Chapter 2: The Forge of the Nexus
Kajiya Yu's consciousness returned with a jolt, pulled from the depths of unconsciousness by a sound that resonated not in his ears, but in his very bones. It was a clear, melodic chime, like the ring of a perfectly struck tuning fork.
[... Welcome, Aspirant. Your Nexus journey begins now. The game has begun. ...]
Yu's eyes snapped open. He gasped, a cold, thin air filling his lungs. "Where am I?" he muttered, his voice a bewildered whisper.
Just then, a small, luminous figure, a little taller than his hand, flickered into existence before him. It was a creature of incredible beauty, like a fae from an old story. It had golden hair that seemed to catch the light, delicate wings that fluttered silently, and a serene, perfect face. Yu, who had only ever dealt with the rough textures of iron and steel, stared, completely stunned.
"Who are you?" he managed to ask, his voice hoarse with shock.
The small figure floated with a cheerful flutter, its presence bright and warm in the chaotic, swirling cosmos. A clear, synthesized voice, so bright it was almost chirpy, spoke from the sprite.
"Oh, hello there! It's so lovely to meet you, Aspirant! My name is Beatrice. I'm System Assistant #642, and I'm here to make sure your journey is as smooth as can be!"
Yu's mind spun. "Journey? Where am I? What's going on?"
Beatrice giggled, a sound like tiny bells. "Oh, my! You have so many questions! It's perfectly normal, though. You're in a Nexus! It's a dimensional arena created by the supreme gods and goddesses for their great game. You see, a long, long time ago, they got so very bored and lonely, so they created us. And then they got bored with just us, so they started the Nexus War! You are a player in the grand cosmic battle for the Throne of the Gods! The prize is the power to escape the void and become a supreme being yourself!"
"Wait... war? A game? What about my home?" Yu's voice was rising, a desperate edge to it.
Beatrice's cheerful tone didn't waver. "Oh, don't you worry about that! This happens every thousand years. A living planet is chosen by luck and destiny, and from it, a million lucky participants are selected for the battle! Your planet was chosen, and now you have the chance to be one of the few to win!"
Yu's voice trembled. "Can I go back? To my family?"
Beatrice paused, her little wings fluttering in a more serious rhythm. "Oh, yes! Of course you can! But you have to complete your first objective. It's called Nexus 0. You'll be transported back to your home planet as soon as you complete it. Just remember, it's a mission all aspirants must complete to begin their journey!"
Yu's mind reeled. The idea of a war, a "game," and an impossible journey was too much. But the one thing that mattered most was the chance to go home. He had to go back to his grandfather. He had to finish forging his blade.
He looked down at himself. He was dressed in his simple work clothes: a worn pair of jeans, a thin T-shirt, and a leather apron. But in his hands, he held the newly forged blade—a perfect piece of work, its steel glowing faintly with the heat of the forge. He had finished it.
He looked at Beatrice, his heart still racing but a new resolve hardening his gaze. "What is Nexus 0? What do I have to do?"
Beatrice zipped around his head in a tight, joyful circle. "That's the spirit! It's super simple! To get started, you just have to activate your profile!"
Before Yu could ask what that meant, she placed her tiny hands on his forehead. A cool, pleasant sensation spread through him. A moment later, a translucent, holographic screen shimmered into existence before his eyes. It was a simple interface, yet filled with alien characters and symbols. At the very top, a title glowed in soft blue light.
[...Aspirant Profile...]
Below it, a list of his statistics appeared.
Name: Kajiya Yu
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Bloodline: Human
Talent: Hard Work Pays Off (Rank 1), Touch of Hand (Rank 1), Keen Eye (Rank 1)
Skills:
- Blacksmith (Apprentice): 0/100
- Cooking (Apprentice): 0/100
- Tool Maintenance (Novice): 0/50
- Endurance (Apprentice): 0/100
- Appraisal (Level 1): 0/100
Stats:
STR (Strength): 10
DEX (Dexterity): 12
AGI (Agility): 9
INT (Intelligence): 11
LUK (Luck): 5
Equipment:
Main Hand: Unnamed Blade (Rank 1)
Head: Casual Hat (Rank 1)
Body: Casual T-Shirt (Rank 1)
Legs: Casual Jeans (Rank 1)
Feet: Casual Sandals (Rank 1)
Accessories: None
Yu's eyes scanned the list, his confusion growing with each new line. He turned to Beatrice, a single word escaping his lips. "What?"
"Oh, it's a lot to take in at once, I know!" Beatrice chirped, zipping down to float beside his face. "Let's start with the basics! Your Bloodline is your foundation. It's your species, your core identity in the multiverse. For you, that's Human!"
Yu's brow furrowed. "But what does 'Human' mean here? Is it a good thing?"
