Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)

869. Rest Well My Precious Moons

Where the Ateliers buried their own out of obligation and tradition, the Nexus mourned the fallen Moons and Aspiring Moons out of genuine grief.

The Floor of Amalgamation was silent. News of the deceased Moons marred what should have been smiles as the Moons, Aspiring Moons and the Amalgam’s group returned to the Floor of Amalgamation.

Hundreds of Healers crowded the entrance with worried eyes. A wave of relief washed over them when they saw the faces of friends walking through the gates. However, there were Healers who began to shake as they tried to find someone amongst the crowd.

Then, they stumbled forward, pushing through the crowd as coffins carrying the bodies of the fallen Moons and Aspiring Moons were carried through the gate. Grief-stricken Healers trembled in place as tears rolled down their faces.

Denial filled their bulging eyes, followed by sorrow, and finally – acceptance.

3 Moons and 8 Aspiring Moons were killed during the war. The amount in any other context would have caused people to scoff at the number. But these Moons were like children to Frost in a way. The Healers knew every Moon by name.

But the ones who cried for them were Healers who were more than just their neighbors or friends.

They were lovers or would be lovers.

“I’m sorry.”

Frost approached these Healers and gently embraced each of them and issued a heartfelt apology. Jury joined her as she took the hands of the anguished Healers and brought them into the march.

“My Moons fought for more than just the Nexus. They fought to protect our home. Come… We’ll let our heroes rest here. This is their home, after all.” Frost monologued as hundreds of Healers and dozens of Moons followed them into the seemingly infinite flower fields.

It spanned from their cozy town to the distant mountains.

Michaela and Ilya watched from a short distance whilst Cer observed from a small hill afar. She sat slightly behind the mound, making her look much smaller than she actually was. The flowers also hid the color of her hair as she silently watched the funeral procession.

Her sisters noticed her and slowly began making their way towards the lonely wolf.

In the meantime, Frost tried to console the Healers with her tail.

What was lost today was not merely 3 Moons and 8 Aspiring Moons, but 11 members of their community. There was no greater honor than to be buried in the very home of the Amalgam, but this could not console the hearts of the Healers, nor the Moons.

Each coffin was placed on a bed of white chrysanthemums. Loved ones leaned over the fallen Moons and mourned for their loss. Finally, Frost turned to the entire Floor of Amalgamation and recited a eulogy for the Moons whilst held up by Jury’s tail.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Several Healers grieved over their bodies as Frost mentioned how they were more than just Moons to her. How they had lived their lives to their fullest since arriving in the Floor of Amalgamation. The Moons here did not die because of their obligation to give their lives to the Nexus, but it was out of their own goodwill and love of their home, and in turn, their loved ones they wished to protect.

“Here they lie back in their homes. The unrest of war has faded. The night has ended. But the glow of our Moons carries on inside of us. You will be dearly missed. You were not just my Moons. You were ours. You are irreplaceable. Rest here, in the Heavens of the Nexus. There is no place higher than where you are.”

Frost had never recited a eulogy before. What she said flowed straight from her heart. She did not know the names of these Moons, but she knew exactly what they had lived through. This paired with the fact that they were on their way to finally being able to express themselves and embrace the world beyond just bloodshed…

They died too early to be free from their past. But they’re here in the Nexus. On my floor. The ‘Celestial Heavens’. This is their last stop. I hope that in some way, they’ll be happy wherever there are next. I never believed in reincarnation or metempsychosis. I don’t even know if an afterlife exists. But this world is not like Earth. Souls live on even after death. If possible… I’d like it if they could rest.

The Moons of the Nexus were silent on the matter, but they were clearly touched by the ceremony. Frost did not need to honor them, nor did Jury or the Archetypes who were also present. Neither did the Moons themselves have to attend. But they felt like it was the right thing to do.

Because they too would want people to remember them after death. Seeing this caused them to further realize their worth to the Amalgam. 3 Moons were nothing in the grand scheme, especially now that they could be replaced with Aspiring Moons.

Frost remained here to oversee the burial. And at the same time, she finally swallowed the petal that the Blue Dahlia had left for her.

< Unique Ability Gained >

< ABILITY: Oblivion >

< What was will never be >

< EFFECT: Permanently erase chosen memories of a target. Effectiveness is determined by their level of RESIST. If the existence of a person, object, or being is known by less than 0.5% of the population then you may conceptually erase them from all minds so long as they can see the light of the Nexus. A concept can only be erased once and only after interacting, breaking or defeating said concept, object or being >

Conceptually erasing beings.

“Only from our minds, not their existence.” Nav clarified. “But the question will be if it translates to the Collective Unconsciousness. I hypothesize that this power actually interacts with the Collective Unconsciousness.”

But it utilizes the Nexus as a way to gain access to it, huh? Or… I don’t know. Still, this is a good power. I can see it being amazing for therapy, but the question is if there’s a chance for that memory to return. The Blue Dahlia was able to recover her memories.

“It says it’s permanent. Therefore, memories erased will be unrecoverable.”

It was a lot of power to wield, arguably even more than the Gift From A Star she received from Mort Toll. It felt closer to what could easily be a power of a Paradise Lost Corrupted or a Star.

It took Lethe to drink an entire River to gain this power. Rivers… they come directly from outside our world, just like Stars, huh.

Frost contemplated on what else she could use this power for. But her train of thought suddenly derailed. She noticed a small flash of red in the corner of her eye. Red, glistening strands appeared on the heads of the Healers as they gazed into the coffins with clenched teeth.

“I won’t forgive them…” One of the Healers vowed, the innocent veil disappearing as strands of her hair turned red.

Likewise, her blue eyes carried a hint of red.

It was like looking at a cloud of blood spreading through water. The innocence that once defined them broke down and gave way to a flood of wrath. A new type of Healer was born before Frost’s eyes, and she knew straight away that these Healers would be worse than the Fractured Doves (Black Wings).