Chapter 3: Let's Become Mortal Again!
Nexus sat cross-legged in the divine realm, staring down at the world below. His world. His creation. And yet… it still felt distant, like a game he wasn’t quite playing yet.
A familiar chime rang in his ears.
[System Notification: New Quest Available]
Quest: The First Sparks of Faith Objective: Gain two followers who willingly believe in Nexus. Reward: Unlock 1/3rd of divine power.
"Two people? That’s all I need?" He exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Couldn’t be that hard, right?"
[System Response: Your assumption is incorrect. Current faith level is near zero.]
"...Right. Thanks for that. Super encouraging."
He tapped his chin, eyes scanning the empty space around him. "Okay, so, do I just—jump? Walk through a door? Summon a magic staircase?"
[System Response: Manual descent required. Simply step forward.]
Nexus stared. "That’s it? Just walk off into the void?"
[Confirmation: Yes.]
He hesitated, staring at the endless nothingness ahead of him. Once I go down there, I’m stuck like this. No powers. No safety net. Just me.
He took a breath, squared his shoulders, and nodded to himself. "Alright. Here goes nothing."
And he stepped forward—
And fell.
The Mortal World – A Quiet Arrival
Cool air rushed past his skin. His feet hit the ground with a soft thud, and for a moment, he just stood there. The forest stretched wide around him, the towering trees swaying in the evening breeze. Crickets chirped, the scent of damp earth filled his lungs.
No divine power. No safety net.
Just him.
He flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders. "Alright. Step one—don’t die. Step two—find shelter."
With a deep breath, he adjusted his satchel and trudged forward. Every snapping twig made his shoulders tense. His senses weren’t as sharp as before, but some primal part of him screamed to stay alert.
Eventually, he settled against the base of a tree, striking stones together until a small fire flickered to life. The flames danced in his wide eyes.
This is real.
He pulled his cloak tighter around himself and sighed. "No shortcuts. No miracles. Just me."
As the fire crackled softly, he let his head rest back against the tree. Tomorrow, I figure this out.
A Fateful Morning
The sun rose through the treetops, golden light spilling onto his face. Nexus groaned, blinking blearily as he sat up. His back ached like he’d been body-slammed by a boulder. "Ugh... sleeping on the ground sucks," he muttered, rolling his shoulders. "I miss beds. Beds are great. Why did I ever take them for granted?"
He sighed dramatically, rubbing his sore lower back. "First thing I invent—pillows. Maybe a mattress. Yeah, top priority."
Grumbling, he pushed himself to his feet, stretching until his spine popped. "Alright, what’s on today’s schedule? Oh, right. Surviving."
Before he could start scavenging for food, a weak cough cut through the air.
His body went rigid. That wasn’t an animal.
Following the sound, he moved carefully through the trees—until he saw them.
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Two children, soaked and shivering.
His stomach twisted. Crap.
He knelt beside them immediately, checking their breathing. The girl was burning up. Fever. The boy stirred weakly, eyes barely cracking open.
"You’re awake," Nexus muttered. Good. That’s good.
The boy blinked at him, dazed. "Who…?"
Crap. Say something normal.
"Uh—just a traveler," he said quickly. "You alright?"
The boy groggily nodded before his eyes widened. "Liri!" He sat up fast, panic in his voice. "She—she's sick! It's my fault! I—"
His words broke into a sob as he clutched his sister’s small frame. "I was hunting with Father, but I got lost in the storm. She found me, but now—now she—"
He choked on his words before suddenly dropping to the ground, hands clasped together in front of Nexus.
"Please! I know you don’t know us, but I beg you—please save my sister! I’ll do anything!"
Nexus blinked. Whoa. That escalated fast.
The kid was shaking, forehead pressed to the dirt, his small shoulders trembling.
Letting out a slow breath, Nexus placed a hand on his shoulder. "Alright, alright, calm down. I’ll find something for her fever. But you—" He met the boy’s watery eyes. "—you need to stay here and keep her warm. Can you do that?"
The boy sniffled, wiping his face. "Y-Yeah. I can."
"Good," Nexus muttered, standing. "I’ll be back soon."
The Feeling of Prey
The forest was eerily quiet as he moved through the underbrush. His fingers brushed over leaves, searching for anything medicinal. Mint leaves, willow bark—something to cool her fever.
A sharp chill crawled up his spine.
His body froze. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
Something was watching him.
His fingers instinctively went to the hilt of his dagger. His pulse pounded in his ears. Stay calm.
Then, a low growl rumbled from the trees ahead.
Nexus turned his head slowly—
A massive grizzly bear stepped into view. Its fur was thick, matted from the morning dew. Its dark eyes locked onto him, unblinking. It wasn’t just curious. It was hunting.
His breath hitched. Every instinct screamed RUN, YOU IDIOT. His legs locked up, his muscles twitching to bolt, but he forced himself still. No. Running means death. Not just mine—theirs too. His stomach twisted, a deep, gnawing dread seeping into his bones.
Run. His body screamed at him to turn and bolt, to put as much distance as possible between himself and the beast. His knees nearly buckled under the weight of pure, unfiltered terror.
No.
If he ran, the bear would chase. If it chased, he’d lead it straight back to the kids.
He couldn’t let that happen.
Images flashed through his mind. The bullies from his old life.
Laughter as they shoved him to the ground. Helplessness. Being backed into a corner. Powerlessness.
His fingers tightened around the hilt of his daggers. I’m not that person anymore.
The bear’s muscles tensed.
Nexus forced a shaky breath and took a slow step forward. No running. No hesitating. Just fight.
The bear let out a deep snarl.
Nexus raised his daggers.
First fight starts now.