Chương 74: (B2) Chapter 1 - Nexus

High up in the sky floated a massive landmass, its very existence defying gravity as it drifted through open air, carried by currents no one had ever managed to fully understand. It didn't move quickly, nor did it remain still. Instead, it shifted in a slow, endless flow, guided by unseen forces. When people had first arrived on the level, they had searched for answers, throwing every theory they could at it in an attempt to ground the impossible in something logical. Three years later, nothing had changed.

There was still no explanation for why the islands floated, or why there were so many of them scattered across the sky, separated by nothing but open space and the constant pull of the wind. In the end, it was answered with a small shrug and a simple word: Magic. Upon one such 'floating island,' as the system had labeled them, a squirrel stirred within the branches of a tree.

Its nest sat tucked high within one of the city's many elevated gardens, woven between the thick limbs of a carefully grown tree that stood in the middle of a wide park. Stone pathways curved below, winding between trimmed grass, decorative shrubs, and small clusters of trees. The squirrel pushed its way out slowly, stretching along the branch as the morning light spilled across the island. It paused, nose twitching as it tested the air. Then it moved.

At the edge of the branch, it paused, peering out across the park. The city stretched far beyond it. Buildings rose in layered tiers from metals and materials that had no right to be found on a floating island. Bridges arched between sections of the island, some anchored firmly, others suspended by nothing visible at all, hovering in place as if held by the same force that kept the island aloft.

Further out, more floating islands drifted past, some close enough to see movement upon them, others distant silhouettes against the open sky. The squirrel chirped softly to itself. Then it jumped. Its limbs spread, thin membranes stretching between them as it shifted mid-fall, catching an updraft that lifted it. The drop turned into a smooth glide, its path leveling out as it rode the currents that wove invisibly through the city.

It skimmed past another tree, dipped low over a stone path where a few early risers walked below, then climbed again with a flick of its tail. It circled once, then angled toward another perch, landing against the side of a carved stone pillar that rose from the park's edge before climbing upward again. From there, the city revealed itself more fully. Wide streets stretched between districts, filled with movement as people began their day, voices carrying faintly upward in a low, constant murmur.

Market stalls were being set up along one side, while further out, larger structures dominated the skyline—guild halls, towers, and platforms that extended outward toward the edges of the island, some even branching off toward smaller floating masses tethered loosely by bridges or chains. The squirrel watched it all, its head tilting slightly as it took in the motion below. Until a flash of light tore through the park. It was sudden.

Bright enough to cut through the calm of the morning as the air rippled outward from a single point near the center of the grass. The squirrel froze, body going still as its instincts flared, its eyes locked onto the disturbance as the light intensified for a fraction of a second before collapsing inward. As the light faded, an armoured figure had taken its place. He looked around, his giant greatsword strapped to his back, along with a backpack filled with gear.

[Keen Sense] flared on instinct, as the immediate surroundings were laid bare. Ethan turned his head, looking up at the only other resident in the park. A small squirrel stood on a stone platform, its head angled, staring and frozen. When it felt his gaze, the small animal jumped, gliding away with unnatural swiftness. Ethan let out a snort and addressed the notifications waiting for him. Welcome to Level Two: Fractured World. To complete this level, participants must clear ten dungeons or defeat the Sunderer.

Good luck. Ethan nodded. Nothing had changed. But his attention was quickly pulled away as more presences entered his awareness. He turned slightly, angling himself toward the only exit of the park. It didn't take long to piece together the layout. The open field he stood in was enclosed. A low, curved wall separated it cleanly from the rest of the city. There was only one clear way in and out—a gated entrance set into the far side where the path connected to a wider street beyond.

That was where he noticed five people moving toward him from. His helm stayed firmly in place, covering his features and, with it, his age. It was far too annoying dealing with people when they felt he was only a child. The group came into view moments later, stepping through the gate. Their movements were fluid, and Ethan automatically knew they were high leveled. All of them had weapons at their sides. At the center walked a man. He lacked the light armor of the other four.

