**Chapter 2 — The Nexus**
Icarus Grimm remained on one knee for several seconds.
His heart was still racing.
Even though the overwhelming presence had disappeared, the memory of those eyes still lingered in his mind.
Nihyron.
Slowly, he stood up and looked around.
The world was silent again.
Mountains stretched across the horizon.
A calm river flowed quietly nearby.
Strange fruit-bearing trees swayed gently in the wind.
An untouched world.
But something had changed.
A dark interface floated before his eyes.
Its symbols glowed faintly, pulsing like a living thing.
Then a voice echoed inside his mind.
**[Greetings, Master.]**
Icarus blinked.
"…Master?"
**[Affirmative.]**
**[The Nexus has successfully integrated with its designated Master: Icarus Grimm.]**
He crossed his arms slightly.
"So you're the Nexus."
**[Correct, Master.]**
**[The Nexus System was created by Nihyron.]**
**[My purpose is to assist Master.]**
A panel appeared before him.
---
**[NEXUS INITIALIZATION COMPLETE]**
Name: **Icarus Grimm**
Race: **Voidborne**
Status: **Successor**
Authority: **Fragment Bearer (Dormant)**
System: **The Nexus**
---
Icarus's gaze stopped on the second line.
"…Voidborne?"
**[Affirmative, Master.]**
**[Master's true race is classified as Voidborne.]**
"I thought I was human."
**[Master was raised among humans.]**
**[However, Master was created by Nihyron.]**
**[Master's existence originates from Void Authority.]**
The words lingered in the air.
Voidborne.
Not human.
Something else entirely.
Icarus took a slow breath.
"…So what does that change?"
The interface shifted slightly.
---
**[RACIAL PRIVILEGE DETECTED]**
Race: **Voidborne**
Privilege: **Void Dominion**
---
"Explain."
**[Void Dominion is a racial privilege granted to Voidborne beings.]**
Another panel unfolded.
---
**Void Dominion — Effects**
• Creatures born from the Creator's Dimension recognize Master as an entity connected to the Void.
• **Monsters will remain naturally passive toward Master.**
• Monsters will **not attack Master unless provoked.**
• Hostile intent toward Master is significantly suppressed.
• Higher-tier monsters may recognize Master as a **superior existence**.
---
Icarus stared at the window.
"So monsters won't attack me."
**[Correct, Master.]**
**[Unless Master initiates hostility.]**
He thought for a moment.
"That's… useful."
**[Affirmative.]**
**[However, this privilege does not apply to humans, gods, devils, or other intelligent participants.]**
Icarus smirked faintly.
"Of course."
Then another thought crossed his mind.
"If everyone here has a system… do I level up like them?"
The Nexus responded instantly.
**[Negative, Master.]**
"…Negative?"
**[The leveling system does not apply to Master.]**
Another window appeared.
---
**[SYSTEM NOTICE]**
Standard Leveling System: **Disabled**
Reason: **Existence Classification — Irregular**
---
"Explain."
**[All other participants evolve through the Creator's System.]**
**[They gain levels, skills, and abilities through combat and survival.]**
Another line appeared.
**[Master does not belong to that system.]**
Icarus stayed silent.
**[Master is the successor of Nihyron.]**
The interface shifted again.
---
**[VOID AUTHORITY DETECTED]**
Title Acquired: **Ruler of the Voids**
---
For a moment, the air around him felt heavier.
Ancient.
Endless.
As if the darkness between galaxies had acknowledged him.
Icarus stared at the title.
"Ruler of the Voids…"
**[Confirmation, Master.]**
**[This authority originates from Nihyron.]**
**[Master will evolve through Void Authority instead of levels.]**
Another window appeared.
---
**[VOID EVOLUTION SYSTEM]**
Progression Method: **Authority Expansion**
Source of Power: **Void**
Growth Type: **Adaptive Evolution**
---
Icarus exhaled slowly.
"So everyone else climbs levels…"
"And I evolve differently."
**[Correct, Master.]**
Then Icarus asked another question.
