Chapter 12: Soul Frame Nexus Core.

Adam POV

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I kept looking around for the fake Goddess to pop out of nowhere… But she was nowhere in sight.

"What the hell is going on? I mean, seriously? Am I dead or am I still alive?"

I tried walking around to see if anything changed, but nope.

Eventually, after about a minute, I heard the noise of glass shattering. I turned to look, and there was a floating orb that spawned out of nowhere. The orb looked white but had an iridescent hue. It also had a single smaller iridescent white orb slowly floating around its axis, but there was another even smaller transparent orb floating around the smaller orb.

"Alright, universe, you've officially lost me. What's this, your idea of a cosmic disco ball?" I quipped, half-expecting the orb to start emitting funky lights and music.

I gawked at it for a sec before it hit me like a ton of bricks. "Wait, wait, wait... Is that... My other Nexus Core?" I blurted out, strolling toward it like I knew what I was doing.

Unlike Nove’s flashy golden vibe, this orb was rocking a chic white with a hint of shimmer.

Then it hit me harder than a surprise pop quiz: "Am I… Is this the Nexus core area of my other Nexus Core?"

I always figured all these Core nexus spots were cut from the same cloth, you know, the cosmic space thing. But nope, seems like each Core area has its own little hangout zone.

"So Alper’s core Nexus area was like, outer space… and mine's just... emptiness? Just me and a vast ocean and a blue sky with clouds?" I mumbled to myself, feeling a tad bewildered. "Okay, so, what did Nove say again? I gotta like, focus my consciousness into this thing to get the details, right?"

I did exactly that and soon enough A large window popped open that told me a lot of details.

S̷͇͖͒̾ŏ̸̘u̶͉͉̎̏͘l̴͓̩͆͒ ̸͍̥̇̈́́͜f̴̲͍̅r̶͙͙̈́a̸̡̼͒̽̊m̶͙̀e̴̺̓ ̶̛̜̤̪̕N̷̰̼̲̒̇̀e̶̦̙̒̌̃x̶̉̋͜͠u̵̙̹͇͐̇̚s̸̝̖̩̾̓ ̸̪͙̑̇C̴̨̠̮̏o̷̺͔̱̊̒ŕ̶͖́ě̷͈͐ (*̶͈͎̿͌̔/̶͓̫̀̅*̸̧̞͈̀̔ ̷̙͎̎S̶̡̔̊t̸̡̬̲͌à̶̠́r̴̦̤͕̿ ̷̡̀r̴̻̂͝ǎ̸͚̗̭̃t̸̫̏ị̸̛̠́͌͜n̸̙͛͗͠g̸̥̖͑):

* Description:

An Otherworld Core nexus the defies the laws of this world.

Instead of eating metals or materials of this world, it eats the Nexus cores of other people to evolve and can wield their abilities.

Note: This Nexus Core cannot devolve into a base Nexus core.

* Evolution: Initial.

* C̴̞͋̎o̴̝͓͌̃r̷̖͉̽̈̓e̴͓̻̖̍̀̌ ̷̻̦̊̐̕N̷̩̥̏̑o̵̻͝d̵̗͋̄e̶̳̐́̑s̵͍̯̄:̵̭̘͠ (1/1 slot)

1. Base Core Frame – 0/1 Nexus core Slot.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Equipped Nexus Core: N/A

Attributes: Slightly (+3) increases the user's strength, agility, endurance and vitality when active.

Cost: 2 NEP per second

* Abilities:

Core Frames: This Nexus core functions by replacing Core nodes with revolving Core Frames, resembling dynamic living armors. These frames grant users abilities derived from absorbed Nexus cores. The quantity of frames and the Nexus cores they can utilize depends on the evolution of the Soul frame's Core.

2. Nexus Cores: Nexus core can be processed into evolution material for the Soul Frame or be used as a Nexus core for frames.

