Adam’s POV
While my family ruled the underworld mob and groomed me to take the reins one day, I wasn’t exactly thrilled about their grand plan for my life. That’s a story for another day, though. The point is, amidst all that chaos, I was a bit of an outlier. My escape? Games, movies, novels—the whole shebang.
Yep, I was a full-blown gamer.
So instead of freaking out at this bizarre situation, I found myself excited. A stat sheet for myself? Are you kidding? That’s the dream. This was prime protagonist material right here. The idea of evolving into a powerhouse, slinging magic, absorbing knowledge like a sponge, and possibly unlocking unlimited potential? I could practically feel my inner nerd doing cartwheels.
Back in my old world, I used to daydream about having a stat sheet. It’s the kind of thing that fueled endless hours of gaming and theory crafting. And now? Now it was real.
But I wasn’t about to let the hype get to my head—not completely, anyway. Taking a deep breath, I focused on the glowing display in front of me. The stat sheet my Core Nexus was showing deserved my full attention.
Time to see what I was working with.
Overall Stats:
Strength (STR): 6
Vitality (VIT): 5
Endurance (END): 5
Intelligence (INT): 36 (+10)
Dexterity (DEX): 10
Agility (AGI): 10
Wisdom (WIS): 27 (+5)
Charisma (CHA): 8
Metalweaving Mastery (MW): 2
Alchemical Mastery (AM): 32
I was no stranger to the basics—STR, VIT, END, all that good stuff. Those were my bread and butter from countless RPGs. But then my eyes landed on the oddballs: MW and AM.
What the heck are Metalweaving Mastery and Alchemical Mastery supposed to mean?
Especially that AM stat. A solid 32 points? It’s my second-highest stat, barely edged out by my souped-up INT at 36 (+10). If not for that (+10) boost, Alchemical Mastery would be my best stat. But… I have no idea what it actually does.
Does it mean I’m good at crafting potions? Brewing elixirs? Or is it something completely different? If it’s the same alchemy I know from games, I might be in for a treat—alchemy has always been the backbone of breaking games wide open.
I couldn’t help but feel a spark of curiosity. If this stat really was what I thought it might be, things were about to get very interesting.
Lost in thought about these mysterious stats, the sentient core suddenly chimed in, its tone laced with an unusual urgency.
“Detecting an anomaly.”
It sounded kind of panicked, which was unsettling coming from something as calm and robotic as it usually was.
“What’s the matter?” I asked, snapping out of my musings. The stat screen vanished before my eyes.
“I’m detecting another Core Nexus in your Core Nexus area—besides me,” it replied, the urgency in its voice unmistakable.
“Another core?” I echoed, blinking in surprise. “You mean like, another sentient core? One just like you?”
“That is highly unlikely. Let me put it in perspective: this is equivalent to developing a second heart or another brain in your body. It should not be possible.”
“Oh,” I said, finally grasping the weight of the situation. “Okay, now I get why you’re freaking out.”
“Don’t worry,” the core continued, its voice softening slightly. “I’ve analyzed it. It’s an Inert Core Nexus—the kind typically found in newborn babies.”
“So… not dangerous?”
“No, not at all.”
“Is this… like, a normal thing?” I asked, though I already suspected the answer.
“Based on your extensive reading, I can confidently say this is an impossible event. There are only theories about such occurrences, typically involving death, rebirth, or absorbing another soul.”
I froze. “Huh… I see.”
Hold up. Did that core show up because of me? I mean, I did hijack this body, and that matches with her description.
“Um, hey, sentient core?”
“Yes?”
“Let’s not dwell on this new core for now. It’s not hurting us, and who knows? Maybe we can use it somehow—to survive, level up, whatever.”
The core went quiet for a moment. It felt almost like it was thinking.
“Affirmative,” it said at last. “On your command, I will cease pondering the new Core Nexus that developed in your Core Nexus area.”
Good thing she’s basically a sentient A.I. computer. Smart? Sure. But still an A.I., which means I can make her do whatever I want.
As for this new Inert Core? I’d probably care more if I completely understood what a Nexus Core even was. So far, the best I can figure is that it’s like the system those isekai protagonists get—except here, everyone has one.
Side note, that new core is probably the Nexus Core meant for me, not the poor kid whose body I’ve hijacked. Though, I’m only guessing here.