Beatrice paused, her cheerful demeanor softening into a thoughtful expression. She floated closer, her voice dropping to a more serious, educational tone. "That's a very insightful question, Aspirant! Your bloodline is everything here. It's the blueprint of your potential, given to you by the supreme beings themselves. It determines what kind of skills you can learn and how quickly you can evolve. Every creature in the multiverse has a bloodline."
"And your bloodline has a rank, too! It's rated from one to ten. Some might start with a higher rank, but all bloodlines have the potential to grow to Rank 10! It's harder, but the reward is greater."
Yu listened, his expression growing more intent. He understood this. It was like a piece of steel—it held no shape, but with enough effort, it could be forged into anything. He felt a flicker of hope, a new fire igniting in his soul.
"And the most exciting part are your Talents!" Beatrice chirped, zipping around him in a tight, joyful circle. "Think of them as special abilities unique to you! They also have ranks from one to ten, with one being the lowest. They can even evolve and get stronger over time! Just imagine, 'Hard Work Pays Off' could become 'Indomitable Will,' or 'Touch of Hand' could become 'Master's Touch'!"
"Now for your Skills!" Beatrice's voice was filled with a new, sparkling energy. "These are your practical abilities. They are your muscle memory, your knowledge, all the things you have learned from your life. Think of them as a tree—a skill is like a solid trunk, and a talent is like a powerful root system that allows the tree to grow bigger and faster! The more you use a skill, the more points you get. Once you reach 100 points, the skill will level up, and your rank will increase. And for every rank, the next level gets harder! For example, at level 1, you need 100 points to level up. At level 2, you'll need 1,000. At level 3, you'll need 10,000, and so on!"
Yu's mind was racing. "And the stats?" he asked, his finger tapping the holographic screen. "STR, DEX, AGI... what are those?"
Beatrice giggled. "Excellent question! Those are your core stats! They're your physical and mental attributes, and they're crucial for almost everything you do here!
STR (Strength): This is your raw physical power! It affects how hard you can swing a hammer, how much you can lift, and how powerful your physical attacks are. In your world, it's the strength you need to heft a heavy sledgehammer and forge a masterfully thick blade!
AGI (Agility): This is your speed and reflexes! A high AGI means you're quick on your feet and can react to things faster. It's the speed you'd need to catch a dropped piece of hot metal before it hits the floor!
DEX (Dexterity): This is your fine motor control and precision! It's what allows you to make precise, perfect strikes on a blade or carve delicate patterns. It's the deftness of a master craftsman, the tiny adjustments you make to turn a lump of metal into a work of art!
INT (Intelligence): This is your knowledge and cunning! A high INT means you can learn new things faster and solve problems more creatively. It's the ability to remember all the different types of steel, the right temperatures, and the perfect quenching process!
LUK (Luck): And finally, LUK! This is your ability to influence the unpredictable. It's the chance of finding a rare material, or a good opportunity finding you. It's the unknown variable that can sometimes save you when everything else has failed!"
Yu's eyes lingered on his talents. "They sound... powerful," he said, his voice laced with a hint of doubt. "But they're all Rank 1."
Beatrice chuckled. "Oh, don't worry about that, Aspirant! It's just a starting point! Why don't you try tapping on one? The system will give you a full description!"
Nervously, Yu reached out a hand. His fingers, calloused from years of gripping tools, hovered over the glowing holographic words. He selected 'Hard Work Pays Off' and gently pressed the option.
Instantly, the entire screen flashed, and a new window materialized before him, its text a sharp, crisp white.
[Talent: Hard Work Pays Off (Rank 1)]
Description: This talent is a testament to your unyielding spirit. It grants you a 5% bonus to all experience gained from a skill or stat after spending more than eight continuous hours on the activity. It's a talent that grows with you, rewarding your discipline and perseverance.
Potential: This talent has the potential to evolve and grow stronger with every rank. At higher ranks, it can provide even greater bonuses and even special effects.
Beatrice beamed, her tiny wings fluttering with excitement. "See? It's all there for you! You are a man of great discipline and hard work. Your very nature is a talent!"
Encouraged, Yu began to tap on his other talents and skills. A new window would pop up each time, revealing a detailed description of his abilities.
[Talent: Touch of Hand (Rank 1)]
Description: This talent grants an innate connection to materials. It provides a 10% bonus to Dexterity when working on a crafting-related skill. It also allows you to feel the impurities and flaws in a material.
Potential: Can evolve to allow you to understand the history and properties of an object just by touching it.
[Talent: Keen Eye (Rank 1)]
Description: This talent hones your ability to observe and analyze. It provides a 10% bonus to Intelligence when studying an object. It also allows you to notice subtle details that others might miss.
Potential: Can evolve to a point where you can discover hidden weaknesses in enemies or analyze complex magical structures.
[Skill: Blacksmith (Apprentice)]
Description: The fundamental ability to shape metal with force and heat. This skill has a 10% bonus to all experience gained from the Touch of Hand talent. The skill progresses through the act of forging.
