“Some of you may know but for those who don’t, please do not judge. We may look different and some of the legends are true but we’re still mostly human.”

An opaque barrier covered him. Petro hesitated a couple of times but soon decided. He removed all his clothes and a crucifix he wore.

Soon Izo heard the priest howling in pain followed by flesh and tendon stretched like leather.

The barrier disappeared and Petro’s skin became black, fingers grew long into spikes, his mouth turned into sharp needles with interlacing. His neck grew so enlarged to the size of a log.

He ran to one end of the stage in seconds and flipped continuously to the other. A rock was teleported to the stage and Petro fitted it onto his mouth then crunched. The rock crumbled and the heavy chunks were spit 🇬🇧 out loudly.

The audience applauded yet Petro ignored it and got back to his clothes. The opaque barrier didn’t cover his feet so Izo saw how he could pick up the crucifix. He had transformed back into a human first and then after multiple tries, was he able to get it.

“Impressive! Fast, resilient and strong! All the participant groups have been represented well!”

“Now we may move on to starting the celebration! Only after billions of years can an organism evolve to such spiritual power and be brought here. This is cause for a great celebration and to welcome you, Magus Kaupa from the Mana Coalition!”

The floating bone palace above began chittering and clacking. Millions of bones cheering for the coming of their lord.

Large bone hands pierced from beneath followed by pulling apart the dimensions like meat. A gigantic two-story head appeared and its mouth was a human.

“I’ve come to represent the school of necromancy and the glory of those who wish to map mana and its makings!”

It was a handsome blonde-haired man. Too handsome even. His nose was pointed high but he had a slight smirk on his face that made him somewhat boyish.

“The Mana Coalition sent a human? Are they provoking the Theocracy?”

“Right right. Especially since the humans finally have relatives.”

Izo could “hear” some of the crowd’s gossip.

“Know that no matter if you choose to be a seeker or not, you are welcome us a guest!”

Behind him countless images of beings controlling lightning, fire, space, etc. using words and hand symbols appeared. It all combined and covered most of the southeast of the Nexus.

“I welcome you to great schools of mana!”

“Thank you for those wonderful words, Magus Kaupa. Now to welcome the representative of the Remus Dynasty, an upcoming Earthling powerhouse, Kaylee the Air Scissor!”

A tall woman, muscled, tone and certain to make a significant percentage of men submit to her, emerged like in an incorporeal. Her “reality” was faint and if one didn’t focus, she would definitely be missed. She began to float in the air and only then did she become corporeal.

“Thank you for the introduction.”

She gazed at the billions watching her and boomed with her voice.

“I was a young girl when I arrived here ten years ago. At that point, the riskiest thing I’d have ever done was lying to my parents to hang out with my friends.

10 years still I’m very much the same! Too careful and nervous at times even if I’ve explored tens of dimensions to find the coordinates to my home.

But I’ve also changed. Sometimes you have to step up even if you’re not the most suited for the task. Some dangers are worth it to brave. For I have a mother that’s waiting and a few foolish friends that’s missing me. I can only do my best.

Being an explorer is dangerous work so if you do join, good luck and- I would appreciate your help!”

The northeast of the Nexus was highlighted as her body turned into the wind from foot until her right eye that winked playfully.

“AAAAHHH!”

“Hard working girls are the best!”

“I love you, Miss Kaylee!”

Everyone erupted in applause and cheers. Izo definitely heard some vows of servitude from his fellow Earthlings.

“We thank Miss Kaylee for the heartfelt words but now we must welcome the final speaker, Telo de Fezzan of the Farsight Theocracy!

“Forward march!”

Heavy metal boots clanged and a thousand heavily armored men appeared on stage. They were perfectly moving in their faultless march in violet and black mech suits. Each one engraved with words that, if the translation that being fed to him was correct, were wishes for safe return from their family and neighbors.

“Salute!”

They raised their rifle arm, their missile sling on their shoulder extended and their energy knife were presented. The impressive battalion then made space in the center where a ship came from an above palace.

Lithe warriors dropped down 10 meters of height without flinching. They were also in a sleeker armor and had no standard weapons. He could also feel the same power from his brain radiating from them.

