Nexus born

The Whispering Woods had become Kael's relentless academy. Days turned into a grueling blur of physical exertion, mental focus, and the cold, precise calculations of survival. He moved like a shadow, his Voidweave Armor a silent, protective shell, and Shadow's Edge, perpetually sharp with infused Nexus Energy, a lethal extension of his will. His Crimson Sight, now a familiar tool he toggled at will, granted him an unfair advantage, showing him the world's hidden truths and the raw emotions of its inhabitants.

His initial lightning skill, Spark Cascade, was potent for a Low Novice, but Kael's ambitious mind, constantly prodded by the silent promise of his System's future 'Skill' entries, yearned for more. He knew his Nexus Energy was infinite, a boundless reservoir. The limitation wasn't power; it was control and application.

One afternoon, Kael stumbled upon a small clearing where a recent lightning strike had scorched a massive oak tree, leaving a jagged, smoking scar. He approached cautiously, his Enhanced Focus immediately drawn to the residual energies clinging to the air. He saw faint, crackling blue-white lines, like ghostly veins, pulsing within the charred wood and the surrounding atmosphere. It wasn't just residual mana; it was pure, volatile electrical energy, leftover from the raw power of the lightning.

He sat by the tree, his mind churning. The System had told him his affinity was "Universal/Unbound." It had also stated his Nexus Energy was infinite. If he could perceive all forms of energy through his Crimson Sight, could he not then mimic them using his own boundless Nexus Energy? Could he force his universal energy to manifest as a specific element, not by drawing elemental mana, but by understanding its very nature and replicating it?

He decided to try. He closed his eyes, activating Enhanced Focus to its maximum. He focused not on the idea of lightning, but on the essence of the electrical energy he perceived in the air around him – its rapid, chaotic vibration, its searing heat, its destructive potential. He envisioned the intricate dance of particles, the raw force that splintered the oak.

Then, he began to draw upon his Nexus Energy, not to unleash it directly, but to shape it. He mentally molded it, forced it to vibrate at the same frequency, to take on the properties of the lightning he was perceiving. It was like sculpting with an invisible, infinitely pliable clay, guided by the precise blueprint provided by his Crimson Sight.

A low, internal hum began to vibrate through Kael's small body, growing in intensity. It wasn't the warmth behind his eyes; it was a cold, sharp tingle that ran from his fingertips, up his arms, and into his core. He opened his eyes. His hand, outstretched towards the scarred oak, began to glow with a faint, but unmistakable, blue-white luminescence. Tiny, almost invisible sparks crackled around his fingertips, dancing on the air.

He pushed harder, forcing more Nexus Energy into the emulation. The crackling grew louder, a distinct, sharp snap like static electricity. A small bolt, no thicker than his thumb, suddenly erupted from his palm and struck the already charred oak, leaving a fresh, sizzling mark on its bark. It was raw, unrefined, but undeniably lightning.

The System, silent until now, surged with new notifications.

[AFFINITY UNLOCKED: LIGHTNING (Emulated - Low Tier)]

[New Skill Acquired: Spark Cascade (Tier 1)]

[Description: Unleashes a small, directed burst of lightning energy.]

[Cost: Minor Nexus Energy (negligible due to infinite source)]

[Progression: Nexus Energy Manipulation Efficiency Greatly Increased!]

[Progression: Crimson Sight - Enhanced Focus (Level 1 -> Level 2)]

[Note: Emulated Affinities are generated via concentrated Nexus Energy output, not inherent elemental mana channels.]

Kael stared at the System display, a silent, triumphant grin spreading across his face. He had done it. He wasn't limited. His "universal" affinity wasn't a curse; it was a key. He could emulate any element, if he understood its nature. This changed everything. His path was not just boundless; it was infinitely adaptable.

Encouraged by this breakthrough, Kael immediately pushed further. His recent encounter with an Ironhide Boar had highlighted the need for more focused, piercing power. If he could create a spark, could he not condense it to a lethal point? He returned to his meditation, this time focusing on an extreme level of compression for his Nexus Energy.

He extended his hand, pushing the infinite energy inward, shaping it to a single, infinitesimally small point at the center of his palm. The hum intensified, becoming a sharp, whining crackle. The air around his hand visibly distorted, shimmering with contained power, a blinding blue-white light coalescing into a pulsating orb. It taxed his young body, making his arm tremble with the sheer force of concentration required to maintain it.

[AFFINITY REFINE: LIGHTNING (Emulated - Mid Tier)]

[New Skill Unlocked: Nexus Strike: Thunderclap (Tier 2 - Single Target, Piercing)]

[Description: Condenses a massive surge of Nexus Energy into a focused, piercing lightning strike. Ideal for breaking through defenses.]

[Cost: High Mental Focus, Minor Physical Strain (negligible Nexus Energy cost)]

Kael exhaled, the light receding. He found a thick-barked tree. Activating Thunderclap again, the intense, crackling orb formed instantly. He thrust it forward. A deafening CRACK ripped through the quiet woods, followed by a sizzling sound. A deep, perfectly circular hole, rimmed with smoking, charred wood, now penetrated the ancient tree. The raw piercing power was undeniable.

His mind, ever analytical, immediately moved to the next logical step: projection. If he could condense it, could he not also extend it, creating a ranged, piercing attack? He focused on extending the concentrated energy from his hand, shaping it into a linear spear, maintaining its cohesive form over distance. This was an even more delicate balance, demanding not just compression but precise directional control over his Nexus Energy.

The blue-white light pulsed, forming a brilliant, shimmering spear of lightning that extended from his palm, impossibly long and perfectly straight. It vibrated with barely contained power, a physical manifestation of his controlled will.

[AFFINITY REFINE: LIGHTNING (Emulated - Mid Tier)]

[New Skill Unlocked: Nexus Stream: Lightning Lance (Tier 2 - Ranged/Piercing, Controllable Projection)]

[Description: Projects a highly concentrated, linear spear of lightning from the user's hand. Can be sustained for continuous damage or piercing.]

[Cost: High Mental Focus, Sustained Physical Strain (negligible Nexus Energy cost)]

Kael grinned, a rare, genuine expression of triumph. He pointed the Lightning Lance at a distant boulder. With a soft hiss, the beam shot forward, striking the rock with an audible CRACKLE, leaving a deep, sizzling furrow across its face. He could even sweep it, cutting through the air like a hot knife through butter.

He was no longer just a "Low Novice" with a "universal spark." He was a budding master of emulated elements, a living weapon forged by a mysterious System and fueled by an infinite well of Nexus Energy.

As for Apex Lightning Emulation: Sky's Wrath—the thought of harnessing actual storms—the System's passive notes reiterated its nature as a Tier 5+ skill, a distant, almost mythical peak. Kael understood. He had just taken two immense steps, but the summit of his power was still shrouded in clouds. He would climb, methodically, relentlessly, until even the heavens bent to his will. The Whispering Woods was just the first rung on his unforgiven ascent.