Lucus sat on the cold ground, panting heavily, his mind clouded with anger and confusion. The weight of Mira's death crushed him, and the bitter sting of defeat gnawed at his soul.
But the Nexus whispered in the depths of his mind, promising power and revenge.
Suddenly, the world around him darkened, and in the blink of an eye, he was no longer on the ground. He floated in a vast, shadowy void, with nothing but the cold embrace of the Nexus swirling around him, pulling him deeper into its darkness...
.
.
Lucus opened his eyes, expecting the rough, cold ground of the battlefield, but instead, he found himself floating. His body drifted in what seemed like an endless expanse of stars, a swirling void of purple and black, with glowing constellations blinking lazily around him.
"W-What the hell?" Lucus muttered, blinking as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. There was no floor, no walls—just endless space. He patted his chest, remembering Erevan's crushing blow, but there was no pain.
"Am I dead?" he asked aloud, half hoping someone would answer.
Just as he thought he was alone, a voice—smooth, cool, and oddly casual—spoke up behind him.
"Dead? Nah, not quite. You're just in my space."
Lucus spun around, his eyes narrowing. Before him stood a figure, tall and composed. He had pale skin, silver eyes that glowed faintly, and sleek, greyish-white hair that fell messily around his face.
His attire was a strange mix of modern and ancient—a long black coat over loose, flowing robes that shimmered like the night sky. He looked at Lucus with an expression that could only be described as... mildly amused.(＾▽＾)
"Who are you?" Lucus demanded, though his voice wavered slightly. "And where am I?"
The figure tilted his head, lips twitching into a faint smirk. "You could say I'm the landlord of this little realm. Name's Nexus. You're standing in my domain, the Void Space." He waved his hand casually, like it was no big deal.
"Void... Space?" Lucus repeated, feeling both awed and confused at the same time. "Wait, Nexus? Like... the Nexus?"
Nexus snapped his fingers, a grin spreading across his face. "Bingo! I see you're not as slow as you look."
Lucus scowled. "Hey!"(╬ಠ益ಠ)
Nexus stretched lazily, his arms behind his head as he began pacing around Lucus. "So, you got yourself tangled up with some dangerous folks, huh? That Erevan guy... pfft, what a stiff. The guy's all business, no fun."
He smirked, clearly unimpressed by Erevan. "Anyway, now that you're here, I guess it's time for a little storytime."
Lucus blinked. "Storytime? What, like a bedtime story?"
Nexus chuckled. "Something like that. Sit tight." He flicked his hand, and instantly, Lucus felt himself being pulled to the ground. A chair appeared out of nowhere, and he dropped into it, still bewildered.
Nexus stood in front of him, and with a wave of his hand, a massive cosmic diagram appeared in the air, swirling with vibrant lights and energies
"You see, Lucus, this world isn't just what you think it is. There are 13 gods who oversee different aspects of existence, each with their own domain. Here's the rundown."
Nexus began pointing at different points on the diagram as he introduced each god:
1) Astra,Goddess of Star – Controls the night sky, constellations, and navigation. She's a bit uptight, though. (-_-)
2) Zephyr,God of Wind –The carefree spirit of the air, guiding the winds. Always running late, like a breeze.(eye roll)
3) Aegis,God of Protection – Think of him as a divine bouncer. Shields, barriers, and all that fun stuff. Real serious dude. (-_-)
4) Thalassa,Goddess of the sea – Master of oceans, tides, and storms. She's got a bit of a temper... like the sea, obviously
5) Ignis,God of Fire – Hot-headed, literally. Pyrokinetic and constantly angry about something.
6) Gaia,Goddess of Earth – Grounded and steady. She's the reason you have solid land to walk on, so maybe send her a thank you.
7) Eos,Goddess of Dawn– Brings the sunrise. A bit of a morning person—way too cheerful for her own good.
8) Noctis,God of Night– Pretty much Astra's twin, but he handles darkness. Moody, brooding... you know the type.
9) Ceres,Goddess of Harvest– Rules over crops and growth. Super chill, until harvest season comes around.
10) Chronos,God of Time – Mess with him, and you'll find yourself in a time loop. Trust me, it's annoying.(¬¬)
11) Umbra,God of shadows– He's... sketchy. Controls shadows, darkness, and all the sneaky stuff.
Luna,Goddess of Moon– Astra's best friend. Calm, cool, and always shines in the night. Bit of a diva, though. (^_^)
Finally, Nexus pointed to himself and smirked, crossing his arms. "And then there's me, Nexus, Supreme God of Balance. I keep all these jokers in line. I'm the one who controls the balance of all things. Without me, it's chaos. Literally."
Lucus blinked, overwhelmed by the sheer scale of it all. "So... you're the boss?"
Nexus grinned. "That's one way to put it."(¬‿¬)
....
"Okay," Lucus said slowly, trying to absorb all of this. "So what does that have to do with me?"
Nexus leaned forward, his grin fading slightly as his tone became more serious. "Here's the deal, kid. You've got a spark of something inside you—something that shouldn't exist.
The Nexus energy. That's why Erevan and those higher-ups want you gone. They know you're a threat."
Lucus frowned, the weight of it sinking in. "A threat to what?"
"To their control, to the balance of power. But... I see potential in you. You could tip the scales in a way that benefits us both."
Lucus leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "And what's in it for you?"
Nexus chuckled. "Smart kid. I like that. What's in it for me? Well, let's just say I don't want Erevan and his kind running the show. I've got my own plans, and you're gonna help me execute them."
Lucus' eyes narrowed. "And what exactly do you need me to do?"
Nexus snapped his fingers, and a large, glowing map appeared in the air. Different locations lit up, each pulsating with a strange energy.
"These are places of power," Nexus explained. "You need to visit them, tap into their energy, and grow stronger. Only then will you be able to face the big players trying to take you down."
Lucus squinted at the map. "What's the catch?"
Nexus grinned. "No catch, really. Just survival. Fun, right?"
Lucus sighed. "Great."(-_-)
Nexus stood back, observing Lucus for a moment, then nodded. "But before you go back out there, we need to change your look. You can't just wander around looking like Lucus Graves, the guy Erevan's hunting. Too risky."
With a flick of his fingers, a mirror appeared in front of Lucus. Nexus waved his hand, and a transformation began. Lucus' dark hair faded into a striking shade of grey,and his eyes turn into dark blue colour, and his features slightly altered to make him less recognizable.
His ragged clothes were replaced by a sleek, dark outfit that matched Nexus' style, with a cloak that seemed to shimmer like the stars in the void
"And let's give you a new name, just for fun." Nexus tapped his chin, thinking. "How about... Sylas? Yeah, that fits."
Lucus—now Sylas—stared at his reflection, barely recognizing himself. "Sylas, huh? I can work with that."
Nexus grinned. "Good. Now go out there and cause some trouble. But not too much."
.
.
Just as Sylas turned to leave, a translucent window appeared before him, glowing with faint blue light. His stats, skills, and abilities flashed across the screen:
Status Window
Name: Sylas (formerly Lucus Graves)
Level: 12
Class: Voidwalker
Strength: 15
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 22
Nexus Engery: 30
Skills:
1) Nexus pulse: Unleashes a burst of dark energy, dealing damage to enemies
2) Void steps: Allows instant teleportation to a nearby location.
3) Shadow Cloak: Cloaks the user in shadows, making them harder to detect.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Sylas's eyes widened as he read the information. "Wait, I've got a system now?"
Nexus shrugged. "Yeah, figured it'd make things more fun. Plus, everyone loves a good system window, right?"
Sylas smirked. "Well, this is gonna be interesting."
....
Before Sylas could step away, Nexus' grin faded slightly. His silver eyes gleamed with a sharper focus. "One more thing, Sylas. It's not just Erevan or those idiots you're up against. There are... far worse things out there."
