Nexus born

Chapter Nine: Unbound Energy

The Whispering Woods had quickly transformed from a daunting challenge into a brutal, yet effective, training ground. Days blurred into a cycle of cautious exploration, intense, short bursts of combat, and quiet reflection. Kael's small body, once a source of constant frustration, was slowly, painfully, adapting. His muscles ached, his stamina was constantly tested, but with each defeated monster, each narrow escape, he felt his endurance grow. The taste of victory, though often accompanied by the tang of fear and exhaustion, fueled his relentless drive.

His System was an invaluable, silent tutor. It offered no comforting words, no encouragement, only cold, precise data. Experience Gained, Efficiency Improved, Output Increased—these were his only affirmations. He used Enhanced Focus almost constantly, mapping the subtle nuances of the forest, identifying monster trails, and anticipating ambushes. Emotional Resonance became a vital warning system, painting threats in pulsing crimson, or revealing the confused terror of fleeing prey.

During one particularly harrowing encounter with a pack of Grave Hounds—lean, aggressive Tier 2 beasts with eyes like burning coals—Kael pushed himself beyond what he thought were his limits. He fought for what felt like an eternity, his Shadow's Edge a blur of black against their snarling forms, his Voidweave Armor shimmering as it deflected their snapping jaws. He poured his Nexus Energy into the blade, sharpening it to a preternatural edge, striking at the Hounds' exposed flanks and vulnerable necks.

He expected to hit a wall, a point where his inner wellspring of power would run dry, as any mage drawing on mana eventually would. He waited for the familiar fatigue, the draining sensation that accompanied exertion. But it never came. The Nexus Energy flowed, boundless and strong, as if he were merely drawing breath. He cleaved through the last Hound, its body thudding to the ground, and stood panting, not from magical exhaustion, but from sheer physical strain.

He brought up his System display, his mind reeling.

[ALERT: Nexus Energy Flow Sustained - No Depletion Detected]

[Observation: Nexus Energy Source Appears Infinite]

[Note: Physical Stamina & Mental Fatigue Remain Limiting Factors.]

Kael stared at the words, utterly stunned. Infinite? The revelation hit him like a physical blow, stripping away every assumption he had made about his power. He wasn't just different; he was fundamentally, impossibly, beyond the limitations of normal magic. He had a literal boundless supply of energy. His universal spark wasn't a handicap; it was a testament to an endless well. The implications were staggering. He might be small, a mere Low Novice, but he possessed a power reservoir that even the Grand Masters or Paragons—who relied on mana manipulation—could scarcely imagine. His future flashed before him, bright with possibilities no one else could touch.

This profound discovery brought with it another, more subtle, realization. Until now, his Crimson Sight had been passively active, the constant hum behind his eyes, the persistent overlay of perceived energy flows and emotional auras. It had been a part of him, always on. But with the System's direct interface, and now the understanding of his infinite Nexus Energy, he instinctively focused, willing the sensory input to cease.

And just like that, the hum subsided. The shimmering emotional auras vanished. The intricate details of energy flow receded. The world returned to its normal, less overwhelming state. He opened his eyes, and the forest looked simply like a forest, not a complex tapestry of vibrating energies and emotional signals.

He focused again, and with a familiar surge of warmth behind his eyes, the Crimson Sight flared back to life. The auras reappeared, the enhanced details sharpened. He practiced turning it off and on, a simple mental command, a flick of an internal switch. The ability to control the Crimson Sight meant he could conserve mental focus, reduce sensory overload, and blend in when necessary. It was a crucial step towards mastering his unique abilities.

Armed with these monumental discoveries, Kael's approach to the Whispering Woods shifted. He pushed harder, fought longer. His Nexus Energy allowed him to continuously infuse Shadow's Edge, keeping it impossibly sharp, and subtly reinforcing his Voidweave Armor. He began to understand that his limitation wasn't energy; it was the raw strength of his five-year-old body and his lack of trained skill. That was where his true battles lay, and the System, with its relentless quest log and experience counter, was ready to quantify every step of his grueling ascent. He was a silent anomaly, an unranked weapon in hand, with a secret no one could ever guess, ready to redefine what it meant to wield magic.