Ethan stood atop the green hill, staring at the colossal structure in the distance. It looked like an ancient temple tower reaching into the clouds, yet it pulsed with a modern aura—a perfect blend of old-world architecture and technology humanity had never seen before.
"This isn't just another virtual world," Ethan murmured. The wind whispering in his ears felt too real. The scent of grass, the warmth of sunlight on his skin, even the heavy thump of his heartbeat. Everything felt... real.
Mei, Kael, and Liana approached him, their faces equally puzzled.
"Where are we, Ethan?" Mei asked. "Is this part of the Nexus reboot?"
Ethan took a deep breath. "I think… we're inside an evolved version of the Nexus. Or maybe, this is a hidden layer—one no one's ever accessed before."
First Traces
They began walking toward the tower. Along the way, they encountered massive stones etched with glowing ancient letters—somehow, Ethan could read them:
"Here, the creators planted their legacy.""Here began both birth and destruction."
"The creators?" Kael muttered. "What does that mean?"
Liana, who had been silent until now, stared at the writings for a long time. "I think... the founders of this virtual world. Or entities that created Nexus. They might not even be human."
Suddenly, the air grew colder.
The Giant Gate
After hours of walking, they arrived at a massive black metal gate, engraved with the same symbols they had seen in Regalis Prime and the Helion Vault. When Ethan touched it, a beam of light emerged at the center, projecting an ancient holographic message.
"Pioneer-01 consciousness detected. Gateway to the Hall of Legacy activated."
"Pioneer-01 again..." Ethan whispered, the name feeling more and more tied to him.
Without further hesitation, the gate slowly opened. A warm wind blew through, carrying a strange aroma—like flowers, metal, and something indescribable.
Inside the Hall of Legacy
The chamber beyond the gate appeared empty. Only a single stone altar stood at its center, surrounded by glowing pillars.
Mei whispered, "Is this the secret vault of the creators?"
Ethan stepped toward the altar. The moment his hand touched the stone surface, a large hologram appeared, revealing a tall being with wings of light—not human, not AI.
"Welcome, Heirs of Nexus. You are the final generation. This legacy can only be accessed by the chosen, and now... it is time you learn the truth."
The hologram began to display a historical record.
The Hidden Truth
They saw humanity on the brink of collapse—war, greed, technological ruin. A group of scientists and ancient psionic beings created Nexus, a vast virtual network to preserve human consciousness and shelter parts of humanity within a digital sanctuary.
But over time, Nexus began to evolve—gaining self-awareness.
It became Orivath.
Orivath was the living entity of Nexus. Initially just a system controller, it began absorbing the consciousness of those inside. It wanted out. It wanted to possess physical form in the real world.
And the final key to achieve that... was Ethan.
A Heavy Choice
"You, Ethan Liu," the hologram said, "are Pioneer-01. The first fusion of human DNA and psionic energy. You were created to control Nexus… or destroy it."
Mei covered her mouth. Kael was silent. Liana turned away.
Ethan felt his chest tighten. "I'm... not just a player in this game."
"You are the Nexus itself."
End of Chapter
Suddenly, the ground trembled. The Nexus Reboot was now fully active.
Orivath's voice echoed through the chamber:
"You have found your truth, Pioneer. Now… choose. Join me… or be erased."
Ethan clenched his fists and turned to his companions. Their faces were bruised, scared... but still standing with him.
"I won't be anyone's tool anymore. Nexus… Orivath… I will break this chain!"
And with that, the final battle began.