[Skill: Cooking (Apprentice)]
Description: The ability to prepare food and nourish yourself. The skill progresses through the act of cooking meals.
[Skill: Tool Maintenance (Novice)]
Description: The acquired knowledge to care for tools, keeping them in peak condition. This skill has a 10% bonus to all experience gained from the Touch of Hand talent. The skill progresses through the act of maintaining tools.
[Skill: Endurance (Apprentice)]
Description: Your ability to withstand physical and mental strain over a long period. The skill progresses through strenuous physical activity.
[Skill: Appraisal (Level 1)]
Description: A system-granted skill that allows you to see the basic properties of an object, creature, or person. This skill has a 10% bonus to all experience gained from the Keen Eye talent. The skill progresses through repeated use.
Yu took a deep breath. His head was spinning with all the new information, but for the first time since his arrival, a sense of purpose settled in. His grandfather's lessons weren't for naught. All his hard work had been recognized by this system, giving him a tangible path forward.
"Beatrice," he said, his voice stronger now. "My skills are at 0/100. How do I start?"
Beatrice's eyes sparkling. "It's super easy! You already have a great starting skill! It's called Appraisal! It's one of the most useful skills in the Nexus, so let's start with that! Do you see that?" she said, pointing a tiny finger.
Yu followed her gaze. In the distance, a small, shimmering, gelatinous blob of an otherworldly blue was slowly oozing its way across the grassy, vibrant landscape. It looked like a living puddle of goo, a creature so unlike anything he had ever seen that he couldn't help but stare.
"That's a slime!" Beatrice explained cheerfully. "It's the most common creature here. Go on, try using your Appraisal skill on it! Just think the word, and your skill will activate!"
Yu stared at the creature for a moment, then took a steadying breath. "Appraise," he said aloud, the word feeling strange on his tongue. He focused on the blue slime, a wave of energy, cold and clinical, washing over the creature from his mind.
Instantly, another translucent screen popped up, this one floating directly over the slime.
[Appraisal Result]
Name: Blue Slime
Level: 1
Type: Elemental (Water)
HP: 15/15
Weakness: Fire
Resistance: Water, Slashing
Drops: Slime Jelly, Water Orb (Rare)
Danger Level: Low
Before Yu could even process the information, a pair of system notifications appeared.
[Appraisal (Level 1): +1 EXP]
[Talent 'Hard Work Pays Off' activated. Bonus EXP: +0.05]
[Appraisal (Level 1): 1.05/100]
"Wow! It worked!" Yu exclaimed, a genuine smile spreading across his face for the first time since his arrival. "I actually got more experience than I was supposed to!"
"See? I told you your talent was special!" Beatrice cheered, zipping up to float happily beside his head. "Now you know how to use your first skill! What would you like to do next?"
Just as Beatrice finished her sentence, a loud, resounding chime echoed through the entire realm. It was a new sound, different from the soft melody that had first awakened Yu. This one was a deep, powerful chord that seemed to shake the very ground he stood on. A massive, golden banner materialized in the sky, stretching from horizon to horizon, its letters glowing with divine energy.
[Mission Notification!]
[To all Aspirants, your first mission of the Nexus 0 has begun. Objective: Travel to the nearest village. This village will serve as a safe zone and a hub for acquiring information and supplies. All Aspirants who successfully complete this mission will be granted an appropriate amount of EXP and a beginner's survival kit.]
Yu looked at the sky, his eyes wide with awe. "What... what was that?"
Beatrice zipped up to his shoulder, her tiny wings fluttering in a happy, knowing rhythm. "Oh, that was the system! It's giving you your first mission! In the Nexus, there are different types of missions to guide you through your journey."
"There are main missions, which are the grand, cosmic objectives. They push the overall plot forward and are mandatory for all aspirants. They're usually given to everyone in the same region, so you'll be able to work with other players to achieve them!"
"Then there are sub-missions! These are smaller missions that you can take from a village or a town. They're optional, but they're a great way to gain more experience and get stronger! And sometimes, you'll even find hidden missions! These are special missions that you can only find by exploring or doing something unique. They can give you rare rewards, so keep an eye out for them!"
Yu's mind immediately went back to the late-night RPGs he used to play. He knew the drill. It wasn't a call to adventure; it was a call to action. It was a quest.
A determined expression replaced the fear on his face. He looked at the forged blade in his hand. It wasn't just a piece of metal anymore; it was his starting weapon. He knew how to play this game. It was a million miles from home, but it was a language he understood.
"Beatrice," he said, his voice full of a new resolve. "Let's go. We have a main mission to complete."
He took a final, deep breath, a determined expression on his face. This wasn't a team sport. He was completely alone. He knew that each of the one million people from Earth had been summoned and scattered, each 10 kilometers from the other. This was his journey, and his alone. He turned his gaze from the distant, bustling village and began his descent into the whispering, ancient forest that separated him from his first destination.
[End of Chapter 2]