Minutes passed until I lost all sense of time. The sensation of floating in the void was something I never thought I would experience—and now that I was, it was far worse than I had imagined.
I was practically like a fumigated cockroach, trying to understand what I had just lived through and how everything had vanished in an instant.
I tried to cling to the last scraps of my sanity, replaying the events in my mind over and over again. Jeanne d'Arc and Heracles… did they save me?
—So, Mr. Nobody?—a shrill voice said behind me.
Instinctively, I tried to turn around, but gravity was so strange that I ended up spinning on my own axis until something—like hitting an invisible wall—stopped me abruptly. In front of me stood a creature that was both strangely adorable and deeply unsettling.
It looked like an axolotl with a pair of small horns on its oversized head. It smiled from gill to gill. Its small body was light blue, glowing with its own soft light. Its pink gills matched a tiny pair of membranous wings at its sides, and at the end of its tail was a fin of the same color.
"What an adorable little creature", crossed my mind.Then I quickly remembered those classic anime mascots—the cuter they are, the more evil they tend to be.
—What… are you?
I managed to stammer unconsciously. Clumsily, I tried to back away, lost my balance, and within seconds I was spinning through the air while the damn axolotl burst into laughter. With a casual wave of its tiny paw, it stopped me abruptly…
Face down.
—I am Axio, guide of the Nexus—proclaimed the little creature, performing an acrobatic spin in the air as it vanished into tiny bubbles, reappearing beside me in the same way—. And you… are one of the many anomalies that end up here. Complaining little human, welcome to Nexus 0.1.
—Nexus?
Axio crossed its tiny forelimbs and swayed its tail.
—That's right. Welcome to the magnificent place where the greatest heroes in history, champions of legends and consummate myths, fight for the honor of becoming constellations in the Filament.
—Wait… what kind of madness are you talking about? Is this real?—I said incredulously.
—Of course—Axio replied with a mocking wink—. And if you're here, you must be another great man born in the folds of history. Let's see what you have to offer…—the creature's face instantly shifted from a wide grin to confusion and dismay—. How strange…
The little thing began spinning on its tail, rummaging through the air as if searching for something. Its expression quickly turned perplexed as it whispered:
—Those…
It turned to look at me, eyes sharp and critical, as if inspecting every corner of my being.
—Is this out-of-shape specimen, with no skills or character, really connected to "Them"?
—"Them"…?
—Yes. What's most curious is that they left you a gift.
—A gift?—I asked, unsure whether I should feel excited or worried.
Axio snapped its fingers. The world spun once more, and a floating, translucent, glowing screen appeared in front of me, following my gaze. Hesitantly, I looked at the bright "Welcome" sign and slowly pressed it.
The interface unfolded instantly, like the HUD of a video game.
[Name: Mr. Nobody][Class: Hacker][Level: 1][Rank: Metal]
—But… why does the system insist on calling me that? I have a name, you know?
—Must be that important, if the system didn't even bother registering your name.
Below the data, a neural network appeared, displaying over a dozen interconnected nodes, all inactive, marked with icons that somehow felt familiar.
Confused, I reached out to touch the virtual keys, which emitted a soft click at my fingertips.
"It's like a game", I thought.
The conclusion was obvious—but all the icons were locked and offered no information.
—That's your gift—Axio explained—. Your control interface. For now, you can only look. But once you enter the Nexus, you'll be able to buy upgrades and things like that—assuming you survive long enough to learn how to use it.
—Then why don't you explain it to me?—I snapped, already irritated.
—We don't do that here—Axio replied playfully, slipping onto my neck—. Let's see what it says… Your class is curious… "Hacker." I've never seen anything like it. To start with—what's a hacker?
—Perfect!—I spat, ignoring the axolotl as it floated away—. I finally get my dream job and… some damn drunk shoves me!
—Alright, alright, human. If you really want to go home, there is an exit.
—An exit? Can you take me back?
The axolotl shook its head, clearly enjoying the moment.
—More or less. You can return to the exact moment before the train runs you over. You just have to lose the next round. Easy, right?
My body began to tremble. My vision blurred, my breathing grew heavier. I couldn't go back. If I did… I'd just get run over again.
"I'm screwed".
—Is this hell?
—It's not hell. It's the Nexus. If you don't want to give up and die pathetically, you can always climb the constellations.
—You've got to be kidding me—I exploded, glaring at the creature that wouldn't stop staring at me—. How am I supposed to compete against—
Axio let out a long sigh. With a flick of its tail, a star map appeared before us, slowly expanding until we were standing beneath a vast stellar dome.
Each constellation was represented by its zodiac sign, twinkling in the void.
—Look—Axio began—each level is a sign. And thanks to your companions, you survived. Pathetically, I might add—but you survived.
Every word from the creature grated further on my already frayed patience.
—If you're here, it means you must've been someone important in your world. If fewer than a million people know your name, the Nexus doesn't even bother keeping your soul. So stop whining and show me your potential.
—What potential?
—With that attitude? None.
I took a deep breath, turning my gaze away from the creature.
"Come on, Tristán. Calm down", I repeated to myself. Eleven constellations shimmered above me, and beneath them stood a massive ram bound by golden chains. All of this was ridiculous.
Deep down, I couldn't deny that as a teenager I would've killed for an experience like this—traveling to another dimension, becoming the hero of a new world. But right now, all I wanted was to go back to Ale.
—You know—he said, his voice fragile, like glass about to shatter—. I don't understand anything. I don't know what the hell is happening. But if my only hope is to play your stupid game… then I'll do it!
—That's the spirit!—Axio cheered, clapping its tiny paws—. No time to waste. Taurus awaits! I promise it'll be fun… at least for me.
With one final gesture from the axolotl, a gigantic Taurus symbol fell upon us, engulfing everything in a blinding light.
The last image I managed to see was the creature smiling with sadistic delight.
—Welcome to the Nexus, Tristán.