Chapter 14: The Road to the Nexus

The night after our escape from the Forgotten Ruins felt like a silent war. In a corner of the ancient forest, Ember and I put up a tent in a small clearing, where the trees around them had their branches laced at a great height against the moonlit sky, making long shadows in the under bush. I sat on the edge of my bed gazing on the small flickering flame that Ember had been burning with the newberry she lit. My mind wasn't near the fire on the other hand, it long since had left.

A voice and the appeal of the dark power still hung around my mind, unexercisable like a ghost. The promise of power was quite a heady and an intoxicating thought but with the cost at what expense. I trembled at the thought. I had made the right choice and have let that horse take me over.

Ember said oh-so-silently, "You did good." She positioned herself at the far side of the fire so that she could watch it whereas her mind was for me. "Not many lasted up to you.

I didn't say a word for a moment instead, I looked up at the stars that broke through the canopy displaying a plethora of stars. The load of the system, that voice, the narrow escapes, they all pressed on me like a pack of wolves. Wasn't I just a rabbit, after all? There was no logic for me to get involved in something the nature of which I'd never know completely.

"What would've happened?" I asked finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "If I had paid attention to that voice?"

Ember faced me, her eyes revealing no emotion whatsoever. "It would've indeed give you with strength however it is not such a position you have ever experienced so far." "But the cost? Yourself. The corruption of the system is not easy to catch. It not only offers power, it corrupts you. It corrupts the very essence of who you are and turns you into a mere vessel for its desires."

I shivered. For in those whispers I had heard it, the lure,' the horror' this abyss beyond all evils.

"And the Nexus," I asked, changing the line of discussion "What's that you know about it? And why is it that our next step should be that one?"

There was a chill in the air but Ember still managed to feel slightly warm but the embers of fury still lay within her veins. "There this Nexus rests - the heart of the operational machinations of the system. That is the beginning and the end of everything. It is its central point of control, its central point of anything. If we want answers, – true answers to what the system is made of, what it wants – that is where we must go.'

The Nexus. That word was electric to me, dread mixed in. It was the key to everything, no matter what it was. The system's reach was deep, its roots were in every part of this world, and it was the one that twisted life itself. And now, I was finally going to deal with it.

I nodded that I agreed, but it was more for me than for Ember. "Then we head for the Nexus."

[New Quest Activated: Journey to the Nexus]

Travel to the Nexus, the core of the system's power

Prepare for unknown challenges along the way

Uncover the truth behind the system's influence

The system's notification brought with it a sense of familiarity. This is the moment where everything would come to an end. But I amn't naive enough to think it would be easy.

"Rest while you can," Ember said, lying down beside the fire. "The road to the Nexus isn't just long,it's dangerous. Creatures far stronger than what we've encountered roam those lands. We'll need to preserve our strength."

I nodded and settled down, though I can't sleep for a long time. My thoughts were confused because of uncertainty, fear, and a strange excitement. I had always wanted power, and the system had given me a taste of it, but now I wondered if the true test was my will.

As I finally able to sleep into a restless sleep, the shadows in the forest seemed to move of their own accord, whispering promises I tried my hardest to ignore.

The next morning, we set out before the sun had fully risen. The world was cloaked in the soft blues and purples of dawn, and the air was cool, carrying with it the scent of earth. The forest began to thin as we traveled, giving way to vast view of plains and hills. The path to the Nexus was filled with dangers, as Ember had warned, but it was that unknown that made my fur stand on end.

For several hours, we moved in silence, our senses sharp, every crack of a branch or rustle of leaves putting me on edge. But as the sun climbed higher in the sky, the tension of the ruins began to fade, replaced by the vast, open wilderness.

We crossed a rocky ridge, and as we reached the top of the hill, I stopped, my breath catching in my throat. The landscape before us was like nothing I had ever seen. Far in the distance, rising above the horizon, was a massive structure, a dark tower that seemed to touch the very sky, surrounded by clouds and arcs of energy. The Nexus.

