Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)

A world unlike the lands of Earth. Magic, monsters, impossible technologies and beings called the Corrupted exist in this world. All known laws of physics means nothing in the face of these forces. The world is vast and teeming with life. From the Dwarves of the north, to the Insectid to the far west; and the subterrainian layers where entities named the Hearts spread their infection - there is hardly a moment's break to be found.

But where there is darkest shadow the brightest light must exist. Elysia is a beautiful world where one can become whatever they so wish.

This however comes at a price.

The entities known as the Corrupted have existed for as long as history remembers. Unlike monsters, dragons and the strongest of Demons; these beings are incomparable and are the greatest threat.

The Nexus promises to deal with the Corrupted, though there are few that not even they can handle.

The actual size of Elysia is unknown with seemingly zero horizons and stretches of land incomparable to Earth. As a result, certain phenomenons such as Fata Morganas (Fairy Mirages, also known as the floating ship phenomenon) does not exist or is very rarely seen. This Earthly term, interestingly enough, is known in Elysia.

The Nexus, otherwise known as the Second Advent or the Advent of Amalgamation. The rest of the world calls it the heavens, the celestial tower or the place where the Gods and Deities reside. It is an enigmatic existence that cannot be described as an object or artefact. The floating tower stretches higher than the stars themselves, with its peak nowhere to be seen.

Contrary to widespread belief, the Advent of Amalgamation is actually the very first Advent.

The Nexus is largely responsible for giving out the Blessing of the Nexus; an ability that allows people to gain access to what Frost calls the 'System'; a modernised RPG 'prompt' that allows one to grow exponentially stronger than the ordinary person.

The people who possess these number in only the thousands, and they are called the Blessed.

Natural wonders of Elysia. Advents are enigmatic constructs and existences with no known origin, cause or reason of existence. They merely exist as they are and stand as the source of the world's reverence. Untold power and existence-defying properties define these most revered wonders, with the most notable being the Nexus.

Entire eras are dedicated to the rise of an Advent. The first Advent that arose was the Eternal Library, ill-known to the greater part of the world who still do not know what exactly was the Advent that began their newest calendar.

However, Advents are not truly natural phenomenons and are in fact artificial constructs originating from a cruel distant past. They are powers derived directly from the 'light' in some capacity, wielding the exorbitant power to change the world as we know it.

Only 5 Advents have been confirmed to Exist. The Nexus, and the Eternal Library, the Piece of a Fallen Star, the Fate Mechanism, and the 'Apple' Advent - the Garden of Paradise as the Arbiter calls it, which has now also been confirmed to be a great golden tree.

The true first Advent, but known as the Second Advent to the vast majority of the world. It is unknown how long it has been in the world. All that is known is that it was brought into the skies 150 years ago.

It is widely referred to as the Celestial Heavens, or heaven itself. The Nexus arose 150 years ago in 200 PA, causing the devastation of the largest civilization known to Elysia; Atlas. The ruins of Atlas now remain in the form of shattered archipelagos, with the new Atlas built directly within the shadows of the Nexus.

The Nexus floats largely due to Caldera Industries technology, the Gravity Engine, and has assumed the technology of Justica Arms and the Chained Theocracy, hence why the Blessed are inherently allowed to teleport and access the Dimensional Storage.

It it is unknown what the purpose of this Advent is, but it is highly important as it contains the Floors of the Archetypes, and is confirmed that certain Corrupted must be brought to those floors for the Awakening criteria of the Archetypes/Floors.

Whether it is a poison or a beacon of hope is yet to be determined. It is an object of worship and fascination.

“An endless library containing compendiums of the past, present, and future. All knowledge whether from Elysia or worlds beyond are compiled into this one place, written in a 56-character set and 1,000 paged books. Due to this, finding a coherent book is nearly impossible without the aid of the Archivist.” - Nav

Considered the very first Advent, but its true nature is only known by the select few. Amongst the countless millions across Elysia only but a few thousand are aware of its existence. It is actually the Second Advent.

The Eternal Library arose 350 years ago and marked a new calendar, named PA. The Library itself is a monolithic sprawl of endless shelves towering higher than one can perceive, with rooms so vast that it appears like its own world. There is no known limit to the Eternal Library's size but it is theoretically finite given that there are a set number of combinations, although that is nearing infinity to begin with.

It houses all information regarding the past, present and future and holds knowledge over the tales, stories and order of event for certain Awakening procedures, such as the tale of the Price of Paradise for the Arbiter.

The Archivist, a young girl with black hair and a pale dress maintains this place and is known to help wanders and those she invites to find their one, true book. It is how Beholders are created, for it is through this that they are able to receive their technologies, as seen with Carpalis and her Faustian Bargain technology, which was derived from the tale of Dr. Faust and his deal with the devil.

The Eternal Library has the power to allow the Awakened Archivist to grant people a Corrupted Persona to wield so long as it has been archived into a book within her Library.

An Advent capable of granting the wishes of those it wills on a seemingly whimsical basis. Its known that the wishes it grants is considered a half-wish and often leads to a monkey-paw scenario where the result is not intended, such as Ara's gender change when he wished to become more popular. Another is Nav's wish which resulted in her becoming a living machine incapable of truly experiencing what it means to live.