Instead, he wore something far more out of place—clean, fitted clothing that would have looked more at home back on Earth. A button-up shirt, sleeves rolled neatly, dark pants, polished boots that somehow hadn't picked up a trace of dust. Ethan smiled beneath his helmet. It seemed a familiar face had already shown up. Jake wasn't someone Ethan was deeply familiar with, but he was someone Ethan remembered.

He worked for the Concord, a group who would stay a focal part of the trials and were one of the reasons guilds could coexist. The whole purpose for them was to mediate any problems between guilds, and they did a rather good job of it. The group stopped a few paces away. The guards held their positions to the side of Jake. The man stepped forward. For a moment, he simply looked at Ethan, his gaze lingering on the armour, his weapon and stance.

"Welcome to Nexus," he said, his tone even.

"And welcome to Level Two." Ethan gave a slight incline of his head.

"Glad to be here." He gestured at the group.

"But what's this about?" Jake looked at his guards.

"Don't worry about them. This is just formality."

"You arrived cleanly," he continued, glancing briefly at the ground where the light had been.

"That's always a good sign." His gaze returned to Ethan.

"Standard procedure from here. We just need to get you registered. After that, you're free to move as you please, or I could have someone show you around." Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"I'm fine with that," Ethan answered. After all, he already understood everything that would happen, but unlike last time, he had a much clearer direction. The man's eyes flicked briefly to the helm, then back again, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"If you'd follow me then?" He turned without waiting for a response, already moving back toward the gate as the guards shifted smoothly, falling back into formation around him. His senses spread wide, tracking every movement, every shift in the group around him. They led him through the gates and to a small building beside the fencing. Once inside, Jake took him into a room, where they both sat down as he dismissed the guards. They hesitated for a moment before exiting, leaving Ethan and Jake alone.

"Sorry about that. They can be quite intimidating at times," Jake said. Ethan shrugged, looking at his old acquaintance. The guards were just for show. Ethan knew Jake was a powerhouse in his own right. The Concord held one of the largest dungeons on this level and also had access to most of the others that were under guild control.

"I'm not worried. But before we begin, I have to ask, have you had any other new arrivals in the last day or so?" he questioned, hoping to find some information about Leah. The mirage had a way of warping time. Some people might only be in it for an hour, while others could last weeks on end. The trial was one of self-reflection and of understanding. So it also stood to reason that for some people, it took far longer.

"We have had quite a few people come through. With the news that all of humanity is now in the trials, it sent a wave of newcomers reaching the second level. Especially after finding out the first will be closing, whatever that means." Ethan grunted. It made sense. Like him, people would be wanting to move on and put level one behind them, especially as things grew more and more crowded.

"I'm looking for Leah Carter. She should have arrived within the last few days."

"I'll see what I can do about that. But first, let's get the basics out of the way. If I could get your name, please, and also what guild you're affiliated with," Jake responded. Ethan answered his questions, having no reason to lie about anything. Once he told Jake he wasn't under any guild, but had dealings with the Broken Dawns, Jake readily agreed to set up a meeting with them. For which Ethan was grateful. It would solve his issue of tracking them down and sorting out his storage item.

Jake opened the door, escorting Ethan out and up to the front desk.

"Well, it was a pleasure to meet you. Thanks for making things easy for me." He gestured to the young man at the counter.

"Luke here will see if we can help you find who you're looking for." Ethan nodded. As Jake left, he watched his back for a moment. The man was difficult to read. He came across like a nice guy, but Ethan had seen him tear through monsters and humans alike. The mana reacting around him also had Ethan on edge. Of course, the first person he saw on level two was a tier two core cultivator. The young boy cleared his throat. Ethan turned and again asked about Leah.

The boy nodded, looking through his files of recent arrivals until he nodded, letting Ethan know she had arrived and was currently staying in the residential district. Ethan let out a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing as he realized that meant she had passed the mirage. He thanked the man and exited the small building, the guards standing by the door, watching. Ethan walked through the city alone, ignoring the offer of an escort. He didn't need it.

