The Arbiter’s words could be translated as: “Infernis is out of our reach.” However, her words failed to match the telling gaze she gave Frost. Michaela and the others silently panned their sights onto Frost as a small glimmer of a smile flashed on her face.

“Not for much longer. We can carve a rabbit hole into the Derma Layer and take the fight straight to them.” They all knew that with Frost’s ability to carve a gateway between the Epiderma and the Derma they could wreck havock upon the Impuritas. “I have an idea of how things will go down there. From what I’ve seen in our brawl, Michaela and Galia, then they’re due for a world of turmoil.”

“Are the Three Heads being deployed?” Satania wondered. “The Repenters? Or, do you want with a similar heat?”

The fire on her horns extinguished, leaving a trail of smoke that disappeared into the cosmos above. Frost leaned over the table, her small form casting a shadow far larger than it was supposed to.

“Knalzark seemed more than willing to descend. If there’s anyone I want to take lead, then it’ll be him. Granted, there’s not much I know of the man. But he’s the only one who can create infrastructure down there. Defending our gateway is going to be vital, because I can only reposition it while I’m down there. Once it’s compromised then we run the risk of getting caught into whatever they have in store for us.”

Frost’s face darkened, her eyes illuminating like golden orbs.

“I don’t plan to be on the receiving end of this conflict any longer. Knalzark is a walking natural disaster. He can maximize disruption in the Derma Layer. How small, how large, how meaningless doesn’t matter to me. The Derma Layer is massive. So long as they have something to fear, then I’m standing behind it with every ounce of my will.”

The topic of Iscario had triggered the bloodthirsty side of her. Her indomitable will was woven into her words as they hung thick in the air. It was like a cold blade being dragged along their chest as they heeded Frost’s will, and unsurprisingly, they too were in support of this decision.

Galia then smugly spoke.

“Knalzark will consider it a blessing to be sent into the Derma Layer. Ironically, he is the only one that struggles to interact with the Spatial Distortions due to his immense gravitational influence. The Repenters will be prepared next week to commit to moving material beneath our feet.”

“They’re planned to take the expected loss of Caldera Industries personnel.” Satania delightfully spoke, causing Magus’s intertwined hands to stiffen in displeasure. “One week, was it? To have your variation of the Replication Cycle prepared?”

“Yes.” Frost laid back into the wooden chair. “Time Reverberation will be completed by then as well. What I’m creating will be presented in upcoming Arbiter’s Council. I want to see if it can be improved or touched upped by another Beholder.”

Frost had minimal experience with the White Light Apparatus, but she had been theorizing of a way to recreate the Replication Cycles in accordance to Oboros Infintas’ goal. Firstly, she wanted an Aspect that could tether the Repenters in a large scale, as well as a place they could ‘resurrect’ from. She had two separate Aspects in mind as a result but had yet to reach fruition.

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Her goal was to immediately begin work on it as soon as the Summit was over.

“Creating Corrupted at will is a heinous decision.” Magus stated, but he never judged Frost. He sympathized with her instead, knowing that there was little choice. Even so, he couldn’t help but vent his disproval.

Anna also agreed, as did Cer and Res. Jury did as well, but none dismissed the idea. Galia, Satania and the Arbiter didn’t care the slightest. As for the Star Child? She was too busy drawing stars above her head, captivating the Alter Frosts who watched in awe.

“It will keep the status quo for now. My Amalgam friend, I do hope your decision has not taken a toll on your psyche.” Magus sincerely spoke.

“I’m fine. The decision has already been made. We don’t need to keep harping on it.” Frost quickly responded. “We should warn the other Ateliers to prepare with Knalzark as well. The news should reach them within the week. My Stars are working tirelessly as we speak.”

Anna then hauled out a giant book from her Dimensional Storage, plopping it onto the glass table with a dull thud. The one hundred paged book was an enforceable and punishable code of conduct that all Ateliers would obey in the event that conflict broke out.

“This is the Nexus’s Code of Conduct.” Anna presented, letting Jury raise it high with her tail for all to see.

The words glowed a powerful orange like the searing streaks found in a burning log. Every letter was written by the Crowned’s Corrupted Item: The Final Feather of the Scorched Dove.

“It details two different kinds of situations. The first is an Atelier War and inter-Atelier clashes, and the second refers to all external conflict.” Anna spoke as the pages of the book flickered to the sections she spoke of.

The words imprinted themselves into their minds like a branding rod.

“Intra-Atelier conflict is also a part of the former. The latter involves the Impuritas, Corrupted, and unpredictable threats. For this reason, the latter section is less restrictive because nothing is more important than preventing a disaster from continuing.”

Anna thoroughly explained the Nexus’ Code of Conduct, with key points being:

“Property, possessions, and civilians are not to be targeted directly or indirectly during conflict. The Atelier responsible regardless of who began the conflict will be punished accordingly by Oboros Infinitas. Ateliers must confine their conflict within a reasonable place away from public eyes. Conflict must be reported to the Head and both sides will allow Time Reverberation to conduct an investigation. Justica Arms will be responsible for the verdict.”

This was only a small portion of the Code of Conduct. It essentially laid down rules that would prevent the Ateliers from spilling their conflict into the streets. Another part of the Code of Conduct was missing, and it regarded the prohibition of cruelty within and outside of their Ateliers.

“We’re bounded by this too.” Anna concluded as the book slammed shut. Jury gently placed the book into the girl’s hands as she waddled back to her seat, barely able to hold it.

Despite only being a hundred pages, the book was impossibly thick, with a blue, hard cover that depicted a single white star shining in the center, surrounded by black and white feathers.

The words written by the flaming feather carried tangible weight.

“Thorough it is. Good work, O Archivist.” Galia praised. “I had a wolf wrapped around my finger that couldn’t spell his own name if his life depended on it.”

Cer suddenly growled at the mention of her brother. It had little effect on Galia who shrugged it off and brought her cup of coffee to her lips, the mug showing the image of a red, thorny rose.

Res for some reason squinted at the mug, like she was looking at an unrecognizable object.

The fat of the Summit had now finally been trimmed down. The meat of it now remained as Anna joined them back around the table as Frost cleared her throat, her eyes becoming razor sharp as she uttered the forbidden name of the betrayer.

“Iscario.”

“The fallen Star.” Satania waved a finger in the air, following the trails made by the Star Child as she smugly looked across at Michaela.

“My traitorous Apostle.” Galia’s tone became serious all of a sudden.

“The one who hurt you…” Jury spoke underneath her breath.