Rematching a Corrupted meant to fight them in their prime. No stats were barred back. To further complicate things, the Corrupted also distorted a major section of the floor, creating a sub-floor which became their Corrupted Zone.

However, many invulnerabilities were removed. Major damage resistance instead replaced it, meaning someone powerful enough could simply trample over the Corrupted without any regard for the Conditions.

Furthermore, materials could be harvested from the Corrupted but not in the traditional way. Instead, materials were gifted by the Corrupted to certain individuals, like trinkets or baubles.

They were given only by Archived Corrupted on an unknown basis. Res was given a white feather to hold onto by the One Thousand Eyed Bird, and Cer a golden feather. Finally, Ber received a black feather, as if symbolizing that it had recognized them as one of its own.

A joke about them being Demi-human birds could be made, but now wasn’t the time.

This all needed to be initiated within the Eternal Library firstly by the Archivist. Afterwards, those allowed would be sent to a sub-floor within one of the 11 Floors of the Archetypes to fight with the Corrupted within their Corrupted Zone.

Nav carried mysterious authority within the Nexus, mostly in the form of interacting with the Archetypes and their Advents. She was able to determine the functions of the Archivist, her Awakened Floor as well as the Eternal Library when Anna’s Blessing could not. Nav also had significant sway on who could and who couldn’t wear a Corrupted Persona, whereas the Anna could only determine their compatibility among other things.

Nav’s powers came into question. Was she an Archetype? Was it because she was once Lailah in the distant past? Lailah used to be able to speak to all Angels and Demons according to the Arbiter. Was this connected in some way?

Truth be told, no one knew. Many secrets have finally been unraveled, but many more still lingered in the dark, waiting for someone to shed light upon them. The Arbiter’s memories didn’t return all at once, except for a few regarding her past life in Puritas rather than their old, Angelic self.

What she learned was something she did not wish to share at the moment and promised that they’d eventually learn everything in due time alongside her.

Returning to the topic of the Corrupted, there was one major issue with the rematches.

Frost thought that she could ‘farm’ them like it was some sort of a game. ‘Free experience’ was what she believed, her mouth drooling at thought of devouring an Apocalypse Corrupted and attaining its stats.

However, as she’d find out against the One Thousand Eyed Bird – she could not gain stats from Archived Corrupted. At best they could be used to level her skills, hone her combat, and better their coordination and synergy.

It was a terrible realization.

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Because this meant that the Icon of Judgement was no longer within her reach. Frost was therefore incentivized to search for the Main Sequence Corrupted herself if she wished to attain their powers and to also add them to her Corrupted Collection.

Surely, there wouldn’t be another Archetype after their powers, right?

Also, maybe an Archetype or Advent capable of rearranging one’s Corrupted Collection would later appear?

Thankfully, she was assured by Nav that she absolutely possessed the Crowned as part of her Collection. Finally, reaching the Fourth State would mean something. Although, Nav warned that it might carry similar conditions to a Corrupted Persona.

After all, The Crowned was essentially a persona of Frost. She figured she’d leave it until the time came, because of now, Frost wanted to try fighting a Paradise Lost Corrupted for once.

The risk of death was nonexistent. Death in a sub-floor was not a true death, as it existed within a Corrupted’s State of Mind. Or as the Archivist put it, their chapter in their encapsulating tale.

This meant that MP replaced HP.

At worst, and theoretically speaking, they’d be ejected from that place with their bodies intact. Frost wanted to test the waters, and the Arbiter chose to join her.

The others were due to remain behind.

Later along the line Nav suggested that maybe even Corrupted Personas and regular Corrupted could be interacted with in such a way. But until then, Frost focused on the paramount task at hand, and at once, they disappeared from the face of the Eternal Library.

< Entering the Icon of Judgement’s State of Mind >

All fell silent.

Eerily silent.

A white world surrounded them. Winter mountains rose to the skies, cupping them inside of a valley where a long, white road ran towards a city within the center. There were 12 roads in fact, each guarded by a white gargoyle, holding onto a longsword as they pointed upwards at the sky.

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

< PARADISE LOST >

< THE ARBITER’S TRUMPET CAN NO LONGER BE HEARD >

No.

That wasn’t a sky.

What Frost saw was merely the pale body of the many kilometer tall Icon of Judgement.

She could not even read its stats, and before she knew it, her body felt heavy. So incredibly heavy. The weight of her combined sins anchored her down into place as the Arbiter gracefully approached the entity, summoning a blade of her own.

But she did not point it at the Corrupted, but instead, at herself.

“We partially take the power of the Corrupted as you’ve realized.”

She began, drawing blood from her chest as she prepared for the inevitable.

“You can’t speak. I can’t blame you. Whether you’ve overcome your sins or not is insignificant to it. Because we lack penance. We lack a price of paradise. And therefore, we will both be judged.”

The Arbiter plunged her blade deep into her chest, collapsing beside Frost with a motherly smile. Frost could not move. Her blood drained to the recesses of her body. The overwhelming power of the Icon of Judgement surpassed her realm of imagination.

It was not a Corrupted merely capable of ruining cities.

It was a Corrupted capable of annihilating most, if not all of Elysia.

Her breathing ceased. The compressions of her chest perished. All thought was forfeited as she gazed up into the wings that spread themselves over the pale mountains like the legs of a spider.

“The miracle of its defeat saved this world. I watched her walk these roads, clutching her tiny hands together. I watched as that bird took away my precious white dove.

I watched her become this world’s price of paradise!”

All faded to black.

Frost felt her body violently being torn part into thousands of pieces.

Yet ironically, it was the most peaceful death of all.