?̸̖́̈̎?̴̢́̿͛?̴́̽ͅͅ?̸̻͕̣͑̀̈́?̴̳̲̰͘?̷̳͖̹̑͋?̴̯̦̳̂̋?̶̥͖̐͝?̸̛̫̺͋?̸̘̈́͒?̵̼͕͒̚͘?̷̞͠͝ ?̴̯̦̳̂̋?̶̥͖̐͝?̸̛̫̺͋?̸̘̈́͒?̵̼͕͒̚͘?̷̞͠͝ ?̸̻͕̣͑̀̈́?̴̳̲̰͘?̷̳͖̹̑͋?̴̯̦̳̂̋?̶̥͖̐͝?̸̛̫̺͋?̸̘̈́͒?̵̼͕͒̚͘

?̸̖́̈̎?̴̢́̿͛?̴́̽ͅͅ?̸̻͕̣͑̀̈́?̴̳̲̰͘?̷̳͖̹̑͋ ?̸̖́̈̎?̴̢́̿͛?̴́̽ͅͅ?̸̻͕̣͑̀̈́?̴̳̲̰͘?̷̳͖̹̑͋?̴̯̦̳̂̋?̶̥͖̐͝?̸̛̫̺͋?̸̘̈́͒?̵̼͕͒̚͘?̷̞͠͝

?̸̖́̈̎?̴̢́̿͛?̴́̽ͅͅ?̸̻͕̣͑̀̈́?̴̳̲̰͘?̷̳͖̹̑͋?̴̯̦̳̂̋?̶̥͖̐͝?̸̛̫̺͋?̸̘̈́͒?̵̼͕͒̚͘?̷̞͠͝ ?̸̖́̈̎?̴̢́̿͛?̴́̽ͅͅ?̸̻͕̣͑̀̈́?̴̳̲̰͘?̷̳͖̹̑͋?̴̯̦̳̂̋?̶̥͖̐͝?̸̛̫̺͋?̸̘̈́͒?̵̼͕͒̚͘?̷̞͠͝

* Stat benefits:

Health Points (HP): ?̸̱̄̚͠ ?̸̱̄̚͠

Nexus Energy Points (NEP): ?̵̼͕͒̚͘?̷̞͠͝ ?̸̱̄̚͠

Strength (STR): ?̸̱̄̚͠

Vitality (VIT): ?̸̱̄̚͠

Endurance (END): ?̸̱̄̚͠

Intelligence (INT): ?̸̱̄̚͠

Dexterity (DEX): ?̸̱̄̚͠

Agility (AGI): ?̸̱̄̚͠

Wisdom (WIS): ?̸̱̄̚͠

Charisma (CHA): ?̸̱̄̚͠

Metalweaving Mastery (MW): ?̵̼͕͒̚͘?̷̞͠͝

Alchemical Mastery (AM): ?̵̼͕͒̚͘?̷̞͠͝

* Notes:

More information/abilities/frames will be unlocked per evolution

Hey God, me again, Uhhh, What's with all this wonky business?

Seriously. What the heck is this mess? Is this Nexus Core on the forbidden list or something? Why's half the data looking like it went through a blender?

I quickly skimmed through the chaos on display and finally pieced together that maybe this Nexus Core wasn't meant to be in the first place. It's out here using other people's Nexus Cores as hand-me-downs or something. Plus, Nove told me all Nexus Cores uses the Core nodes, but this one's just flexing with some kind of armor? Even the information window is giving me the confused Pikachu face, and the part about Core nodes is straight-up corrupted.

This thing is out here defying all the laws of the land. What gives, cosmic IT guy?

Well, atleast it says that It'll tell me more after it evolves again so there's that.

Anyways, I decided to give this Base frame thing a whirl. I summoned it using the magical powers of my brilliant mind, and suddenly, my heart started doing a drum solo. Out of nowhere, a little metallic bag popped up on my back. And then, buckle up, folks, because the enchantment extravaganza was about to begin.

