(Author's Note: Hey everyone, thanks for reading! We've gotten through the introduction, and a lot of system elements have been introduced. I wanted to post a quick guide to explain the core mechanics of the Nexus that will be important for Dev's journey. We'll discover more as he does!)
First up is Levels. This is the main way to measure power in the Nexus. Everyone who accepts the System starts at Level 0. This means you have no System-granted power, just the natural strength of your soul.
This is why the first trial is an "impossible filter" for humanity. Humans are considered "Dregs" by the System.
Their natural stats are pathetically weak, like a CON: 2 or STR: 3. This is cosmically equivalent to a single-celled organism, which is why almost no human has ever passed the first trial.
Next are the Primary Stats. You've seen these on Dev's screen. [STR] is Strength, for physical power. [AGI] is Agility, for speed and reflexes. [CON] is Constitution, which is basically his health or Soul-Integrity, stamina, and defense. This is Dev's weakest stat right now. Finally, [SPI] is Spirit, which will control his "mana" and the power of his skills.
There are also Hidden & Special Stats. These are the ones the System really cares about. [RES] or Resonance is a rare stat we'll learn more about later, but it seems to measure his potential and influence. The other, and most important one, is [FGP] or Future Growth Potential. The System isn't just looking for who is strong now; it's looking for who has the potential to become a powerhouse.
This next part is the most important mechanic in the story: The [Soul-Body Synchronization Rate]. This is the percentage of Dev's Nexus power that "leaks" back into his real-world physical body. Everyone starts at a base rate of 1.0%. This means if Dev gets 100 Strength in the Nexus, he only gets 1 extra Strength in the real world. This rate increases slowly as he levels up. Achieving a higher Sync Rate is his ultimate goal, as it's the only way he can bring his "god-like" Nexus power back to his physical life and survive.
Finally, we have the other System stuff. Skills are powers he can gain, either Passive (always on) or Active (cost SPI). [Nexus Shards] are the main currency, and [Soul-Essence] is like a raw "EXP" he can use to upgrade stats. And, of course, there are Factions. These are the "governments" of the Nexus, like Dev's Ebonguard Faction. They are in a constant political war, and they recruit new souls like Dev to be their assets.
(Thanks for reading the guide! Now, back to the story.)