A/N:
The dialogue, scenery, actions, plot, etc, are written by me. AI is used only to enhance the writing.
From the next chapter, the story will progress beyond the old version.
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In the very heart of the Prime Multiverse's only true Universe—a singular cosmos stretching across 25 billion light-years—there existed a planet like no other. Suspended at the center of this immeasurable expanse, it did not orbit nor spin by natural law. It remained motionless, not due to physics, but by decree—anchored in place through ancient, unfathomable Laws that transcended even time itself.
Two celestial companions circled it: one a radiant sphere of cascading plasma and light, acting as its sun, and the other a cold, luminous crystal, refracting ancient starlight like a fractured dream—its moon. These two were not merely astronomical bodies; they were entities, patient and alive, watching over the world they orbited.
This planet bore no continents. Instead, it was a tapestry of sprawling landmasses broken apart by vast serpentine rivers and colossal lakes. These bodies of water sliced through terrain like the veins of a living creature, glowing faintly under the light of the twin skies. Oceans were myths here; the land ruled supreme, flowing endlessly over the waters in majestic overpasses and colossal bridges of natural stone.
In places where gravity loosened its grip, floating isles hovered serenely above the lakes—massive enough to rival nations, yet weightless like drifting leaves. Some shimmered with mirrored lakes of their own. Others bore enchanted forests, gardens, sacred groves, and towering, living structures that spiraled endlessly toward the heavens. These lands were anchored by threads of unknown material, glowing blue veins of energy connecting the floating realms to the rivers below.
Forests were denser than jungles, yet breathable. Trees bore crystalline fruit and leaves of translucent silver. The sky itself was not just blue but ever-shifting—stained with hints of violet, gold, and soft emerald, as though painted by the will of the planet itself.
But at the center of all this impossible geography, where every stream and river flowed and every lake ultimately converged, there was one final body of water—The Origin Lake. A still, mirror-like basin of immense size, as if the world had paused to look at its own reflection.
And within this lake, atop a landmass of intricate ridges and glowing moss, stood The World Root—a tree so massive it broke the very definition of life. Its base alone spanned leagues. Its roots twisted into the lakebed like titanic bridges, and its branches broke through the clouds, seeming to scrape against the canvas of the sky. But this was no tree.
It was a home.
Nexus's home.
Suddenly, like a ripple tearing through still air, a glowing portal shimmered open in the middle of the lakeside land. From its radiant center stepped Nexus, his long coat trailing behind him like a shadow born of light. Beside him, a soft glow hovered—Lumos, his ever-faithful companion, orb-like and alive with subtle pulses of energy.
"Phew. That was fun. Don't you think, Lumos?" Nexus stretched his arms as he stepped onto the stone-laced grass, his eyes sweeping the strange yet beautiful land.
"Yes. It was fun," Lumos replied, voice smooth and emotionless, though tinged with the hint of learned satisfaction.
Nexus glanced sideways and smirked. "You know, I like this tone now. From now on, you should always call me Master—even when it's completely unnecessary, like just now."
"As you ordered. I will try my best… Master," Lumos replied with a faint flicker, like a sigh in light.
Nexus turned his gaze toward the towering form in the distance—the tree. "That tree is where my home is, right?"
"Yes."
"It's time to check it out."
Behind them, the portal collapsed into a single thread of light and vanished without a sound. Nexus took his first step forward, the land beneath his feet humming with a quiet, latent energy. Vibrant flowers swayed to an unseen rhythm, their petals glimmering with a light not born of the sun. Overhead, the sky was a tapestry of golden clouds and drifting flocks of skyfins—creatures of mist and shimmer that sailed effortlessly across the horizon.
Ahead stood the tree.
It wasn't merely tall—it was colossal, a living monument. Its bark shimmered like aged stone laced with ancient crystal, and its highest branches pierced the clouds, vanishing into the heavens. The land around it curved upward like the rim of a divine bowl, cradling a vast lake whose mirrored surface captured the sky's majesty. Every river, every drop of water from across the world converged here—drawn to this lake as if obeying some forgotten Law.
And in the center of that lake rose the tree—serene, alone, and eternal. No floating lands adorned the sky above it. Only the tranquil waters below, the quiet grass, and a silence so deep it felt sacred.
