Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Nexus Of Creation
In the vast expanse of the ocean, there lies a medium-sized island, isolated and serene, with nothing but the sound of waves crashing against its shores. At the very center of the island stands a single wooden house, weathered by time but sturdy, nestled among towering trees and overgrown plants. The house belongs to Azure, a seventy-year-old man whose silver hair is thinning and whose face is lined with the marks of a long life lived. He has just arrived at the island, a legacy left to him by his parents, a piece of the world they once called home.
Azure sits in a weathered armchair on the porch, gazing out at the peaceful horizon. His eyes, though tired, still carry a glimmer of vitality. His heart is heavy with memories but light with the decision he's made. This island is where he has chosen to spend the rest of his days, away from the noise of the world. Here, the whispers of the ocean and the rustle of leaves are his only companions.
The air is warm, and the day moves lazily forward. The sun hangs high in the sky, bathing everything in a golden glow. Azure closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, the salty air filling his lungs.
"So, this is it," he mutters to himself, his voice raspy but calm. "This is where I'll stay till I die. Just me and this island."
The tranquility feels eternal, and Azure lets his mind wander, embracing the stillness. But then, something changes. A sudden streak of white light cuts through the sky, so fast that Azure barely registers it. Before he can even react, the light pierces his forehead, sharp and cold.
"Wh—" Azure tries to speak, but the words catch in his throat.
A searing pain erupts in his head, like nothing he has ever felt before. His hands shoot up to clutch his skull, but there is no relief. The pain is all-consuming, blinding, unbearable. His vision blurs, and for a moment, the world tilts.
"What… what is this?" he gasps, his voice trembling.
In the midst of the agony, a voice—clear, cold, and devoid of emotion—echoes in his mind.
"Found a compatible host. Initiating fusion of the system."
The words don't make sense to him. His heart pounds, and he tries to fight back against the overwhelming sensation, but his body betrays him. His knees buckle, and the world spins faster.
"Wh-what… fusion?" Azure mumbles, confused, his voice slurring as darkness pulls at the edges of his consciousness.
The pain intensifies, pressing against his skull like it's going to split open. His breath comes in shallow gasps as his vision dims, the world slipping away.
"Stop… please…" he whispers, but it's no use. The pain swallows him whole, and with one final surge of unbearable heat, everything goes black.
Azure's body crumples to the floor, motionless. The island is silent once more, save for the soft sigh of the ocean and the whisper of the trees.
A couple of hours later, Azure stirs, the feeling of hard wood beneath him grounding him back to reality. His head throbs, but the searing pain from before has dulled to a heavy ache. Slowly, he opens his eyes. The sunlight has softened as the day slips into evening. His mind is clouded, as if he's emerging from a long, fevered dream.
He groans as he pushes himself up, rubbing his temples, trying to make sense of what just happened. The porch around him is the same, the quiet island unchanged. But the memory of that blinding light, the pain… It's too real.
"What the hell just happened?" he mutters under his breath, his voice shaky.
Suddenly, a voice—cold, precise, and unmistakably not his own—resonates inside his head.
"Host, you only have a year left of your life. If you don't want to die, please start to create a civilization and breakthrough to a higher lifeform."
Azure freezes, his heart hammering in his chest. His hand grips the arm of the chair as he struggles to comprehend what he just heard. His lips part, but no words come. Did he… did he just hear a voice in his head telling him he has one year left to live? And what was that about creating a civilization?
His thoughts spin wildly as he tries to piece it together. The voice had sounded so… mechanical, detached. It wasn't his mind playing tricks. Something had spoken to him.
Azure's throat is dry, but he forces out the words. "Who—who are you? And what do you mean I only have one year left in my life?"
There's a brief silence, as though the presence in his mind is processing his question. Then, the voice returns, calm and methodical.
"Host, let me introduce myself. I am, Nexus of Creation, a system that aids its host in creating a civilization. As for your life expectancy, since we have already fused, I can sense that your current lifespan is limited to one year."
Azure's mouth falls open. The world around him seems to blur for a moment, as if his reality is tilting off its axis. Nexus of Creation? Civilization? One year left? None of this makes any sense, but the certainty in the voice feels all too real. He swallows hard, the weight of the words pressing down on him.
His voice comes out hoarse, barely above a whisper. "I only have a year…?"
The Nexus continues, as indifferent as before. "Correct, Host. To extend your life, you must initiate the process of creating and advancing a civilization. Through this process, you will undergo necessary evolutions, allowing you to break through to a higher lifeform and surpass your current limitations."
He closes his eyes, trying to calm his racing thoughts. "Why me? Why now?" he asks, though he's not sure he even expects an answer. His life had been quiet for so long, unremarkable, and now this.
The Nexus's voice remains steady, unaffected by the turmoil in Azure's mind. "You were chosen because you possess the qualities needed for this task. The system seeks compatibility, and you have been found suitable. Time, however, is not on your side. You must act swiftly."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone