not all Sites have this. But when they do, it encompasses an entire Level.” Horus stepped in, walking down the aisles between the seats as she approached the glass.

She motioned for Frost to join her, adding:

“G-Z7 had one too, but it was a small component of the whole. I don’t believe I saw everything either. The way space works in that Site brought me into a lucid state of psychosis. Reminds you of the Reception of Act X. I had a darling of a Stage Narrator once. She was one hell of a dame:”

“Really? This doesn’t look like a daycare to you?” Frost interjected, filtering Horus’ last few words. “There are stars dangling from strings. Giant stuffed toys and props shoved to the side over there.”

“I can’t say I’m familiar with the term.”

“A place where families can leave their children for the day. Specialized guardians then watch over them until they return to pick them up.” Frost solemnly spoke.

She reached for the glass, planting her hands along it as she gazed out into the expansive stage, where props would have been arranged to fulfil a child’s dream.

It was oddly familiar to her.

She then stared into her own reflection, taking note of the golden color of her eyes, which she fondly remembered being brown at one point…

… as well as red.

“Does that not exist in Elysia?”

“I’ve heard of it.” Horus plucked a long smoking pipe from her [Dimensional Storage]. “But that’s a whole new recent addition to certain parts of the Nex Megalopolis. Used to be the right of nobles, but that class is losing steam since they have no power over the rulers of the Nex Megalopolis.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

She inhaled her pipe. She was about to exhale but held her breath as she heard soft footsteps approaching them.

“Mal?” Joy joined Frost.

She stared up at Horus with wary yet curious eyes, wondering how she was breathing fire.

Horus blew the smoke directly into her [Dimensional Storage] with a groan.

“I hate kids. Nothing good ever comes from having them around. But you gotta feel sorry for them. Poor brats get the Scarlet Logic treatment or become living slimes outside of a privileged start. The ones that make it grow up to be screwed in the head. We all have our own stories, don’t we?”

Horus was about to take another huff but decided against it when she noticed that Joy was becoming far too interested in her pipe. Despite her awful character, she was surprisingly soft when it came to children.

“They can be far too convoluted to make sense of it sometimes.” Frost replied. “… I feel like I’ve seen this before. This stage. Those props.”

“I saw familiar sights in G-Z7. That Site had a way of bringing your thoughts to life. Not so different from a Genesis Stone.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Site Cores contained Genesis Stones to operate the Sites. But that would bring into question who or what is controlling the Site in that regard.” Frost pondered.

“No idea. But the Impuritas are hell-bent on invading the Sites. Hell, an Aisyle look-alike caused the whole Zeroed Horizon incident.”

“I see…”

Then, Morgause, who had been overhearing their conversation, shared her thoughts.

“It could be a Soul in the machine. Or an implanted Ego. You have heard the autonomous messages, no? The Site can be said to have its own Will.”

“Could be possible. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to check in person.” Frost nodded to herself.

“… You’re not serious, right?” Horus hoped she was joking, but Frost wore a serious look, and a face that wondered why she was so concerned. “Not afraid of the Aberrations of Elysia?”

“I think I’ll be fine.” Frost assured her. “I’ve had my run ins with them in the past.”

“Oooh! Usari read about the Wonderland incident!” Usari exclaimed. “You were part of it! Usari heard the Head was there to defeat the Aberration of Elysia. They sent the Beholders. Now why would the Head do that? You see, Usari has been thinking: the Head has all these bodies, but do they actually do anything on their own?”

The bunny laughed.

But shortly afterwards, her world turned dark, and all she could see were the golden orbs that were Frost’s eyes.

“I assure you; the Head does not rest. They will never rest until the Impuritas are expelled from the face of Elysia. Until every weed of their rot has been uprooted. Only then will the Head finally rest. Usari. Slandering the Head is not an offense per say. But you should be mindful of who hears you.”

It was not just Frost who displayed their animosity towards this bunny girl. Jury, Joy, and Morgause send deadly gazes at the woman, who once again, kept her mouth shut and complied.

“Usari understands!”

“Meat bunny. If you value your existence, then I would personally avoid speaking from now on.” Hatye warned, knowing well of Frost’s Soul-devouring ability.

He did not say this outright, nor tell the others as he knew that Frost had been hiding her identity from them.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

Although, he did not seem too concerned about himself.

* * *

“Frost! Take a look at this one!” Jury had been going through the paintings for the last fifteen minutes.

Only now had she found something worth interrupting Frost’s train of thought for.

Frost was in the middle of trying to figure out where she had seen the stage before. Anna did not have access to the facility beneath the Pillar of the World in the Old World, so she could not help them in that regard.

Nor was the Arbiter aware of it since she was not heavily involved with the facility itself.

This was where two Archetypes came in.

Lailah and the Starchild.

< Lailah and the Starchild are preparing their responses in tandem >

< Please wait >

“I know this picture!” Jury exclaimed giddily.

She pointed at a woman with white hair, who was holding the hand of what looked to be a child. Though her face was scrubbed out, the color of her hair alone which was shared with the child holding her hand was enough proof for Jury to call this person:

“Evelyn~!”

“The person you met fourteen years ago?”

“Mhm!” Jury nodded enthusiastically. “You could say that she’s my mom. Sort of~ But you understand!”

Jury’s way of bringing people who were close to her into her family was endearing. Although, it was hard for Frost to gauge just what type of person Evelyn was, aside from the fact that she was the Second Apostle of the Arbiter.

“Evelyn would still be alive, right? Think we’ll get a chance to find her?” Jury wondered with optimism.

“She’s definitely out there. If she has white hair, then we’ll find her eventually.” Frost assured.

Icara hastily wrote something into her notepad. Frost had noticed this in the corner of her eye, but then, the woman scraped the paper after a moment of contemplation. No one had said a word to her, yet for some reason, she was compelled to write something down.

Frost studied her azure eyes before looking back at the faceless Evelyn.

She opened her mouth, but before a word could form–

“A song? It’s coming from the stage.” Morgause murmured.

“Looks like your Corrupted’s calling for you.” Horus tapped her left eye.

“I sense a significant threat ahead… We have no right to intervene.” Hayte stated, holding his arms out to prevent Usari from moving forward. “Icy. Your stare is concerning. Write if there is something on your mind.”

Icara shook her head.

“I haven’t received a warning yet.” Frost whispered cautiously, walking through the aisles and approaching the glass barrier with Jury and Joy by her side. “Just what is going on?”

Props began moving on their own. They walked off the stage, clearing it out and creating a clean slate, as though waiting for Frost: the main actor: to arrive on stage.

A spotlight suddenly shone upon her.

It was entirely harmless.

But she had to wonder if this was the doing of the Corrupted…

… Or the Site itself.

She had not yet received a Corrupted message, after all.