The layout was already familiar to him, the winding streets and layered structures easy enough to navigate once you understood how the island flowed. More than that, he didn't want the company. Not yet. Not when his thoughts were still turning over everything the mirage had forced him to confront, not when he hadn't fully settled into what came next. That was also why, despite finding out about Leah, he was still heading to the guild first.

The streets were busy, more so than he remembered this early in the cycle, people already moving between districts, some fresh arrivals like himself, others long since settled into the rhythm of the level. Guild banners hung from buildings, marking territory in subtle ways, while conversations drifted through the air. Ethan let it pass over him. His mind was elsewhere. His thoughts lingered on level one. He had done better this time.

He had saved people who would have died before, shifted outcomes that had once been set in stone. But it wasn't enough. The war had still happened. People had still died. And he had still been played. Ethan's jaw tightened slightly as he walked, his gaze fixed ahead.

"Not again," he muttered under his breath. He hadn't seen things coming. Be it Mia or the hidden organisation. He had acted as a chess piece instead of the player. It made him realize strength wasn't enough. If he wanted to make a real difference, he needed to slow down, to think and to plan. He reached the Broken Dawns' guildhall without breaking stride. It wasn't the largest structure in the city, nor the most impressive. The building was clean, well-kept, like the entire city.

Ethan wasn't sure how that was possible. But somehow, the gardens stayed tidy and the grass stayed cut. It was a reminder that Earth was a faraway memory. Ethan pushed the glass door open and stepped inside. The interior was quiet compared to the streets, a controlled calm that came with organization. He didn't get more than a few steps in before someone approached, already waiting for him as expected.

"You must be Ethan," the man said, offering a slight nod.

"We've been told to expect you." Ethan gave a short nod back.

"I'm glad."

"This way," the man continued, gesturing toward the back. Ethan followed. They moved through the building quickly, past open workspaces and smaller rooms where members of the guild were already at work. The man led him into an elevator, and the doors slid shut with a soft hum before they began to rise. Ethan glanced at the man briefly.

"Much word from level one?" The man gave a small huff.

"Let's just say, I'm expecting a few more arrivals in the coming weeks."

"Fair enough." They stepped out onto the top floor, where the space opened up immediately, larger and quieter than the rest of the building. Wide windows stretched across the far wall, giving a clear view over the city and the drifting islands beyond. A man stood behind a desk.

"Ethan," he said as they approached.

"Welcome." Ethan inclined his head slightly.

"You must be the Guild Leader." He was. Ethan knew he was. Tomas was one of the most powerful people on this level, only sitting below the five guild leaders of the most powerful guilds. Ethan, however, couldn't get the slightest feel as to how strong the man was. Which was saying something because he liked to think he had a good read on people. However, rogues had a way of obscuring such instincts.

"I am," the man replied.

"Mia sent word ahead. We're aware of what was promised."

"Good," Ethan said.

"I hope you can deliver?" The guild leader snorted and reached into a drawer, pulling out a necklace and sliding it across the desk toward Ethan. Ethan's eyes flicked to it immediately. Then another item followed—a sigil, placed beside it with deliberate care.

"I've heard of your deeds," the guild leader said.

"Impressive. I'm interested to see what you do next." Ethan stepped forward, picking both items up.

"Guess we'll both find out."

"This," the man said, tapping the sigil, "will allow you to establish your own guild. Though finding a free monolith won't be easy." Ethan huffed quietly.

"Thanks, I'm sure it will all work out." The man's lips twitched slightly. Ethan turned the necklace in his hand.

"And that's the promised storage item." Ethan smiled. A small sense of satisfaction settled in his chest as he clutched it tighter.

"Finally," he muttered. The guild leader raised a brow.

"Been waiting for one?"

"Longer than I should have," Ethan replied. He could finally stop worrying about losing everything if something went wrong. Ethan looked back up at the guild leader.

"Appreciate it," he said.

"I won't stick around any longer." Ethan turned to leave, but the guildmaster cleared his throat, making Ethan pause.

"Mind hearing a proposition?"