No one said that crossing a wasteland was supposed to be an easy task. My feet are killing me, and the mountains still look as far and distant as I remember.
But again, humans weren't born to exist in such worlds, so I kind of understand why I am feeling like this.
Snap!
The annoying noise of my fingers snapping rattled my ears once again. And once again, nothing happened. The shimmering white energy known as star ether had failed to manifest again.
Crap. I thought I had it this time, just like the fifteen times before this one.
I try again, this time feeling more desperate. It pained me that I was trying this hard for something all carriers of the system should have.
We are educated that this damn energy is a gift to all who challenge nexus events. It also fuels all the flashy, magical abilities Nexus beings have.
However, because I am a dormant carrier of the system, star energy is useless to me without anything to channel it.
Snap!
I try again. And this time, I feel it. A weak spark of energy crackling at the tip of my fingers.
Finally, maybe I am not a good-for-nothing after all.
Now with that settled, I have to find a magic item to channel it with. A weapon-type magical item would've been nice. You know, for protection and stuff. But my body wasn't in the right shape to wield magical items. You see, when one consumes a potion, they're supposed to receive a unique body to make it easier for them to channel star ether directly.
I consumed the potion, of course. Endured the pain of forced evolution. But the results were terrible. I am only five percent stronger than your average male. Which is not enough to endure the powerful backlash that comes from channeling star ether.
In other words, I could die if I tried using those flashy magic attacks. Therefore, according to the facility protocol, I was not allowed to use magic weapons of any sort. They constantly warned me about it and told me that I would explode into bits once I tried channeling even once.
I don't believe that. Not until I see it myself.
The universe works in mysterious ways. And I was praying the system would reward me with a magical weapon without having to fight some monstrosity. But the system doesn't work like that. I can't just be rewarded without doing anything.
Also, I don't have that type of luck.
Still, I better find a weapon of some sort because I will soon be out of this territory. The sky is a good thing, but I can tell my strength is falling much faster than before.
It seems the enzymes are getting better at consuming me. I don't think I have days anymore.
Knowing that, I move faster and continue walking for a few more hours before I finally see what might be a blessing in disguise. It's a monolithic black tree clawing at the ugly sky as though trying to defend itself somehow from the inevitable. It's the largest tree, probably the oldest tree here. The blessing I am talking about is what's lying under its shadow: a large, colossal skeleton of a long-dead beast.
This is it. My only chance at getting myself a weapon.
I run towards it and quickly start searching for bone pieces large enough for me to carry and strong enough to work as a weapon.
The beast's bones are surprisingly sturdy for something that was drained of its flesh and life force. It would've been better if it had been a magical beast because then I could use its bones to "attempt" channeling. But it isn't, and that's a bummer. I checked its skull area, and the teeth weren't consumed already by the ash. I thought it was all good until I touched the surface, and the entire tooth cracked and shattered.
Seeing no luck there, I moved to the ribcage area. The ribs were curved and jagged like the broken arches of a ruined cathedral. They jutted from the ground in a yawning cage, turning into a horrifying scene, to be honest.
I was fascinated by the fact that something this big had died in a place like this. Was it injured and thought it was safe under this weird tree, or?
I looked at the creature above me. The sky hadn't changed. I finally found what I'm looking for: a sturdy rib that has more cracks than the rest. This is what I wanted to make my weapon out of.
I scan the surface with my fingers and quickly find the weak spot I'm looking for. I'm excited. "I can break this."
I then mark the weakest point of the rib and pull back my already clenched fist. I forced out the little Star Ether I could call out without exploding and threw my fist forward as soon as I felt a random surge of strength.
There was a loud boom, and the cracks on the white bone grew like spiderwebs. Then, the white bone started breaking down and collapsing into splinters of white bone.
I scoff after seeing the damage. "And they say being five percent stronger than a human is weak."
I picked up the better pieces and carved out a spear. The whole process took me about two hours. But I manage to make myself a metre-long weapon using the white bone.
[You have acquired a new item, Mountain's Spear]
[Item Description: I will only cut for the dragons. I owe them my life and will continue serving them even in death.]
