The first rays of dawn barely touched the sky as Lucy and DK climbed into the unmarked carriage waiting in the Lin estate courtyard. The world was still wrapped in the soft silence of early morning, broken only by the occasional chirp of waking birds. DK settled into the carriage, the faint pulse of his Nexus Core a constant reminder of the ongoing battle inside him between mana and corruption.
Lucy adjusted her cloak, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings one last time. "No signs of anyone watching," she muttered, mostly to herself. "Let's keep it that way."
DK smirked, though his own gaze was equally cautious. "You're always so paranoid."
She shot him a look. "After everything we've been through, you should be too."
The driver snapped the reins, and the carriage began to roll forward. As the Lin estate faded into the distance, DK couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and nervousness.
---
Unbeknownst to them, Viktor and his reluctant companions, Sylvia and Romeo, shadowed DK and Lucy from a careful distance. Sylvia and Romeo, seasoned veterans with years of field experience, blended effortlessly into the stream of morning travelers. Their presence was unassuming, yet their sharp eyes missed nothing.
Sylvia's piercing gaze flicked toward Viktor as they rode in silence. Her voice, though soft, carried an edge of impatience. "I still don't see why we're wasting our time tailing these rookies. Babysitting isn't exactly what I signed up for."
Viktor's focus didn't waver from the road ahead, his tone measured but firm. "Orders are orders. Conrad wants us to track them, and we follow orders."
Romeo, a broad-shouldered man with a face weathered by years of danger, adjusted his grip on the reins, his expression somewhere between amused and exasperated. "It's not the orders I mind," he said with a shrug. "It's chasing after kids who barely know what they're doing. That Lucy girl might be scrappy, but she's no match for us."
Viktor finally turned his head slightly, his icy gaze silencing Romeo's grumbling. "Conrad doesn't send us on wild goose chases. If he thinks this boy's Nexus Core is important, then we treat it as such. Dragondale's neutrality makes it the ideal hiding spot for someone trying to stay under the Association's radar. That's where they're going."
Sylvia rolled her eyes but kept her tone neutral. "Fine. But if we're dragging ourselves all the way to Dragondale for a wild goose chase, you're the one explaining it to Conrad."
Viktor smirked faintly. "Noted. But if I'm right—and I usually am—this isn't going to be a waste of time."
---
The carriage rocked gently as it rolled along the quiet road, the early morning light casting long shadows across the landscape. DK leaned back against the cushioned seat, his arms crossed and his mind racing. The hum of the Nexus Core in his chest was a constant presence, a mixture of reassurance and unease. He couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead in Dragondale—and whether he was truly ready for it.
His gaze drifted toward Lucy, who sat opposite him, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery. Her posture was relaxed, but her sharp gaze betrayed her ever-present vigilance. DK had grown to trust her instincts, but there were questions swirling in his mind that he couldn't shake.
Taking a deep breath, he brought up the system interface, careful to keep his expression neutral so Lucy wouldn't notice. The faint blue glow of the text appeared in his vision, overlaid against the world outside the carriage.
SYSTEM
QUERY RECEIVED: How to get stronger?
The interface flickered briefly before a response appeared.
OPTIONS FOR INCREASING STRENGTH:
Structured Path: Quest-Based Progression
Embark on system-guided quests to enhance physical attributes, unlock abilities, and gain Nexus Core mastery.
Warning: Challenges will escalate in difficulty.
Skill Training:
Develop combat and magic proficiency through practice and fieldwork.
Recommended: Complementary to structured progression.
Core Synergy Enhancement:
Seek rare materials, artifacts, and knowledge to enhance the efficiency of the Nexus Core.
Suggested: Mana Stones, Dungeon Cores, or Elemental Convergence Points.
Luck-Based Events:
Chance encounters, rare opportunities, and unpredictable situations may lead to very non linear power growth.
Warning: Highly unreliable.
DK studied the options carefully, his brow furrowing. The mention of a "structured path" intrigued him. Quests, challenges, and potential mastery—it all sounded eerily like any MMORPG. But this wasn't a game, and failure here could mean far worse than restarting at a checkpoint. Still, if it meant gaining control over the power inside him, it was worth considering.
His thoughts shifted to Lucy, her steady presence a constant reminder of how much he still didn't know. A question lingered in his mind, one he wasn't sure how to ask directly without revealing too much.
"Hey, Lucy," he began, keeping his tone casual. "When you activated your Nexus Core… did you ever see anything strange? Like, I don't know, a screen or instructions?"
Lucy turned to him, her brows knitting slightly. "A screen?" she echoed, her voice skeptical. "What are you talking about?"
DK shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Just curious. You know, with how the Nexus Core works and all. It feels… different, right? I was just wondering if it came with any kind of guidance."
Lucy leaned back in her seat, considering his question. "Not really. When my Nexus Core activated, it was more like… a rush of energy. Like I could suddenly feel the flow of mana in a way I never had before. But there was nothing like a screen or instructions. Why? Are you experiencing something like that?"
DK shook his head quickly, avoiding her gaze. "No, nothing like that. Just trying to understand how this whole thing works."
She studied him for a moment, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to read between the lines. "The Nexus Core is unpredictable," she said finally. "Everyone's experience is different. If you're feeling something unusual, it's probably because of the corruption. You're in uncharted territory with that thing, DK."
Her words were reassuring in their own way, but they also left DK with more questions. The system was unique to him—of that, he was now certain. Whatever this mysterious interface was, it hadn't been part of Lucy's experience or, presumably, anyone else's. That made it both a valuable asset and a dangerous secret.
He glanced back at the system interface, the options for growth still displayed in faint blue light. Quietly, he selected the option for Structured Path: Quest-Based Progression.
SYSTEM:
Structured progression activated. Initial quest sequence unlocked.