Arc 1: In the Depths of Alchamara.

  Chapter 1: A sudden wake.

  Adam’s POV

  UGH! My goddamn head!” I screamed, the sound ricocheting through my skull and amplifying the agony.

  I rolled on the cold, unyielding ground, groaning. Wetness seeped into my skin, amplifying the chill. My mind, foggy and disoriented, scrambled for answers, but all I could think about was escaping the torment.

  Minutes—maybe hours—passed before the pain dulled just enough for me to gather my wits. Exhausted, I lay still, trying to take stock of the situation.

  I tried to open my eyes, but they refused to cooperate. Great, just great. Left with no choice, I focused on my other senses. The cold, hard ground beneath me. The unsettling wetness pooling around me. And then the smell.

  Metallic. Acrid. Familiar.

  Blood.

  No… I’m the one bleeding.

  The realization jolted me like an electric shock. The splitting pain wasn’t just a headache—it was an injury. Gritting my teeth, I reached a trembling hand to my head, probing cautiously.

  It wasn’t pretty. My head wasn’t split open, thank god—or whatever passes for a god—but my fingers found a sizable, nasty gash. Judging by the sticky warmth trailing down my neck, it was bleeding enough to become a problem. If I didn’t get it patched up soon, I wasn’t just looking at a slow death—I’d probably end up a drooling idiot before the end came.

  Summoning what little strength I had, I tried to call for help. “H-help…”

  The sound barely escaped my throat, pitiful and raspy. I laughed bitterly at myself, the noise turning into a cough. I couldn’t scream, couldn’t even sit up. I was as useful as a corpse. Well, a pre-corpse.

  After what felt like an eternity, my eyes finally obeyed me, blinking open to reveal… darkness.

  Well, almost darkness. A single ray of sunlight pierced through the gloom from somewhere above, illuminating motes of dust lazily drifting in the air. As my eyes adjusted, I realized the truth: I’d fallen into a large hole, its walls a rough blend of dirt and jagged stone.

  Great. Just great.

  Shoving aside the panic threatening to bubble up, I focused on my immediate problem—the bleeding gash on my head. I needed a bandage, fast. With what little strength I could muster, I grabbed at my shirt, preparing to rip off a strip of fabric.

  But nothing happened.

  “What the…” I muttered, tugging harder. My clothes refused to tear, almost like they were made of steel. That’s when I noticed something that made my breath catch.

  My hands.

  Thin. Small. Tiny, even. Not the calloused, capable hands I knew.

  “What in the world…?”

  A wave of cold realization slammed into me. My chest tightened as I stared at my hands—a child’s hands.

  The pounding in my head grew worse, as if mocking me for not noticing sooner. My surroundings blurred for a moment as the weight of my situation bore down on me.

  Here I was, trapped in a hole, my head bleeding like a faucet, no energy to stand or scream for help, and now… apparently, I had the arms of a kid.

  “Perfect,” I tried whispering bitterly but I doubt any sound came out of my mouth before I gave and let my head fall back against the dirt wall.

  Whatever this was—punishment, some sick joke, or twisted second chance—it sure wasn’t pulling any punches.

  I was close to giving in, ready to embrace the idea of dying again. But just as the last shreds of hope started to slip away, something unexpected happened.

  My body began to glow.

  Warmth spread through me, soothing the pain and dulling the relentless pounding in my head. It was as if an unseen force had decided I wasn’t allowed to quit just yet. The sharp sting of the gash faded, replaced by a strange calm.

  Tentatively, I touched my head and realized the wound had closed. Somehow, I wasn’t bleeding anymore. My body relaxed, finally free of agony, and exhaustion swept over me like a tidal wave.

  Questions buzzed in my mind, but weariness was the stronger foe. My eyes fluttered shut, and I gave in to the darkness.

  When I woke, the faint sunlight from the hole above had vanished, replaced by the inky blackness of night. I had no idea how long I’d been out, but it didn’t matter. My eyes had adjusted to the dimness, letting me make out vague shapes in the pitch-black environment, though distant details remained frustratingly elusive.

  Sitting up, I felt the cold, damp ground beneath me, sticky with my own blood. I grimaced but brushed it aside—there were more pressing things to assess.

  First and foremost: my body.

  I examined my arms, and my stomach churned at the sight of them. Thin. Frail. Small. Definitely not the strong, muscular arms I’d spent years building up.

  “Wait… doesn’t that mean…”

  Panic gripped me. My hands shot to my crotch.

  A sigh of relief escaped my lips as I felt a small, reassuring bulge. “Thank god,” I muttered, slumping back against the wall. “At least my manhood’s still there.”

  Inspecting myself further, I confirmed my suspicions. It wasn’t just my arms—my entire body now resembled that of a brat.

  I sighed, running a hand through my too-thin hair. “Looks like that wannabe god went ahead and isekai’d me after all.”

  What am I supposed to do now?