“Peace is not given but won! Through diplomacy hopefully but through force if necessary!”

A man dropped from above with a giant sword he waved as if bamboo.

“Some people call me an evil man, for I have killed countless fathers, brothers, sisters and children. I agree. Some people call me good, for I have promoted education, work reform and protected people just the same. I agree. I can only say that evil and good go hand in hand to promote overall good.

You are all talented and gifted, will have a chance to be part of the “blessed”. But I hope you don’t believe that it will be easy. Your hands will get stained and when it finally does rest your mind that I’ve committed them too. As all these souls beside me.

Be at peace for you aim for the betterment of all!”

The northwest of the Nexus was highlighted.

*

After the introductions, were let out into New Nexus city with a couple of guides.

They ranged from fantastical dwarves and weird but familiar half-man half animals to insects and moving rocks. All of them were nice but still there was a barrier.

‘Do I feel racist towards them?’

He can’t help but feel repulsed no matter how intelligent they acted. He had to purposefully be polite and it’s obvious how fake it was. They comforted him and said it was completely normal to feel so.

“Everything here is a virtual reconstruction of the actual Nexus city. If you have the internet on Earth, we have the Nexusnet.”

The city was a big circle divided into four quadrants with its own styles, history and local government. The Remus Dynasty, Farsight Theocracy and Mana Coalition surrounded the commons area. The guide told him that the actual Nexus city was far less organized and more massive. In fact, it spanned a whole planet. New Nexus city was still large but it seemed to consume a lot of “spirituality energy” so only certain people are allowed here.

The Theocracy quadrant favored houses that were closer than others. Neighborhoods were built around churches from the different gods. Each church was surrounded by its own police, medical and other services. It also serves as schools on their own. Self-sufficient circles filled their quadrant with the largest being the Church of Fate, their biggest religion. Since humans were dominant here, most buildings fit their comfort and aesthetic.

The Coalition quadrant was cleanly separated between the professional magic towers and the residential area. There was a lack of doors for they use teleportation exclusively. Everyone seemed busy minding their business and there was definite lack of entertainment facilities. Instead, their biggest past time was the Magic Innovation Duels and Mage Battle Tournaments. Ground fairies were the most dominant here consisting of bodies made up of lava, wind, ice and the most dangerous uranium type.

The Dynasty quadrant was the most free form of them where no standard template was used. Inhabitants were free to design their homes however they want and this made the roads messy but also made it so small shops abound throughout selling their own wares. Some of them have thousands of years of history while others were new, all were prideful of their “personal” recipes. The races were most varied here and the tribe system rule their society. The guide however speaks of a debate in their culture between the traditionalist and imperial culture where they were all one big tribe. Fights happened here every once in a while.

After a while of exploring, they were brought to Nexus Central Hotel where they returned to the camp for a while then they came back for small party of sort.

*

“So can you play this “piano” for us Miss Sun Hee?”

“Of course.”

The party goers cheered for her as she sat on the chair in front of this virtual piano.

She was baffled when they asked for her to ‘visualize a piano’ but it worked. She closed her eyes remembered the details of the school piano when she opened it what appeared was one with its proportions wrong. They invited other Earthlings to think and soon enough it was complete.

She pressed a note and it was correct.

“Amazing. So, one only needs to press these buttons to pluck the strings!”

“Wow!”

She was currently in a party with fellow ‘candidates’ and natives from the Nexus. A barrier was observable as no matter how amiable everyone acted, they tended to have greater space when interacting. As for her-

“This is a song for those who love.”

“Love?”

“Intense feeling of belonging between mating partners.”

“Thank you, Miss Sun Hee.”

She played a few songs while talking and interacting with her audience. Every once in a while, gaze over them and see Izo being a wall flower. He kept a similar distance for both candidates and natives.

Her father left some time ago, something about a shooting range with fellow military people. She was more interested with the technologies and advancements so she stayed here. It seemed only rich or high people can enter the Nexusphere. Everyone else can only spectate or talk but nothing else.

‘Huh? Where did Izo go?’

Although they were allowed to go anywhere, no one really went to other places.

‘Curious.’

“Thank you, Miss Sun Hee.”

“No, thank you for allowing us candidates to stay here.”

“No problem. No problem.”