"What exactly is the purpose of this world?"
The Nexus responded.
**[This dimension is the private dimension of the Creator.]**
Another panel appeared.
---
**[CRUCIBLE DIRECTIVE]**
Goal: **Become the Creator's Fragment**
---
"The Creator's Fragment…"
**[Confirmation.]**
**[The Creator's Fragment does not currently exist.]**
**[This event exists to create it.]**
Icarus narrowed his eyes.
"So whoever survives everything becomes it."
**[Correct, Master.]**
**[The being who becomes the Creator's Fragment will surpass the Creations.]**
Even the beings who shaped universes.
Creations.
Yet something stronger was meant to be born here.
Icarus crossed his arms.
"Do the others know this?"
**[Negative.]**
**[Only Master has been informed of the true objective.]**
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"So everyone else is playing the wrong game."
Before Nexus could respond—
A voice suddenly echoed across the entire world.
Not only inside his mind.
But everywhere.
Across mountains.
Across forests.
Across deserts.
Across the endless dimension.
---
**[GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENT]**
Welcome, participants.
You have entered the **Creator's Dimension**.
Survival is now your primary objective.
All participants have been restored to optimal physical condition.
Participants will **not age** within this dimension.
Death can occur **only through external causes**.
Food sources have been distributed across all biomes.
The nearest participant is located approximately **one kilometer away**.
---
The voice paused.
Then continued.
---
**[WARNING]**
Monsters will begin appearing throughout the dimension in **30 days**.
Prepare accordingly.
---
The announcement faded.
Silence returned.
Icarus looked toward the horizon.
"…Thirty days."
**[Confirmation, Master.]**
"Enough time to prepare."
He spoke again.
"Nexus. Show me my abilities."
The interface shifted.
Dark symbols flickered across it like fragments of a forgotten language.
Then a new window appeared.
---
**[ABILITY WINDOW — NEXUS]**
Name: **Icarus Grimm**
Race: **Voidborne**
Title: **Ruler of the Voids**
Evolution Path: **Void Authority**
Abilities:
• **Adaptive Resonance**
• **Eyes of Nihyron (Dormant)**
---
Icarus focused on the first ability.
"Explain Adaptive Resonance."
**[Ability Description — Adaptive Resonance]**
---
**Adaptive Resonance**
• Master's body gradually adapts to the **environment**.
• Extreme temperatures, pressure, toxins, and foreign energies will slowly lose their effect on Master.
• During combat, Master's body **resonates with the opponent's strength**.
• The longer a battle continues, the **stronger Master becomes**.
• Adaptation speed increases when Master faces stronger enemies.
---
"So the longer a fight lasts…"
"I keep getting stronger."
**[Correct, Master.]**
**[Adaptive Resonance allows Master to evolve dynamically during battle.]**
His gaze shifted to the second ability.
**Eyes of Nihyron.**
"…That sounds dangerous."
---
**[Ability Description — Eyes of Nihyron]**
Origin: **Nihyron**
Classification: **Void Authority**
Status: **Dormant**
---
**Eyes of Nihyron — Potential Functions**
• **Void Perception** — See hidden energy, abilities, and weaknesses.
• **Existence Observation** — Analyze entities beyond normal comprehension.
• **Void Pressure** — Release the oppressive aura of the void.
• **Reality Fracture** — Interfere with space and existence itself.
---
**[All functions currently sealed.]**
**[They will awaken as Master's Void Authority expands.]**
Icarus looked toward the sky again.
Billions of participants existed somewhere in this endless world.
All believing they were simply trying to survive.
Leveling.
Growing stronger.
Preparing for monsters.
But none of them knew the truth.
Only one person carried the authority of a Creation.
Only one person possessed **Void Authority**.
Only one person had the potential to become the **Creator's Fragment**.
Icarus Grimm.
The **Voidborne** successor of Nihyron.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"…Looks like I was given quite the advantage."
The Nexus responded calmly.
**[Correction, Master.]**
**[This is only the beginning.]**