One moment, he was standing on the Grren Tree, the next he had stepped into his domain. He was, after all, a Node—the connection between Nexuses. Such things were as easy as breathing, easier even.
He’d left after the sun had finally set. He’d sat in the dark for an hour, listening to the sounds of life and staring at the stars. Once night truly fell and not even the stars could save him from a natural pitch blackness, he had walked into his Nexus.
Nexus: None (Scaling)
Type: Personal
Nodes: [Grren Plains] (Uncommon)
He felt a small difference in his Nexus and turned around, staring at the portal which he walked through.
The pillars which framed the Node were no longer blank constructs of white. The portal overlooked the [Grren Plains] from his previous vantage, a darkness full of twinkling stars. Only now, the blank pillars were young gnarled trees, the floor sprouted with gold-green grass growing under the rift.
“Huh. Would you look at that?” He said to himself. Despite the changes to his Nexus, he felt no alarm whatsoever. Perhaps this happened with every Node, every connection?
He glanced at himself and seeing no changes in his person he studied the rift in earnest. It was an outgoing Node, his last presence on the [Grren Plains] an anchor of sorts. He himself was the only way back, unless… he created a permanent two-way Node on the [Grren Plains].
He felt the connection to the other Nexus even now. He didn’t even have to step through the portal. In fact, he tried something, and the portal disappeared. He panicked for a moment as all traces of it vanished, but then it returned with its wooden frame and golden grass.
“The portals aren’t really needed.” He nodded. “Not unless I want them to be.” Just as easily as he stepped out from the plains, he could step in.
That curiosity satisfied, he kept the rift to the [Grren Plains], since he enjoyed the view. His focus was elsewhere though, namely, sleep. He yawned idly, looking around.
Despite the portal, his Nexus was largely blank. It was still home though. That was one thing he never had to worry about. There was always somewhere he could shelter. And now, knowing how his connection to other Nexuses worked, even more so.
Before he knew it, the exertions of the day caught up to him. The moment he made himself comfortable on an empty floor was the exact moment he’d fallen asleep. It wasn’t exactly cozy, but knowing he was safe was enough for his mind to rest, and then moments after, his body too.
He woke up early and stretched. There was no sunrise here in his Nexus, no moon either. Only a simple light that suffused everything. But even without, he could see the sunrise through the [Grren Plains] Node.
He knew instinctually, there was no other portal on the other side, just his anchor. No way something might cross into his Nexus from the plains. He wondered how light passed through for exactly enough time for instinct to war with logic until finally, both gave up.
“A mystery for some other time then.” He said, already focusing on something else.
He now had a total of 30 Nex.
A reward from discovering that [Mushroom Alcove]. He had no references for the valuation of Nex which made it difficult to understand if he held a significant amount or not. The value of the [Lesser Node Crystal] was something he was aware of through an instinct born of his circumstance, not of Nex. He knew its value for a Nexus, how such a crystal helped one grow and explore, but not how much that growth and exploration was valued in Nex.
“I guess the best way would be to just.. browse.” He said after a moment.
The Nexus Shop opened to him.
Welcome to the Nexus Shop!
Here you may buy all manner of Articles! The Nexus Shop offers everything in abundance, drawing directly from the Sea of Chaos, that which all realities float upon.
A selection of various Articles, mundane items, and Nexus Upgrades. It appeared to him as a mental interface, one that was as intuitive as breathing. He could browse for hours if he wanted. However, he already had something in mind.
He immediately found the Skill section, filtering by usefulness in nature. A list of relevant Skills appeared, an increased intuition, prowess, competency, and ease regarding a particular field. He had the vague sense of their immense utility.
He scanned his options. Ideally, he would find something useful for climbing, or something broader. If he wanted to explore the [Mushroom Alcove] perhaps something suited for combat would work as well.
He opened the list and paused. “Expensive.” He said after a moment.
[Walking], [Pathfinding], [Gathering], [Hunting]. They were all simple Skills as far as he could tell. The Rarity of each far below the [Lesser Node Crystal] he had previously purchased. And each was around the same price.
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There was nothing above the Common Rarity. And, checking every other category, he realized it was the same. Not only that, his selection was not exactly as endless as he’d once thought.
He frowned, wondering. Then he sat down, mapping any knowledge he had on the subject. He figured it was long overdue he found out exactly what he did know. He followed every thought he could bait with the word ‘nexus’, tracing them to their source.
It was an endless thread he realized. One with no end or start, one that just was. But, as he focused, thought certain things, and directed his attention, parts of that thread became clear. They lead him, more often than not, to something he didn’t ‘know’, right up until he did.
He opened his eyes.
“The Nexus Shop grows with the Nexus.” He said to himself after a few minutes. That was why nothing was above Common Rarity. Even double-checking, the [Lesser Node Crystal] was not available anymore.