  Here I was—a kid again. No weapons, no connections, no family. Heck, I didn’t even have a map of this world or a clue about how things worked here. All I had were a basic shirt, pants, and shoes. Nothing else.

  And that thought… really excited me.

  For the first time in forever, I was free. No baggage, no obligations, no past weighing me down. I could do whatever I wanted. No need to tiptoe around powerful figures, no need to play nice with anyone. I didn’t have to be careful anymore.

  I grinned to myself, imagining all the chaos I could cause in this new world.

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  Then my stomach growled—a loud, unmistakable gurgle that snapped me back to reality.

  Right. I was starving. And I was stuck in a hole. With no food.

  “Uh oh,” I muttered, clutching my empty belly. “Please don’t let my new life end before it even starts.”

  As hunger gnawed at me, another thought bubbled up. What was that light earlier? The one that healed me?

  Could it have been… magic?

  The idea sent a jolt of excitement through me. “Wait. Is there magic in this world?” I whispered, almost afraid to hope. “Can I do magic?”

  The possibilities swirled in my mind, momentarily distracting me from my less-than-ideal situation. If I had magic, who knew what I could accomplish?

  I finally managed to stand, wobbly but determined, and decided to test my theory. “Abracadabra!” I shouted at the darkness, just in case.

  That’s when I heard a voice.

  “Connection re-established with the host.”

  I jumped, my heart nearly leaping out of my chest. “Who’s there!?” I yelled instinctively, spinning in circles like an idiot.

  “It’s me.”

  The voice was calm, not threatening, but I wasn’t about to take any chances. I raised my fists, adopting a fighting pose that I hoped looked more intimidating than ridiculous. “Show yourself, coward! I’m not afraid of you!” I shouted, trying to sound braver than I felt.

  I’ve already been isekai’d once; what’s the worst that can happen? Another round?

  “Alper,” the voice continued, ignoring my theatrics, “it’s me—your Core Nexus. Please relax and rest. I’ve used the last of our materials to heal you so you wouldn’t die. The best thing you can do now is conserve your energy.”

  Her voice was monotone, almost robotic, and it resonated inside my head like an echo. My confusion doubled. Alper? Core Nexus? Materials?

  “Uh… right,” I said, cautiously lowering my fists. “Well, hi there, mysterious voice in my head. Pleasure to meet you. But, uh, it’d be super swell if we could do this face-to-face. Talking to the darkness is a little weird, even for me.”

  No response.

  I sighed, leaning against the dirt wall behind me. Either I was losing my mind, or this world was about to get a whole lot weirder.

  “Hello?” I called out cautiously.

  The voice didn’t respond right away. I couldn’t tell if it was confused or just deep in thought, but the silence stretched long enough to make me uneasy. My eyes darted around, searching for any movement in the oppressive darkness.

  “What is your name?” the voice finally asked.

  A chill ran down my spine, and every hair on my body stood on end. Something about the question felt… wrong. My instincts screamed at me to tread carefully.

  I thought carefully before I spoke. “Isn’t it common courtesy to introduce yourself first?”

  “You never gave me a name, Alper.”

  Alper again.

  “Who’s this Alper you keep talking about?” I asked carefully, my tone measured.

  The voice went silent once more, leaving me to my thoughts.

  Wait a second… Pieces started falling into place.

  What if— My stomach tightened at the realization. What if I didn’t grow young? What if I… possessed some poor kid’s body?

  At first, it sounded ridiculous. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. No child could survive the kind of fall I took. Add the massive blood loss and that nasty gash on the head? Yeah, no kid was walking away from that.

  It was disturbingly plausible. This kid probably died from the fall, and my soul latched onto his vacant body like a parasite.

  I swallowed hard, the memory of that smug, wannabe god surfacing. Is this what she meant? Was this her plan all along? Did she banish me here, to hijack some kid’s body like I’m starring in a supernatural crime spree?

  “Alper, did you get amnesia?” her voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. “Do you remember anything about how you got here?”

  “…No?” I replied hesitantly, unsure of where this was going.

  “What about your parents?”

  Parents? I held back a laugh. My parents weren’t even from this world. “Uh… also no.”

  “You don’t remember anything?” she pressed.

  “Nope,” I said bluntly. “I just woke up, bleeding everywhere, and now I’m talking to someone who won’t even show herself. So… no.”

  Her voice faltered, a hint of guilt creeping in. “Alper… It seems I was too late to heal you. The damage caused… memory loss. Forgive me.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’ll forgive you if you actually show yourself.”

  There was a pause before she responded, calm yet oddly firm. “Alper, I am your Core Nexus. Or, more specifically, you made me. You can see me anytime you want.”

  I blinked, her words bouncing around in my head. I made her? What is this, some kind of Build-A-Bear workshop?

  “Alper,” she continued, ignoring my silence, “I’m going to forcefully transfer you into your Core Nexus Area. It might feel strange, so please brace yourself.”