However, with the right amount of Nex and through the guidance of the Star Child can someone achieve their one true wish.

The Piece of the Fallen Star is within the cross hairs of the Impuritas. Now that its whereabouts is unknown it is a race against time for both sides to find the Piece of the Fallen Star before an unstoppable wish is granted. This Advent is therefore another focal point of the grand scheme alongside the Nexus and Frost herself.

Although, all Advents are a main piece of the chess board. It is just a matter of when it is time for them to make their move.

The Fate Mechanism allows for the interpretation of future events via unknown means. Act X and the Sect of Gears are highly connected with this Advent. Interestingly enough, Frost's fate cannot be interpreted.

However, the truth is that this Advent does not make predictions, but rather is fed an outcome and demands scenarios that inevitably lead towards it. It requires the actions of its connected 'Actors' to perform their acts according to the Scripts. Failure results in their strings being severed by Act X. As for the Sect of Gears, the person is literally turned into another cog in the machine to fuel their intended outcomes.

The Director has a hand in sabotaging the Sect of Gears. What else he is capable of is not yet known, but he is able to communicate through the Scripts those he wishes. It is also believed that he too can force the Fate Mechanism to work towards his own intended outcomes.

The actual location or visual description of the Advent of Purpose is still to be determined. It is believed to be in the possession of the Impuritas, more specifically in Iscario's hands. The Advent of Purpose is a dangerous Advent capable of inducing a false Corruption through the consumption of its Seeds, which are derived from the Apples. It not yet known what happens if one were to consume an Apple directly.

Otherwise known as the Blessing of the Nexus or for Frost, the Blessing of the Amalgam. It contains and defines a person's profession, skills, abilities, levels and the currency called Nex all in one convenient package.

One's health pool. It directly reflects one's life and the state of their body. If it hits 0 then said person dies. ATT and MAG ATT, as well as negative statuses and diseases impact this.

Mana points. It reflects how much mana a person is able to harness for certain skills that require mana, such as magic. Upon reaching 0, all points in MAG ATT and MAG DEF becomes redundant save for bonuses granted by armour and weapons.

The numerical value of one’s strength and the maximum potential damage they can inflict. ATT directly affects HP and is consequently resisted by ATT DEF.

It resisted ATT on a pure one-to-one basis, unless the DEF matched or was higher than the ATT. For example, a 50 ATT attack against someone with 50 ATT DEF would only do the minimum amount of damage, which was 1. The same was true if they only had 20 ATT.

The same as ATT but affects MAG DEF.

Blocks MAG ATT attacks.

It defines the maximum movements speed of a person in general. This included things like punches, kicks, jump height, skill usage and reaction time.

This determined one's physical, mental and magical resistance to certain conditions, such as being set alight or the capabilities to resist poison for longer. With a high enough RESIST stat one, could outright negate certain conditions.

These are determined by the combination of all profession levels. An overall level is:

The sum of offence + half of defence + a quarter of support + a tenth of exploration

The equation is O+(D/2)+(S/4)+(E/10)

Represents all offensive-based professions

Consists of all defence-based professions

Encapsulates all support-based professions

Reflects all exploration-based professions

Every 50 levels is considered a milestone. Various rewards and bonuses are granted, as well as a new title whenever a level milestone is reached.

Getting a profession to level 100 is a profession mastery. Every 25 levels is a milestone where bonuses and new skills for the profession are granted. Unique and powerful abilities and skills are rewarded at a profession mastery.

Professions, however, may only be levelled by using their respective Active Skills.

Is is the highest level of an Active Skill. This is reached at level 50 or [Skillname] V. The skill evolves to its final form and may bear unique properties.

Elysia is home to many races, both familiar and unfamiliar. Each have their own unique cultures, homelands and customs that cannot be found anywhere else. Racial magic and traits also come into play when discussing the plentiful races that populate Elysia near and far, up and deep underneath.

One of the more plentiful races, but call home to only three Regions in Elysia's main continent: Grandis, Brandar and Emvita. Humans struggle to survive in remote and monster-infested Regions without numbers, adequate defences or particularly powerful individuals. As a result, Humans have a long history of being on the receiving end of many atrocities.

In recent times however Humanity is in a stable place and depending on the Region is the perpetrator of the same atrocities that were once committed upon them.

Humans lack any racial traits or magic. But where they shine is in their ingenuity and vast diversification of professions. Whilst other races tend to be good at one thing, Humans can reach their hands into multiple skill sets. Their largest vice is their limited lifespan of roughly a hundred years, and even that is rarely met.

Humans are responsible for creating some of the most beautiful structures along Emvita, and were the engineers that designed the mega city of the now fallen Paradise. They are otherwise unremarkable but boast an incredible population count compared to other races.

They are locked in an eternal war with the Demons of Zelmori, a nearby continent to the west of Emvia.

What makes humans truly unique however is that they are the only race that can adopt the lucrative Affinity for healing magic.