[You do not have enough Nexus Points to upgrade this to Nexus Weapon]
'Nexus Points?' I didn't know what that meant. But I knew it was significant.
I stare at the Mountain's spear. Then to the skeleton. Was this a coincidence? I think not. The rules of Nexus Events lean more towards luck and skills. Then again, I am dragon enough to be recognized by the Emperor of Noon.
I summon the system window once again. This time, my eyes move to the inventory section.
Inventory: [Mountain's spear]
I focus on the item displayed, and the window expands.
Abilities: [The Item isn't registered as a Nexus Weapon]
Item Description: [I will only cut for the dragons. I owe them my life and will continue serving them even in death.]
Nexus Points: [0/100]
**Weapon is only usable to those on the Dragon Pathway**
"The Dragon Pathway," I mutter after seeing the special note at the end of the system window. "So that's why I was recognized."
I am not a full dragon, but I am on the path to becoming one. That's what the system saw me as. To it, I am transforming into a dragon.
I close the system window and decide to give the spear a few test swings. It cuts through the air perfectly, and its weight…surprises me even more. It's very light, meaning it won't slow me down when I fight, and it feels good in my hands despite the rough structure. This was Mountain accepting me as a dragon.
I smile, "If I get Nexus Points, I will be able to unlock your abilities." I was a bit happy that I made a weapon, and the system acknowledged it.
Now that I have a weapon, I am ready for the mountains and what awaits me ahead. I am a level two weapons master, by the way. Its not something I should brag about because it's considered mediocre to be at level two.
But I can fight and hold my own against a mindless enemy. Someone tactical and experienced might give me a hard time. But that doesn't mean I can't win.
***
Soon, the terrain starts to change a little as I continue following a straight path. The falling ash also gets less and less, and the air becomes cooler.
They were weak, but I also felt the cold wind gusts blowing in my direction to tell me that I am heading in the right direction. I hadn't come across anyone or a corpse of someone from Bloodhaul.
This could mean that I am the only one who was sent here. This was definitely Dr. Wall's work. He sent me here on purpose. He knew that the Mountain's Beast's bones were here and that it was connected with the Dragons somehow.
Shit. Shit. Shit
I am unknowingly playing within his expectations. That f**king bastard was still controlling me despite being realities apart.
"I hope he doesn't have some contingency plan that brings me back to life."
I am sure that Wall is a nexus being. Everything about him screams different. And not just because of the weird beard, its entire presence that he works so hard to suppress.
I don't know why, but I've always been able to sense that presence. I think it's because I am different from the others. I can feel things others can't. Maybe that's why they think I'm crazy for not liking the doctor.
The trees eventually get fewer, and the sky is getting less and less grey. The ash has reduced, and my strength is no longer falling.
I am starting to feel tired. That means I've been moving for more than twenty-four hours. The maximum limit of full functionality for a clone without any rest is thirty hours. I am supposed to start feeling the fatigue six hours before my limit.
But I don't think that's the case. I think this tiredness is coming from being under the sky for too long. So it hasn't been twenty-four hours yet.
Regardless, my physical functionality hasn't fallen greatly, yet. And the toxic air hasn't done that much either. I can still fight as long as my head is still straight.
As soon as I made it to the end of the woods, I sensed a shift in the atmosphere. The air turned cold. Everything beyond the creepy forest was covered in white fog.
I take the first step forward.
[You have survived the first part of the Event]
'What a smooth first ride.'
I turn to the mountains ahead. Ivy mentioned that most of the mountains on Beta 3 hover in the air due to the unique magnetic fields around them.
According to Ivy, the facility is located on one of the floating Mountains of Beta 3.
I've never seen a mountain, of course. I heard the ones on Eden do not float. They're beautiful and green with white snow on the peaks.
This one, though, resembled a giant obsidian shadow that stretched up to the skyline. Maybe it touched it. I couldn't tell because of the thick fog that created a boundary in the sky.
And then, an ominous feeling settled down on me. It's coming from the mountains. I grip my spear more as I stare at them.
'Maybe I should die from there.'