At the lake's edge, as Nexus approached, the earth responded. From the shallows, a bridge of interwoven roots emerged, blooming with glowing moss and soft white petals. It stretched toward the base of the tree as if beckoning him home.
He stepped onto the living bridge. Beneath him, the lake shimmered with traces of energy unknown to him—like stardust drifting through deep water.
Carved into the colossal trunk was a monumental archway—tall enough for dragons, yet delicate in its detail. Golden vines curled around its frame, and star-forged glass shimmered in its inlays. As Nexus crossed the threshold, warm light spilled out to greet him—dancing candles, floating crystals, and the gentle hum of arcane life.
The interior bloomed before him.
Crystal chandeliers hovered in the air like fragments of constellations, casting shifting patterns of color on the polished floors. Spiral staircases wound through the inner bark like veins of living stone, connecting terraces, hidden libraries, meditation groves, and chambers carved directly into the wood. Vines draped from balconies, some cradling luminous birds whose wings shimmered like folded galaxies.
From above, skylights opened to the heavens. From below, unseen depths breathed with soft music, bioluminescent flora, and aquifers that glowed like starlight caught in motion.
The tree was not just a home. It was a world unto itself. Alive. Breathing. Shifting.
At its core, Nexus moved not as a guest or ruler—but as one intimately connected to its heart. In his forgotten past, Nexus had planted the first seed of this world, a truth the tree held even as Nexus himself had lost it.
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The next morning, at the very top of the World root, Nexus stepped out onto the balcony of the highest chamber—a room crafted solely for observing the endless layers of the Prime Multiverse. It was a sanctum of clarity, built to peer into realms beyond imagination.
He stepped onto the balcony with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand. Outside, the sky was cloaked in a soft, rainy gloom. The steady drizzle blurred the line between sky and earth, painting the world with a muted brush of grays and blues. Raindrops tapped gently against the crystalline railing, each drop catching the light, creating a soft, melodic rhythm. The world shimmered with moisture, its colors deepening and enriching as the mist swirled around the land. The distant lakes reflected the rain like vast mirrors, distorting the towering landscapes as though the world itself was a liquid dream.
Nexus took a slow sip, the warmth of the drink grounding him in the stillness of the moment. The rain washed over everything—soft, cleansing, and endless.
"Now this," he murmured, "this is life. It's refreshing."
While Nexus quietly enjoyed the serenity, Lumos hovered nearby, silently observing the landscape through the veil of rain. The soft hum of arcane energy seemed to resonate in the air, blending with the steady rhythm of the downpour.
It had been an uncountable span of years since Lumos had last seen Nexus… and to Lumos, Nexus was far more than a master. He was like a father.
It was Nexus who raised him and saw to his needs, fully aware of the nature of his existence. If others had known what he truly was, they likely would have exploited him, using him until he could give no more, then cast him aside or destroyed him out of fear.
But Nexus… the Nexus of old had never once demanded. And now, even with everything known—every hidden truth, every connection laid bare—he still asked for nothing.
But something had changed.
This Nexus—the Nexus of now—needs help. And Lumos knew it, and he was ready to help him no matter the cost.
Suddenly, Nexus broke the silence.
"So, Lumos," he began, "that device you mentioned—it's meant to drastically boost your abilities, right? But it requires a special kind of energy… something all living beings expel naturally, but it dissipates quickly. And only sentient beings emit it in large amounts?"
Lumos pulsed softly, returning to full awareness. "Yes, Master. That is correct. It's the most efficient source. Which is why my people spent millions of years searching for the perfect hosts."
Nexus narrowed his eyes slightly. "But you said this energy is also essential for your survival. So, how do you manage when there's no host?"
"Simple," Lumos replied, his glow steady. "We absorb ambient cosmic energy. It's not ideal—we can't use most of it—but it's just enough to survive."
"I see…" Nexus murmured. "So, if I want to build fully immersive games like they feel that they are truly in the game world and distribute them across multiple multiverses, I'll need a workaround."
He paused, tapping a finger against his cup thoughtfully. Then he turned to Lumos.
"Tell me—if someone isn't your host, but they agree willingly, could you siphon that energy from them?"
Lumos flickered in affirmation. "Of course. As long as it's given willingly, I can absorb it."
A slow smile spread across Nexus's face. "Good. I have a plan. But first..." He stood up, the rain now a soft mist behind him. "Let's make the game."
Lumos responded with calm certainty. "Of course, Master."