Long ears and come in two flavours - Righteous, proud and are fervently driven by their code; or lewd enough to try take on anything that moves. Plants included. In fact, the latter's experiments have resulted in certain phallic-like fruits coming into existence, such as the Lust-Nanas and the Aphrodisiac Apples.

The latter are also mostly found in distant lands away from their home continent of Spirtas, running brothels or adventuring for the sake of sating their lust. They follow the shadow of the deity (Beholder) the Abyssal Mother who once taught her lustful ways before officially becoming a Beholder.

The former Elves are militaristic and highly disciplined, with the majority in some way tied with Justica Arms. While both sides are powerful, the former have accessed to the Justica Arm - a firearm capable of shooting crystal, teleporting bullets. There is an in between culture of the two major 'sides' of the Elven race who tend to do their own thing.

Elves are amongst the oldest races, with their Elders being as old as several centuries. Regardless of what type of Elf one is, they are highly adept at magic and are peerless in their beauty. They can manipulate and communicate with nature at will and are physically superior to even humans.

However, due to the number of clans the Elves are not as united as other races. More often than not they are at odds with each other.

A diverse race of mostly bipedal anthropomorphic creatures that inherent characteristics and features of the animal/creature they take after. Due to the sheer number of creatures in Elysia, the number of Beastkin Clans is uncountable.

They originate from the southern continent of Demis and are the progenitors of the Demi-Humans found throughout the main, centre-most continent of Elysia. Beastkin boast physical prowess over magic and depending on their form they can be quite capable even at lower levels. They are very rarely seen in the main continent but once populated it many centuries ago.

They are prideful beings that honour the strong and those within their clans. Although, not all take this approach. Like the Elves, they are prone to fighting amongst themselves. Their intelligence has been observed to be less than other races as they operate on a more instinctual, primal level, often acting on impulse before assessing the situation.

Due to their seclusion in Demis, they are rarely seen as Atelier Personnel. One can commonly find them in Scarlet Logic's ranks, however.

A race resulting in the copulation between a human and a Beastkin. They are seen as inferior in the eyes of both, but depending on cultural beliefs Demi-Humans are either equal or so far underneath them that they are considered slaves.

They possess animal characteristics in the form of their personality, behaviour, ears, tails, etc. Some of the most friendliest people come from their cut of cloth, but similarly the most vicious of them all are bred by the violence conducted against the Demi-Humans, namely the Wise Black Wolf who ran the infamous Syndicate: the Solemn Paw.

Like humans, they can reach their hand into just about any skill, although, this may be limited to certain Demi-Humans, such as Centaurs, Lamias, etc who don't possess the full range of motion or dexterity as other Demi-Humans do.

Demi-Humans are found anywhere humans are in the main continent of Elysia, mostly populating the modern paradise of Brandar and the Nex Megalopolis. The majority of the Blessed also seem to consist Demi-Humans. Their situation in Emvita is not so different from Brandar (albeit worse) as they and the humans fight a common enemy. In Grandis however, Demi-Humans are persecuted heavily by the humans solely because they see them as inferior and have been known to sever ears and tails to make them appear more 'human'.

Demi-Humans of Grandis echo the mass persecution of the healers decades ago, as well as the time when the humans of Grandis were preyed upon by virtually every other race, including the Insectids, Aquatids and most predominantly the Anids - a race which was capable of liquefying its victims whilst keeping them alive in this horrifying state for years - perhaps decades on end.

A seafaring race that, like Demi-Humans, boast the characteristics of humans and marine creatures. Despite their human appearance they are not in any way related to them. In fact, Aquatids are known to predate on humans and other humanoid races, whether to be used as food, breeding partners, pets or forced, tragic lovers.

Unlike Demi-Humans who are characterised by their features, the Aquatids are categorised by the pressures they can withstand. Surface-dwelling Aquatids are nowhere near as frightening as the deep-sea Aquatids, let alone the Abyssal Aquatids who are often hired as cold-blooded assassins by Ateliers.

Their culture has taken a considerable twist in Brandar as of recent, particularly in the City of Hearts where their hunger for humans has turned into infatuation. They adore humans, especially those that wear maid outfits as it scratches a primal itch. Due to their slimy appendages and tendency to latch, caress and hug people; they are seen as a perverted race when in truth it is how they greet one another, as well as 'taste' and 'sense' others.

Aquatids are known to be obsessive lovers and don't generally betray their partners. But this is also a dangerous trait, as they can be incredibly controlling, manipulative and restrictive. Although, this is not always the case as future generations of Aquatids have learned to tame this instinct. It does still remain dormant, however.

Whether they have tails for legs, or tentacles for arms, or live inside of a shell - no two Aquatids are quite the same.

Insectids outnumber every other race combined by a considerable margin. Their numbers are in the billions, confined in the northwest Region of Gnawer where wars are waged at every waking hour between each Insectid species. From Bees to Ants, to Wasps to Beetles - they are genetically hard wired for the purpose of war and know nothing beyond conflict.

They are vaguely human in appearance and are characterized by their insect-like features, which usually doubles as a weapon. Insectids at the core are violent, murderous and driven solely by pheromones and instincts. Individuality is lost on them as they function in the interests of the collective.

