Daniel and Mira emerged from the blinding light into an entirely alien realm. The air—or what passed for it in this surreal space—was thick with energy, each breath laden with the weight of unspoken truths. Around them, the landscape pulsed and shifted, an ever-changing tapestry of luminous fractals, shimmering mists, and spiraling voids. It was as if they had stepped into the mind of the Nexus itself.
The system's voice echoed in their minds, its tone colder and more mechanical than usual:
[Welcome to the Nexus Core.]
[Field Effects Active: Absolute Perception Distortion, Temporal Flux.]
Daniel grimaced as his senses seemed to blur and sharpen in unpredictable waves. Time itself felt unsteady here—moments stretched into eternities or flickered past in an instant. He steadied himself, his hand gripping his blade tightly.
Mira swayed slightly but remained upright. "This place… it's alive. It's watching us."