“So, Sentient Core…” I started, then paused. “Actually, scratch that. Let’s give you a name. I don’t want to keep calling you ‘Sentient Core.’ How about… Nove?”
She went silent for a moment, like she was considering it.
“Are you sure you want to name me?” she asked eventually. “You once promised yourself you wouldn’t give me a name until I achieved complete sentience. You believed it would make the moment far more impactful for me.”
Complete sentience? Yeah, that’s not happening anytime soon.
“Look,” I said, shrugging, “it’s quite inconvenient to keep calling you Sentient Core, and Nove just sounds… nice.”
“Affirmative,” she said, her tone steady. “I shall now be called Nove, your Sentient Core.”
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“Great. Nice to meet you, Nove.”
I quickly pivoted back to the other thing that had been bugging me. “Now, about this Inert Core. Is there a way to check it out? You know, like how you showed me your stats?”
“I doubt its stats will be any different from mine,” Nove replied. “The stats displayed are tied to your body, not the core itself. But since everything here is your Core Area, you should be able to access its data just by thinking about it. However I can’t seem to access it.”
“Sooo… I just need to… think about it?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Yes. Focus your thoughts, and the information should come to you.”
Alright then. Inert Core, show me your data!
No sooner had I thought it than a small window popped up in front of me.
Statistics:
- Basic Information:
Name: Adam Vagner
Health Points (HP): n/a
Nexus Energy Points (NEP): n/a
Age: n/a
Gender: n/a
- Overall Stats:
Strength (STR): n/a
Vitality (VIT): n/a
Endurance (END): n/a
Intelligence (INT): n/a
Dexterity (DEX): n/a
Agility (AGI): n/a
Wisdom (WIS): n/a
Charisma (CHA): n/a
Metalweaving Mastery (MW): n/a
Alchemical Mastery (AM): n/a
As expected, this was the Nexus Core of the original me—it even had my name displayed. All other information? Listed as N/A. Probably because I no longer had my original body to tie it to.
“Nove,” I began, still staring at the empty data, “there’s a lot here that doesn’t make sense. Can you give me a general idea about this Core Nexus area and all the stuff you’re showing me?”
“Affirmative,” Nove replied instantly. “If you would like a general overview, I shall begin with your Core Nexus area—”
And that’s when she started. Nove, the all-knowing oracle, launched into what could only be described as an ethereal lecture. Wisdom poured forth like stardust from the heavens, illuminating the intricate wonders of the Core Nexus area, weaving cosmic truths into—
Wait. Why the hell am I thinking like this?
Oh. Right. I’m starving.
Anyway, the Core Nexus area is essentially this mystical space I’m standing in, where everything Nexus Core-related happens. Turns out, it’s housed inside something called the Nexus Crystal—a crystal like substance found in almost all living creatures here. I’m guessing the physiology of people in this world is a little… different from what I’m used to. But hey, whatever works.
Then there’s the Core Nexus itself—the centerpiece of this whole setup and the beating heart of the Core Nexus area. It’s like a personalized upgrade system, letting its user grow however they want. Magical abilities? Check. Mythical techniques? Double-check. It even grants access to two disciplines: metal weaving and alchemy.
Now, metal weaving? That’s where things get really interesting. It’s the art of shaping the environment to fulfill your needs. Want a sword? You can literally craft one out of dirt, stone, wood, or even water by pulling energy from nearby sources. Need a machine to refine materials for you? Easy. Dreaming of your very own robot maid? Boom, consider it done.
But that’s not all. There’s a treasure trove of fantasy materials in this world, capable of manipulating everything from fire, water, earth, and air to more exotic elements like sound, light, cosmic energy—even the souls of living creatures. The possibilities are practically limitless.
As for alchemy? Well… I wasn’t paying much attention to that part. I was too busy geeking out over the endless potential of metal weaving. Still, from what I gathered, alchemy’s all about shaping yourself. It’s tied to manipulating your Core Nexus, fiddling with core nodes, assigning stat points, and tweaking your body to suit your needs.
Sounds useful. But let’s be honest—robot maids and instant swords had already stolen the show.
But, a long story short, Metal weaving is about shaping the outside, and Alchemy is about shaping the inside.
Nove also filled me in on some other cool features, like internal storage—which is just a fancy way of saying everyone’s got their own personal inventory. Handy, right? Then there are Core Nodes, which are basically mini Core Nexus units that grant abilities and boost your stats. Think of them as the armor or accessories you equip in video games to level up your character.