Later generations that have escaped the war have shown to be just like any other race, with many turning to music and art within the City of Hearts. Insectids have a generally low lifespan ranging from as little as a week to 20 years. Particularly rare and powerful Insectid can exceed this biological limit, although it is unknown if their lifespan is due to their biology or the countless wars.

They make up the bulk of Scarlet Logic's forces as a result of their unquestioning fealty to the morbid art of bloodshed. It is all they have and will ever know. Insectids are normally born from eggs rather than live births like most races and have multiple stages of metamorphosis. Some are born as adults and are ready to fight within seconds of entering the world.

Not to be mistaken for Angels. Avians are one of the few winged races capable of flight. Their ears tend to be hidden by fluffy flaps found on the side of their head and they are known for their mischievous and energetic nature. They tend to be on the optimistic side of things in life and often call places of high elevation their home. Their homelands are anywhere where the world meets the sky, but more and more have found the civil life in the Nex Megalopolis far more comfortable.

They are rarely found in combat or adventuring roles and make up a decent bulk of store owners. They have a splendid palette for coffee and tea, making them the perfect baristas. Due to their ability to fly, their weakness is hard to exploit as they can flee with ease. Avians are amongst the most fun races one can come across, but they can be very clumsy.

If you befriend an Avian, then please look out for them!

An incredibly rare race that is said to be extinct in Elysia. Only seven are known to exist and these Angels have lived lives preceding even the world itself. They carry untold power and access to certain technologies of the old world, such as the White Wing and her teleportation pocket watch.

Healers classify as Angels too (New World Healers), whereas the traditional Angels are specifically called Old World Angels.

They do not get along with the similarly aged seven Primordial Demons of the Atelier Oboros Infintas.

Mechanical arachnid-like entities coated in pure white materials, usually metal. It is unknown how they even exist. They are an enigmatic, sapient race that parasitize other races in order to reproduce and survive. They have a strict hierarchy that is dependant on the number of legs an Anid possesses, for example - Octanids (Eight) are the warriors and defenders of the Nest, whereas the Decanids (Ten) are the 'hive mind' of a particular Nest.

As a result, the number of legs also determines the role an Anid assumes.

They are ruthless and are universally considered enemies. Their methods are cruel for they can liquefy an entity and keep them alive like a festering barrel of alcohol for decades on end. They quite literally become their blood.

Anids abduct and reproduce with the wombs of all races, resulting in a 100% death rate as the hatchings burrow and burst their way out from their mothers, before feasting upon them.

However, in spite of their cruelty, they have been known to take pity on slaves, those with good hearts, and most notably the healers. They are oddly affectionate to these tortured souls. Healers are the only people that can survive an Anid birth, resulting in the limbless Nilhind - a half-human, half-Anid creature that is doomed to perish without intensive care.

The largest Anid known is the Millinid - a one thousand legged Anid said to tower mountains as it strides across the snow-capped land of the Anid Region.

They once called themselves Insectids, but have learned to avoid the futility of war and banded together under their true identity. Arachnids are a cunning race that specializes in manipulation, assassination and control. They are found infrequently across Elysia and come in two forms:

Civilized; which are Arachnids that have assimilated with society and conventional norms, or Feral; which are Arachnids that predate on those they can get their hands on and typically live in seclusion. Their lower bodies are that of a giant spider, and their upper is that of typically a beautiful human.

They are able to weave intricate webs in the blink of an eye. Females tend to be larger and depending on how civilized they are, will devour their mates. Strangely enough, a civilized Arachnid's eggs will not cause injury to the mother, whereas a Feral's eggs will always kill during birth much like an Anid's.

Arachnids are particularly powerful and excel in agility. Mercenary work as well as weaving tend to be positions they find themselves in if they are not busy tending to their families. Like Aqautids, they are quite obsessive of their lovers.

Unlike how they are depicted in traditional media, Orcs are an honourable race in spite of their tendency to raid villages. However, they never attack those that cannot fend for themselves, often choosing targets that are capable of retaliation. Orc tribes are inclined to help struggling villages and towns to thrive until they are ripe for battle, but usually never attack civil structures.

In the case of a full blown battle, Orcs excel in total devastation as their hoards are able to run down everything gin their path like a tidal wave. Their physical prowess is second to none and their choice of weapons range from anywhere between ten to fifty kilograms depending on their level, allowing them to quite literally delete a wall upon contact.

Due to their combat prowess they find themselves in Scarlet Logic's ranks, but rarely as Adventurers as they dislike being tied down to needles things like rules and conducts.

Whilst Demi-Humans are the product of Beastkin and Humans, Half-Breeds are the result of Humans and virtually every other race. And like the Demi-Humans, they are amongst the lowest common denominators and find themselves in less fortunate roles, usually as slaves, cannon fodder or other miserable places.

However, they make an overwhelming majority of Elysia's population as they can be impossible to differentiate between Demi-Humans and regular humans. Not all of them inherit the characteristics of their parents. Unfortunately, they also do not inherent racial traits and are as ordinary, if not worse off than an ordinary human.

