[Name: Ash]
[Nexus: The Carrier]
[Rank: Primor]
[Nexus Abilities: Telekinesis]
[Defiance: Yet to be awakened]
[Quirk: Yet to be awakened]
[Ember: None]
[Quest: ■■'s Request]
Scanning his status in a single glance, Ash asked the Imp to explain his Nexus ability to him. Soon, the knowledge flooded his brain.
[Nexus: The Carrier]
[Nexus Description: Did you find any purpose? She said there is no salvation in this treacherous existence, and you denied, saying hope will prevail. Do you still carry those words?]
[Nexus Rank: Exist]
Unlike the quest log, the description was small and to the point. And Ash understood every word of it.
/The world wouldn't give us anything just because we ask… There is no salvation for us. Either we steal from them or die trying. That's who we are… Ash. So rise and show them what they deserve./
Ash could still vividly remember this conversation he had with Jenna. He remembered how he had argued with her about the difference in their ideologies.
That time he was hellbent on proving that his philosophy was right… But now that he was ready to accept his defeat, she was no more.
His heart stung sharply, the floodgate of memories rushing, but he moved his attention toward the Imp sitting on his shoulder.
Sighing, he took a deep breath and asked the little guy.
"How is the Nexus decided?"
[I don't know.]
The Imp shrugged his shoulders, denying any sort of knowledge about the workings of the Beyond.
'Huh! What am I even asking… It's clearly written why I got it.'
Deep down, Ash knew why he had been awakened with this Nexus; he just didn't want to accept it. And the more he would run from it, the more it would haunt him.
Nodding, he moved ahead and asked Imp about something else.
"What is this rank thing… can you explain them.'
[Happy to help… The ranks are the level your Nexus is at and a sort of restriction placed on you to stop you from carelessly starting the trial for your ascendancy. To move from Primor to the Seeker, you have to first increase the rank of your Nexus from Exist to Grow.]
[In simple words, comprehend your nexus, get an ability, and take the trial and repeat the cycle.]
'Will every trial be something like this…'
If the answer were to be a yes, Ash didn't want to go through this anymore. This much trauma was enough for him.
[Time will tell…]
But to his surprise, Imp refused to give any answer.
'Oh! Is that so… hmm! Can you tell me the rank of Nexus then…'
[It's Exist, Grow, Bond, Manifest, Control, Evolve, Unbind, Acceptance, and Transcendence.]
From the names alone, it was clear what was to be done in each of the steps, so Ash didn't linger much on this and moved toward his actual rank.
'Can you explain to me about the rank then? I'm Primor. I heard there are Seekers and Tyrants. Is that the end of it, or are there more… How can I move up this ranking?'
Ash heard a snap, and a series of translucent panels appeared before him, each providing a different type of information.
[Rank: Primor]
[Rank Description: You like everything else is a spark left of the primordial, ready to embark on its own path.]
[trial: A trial awaits you, but before that, grow yourself.]
[trial Status: Undergoing]
[Growth: 0%]
'Spark… hmm! So, are there really gods or some ancient beings?'
Even though he had met one, there was a lingering doubt in his mind. But reading the description, things made more sense to him.
As Ash's thoughts wandered in the direction of these ancient beings, he asked a question.
'Hey, Imp, the god I met, was he a primordial as well?'
[The information is restricted. Please increase your nobility to access the answer.]
Instead of any answer, he heard some sort of mechanical prerecorded words. Reading the word nobility, he couldn't help but furrow his brows.
'No matter where I go, this hierarchy wouldn't leave me…' Shaking his head, he looked at the Imp as his initial question hadn't been answered.
[Well, the rank is like this. You start at nothing… mortal is what that is called. Awakening the spark, you become Primor, then comes Seeker, Tyrant, Conqueror, Paragon, herald… beyond that is the information you are not permitted.]
Because Imp had explained the Nexus rank without any hitch, Ash was surprised that the information about even the rank was restricted.
'So, I'm at the bottom of the ranks at the moment?'
[That would be mortals… but yes.]
'Can you at least tell me how many more ranks there are above the herald?'
Ash asked, hoping for something, but Imp just shook his head.
'Fine…'
'Then how can I move in the rank… There is this trial thing, but it mentions that I have to grow before that. What is this growth that it mentioned?'
[It is the soul essence you have accumulated. There are two ways to accumulate it: killing a human and getting a fraction of their soul essence, or killing corrupted beings and absorbing their core.]
'Well… It's pretty straightforward, more so than I expected…' Ash nodded and asked Imp to explain his abilities to him.
[Telekenesis: You control an unseen force to do your bidding.]
'Not bad… it seems…' Imagining some practical use of the power, Ash asked how to activate the skill.
[You just willed and it shall be activated.]
'As simple as that..'
Realizing that he didn't have to learn some ancient technique, breathing exercise or spend years training just to access this power, Ash felt a bit relieved.
Activating it for the first time, he closed his eyes and tried to maintain the concentration. Soon, a map of the surroundings formed in his mind, and he felt connected with all of them.
The feeling was something as if a new organ had grown out of his body, an extension of himself that was then connected with all of his surroundings.
Opening his eyes, Ash looked at Imp resting upon his shoulder and tried to lift him into the air.
Sipping past his clutches, the Imp murmured, not impressed.
[You won't be able to catch me.]
'Huh!! Fine…' Smiling Ash was about to use it on the other prisoner to test its limitation when a voice echoed in the surroundings.
"Hehe!!... Be prepared, it's time for you to dance…"
'Huh?'
Confused, Ash turned left, beyond the steel bars, from the darkness, a voice was calling.
"Noo… I don't want to go. Spare me."
"Give us some time to heal… please, I beg of you."
"I will perform well this time… ughhh.."
As if knowing what was to come, his prisonmates began whimpering, begging to be left alone.
Tak! Tak!
But, the sound of someone getting closer increased little by little, paying no attention to their heading.
Author Note: Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed the chapter, please add it to your Library, leave a comment, and vote with your Power Stones. Your support means a lot! Love you all byee~~