The bag started doing its thing with a subtle hum, and before my very eyes, it was like a metal fashion show. Plates of silvery steel emerged from all around the bag, dancing and spiraling like they were auditioning for a cosmic ballet. Each plate clicked into place, forming this jaw-dropping medieval masterpiece. The armor wasn't just functional; it was a work of art.

The chest plate gave me a steel hug, engraved with mystical symbols that probably had some deep, magical meaning. The gauntlets, looking like they were designed by wizard fashionistas, wrapped around my hands like they were born for it. And the leggings? They were like steel poetry, telling tales of strength and resilience with every weave.

But hold your horses; we're not done yet. The grand finale was the helmet, a stunning piece of headgear that blended style and practicality. Crafted with the precision of a master artisan, it covered my whole head in a fusion of awesomeness. And despite its tough exterior, the helmet had this intricate visor that let me see the world in a silvery glow – like I was in my own metal-themed disco party.

Hold up, hold up! Picture this: I look down, and suddenly, I'm decked out in this epic armor. And guess what? I couldn't resist channeling my inner excitement.

"I'M FREAKING IRON MAN!"

Yep, you heard it right. This Nexus Core is the real deal, and it even mentioned something about using other people's Nexus Cores. Cue the lightbulb moment! I could scout for a Core that lets me fly and shoot lasers. You know what that means, right? I'm on my way to becoming an actual Iron Man!

"This is officially the best day of my life!" I screamed, striking poses like I'm auditioning for a role in a certain anime about some bizarre adventure. Life just got a whole lot more interesting!

I had my fun with the epic armor, struck a few poses, and when the excitement settled, I decided to call it a day. Time to unequip the Iron Man suit and figure out how to reconnect with Nove. I mean, she's like my pocket phone in this world, and that's some next-level convenience.

This entire world fluctuated for a moment and I closed my eye. When I opened my eyes back, I was expecting to be back in the forest, but I found myself lying on this ridiculously comfy bed, staring at a wooden ceiling. A dim candle on the side gave the room a cozy vibe, and I could peek outside through the window—only to realize it was pitch dark.

Ay, Hold up, did I just time-travel to nighttime? What kind of funky magic is this?

Getting up, I scanned the room. It had everything you'd expect—bed, cabinet, trunk, table, chair, and some books chilling on a shelf. Oh, and let's not forget the touch of greenery with plants in a pot. Classy digs for an unexpected bedtime.

"Where the heck am I, and what's going on?" I muttered under my breath, trying not to wake the entire neighborhood. Just as I was about to swing my legs out of bed, I heard those familiar robotic words again.

"Connection re-established with the host."

"Nove!" I nearly blurted out, but caught myself just in time. Slamming my hand over my mouth, I whispered, "You nearly scared the living daylights out of me."

"Alper. It seems the awakening of your other core caused a massive surge that temporarily cut off our connection," Nove explained calmly.

I couldn't help but whisper back, "So you're telling me you were just chilling here, watching everything unfold while I was knocked out?"

"Yes, I was." Nove confirmed, totally unfazed.

"Wait, seriously? I was in the forest with Dona, and now I'm here in this house, and it's already nighttime?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes, after you lost connection with me, your body went unconscious. Dona got really worried and took you to a doctor. The doctor said you were in a coma, and they had no idea when you'd wake up," Nove explained.

I interrupted, panic in my voice, "Please don't tell me several months or years have passed."

"No worries, precisely about 16 hours have passed since you went into a coma," Nove reassured me.

"Oh, whew," I sighed in relief. The last thing I needed was a time skip arc right now.

"What's even better, this town is called Hollow Field, and precisely at this hour, soldiers belonging to our Clan do a routine patrol here to make sure there's nothing wrong. Since you disappeared from the clan, I believe the patrol will be strict and thorough. So it's only a matter of time before they find you and bring you back to the clan," Nove explained.

… What?

I stared blankly, processing the information, when suddenly, I heard the unmistakable clanking of footsteps. A large group of people, probably wearing armor, was headed straight for this room.

HOLY SHIT! IT’S THE FEDS! I AIN’T GOING BACK TO JAIL!