Where they shine is in their work ethic as they make up a bulk of ImpulseWorks' Workers who happily offer their lives for the sake of satisfying the status quota.

Beneath it all Half-Breeds are not very different from the rest.

Do not be mistaken by the ears they possess, for they are horns made to mimic ears. Demon is a term often used to generalize all creatures originating from the western continent of Zelmori, where the likes of Vampires and Succubus thrive. Demons themselves have a black sclera and golden pupils, as well as a wealth of abnormal characteristics that makes no two Demons ever the same.

They have sharp teeth like the Angels and have the lowest population out of every race. To put that into perspective, there is around 100 humans for every 1 Demon. They are mistakenly blamed for the Corruption by the opposing humans, and they prey on those same humans to fuel their societies whether it be by devouring flesh, their mind, soul or sexual energy.

Demons as a result are sometimes considered as an apex race, although, this is highly debatable.

A blood-sucking race that prefers the taste of a sapient's blood rather than an animal or creature. The higher the level of an individual, the more refined the taste according to their palette. They are born with the insatiable drive to consume blood and rather than drinking milk from their mothers, they draw blood from their napes.

Vampires range from humble and docile to incredibly violent masterminds. The worst thrive off the chaotic lands of Emvita where they terrorise villages, and stalk the streets of major settlements every night to sate their hunger. Unlike Vampires in traditional, Earth media - they cannot create subordinates.

There is no such thing as a half vampire. Any crossbreeding will result in a full vampire, although that vampire in question may also possess the traits of their other parent. This is rare as Vampires are mostly compatible with humans and very rarely with other humanoid races.

A lust-driven race that feeds off the sexual energy of their prey. They possess horns and are capable of creating illusions to disguise themselves as virtually anything they wish. They are not as dangerous on the surface as Demons or Vampires, but they have been known to wipe out entire settlements in a single night, leaving the withering husks of every ounce of life behind.

Succubus may also invade dreams, or manipulate them at will.

The more civilized of Succubus run successful brothels and similar businesses in the infamous City of Hearts (or also known as the City of Lust), most predominantly in H9 where anyone's perverted dreams can come true thanks to their elusive powers.

Experts in craftsmanship, masonry and engineering. Their entire lives revolve around rocks, machines and their trusted blast furnaces deep within their mountain fortresses in the Dwarhelven Region. They are the only race to be highly associated with an Atelier, with 60% of all Dwarves being in some way connected to Caldera Industries.

Aside from their typical short, drunken and bearded appearance - the High-Dwarfs are extremely tall, 'royal' variants that make the majority of the decisions regarding their race and settlements. The most notable High Dwarf is Beholder Knalzark, the founder of Caldera Industries and the Gravity Engine.

They have racial magic that allows them to resist the immense heat of the furnaces and easily chip away at bedrock. There is also an instinctual affinity in their craft which does not become apparent until they pick up a hammer, pickaxe, or in the case of Caldera Industries, a gravity hammer.

Humanoid dragons. It is not known how they have come to be, but it is theorized that Dragons had undergone an unknown process that caused one of them to assume the form of a human with wings, scales and the full power of their previous body. They are an incredibly powerful race that gives the Demons a run for their money, possessing incredible resistance to the elements depending on their elemental affinity.

Their homeland is in the far northeastern Region of Drakos, with multiple clans found to the western deserts of Scaldak. Modern Dragonkins are almost always in venerated roles due to their immense power, but their overinflated pride is something that dissuades even Ateliers from integrating them into their ranks.

Caldera Industries/the Dwarfs and the Dragons/Dragonkin have a long, bloody history with echoes still felt to this day.

An often overlooked race that functions as one part hive mind, and one part individual. The Mycelli are a fungal race ranging from humanoids with fungus-like characteristics (such as a mushroom for a head/hat), to complex ecosystems that extend for hundreds of kilometres.

They are a highly unpredictable race with a danger that rivals lesser Corrupted. Where there are fairy tales about the Mycelli depicting them as saviours for some, others depict them as vile, infectious diseases that control the minds of those they touch. Both are true, but none ever capture the true horror and mystery of the Mycelli.

Mycelli may also find themselves integrated in society but only under immense scrutiny, and after ensuring that they have been severed from the main hivemind/synapse of a greater colony. They are one of the few races that can exceed the non-Blessed level limit of 140.

Colloquially called 'Plant people', because that is what they pretty much are. They are living plants that assume a familiar, alluring form to sapient races to maximise interaction whether it be for luring prey, to spread their pollen, or simply to communicate. When it all boils down to things, Verdanians are not very different to regular people and are known to be protective or generally helpful to lost souls.

Even the most violent of Verdanian will act empathetic to prey depending on their circumstances, but of course, that does not necessarily mean they are kind and will usually strike a deal with the said person. Verdanians come in many different forms and species, with the most famous being the Dryads and Alarunes.

They are extremely close with Elves and are found mostly in the Spiritas Region, and rarely in the main continent. Coming across one is considered a good omen.