So, metal weaving and alchemy are like two entirely different beasts, each with its own bag of tricks. Hundreds of techniques to master. Want to craft a sword made of water? You'll need a completely different skill set than forging one from metal. But let's park that thought for now, 'cause we've got a couple of pressing matters on the table.
First off, my frail, newly-acquired body is still chilling in that cave, and Nove's throwing warnings about possible monsters lurking nearby. Not exactly my idea of a welcoming committee. Second—and more urgently—I'm starving. And when I say hungry, I mean I'm one stomach growl away from considering moss as a viable snack.
"Nove, is there any food in that internal storage you mentioned?" I asked, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice.
"Apologies, but I had to utilize all available resources in the storage to ensure your survival," she replied.
Well, isn't that just peachy.
"Alright then, Nove, can you get me out of the Core Nexus area? I really need to get out of this cave ASAP."
"Affirmative."
For a moment, it felt like I was freefalling through the cosmos. Then, with a jarring snap, I was back in the dark, frigid cave.
Groaning, I scrambled to my feet and scanned my surroundings. The faint light from the hole above had vanished, leaving the cave bathed in a shadowy gloom. My eyes, thankfully accustomed to the darkness, picked out a narrow opening in the cave wall leading downward.
“Nove,” I started, glancing up at the impossibly high ceiling, “remember when you said metal weaving could tweak my surroundings? Can’t we… I don’t know, make a mega ladder or something and climb out of here?”
“Impossible,” she replied bluntly. “For two reasons: First, we have no materials left, meaning you’d need to rely on the dirt and stone nearby. Second, your skill in metal weaving is so underdeveloped that the best structure you could create would be a dirt step stool barely capable of supporting your weight. Furthermore, your limited knowledge of metal weaving techniques makes their application extremely inefficient.”
“Damn,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. “Had a feeling, but damn.”
I sighed, replaying what I already knew. Max stat points were capped at a hundred, and my Metalweaving Mastery was a whopping 2/100. Alchemy was a lot better at 32/100, but I still had no idea what to do with those numbers. Maybe later I’d have time to crack that code, but for now? Survival was priority number one. And my stomach, growling loud enough to echo in the cave, was making damn sure I didn’t forget it.
I stared up outside the hole, staring at the twinkling stars in the space above, planning a way out while my stomach gave another desperate growl, as if it had front-row seats to a feast I wasn’t invited to.
The hunger was getting real. But you know what? An idea sparked in my ravenous brain.
“Nove,” I said, my tone a little too hopeful, “you mentioned monsters might be lurking in this cave, right? Are they, you know… edible?”
“Yes,” Nove confirmed, “not only are they edible, but monster parts are a treasure trove for both alchemy and metal weaving.”
I could wrap my head around the alchemy bit—using monster parts to whip up potions and such—but metal weaving? That one caught me off guard.
“Explain,” I said, curious. “How do monster parts factor into metal weaving?”
“A skilled metal weaver can integrate monster parts into their creations, infusing the attributes of the monster into the final product,” Nove explained matter-of-factly. “For example, a blade crafted from venomous creature materials could ooze poison, while a weapon incorporating mantis scythe parts might generate sharp wind pressure at the user’s whim.”
Magic weapons!? My eyes practically sparkled. “That’s incredible!”
But then I caught her tone. “Let me guess… I’m not remotely qualified to use monster parts for weapons yet, am I?”
“Affirmative,” she replied without hesitation.
God damn it.
“Well, as long as I get something to eat, I don’t mind,” I muttered, trying to console myself. Skills could come later—if I didn’t starve first.
“I’d advise against it,” Nove interjected. “Your weak and fatigued state, combined with the lack of weaponry, would make fighting monsters unwise.”
“Then teach me how to do metal weaving!” I said, hope flickering back to life. “A makeshift weapon would at least give us a fighting chance.”
“Affirmative.”
Oh man. Hunger might be sucking the enthusiasm out of my voice, but inside? I was over the moon. The idea of manipulating physical objects to my needs—metals, monster parts with special powers—was like Christmas came early.
My mind raced with possibilities. Future me could be crafting weapons that distort space and time. Guns that shoot energy waves or swords that summon storms.
And the best part? No more playing lackey in some mobster family. This was my life now. My rules. My destiny.
There was no way I wasn’t thrilled, even if my stomach growled like it had other priorities.