Sylas raised an eyebrow, feeling a chill creep down his spine.
Nexus' expression grew darker as he waved his hand, causing the space around them to flicker and distort. Images of grotesque creatures—twisted, broken, and barely recognizable as anything once human—appeared, writhing in agony.
Their limbs stretched unnaturally, their eyes glowing with a sickly green light. These were the Shredded, horrors from the deepest, darkest corners of existence.
The Shredded," Nexus said grimly, his playful demeanor now gone. "You've already seen them. They're corrupted creatures from beyond, feeding off fear and destruction.
They won't stop until everything's consumed." He paused, his gaze hardening. "And they're just one part of the threat."
Sylas frowned, gripping the edge of his cloak. "One part? What else could there be?"
Nexus snapped his fingers again, and the image shifted to something far more terrifying—dark, incomprehensible figures, so massive and alien that Sylas could barely make sense of them.
Their forms were swirling, their faces masked by writhing tendrils and glowing voids.
"They're called the Outer beings," Nexus continued, his voice low. "They exist beyond this world, beyond even the gods. They seek to break into our reality, to destroy everything and remake it in their image.
If they succeed, nothing will survive—not the gods, not humanity, nothing."
Sylas's throat went dry as he stared at the immense figures. "And... they're trying to get in?"
Nexus nodded, his face set in a serious expression. "The balance is slipping. The Shredded are just the start. The Outer Beings are coming, and if they break through, it'll make your fight with Erevan look like a warm-up."
Sylas clenched his fists, feeling the weight of it all settle in. He wasn't just fighting for survival anymore—he was caught in a war far bigger than he'd ever imagined.
Nexus placed a hand on Sylas's shoulder, his smirk returning, though more subdued.
"That's why you need to get stronger. Fast. The places I mentioned before? They hold power that'll help you stand a chance against what's coming. And trust me, you'll need every bit of it."
Sylas took a deep breath, nodding slowly. "I get it. I'll do what I have to."
Nexus gave him a sharp grin, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Good. Because the fate of this world might just depend on how much of a badass you can become." (≧∇≦)
Sylas smirked back, his resolve hardening. "Guess I'd better start leveling up then."
.
.
Nexus stepped back, his hands in his pockets, as the starry expanse around them began to shift once more.
"You'll be sent back to the Mortal Realm in a second. Remember, you're not Lucus Graves anymore—you're Sylas now. Keep a low profile, avoid Erevan, and start gathering power."
Sylas adjusted his cloak, the new weight of his identity settling on his shoulders. "I'll be ready next time."
Nexus grinned again, but there was a strange sadness in his eyes, as if he knew just how difficult the road ahead would be.
"One more thing—trust no one. The gods, the Outer Beings, even the people you meet... everyone's got their own agenda. Keep your wits about you."
Sylas gave a small nod, the faint trace of a smile on his lips. "You sure know how to inspire confidence."
Nexus chuckled. "Hey, I'm just being real. Now get going. I'll be keeping an eye on you."
....
With a final wave of Nexus' hand, the void around Sylas dissolved, and in an instant, he felt his body snap back to reality.
The weight of gravity returned, the cold air biting at his skin. He landed in a dense forest, the quiet rustling of leaves greeting him.
As he stood there, taking in his new surroundings, the system window appeared once more, this time with a small notification at the top.
System Update
• New Quest Unlocked: Explore the Nexus Locations (0/20)
• Objective: Visit the places of power and claim their energy.
• Reward: Unlock new abilities and strengthen your Nexus Energy
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Sylas closed the window, his mind racing with everything that had just happened. He was no longer the same person—Lucus Graves was dead. He was Sylas now, and his path was set.
But even as he began to move, his thoughts lingered on the terrifying images of the Outer Beings and the growing threat of the Shredded.
"Guess it's time to start getting stronger," he muttered to himself, eyes sharp as steel.
His journey had just begun.....