The Arbiter's Trumpet is a warning system that classifies the threat level of all creatures, including animals, monsters, Corrupted, people, events and disasters. It was founded by the Archetype of Judgement after the megacity Paradise fell to the pale, dozen-winged entity.

It is said that the number of times the trumpet sounds determines the difficulty.

But if one should find themselves unable to hear the trumpet at all, then they must abandon all hope.

The following list displays the order from the highest classification to the lowest.

"The Icon of Judgement."

The 7th and final classification of the Arbiter's Trumpet, named directly after the loss of Paradise. No Beholder, Exalted, Star or Moon are capable of fighting creatures of this calibre. In the 150 years that the Nexus had stood to defend the world from the Corrupted, the loss of Paradise was the first time they had ever failed.

The death count was more than a million when Paradise fell, and that was only in a single night.

The adage was therefore born:

"Abandon all hope those who enter.

Forfeit the aspirations of life for those that remain.

And be damned to those that wish to flee."

"Sinder, the Crowned."

The 6th classification of the Arbiter's Trumpet. Apocalypse-levelled events are considered catastrophic, but not unrecoverable. They require the almighty Beholders and all available resources from the Nexus. More often than not however, the responsibility falls solely upon the shoulders on the Beholders.

"Heart of Ours."

The 5th classification of the Arbiter's Trumpet. It is expected of the Stars, Exalted and Moons to quell these threats without the aid of a Beholder, but require immense coordination with the Ateliers of the Nexus. Large-scale destruction is expected from entities of this risk classification. Kingdoms will fall, and cities will crumble under their might.

"One Thousand Eyed Bird."

The 4th classification of the Arbiter's Trumpet. These threats are known to wreck havoc upon the lands they tread, and are the among the most powerful entities that normal people without the Blessing of the Nexus will ever face. There are only a select handful of these people capable of facing entities of this risk classification.

A Moon, Star or Exalted are expected to be able to deal with these threats alone or in small groups.

"Listening Bird, and Its Screaming Galleries."

The 3rd classification of the Arbiter's Trumpet. This is the last classification that is shared directly with the Guilds/Adventurers Guilds in all of Elysia. It consists of the most difficult quests, monsters and Corrupted. It is also the last difficulty classification that is used by the Nexus for raids, events and missions that are granted to the Blessed. Creatures of this difficulty are easily capable of levelling undefended cities, but the Moons, Stars and Exalted and certain powerful individuals should have no trouble in dealing with these entities alone.

Very few dungeons find themselves in this category. It is assumed to be the peak difficulty of a dungeon.

Entities of this classification are not seen as a threat by the Nexus.

"Ber, the Unloved Duckling."

The 2nd classification of the Arbiter's Trumpet. This is another classification that is shared directly with the Guilds/Adventurers Guilds in all of Elysia. It consists of high-risk quests and monsters capable of ravaging towns. Most high-ranked dungeons find themselves in this category. An overwhelming number of Corrupted are found in this category.

Overall, they are not seen as a threat by the Nexus.

"We Discarded Many."

The 1st classification of the Arbiter's Trumpet. Entities of this category are insignificant and mostly consist of low to mid ranking quests. These make up the overwhelming majority of quests given by the Adventurer's Guilds of Elysia. Insignificant threat overall.

A new method of both identifying and categorizing the Corrupted beyond the Arbiter's Trumpet: Risk Classification System. The Amalgam's Eye works in two ways: the first is direct confirmation using individuals personally blessed by the Amalgam herself, or/and by a series of deductions that help identify the Origins, Affinity, and even the flavour text of a Corrupted.

This is combined with the standard identification method that ImpulseWorks employs, allowing Corrupted to be more accurately documented and significantly reducing the risk of accidental negative interactions.

The true names of the Corrupted are able to be seen. There is no longer a need to base their names off appearances and behaviour. This serves a double edged sword, however, as not all names are indicative of what a Corrupted actually is, whereas in other times it eludes to precisely what they are capable of.

The message of unknown origins that hint the background, history, tale or characteristic of the Corrupted. This alone can grant major insight into the true origins of the Corrupted, as well as what it is capable of. It is unknown how, why or where these messages come from.

There are a total of 11 Affinities that serve as a foundation of the Corrupted, as well as the Archetypes. For each Floor and Archetype that exists is an Affinity to match. All Corrupted possess an Affinity of some kind and will dictate the concepts, origins of the Corrupted, story and woes that surround it.

Corrupted that follow the concept of 'amalgamation', or the coming of things. The only two Amalgamation Corrupted known is Mimicry and the Crowned; two of which are very closely related to Frost/the Amalgam. Corrupted of this Affinity are therefore seen as an extension of the Amalgam, and are incredibly powerful.

Beings that are based on the concept of righteousness or the lack thereof. Corrupted of this nature have so far been seen depicted as feathered, bird-like entities. But this may not always be the case.

It is unknown what an Ego Corrupted encapsulates, but it is likely to refer to oneself.

Based on happiness, bliss, or pure ignorance. Despite it's name, Hope-Corrupted are not always pleasant.