  “Wha—”

  Before I could even finish the word, everything went dark.

  For a brief moment, I felt like I was being flung through the cosmos itself, weightless and surrounded by infinite stars. The sensation was strange, surreal, and over in an instant.

  When I could see again, I froze, my jaw hanging open.

  The sight before me was… otherworldly.

  It was like I’d stepped into a miniature floating solar system. At the center was a glowing yellow orb, radiating light like an enormous bulb—not fiery like the sun, but equally mesmerizing.

  Around it, four smaller crystal-like orbs orbited in perfect harmony, each one gleaming with its own ethereal glow. One of them, shining bright yellow, seemed to hum faintly with energy.

  All of this was set against an infinite expanse of dark, glittering space. Stars twinkled in the distance, scattered across the vast canvas like jewels. The sheer scale of it was breathtaking, a cosmic masterpiece that left me momentarily speechless.

  “Whoa,” I finally managed to whisper, staring at the dazzling scene. “This is… something else.”

  “I am your Core Nexus,” the voice resonated, each word punctuated by a subtle fluctuation of light from the bright yellow orb in the center of this strange miniature solar system.

  “You created me.”

  I blinked, my mind spinning. I created her? This? I glanced around the surreal cosmic expanse. There’s no way I could’ve made something this intricate. How does a mobster-turned-accidental-kid even build a floating solar system look-alike in the first place?

  By now, I’d already accepted the fact that I was in some poor kid’s body. But this? This was a whole new level of weird.

  “You seem confused,” the voice said, its calm tone almost soothing. “You may ask me anything.”

  I hesitated. There were a thousand questions swirling in my head, but something about this whole setup made me cautious. I had the distinct feeling that asking the wrong thing could lead to trouble.

  “Alright,” I began carefully, “what are you? Or more specifically, what is a Core Nexus?”

  “Everyone is born with a Core Nexus,” she explained, the orb glowing rhythmically with each word. “It resides in the subconscious area of the heart, accessible only by its owner. The Core Nexus serves several purposes: it provides information about a person’s stats, assists with metal weaving and alchemy, facilitates upgrades through core nodes, and stores materials in its Nexus Core Storage Area.”

  I stared blankly at the glowing orb. What?

  “...That just gave me more questions than answers,” I admitted, rubbing the back of my head.

  The orb flickered briefly, almost as if it was amused. “When a baby is born, their Core Nexus is weak and inert. Through learning and experience, they gain the ability to access it once they are a few years old. Think of it as an organ unique to each person, the purpose of the Core nexus is to aid in their growth in any direction they choose. For example, turning a simple warrior into a one man army.”

  “An organ,” I repeated slowly, trying to wrap my head around it. “So, you’re basically a… superpowered, magic growth coach-slash-storage unit?”

  “In essence, yes,” she replied without a trace of irony.

  I groaned, running a hand through my hair. This world was turning out to be more complicated than I’d bargained for.

  Though, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little excited about all this.

  “Can they all talk like you?” I asked, still trying to make sense of this whole Core Nexus deal.

  “No… and yes,” the voice replied. “Let me explain further. The inert core of a baby must first awaken. Upon awakening, it evolves into a random form of Core Nexus, which can then be further evolved by feeding it precious materials. I awoke as a Sentient Core. You fed me materials that enhanced intelligence, allowing me to evolve into a Sentient Core II. With this evolution, I gained the ability to think for myself and assist you with advanced calculations and tasks.”

  “Oh, so you’re like an A.I.?” I asked, tilting my head. “Or rather, you’ve been evolved into one?”

  “An… A.I.?” She questioned.

  “Uh, like a computer, is what I meant.” I clarified.

  “A computer…” she repeated, the orb’s glow pulsing faintly as if processing the concept. “That is an accurate comparison. I’m surprised you recall something as seemingly negligible as a computer, especially since we only read about it once. This suggests there is still hope for you to recover your memories.”

  I don’t know why computers were considered “negligible” here, but I didn’t have enough information to argue. Heck, I didn’t have enough information about anything right now.

  “Alper, Might I recommend you checking all your basic stats which might help you remember who you are?”

  “My basic stats?”

  “Yes, let me show you.”

  A game like window screen opened in front of me.

  Statistics:

  Basic Information:

  Name: Alper Alaric (Adam Vagner)

  Health Points (HP): 77/125 (Current/Maximum)

  Nexus Energy Points (NEP): 272/600 (Current/Maximum)

  Age: 14

  Gender: Male

  Overall Stats:

  Strength (STR): 6

  Vitality (VIT): 5

  Endurance (END): 5

  Intelligence (INT): 36 (+10)

  Dexterity (DEX): 10

  Wisdom (WIS): 27 (+5)

  Charisma (CHA): 8

  Metalweaving Mastery (MW): 2

  Alchemical Mastery (AM): 32

  As I inspected the information in front of me, A single thought kept passing in my head.

  Holy shit, Am really I in a game?