"There it is," Ember said, her voice low but filled with desire. "The heart of the system."

I stared at it, a mixture of awe and nervousness building in my chest. It felt like the ground itself was humming with energy, a constant reminder that the system's influence grew stronger the closer we got.

As we descended from the ridge, a distant roar echoed through the air, sending birds scattering into the sky. Ember's ears perked up, her body tensing. "Something's coming," she warned, her voice urgent.

I activated Shadow Domination, readying myself for whatever was approaching. The shadows around me coiled tighter, and my senses sharpened, every detail of the landscape becoming clear.

And then I saw it.

A massive creature, larger than anything I had faced before, barreling toward us from the plains below. Its body was covered in scales, with glowing red eyes and jagged horns that jutted from its head. It moved with terrifying speed, its claws tearing up the earth as it charged.

[System Notification: Apex Predator Detected]

Furyhorn Beast

Level: 12

Status: Hostile

Abilities: Rampage (increases attack speed and power), Armor Plating (reduces physical damage), Berserk Mode (unleashes uncontrollable power when health drops below 50%)

Weakness: Elemental attacks, strategic precision

"This thing is… huge!" I shouted, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Get ready," Ember said, her voice calm but intense. "This isn't like the corrupted beasts. This one's pure, raw power. We'll have to hit it fast and hard, or it'll tear us apart."

I swallowed, forcing down the fear. We had faced strong enemies before, but this was different. The Furyhorn Beast radiated pure, primal strength, and I knew that one wrong move could mean the end for us.

The ground shook as the beast closed in, its eyes locked onto us with deadly intent.

"No time to think. Let's go!" Ember shouted.

I darted to the side, using the shadows to propel myself forward, while Ember took the opposite direction, splitting its attention. The Furyhorn Beast roared, its massive head swinging toward me, but I was ready.

With a surge of energy, I activated Purity Blossom Lamp, the soft glow of light bursting forth from my body. The beast recoiled slightly, its eyes narrowing in irritation, but it wasn't enough to stop its charge.

"Now!" Ember yelled, striking from the side with a flurry of swift slashes.

The beast roared in pain as Ember's claws found the gaps in its armor, but it wasn't done yet. It swung its massive tail, knocking Ember off her feet and sending her crashing into a nearby rock.

"Ember!" I cried, but there was no time to check on her.

The Furyhorn Beast turned toward me, its eyes blazing with fury. It charged again, faster this time, its claws outstretched.

I had one shot.

Channeling every ounce of power I had left, I leaped toward the beast's exposed side, aiming for the small, unarmored spot Ember had revealed.

[Skill Activated: Shadow Strike]

Delivers a powerful blow using the momentum of the shadows.

I struck, my claws sinking deep into the beast's flesh. It let out a deafening roar, thrashing wildly, but I held on, pouring all my strength into the attack.

The beast staggered, its movements growing sluggish as its health dropped below half. Its eyes glazed over with a wild, red fury.

Berserk Mode Activated.

It let out one final, bone-shaking roar, and then its body collapsed with a heavy thud, the ground trembling beneath it.

I stood there, panting, my body trembling from the effort. Ember slowly got to her feet, her side bruised but otherwise unharmed.

"We did it," I breathed, disbelief and relief washing over me.

Ember nodded, her eyes locked on the fallen beast. "But this was just the beginning. The closer we get to the Nexus, the more powerful the enemies will become."

I looked at the distant tower, still looming on the horizon, and a sense of fear into my heart. The road to the Nexus had only just begun, and already, we had faced a deadly foe.

But I knew, deep down, that the real danger was still ahead.

[Quest Update: Journey to the Nexus]

Furyhorn Beast defeated

Continue toward the Nexus.Prepare for even greater threats

With the beast behind us, we pressed on, the weight of the journey ahead heavy on our shoulders.

The Nexus is waiting.