The total breakdown of the self. Corrupted of this nature typically manifest as highly distressed entities, and depict extremely depressing and shocking elements.

Concepts that take the form of an entity. The concepts of civilization range from the discarded masses, greed, loss of individuality/ambition, war, and destruction. Corrupted of this nature are massive, and their Corrupted Zones are equally as intimidating.

The concept of motivation, drive, and in a way, desire. Machines are usually the entities that manifest to depict one's struggle, wheather it is compliance, loss of purpose, or seeking to break free from their bonds.

Corrupted of this Affinity tend to manifest as object or items close to the source that formed the Corrupted in the first place. Children's toys are an example.

Extreme guilt, grief and coping. Corrupted of this kind are sometimes not even violent and merely exist to lament for the remainder of their existence. They are a rare type of Corrupted born from immense suffering.

The most straightforward of them all. They are wrathful Corrupted that boast extraordinary physical abilities and an appearance to match. They are purely physical-based, and are highly aggressive.

Corrupted that tend to also have a mind of their own, albeit within the limitations of their Corrupted form. They can aspire for things that other Corrupted may not be able to. Humanoid Corrupted as well as some machines tend to fall into this Affinity.

A vital component to properly identifying a Corrupted. Origins refers to the root cause of the Corrupted. From intense trauma to folklore and tales, to a collective illusion - the ATFOOD system has them all.

Unique only to the eleven Archetypes.

Whilst they are technically Corrupted, they govern many aspects of the Nexus and the Advents of the world, and consequently, have major sway in the politics of the Ateliers and the Nexus. They are a one of a kind and are highly venerated.

Corrupted born from extreme psychological or physical distress, usually in the form of total despair, anguish, euphoria, rage, or sorrow.

Entities born from stories, books, fairytales, folklores, bedtime stories, etc. They usually manifest as a dangerous twist of the story they originate from.

Corrupted that have gained control over their existence. Whilst still a Corrupted, they can operate and think like a normal, living being, requiring sustenance, rest and gaining the capacity to contemplate their existence. Essentially, they are self-aware Corrupted.

Items with anomalous properties. They are rarely documented as they are frequently used as weapons or trinkets to be used in battle, or by the top brass. Those carrying significant risks or have significant intrigue are documented within the Codex.

Corrupted Objects are usually referred to as Corrupted Items and are commonly formed upon the death/subjugation of a Corrupted. They can also be gained by forming a bond with a Corrupted. However, not all Corrupted Items come from Corrupted, hence why the Object Origin exists.

Corrupted born from a population’s collective thoughts, nightmares, or traumas. Corrupted of this Origin are almost guaranteed to be of Eternal Night or stronger.

No other being - not even those Blessed by the Nexus - can see the stats of the Corrupted like those Blessed by the Amalgam. This allows for accurate planning, as well as knowing which personnel are fit for the job. This alone significantly reduces the risk of failure.

The most important piece of information regarding a Corrupted. It is what dictates certain death to a straightforward victory. Few Corrupted have been known to become nigh invincible. Unbeknownst to them was that this was caused by unseen Conditions that were not met or that prevented the Corrupted from perishing easily.

Playing by the rules of the Corrupted and abusing it is the easiest way to take them down. Furthermore, it allows for significantly weaker personnel to take on Corrupted far beyond their capabilities.

As a result, Aspiring Moons Blessed by the Amalgam are made to partner with old Moons to relay this information.

It is Frost's inherent ability as the Amalgam to manifest the power of the Corrupted that have been added to their 'collection'. The Will of the Amalgam may also manifest a certain affinity, such as Judgement. When this occurs only Corrupted with the Judgement affinity may be chosen. But their unique skills become open for use during this.

The Will of the Amalgam is invoked in two different ways. The first is by lowering her HP, and the second is by heightening her emotions.

Frost will be inflicted with insatiable hunger until combat concludes or her heightened emotional state lowers.

Allows Frost to manifest certain affinities depending on her emotional state, ranging from Judgement to Despair. It allows access to unique skills that otherwise would be impossible to use without manifesting a certain affinity. Manifesting an affinity can only be done once per state.

There are five states in total regarding the heightening of emotions. This is a phenomenon not exclusive to Frost, as others can experience the same thing. However, her ability to continue manifesting Corrupted one after another is a power reserved only for the Amalgam herself.

As a rule of thumb: The higher one's emotional state is, the higher the state overall become and it keeps on climbing to terrifying levels. Self-control becomes increasingly difficult. The higher the State the higher the risk of Instability, meaning allowing the Corrupted to temporarily consume oneself.

Only Corrupted that are Monsoon or lower may have their Active and Passive Skills borrowed.

Only Corrupted that are Eternal Night may have their Active and Passive Skills borrowed.

Only Corrupted that are Woe of the Fallen Star may have their Active and Passive Skills borrowed.

Only Corrupted that are Apocalypse may have their Active and Passive Skills borrowed.

May manifest a Corrupted Zone from any Corrupted in your possession with the matching Affinity of the Fourth State.

Your Corrupted Zone cannot be overruled by Corrupted lower than Apocalypse.

Most knowledge of this State is largely unknown.