Like him, his Nexus was newly born. Without identity. That was why the Nexus Shop was so barren, his Nexus was plain.
His eyes drifted to the tufts of gold grass around the [Grren Plains] portal. How did a Nexus become like that? How long did something like that take?
He browsed one of the relevant sections.
Nexus Upgrade: [Expansion] (Common)
Type: Basic
Your Nexus expands its border, growing in size in all directions. All parts of the Nexus will enlarge or may otherwise be proportionally displaced as this growth occurs. Expansion may be directed.
Price will increase dependent on Nexus size.
Price: 350 Nex
Nexus Upgrade: [Nodal Connections] (Common)
Type: Basic
Increase the number of Nodes your Nexus can support by one. Your Nexus may connect with an additional foreign Nexus. Node will be empty upon purchase.
Price will increase dependent on current Nodes supported.
Price: 350 Nex
Nexus Upgrade: [Basic Comforts] (Common)
Type: Personal
Furnish your Nexus with basic facilities and amenities. These include mundane furniture and running water among other provisions.
Price dependent on Nexus size.
Price: 100 Nex
He frowned. He couldn’t understand the pricing. These should be relatively cheap considering the upgrades’ dependencies, yet they were all so expensive. Even the [Basic Comforts] upgrade was worth as much as the [Lesser Node Crystal], which meant it was valued the same as a Node’s potential for Nexus growth.
He ran a hand through his hair. He supposed there was no use worrying about something he couldn’t afford. He’d gotten sidetracked.
“Where was I?” He said. “Ah, the alcove.”
He’d been looking for something useful. This time, he filtered by things that he could afford, in addition to his previous search. Most of what he could afford were Items or mundane ones.
Item: [Steel Sword] (Common)
Type: Weapon
A typical handheld weapon. Its edge is sharper than a regular blade. The blade gleams sharply and is able to cut through weak armors and foes alike.
* Increase STR by 1
Price: 15 Nex
Item: [Steel Dagger] (Common)
Type: Weapon
A typical handheld weapon. Its edge is sharper than a regular blade. The blade is suitable for quick movements and fatal strikes, easily hidden in the folds of a robe, the pockets of armor, or an opponent’s back.
* Increase DEX by 1
Price: 12 Nex
Item: [Leather Armor] (Common)
Type: Armor
A set of hide armor capable of turning away weak blows and absorbing stronger ones. It is resistant against bladed attacks, punctures, and stabs.
* Increase CON by 1
Price: 22 Nex
The rest of his choices were in the same vein. He settled for a weapon rather than any armor, figuring that dealing with any threat immediately was better than prolonged suffering of blows. As soon as he made the purchase, a blur of rainbow light enveloped his hand and when it dissipated he was holding a sword.
It didn’t feel as foreign in his grip as he thought it might. The [Steel Sword] felt good. He thought he could even feel his strength increase. A single point to the attribute and he could feel some minute difference in the power of his body.
“Woah.” He said, swinging his weapon. It whistled and cut through the air. “I guess it’s time to get going then.” He glanced at the portal to the [Grren Plains].
Sword in hand, he stepped into the portal. This time he focused on the transition. It was incredibly smooth, but he thought he could sense the moment his body stretched unimaginably. Where his step crossed a distance both unfathomable, and less than the breadth of an atom.
Gnarled wood greeted his feet and a blue sky greeted his eyes. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this view.” He sighed contently. The plains were beautiful.
He glanced over his shoulder, towards the trunk of the tree, and spotted the same hollow, framed by flowers. Now, however, he could more easily spot the mushrooms hiding behind their colors.
The [Mushroom Alcove].
A Dungeon. As before, he tracked what he knew into the recesses of his mind. It was a place of both danger and treasure, peril and riches. That was what had cautioned him initially before he’d even thought of exploring further. A knowledge he didn’t even know he had.
It was the potential for attaining great wealth or untimely death. Dungeons were a practice in risk and reward.
It was still days away from the top of the Grren Tree. He’d be a fool not to explore a potential source of supplies. After all, he’d found both food and water just in the entrance. And judging from the description, he was likely to find Articles too.
Dungeon: [Mushroom Alcove] (Unusual)
Recommended Level: 1-10
Type: Mushroom, Cavern
A hidden alcove rife with mushrooms of all types, sizes, and shapes. A unique environment afforded by the life-giving nature of the Green Tree’s sap. Here, an extremely divergent colony of mushrooms exists, forming artificial sentience.
First Discovery Bonus:
* 20% Increase in emergence rate of mushroom-related Articles
* 30 Nex
He took a breath and turned towards it, then paused. He turned back around and sat down.
“After the sunrise.“ He decided, smiling.