When I opened my eyes once again, I was no longer in the portal room. Instead, I was standing right in front of a large black withered tree whose tip was far too high for me to see. Its leafless branches were twisted upwards as if trying to reach out for the grey sky for light.
Speaking of the grey sky, the ground I was standing on was covered with black ash that was constantly falling from the sky like snow. Around me, more black and twisted trees protruded out of the ashen ground like ugly desperate weeds turning the territory into something out of a horror movie.
"So this is my Nether." I sighed, feeling slightly disappointed. It seems my terrible luck struck again and I had landed in a wasteland covered in ash.
Anyway, first things first. I needed to see my current status by accessing the Nexus. The Nexus system was a magical guide that possessed anyone who challenged a Nexus Event and was responsible for creating Nexus Beings. It also helped one navigate Nexus Events and solve them before they turned into actual calamities.
There were theories of the system being the cause of Nexus Events. Which must've been true to some point. But it wasn't confirmed, yet.
Was its main purpose to help us? Who created it? I had no idea, to be honest.
With a thought, I managed to summon the runes of the Nexus system. I frowned, feeling a bit confused.
Name: Astrid
Species: Human
Abilities: Dormant
Nexus Blessing: [The Fire], [Silver Child]
Blessing: [The Fire]
Blessing Description: [You have the blood of a dragon flowing in you. Because of that, the Emperor of Noon recognizes you. You will never be harmed by flames and you will shine brightest when the sun is at its zenith]
Blessing: [Silver Child]
Blessing Description: [ The Empress of Twilight watches you from the moon. Your hair reminds her of her people. You are her child and she's your mother. As your mother, she will protect you and help you if you call out her name while looking at the moon.]
Job Aspect:—
Inventory:—
'So this is why they were interested in a silver blood.' I played with my hair while I stared at the runes displayed in front of me. It was incredible that I managed to get myself not one, but two nexus blessings from the Emperors of the Great Veil.
If I remember correctly, there were four Emperors who ruled at the edge of the Universe; Dawn the Creator, Noon the Protector, Dusk the Punisher, and Twilight the Judge. According to study, If they were impressed by a person, whether through their fortune or misfortune, they would interfere with the Nexus and grant blessings or curses.
However, these incidents were insanely rare. Hunters who had blessings from one of those four constellations were extremely powerful and even had colonies surviving under them.
What about someone with two? Could I start a whole colony too?
"That wouldn't be possible unless this thing comes off me." My excitement doubled down when I remembered the metal bracelet on my hand.
I wonder if it was capable of showing them what the Nexus showed me…being a magic item and all. They were probably celebrating this achievement.
'Too bad I'm gonna be dead soon.'
I turned my focus back to the runes describing my abilities. [Dormant] meant that I hadn't acquired a soul yet to awaken my true abilities or completed the challenge yet. The abilities would then be based around whatever powers of the soul I absorb and the Nexus system.
Originally, the system would base your abilities on how you challenged the Nexus Event no matter how difficult it was.
But where was I supposed to acquire a soul in this wasteland?
Sigh. I dismissed the runes with a thought and looked around once again to get a clear understanding of my environment. There was nothing but dead trees in every direction. The trees probably stretched for miles.
If I walked in a straight line, then I might be lucky enough to land into someone from Bloodhaul. Bloodhaul had sent thirteen teenagers with me being the thirteenth. We were told to move in groups, so I was sure that the subjects who landed here had already formed a traveling cohort and crossed this territory already.
Also, among the thirteen teenagers was Devon, the strongest subject to ever arise after consuming the ichor.
If I found Devon, surviving wasn't going to be that difficult.
Groaning, I started walking through the dead forest with absolute caution. Nether had no wind, but a disgusting smell of death and smoke hung in the air to remind me that this is the realm that holds ancient souls from all across the universe.
The smell gave me a deep sense of nausea. I gagged many times but swallowed everything. Vomiting was a luxury I couldn't afford right now, especially on an empty stomach.
As I walked, I started to notice that some trees were bending down while others were completely broken off their barks. Their top halves were lying on the ashen ground and dissolving into the ground.
Shortly after noticing that, I figured out why the trees were black and their connection to the ashen ground.
I gazed at the grey-clouded sky and then at the falling ash. 'It's the sky.'
Once that came to mind, I was quick to catch up on what was going on. The sky was using the black ash to consume life here. It's why there were no creatures here despite Nether basically being a natural habitat for demonic creatures of all sorts.
"I found it odd that I haven't encountered even one after strolling for almost an hour now. This is why…I see." I thought loudly. "They were probably forced to leave after the black ash started to fall, consuming everything like some virus."
I wasn't sure how long exactly it would take for the black ash to consume me. But I wasn't ready to find out. I needed to leave this wasteland fast and proceed to the next landmark.
There had to be an end to the grey clouds, I was sure of it.
Without wasting any time, I picked up my pace and continued traversing the wasteland without stopping. I was ready to die, but not like this.
The land remained flat with no change of topography for a while. The black trees looked endless from where I was at the moment.
But….even though they appeared to be pretty far, I could see the black mountains that looked like jagged teeth biting at a foggy sky. Much as I wanted to see them, the mountain peaks were hidden from the world by the curtain of white that was too thick to see through.
Or my vision was just poor.
Unfortunately for me, the mountains seemed to be my only option since the sky above them was not covered in grey clouds. Also, the mountains were the only geographical feature I could see after climbing one of the tallest trees I could find.
Being the only geographical feature meant that it was a landmark that someone from Bloodhaul might have used to navigate themselves out of the wasteland. As we were taught, creating a landmark prevented things like confusion when navigating.
"So I have to proceed to the mountains." I sighed calmly, giving one more look at the mountains and the path ahead of me. The dead trees looked like a field of thorns from where I stood.
Since there weren't any dangers aside from the ash, I cut back on staying alert and turned all my focus and energy on finding a path out of the wastelands. Which was easy because I just had to straight while keeping the mountains in sight.