It has only been reached once and it resulted in the Corruption of the Amalgam.

It is unknown if reaching the Fifth State causes a Corruption to occur.

The Amalgam will experience significant mental stress and/or distress.

The last of which caused them to relive the memories of the past.

Expect anomalous effects in this uncharted territory.

We can however, expect these few effects.

Only Corrupted that are Paradise Lost may have their Active and Passive Skills borrowed.

May manifest a Corrupted Zone from any Corrupted in your possession with the matching Affinity of the Fifth State.

Your Corrupted Zone cannot be overruled by Corrupted lower than Paradise Lost.

Highly enigmatic and nightmarish creatures. From a stuffed teddy bear that strangles children, to a machine that sings until your head pops, and to a black bird with one thousand eyes; these are creatures that exist not to survive, but for something indescribable. The One Thousand Eyed Bird existed solely to enact its prejudice, and the singing machine existed to only sing its mind-crushing tune.

They cannot be reasoned with or understood. Therefore, they are the most dangerous entities in all of Elysia.

The most important Corrupted known to exist. They are Corrupted required for the tales and the Awakening of a Floor and an Archetype. They are based on aspects of the past world and the present, often relating closely to the Archetypes on a personal level. Corrupted of this calibre are significantly more powerful than their normal relatives and possess Conditions that make them near impossible to defeat without the Amalgam's Blessing.

All attempts to eliminate a known Main Sequence Corrupted is seen as an act of treason against the Nexus.

An entirely different category of Corrupted. It was always thought that people could not become Corrupted themselves but is far from the truth.

They are not created by residual emotion, folklore or through similar means of the Corrupted alone, but require a person to completely lose control of themselves thus, becoming a Corrupted characterised by traumas, obsessions, and whatever woes that define them. Corrupted Personas may also be archived within the Eternal Library where they can be stored as books, and then wielded by appointed individuals.

The strongest power of a Corrupted. After some time or depending on the strength of a Corrupted, their concepts will seep into the world, transforming it into one that closely resembles theirs. A Corrupted Zone can transform a harmless Corrupted into one that poses significant danger, for their world is their own to govern. New entities based on the Corrupted may form to aid them in the physical manifestation of their state of mind.

Unique Conditions are known to be imposed on those that trespass. Time operates differently as well. A day could be a week in real time, or a mere second. It is highly advised that Corrupted are removed before this can occur. Thankfully, this is only known to occur to Corrupted of Eternal Night and higher. It very rarely occurs to those lower, but it can happen.

The utter breakdown of oneself. This is usually done via the positive reinforcement of a corroded aspect of oneself. Corrupted Events signal the beginning of a person's transformation into a Corrupted. It eats them; consumes them to a point of no return where the singular worst quality of themselves comes to light, inevitably becoming them.

It was always believed to be impossible. People shouldn't be able to Corrupted. But this was but one of the thousands of lies that plague the world.

It was always possible. People, most notably the Moons of the Nexus, were just killed before it could occur.

The State of Mind refers to the inner workings of a Corrupted. Or, in other words, seeing precisely what they do. Corrupted Zones are in a way a projection of their inner mind, manifested as a world of their own. This also is true for Corrupted Personas, and when caught in a narrow time frame (before Corruption) by the Amalgam using her Atelier Item - Die Agonsis - then she can enter the State of Mind of a person, learning of their woes as she dismantles them one by one, resulting in one of two things -

- A complete Corruption, or their Salvation.

It is now known that the Magician, the Archetype of Hope, can see the criteria required for an Awakening.

An Awakening is seen as the 'true' version of oneself. The most complete, honest, and real side. It is unknown of Corruption can even occur to Awakened individuals. This also grants unique powers.

Archetypes are able to regain their memories through a process which requires Frost to gather up to 5 specific Corrupted and bring them to their specified Floors, resulting in the Awakening of the Floor and the Archetype. It is unknown however if all Awakenings require a Corruption Event to occur beforehand much like the Floor of Civilization.

Additionally, people can somehow also become Awakened according to the Magician. What this entails however, is still yet to be determined.

An event only available to the Corrupted. The process is unknown as the criteria required is hidden even to Frost herself. It allows Frost to grant a targeted Corrupted the Blessing of Amalgam and thus, changing their Origin into an Original. It seen as another version of Salvation, except this fundamentally transforms the individual into something closely, or loosely representative of their previous Corrupted form.

Salvation is reached at the tail end of interacting with a person's State of Mind. It is the conclusion of their intentional struggles, and the embracing of the new as they hatch from the egg in a form much like their old selves, but changed in a way that symbolizes them moving forward.

The main difference between the Realized and those rescued via the Salvation Criteria is that the former are technically sapient Corrupted, whilst the later are still their old selves but possess the ability to manifest the States just like Frost and gradually wield the full power of their Corrupted Persona.

Ber is the poster girl of this, having been the first to undergo a tragic breakdown, and was then saved by Frost in her darkest hour. As a result, Ber now exists as a larger, more mature, and feminine version of her old self as well as wielding her very own personal Corrupted Persona - the Black Swan.