Tower Of The Elite

It had been 2 days since the quest started and Nathan could be seen standing in front a tavern in the Klipsan village.

It was the nearest village from the spawn point, The one that Dante had told him about and he had come here to accept his proposal. After asking around for his name to the Inhabitants, they told him of this place, which was famous for hosting ascenders from influential backgrounds.

Actually, he had arrived on this village on the night of the first day itself as he had a feeling that he would need to partner up with with Dante. 

With his black token, he was basically a dead weight to others. He tried lying about his token but it didn't work as all the good ones he decided to partner up with were sharp and cunning. 

They demanded that he take a Nexus oath, something he had not understood at first. One of them, surprisingly kind, explained it to him.

"Looks like you're from the outside, not knowing such a basic thing," the barbarian man said, his tone laced with mild amusement. "Fine, I'll tell you for free. Be grateful I'm not charging. Listen carefully. A Nexus oath is a bind, a sort of connection that forms when two or more people want to create a contract based on authenticity. We wager our Nexus cores, and a small aetheric thread intertwines around them, binding us to the terms and conditions. If we lie or disobey, the Nexus oath activates, destroying our core and our body as a result."

The man paused, lifting his cup and draining it in one gulp before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "This is a fundamental feature of the Nexus core. It helps us form trust and work with others without worrying about betrayal. Many organizations and kingdoms in the upper realms rely on it."

Nathan was able to grasp everything the barbarian said despite his half drunken state, but then he raised his hand to spoke about his problem shyly,

"Umm… I haven't awakened my Nexus core yet. So—"

"What?" The man's voice boomed as he slammed his cup onto the table. "What gave you the gall to ask me to party with you when you haven't even unlocked your core? Get out of here before I kill you!"

The enraged man hurled his cup at Nathan. He barely dodged, scrambling to his feet and running out of the tavern.

His statement had shocked him that day, and it turned out to be true as almost everyone had awakened their cores. Only a small minority of ascenders who were as clueless as him were still the same.

On the first day, Nathan had turned to the guidebook for answers, but the description written there was frustratingly vague:

```

Lock your senses, Empty your mind, Feel the river's flow, Feel the heat, Feel the air and Feel the Earth. 

```

He had tried everything. Lying under a rock in the scorching sun, meditating beneath a waterfall to feel the water's force.

Yet, nothing worked. All he managed was to waste his second day in vain.

When he asked the other ascenders, they answered in even vague methods,

"You must feel one with your body"

"Have more self-control, It would be easy to awaken then"

"Eat a lot of food from this Inn"

"Can't I get a straight answer?" Nathan sighed, frustrated. "Or is it just impossible for me?" He shook his head, recalling their responses. At least they had not outright attacked him like some others.

The past two days had been exhausting. Though he had secured a cheap deal at an inn, most of his time had been spent running around, desperately seeking a way to awaken his core.

His only hope now was Dante. Though inwardly, he wished that Dante had also not awakened yet, that he too was still struggling like him.

"Either way, I'll get something from him," Nathan muttered, trying to lift his sour mood as he entered the tavern to find Dante.

As he scanned the room, filled with chattering voices and loud conversations, his eyes landed on Dante, seated in a quiet corner, silently eating his breakfast.

'How typical of him,' Nathan mused, recalling how this guy had always been an introvert.

As he stepped closer, Dante lifted his head from the bowl and locked eyes with Nathan. They both remained silent, as if waiting for the other to speak, but the silence lingered, growing more awkward with each passing moment. Nathan, for his part, felt a bit ashamed for rejecting him earlier and now showing up like this.

Dante finally broke the awkward silence. "You can have a seat," he offered, gesturing to the chair across from him.

"Hmph... I don't need your permission," Nathan scoffed as he sat down, facing him.

Dante returned to eating, ignoring Nathan. The disregard stung, and Nathan spoke with an edge, "Are you just going to eat after begging me to be here?"

At his sharp remark, Dante looked up again, his voice flat and detached. "First, I didn't beg you. And second, it's rude to speak while eating."

After his defense, Nathan remained silent for a while before deciding to order something himself. However, the prices baffled him. "Why the hell is everything so damn expensive?" he muttered under his breath, but Dante caught it and spoke up.

"You can try the Aranara special combo," Dante suggested. "It's only 3.5 G, but it can last for two meals".

Nathan took his advice and ordered the dish suggested by him. He was served a tray of fish nuggets, a glass of fresh milk, a small bowl of fruit salad, and a bowl of noodles, which was the same meal Dante was having.

They ate in silence, and it was Dante's turn to wait as he finished earlier than Nathan. Once Nathan was done cleaning himself, he spoke the first thing that weighed on his mind.

"So, have you awakened?" His voice carried both curiosity and caution as he assessed Dante.

"Yes," Dante replied bluntly, and the implications were clear to Nathan. He needed to make him spill the beans on how to awaken while being careful not to expose his token.

"That's great, man," Nathan said, trying to impress him while delaying the inevitable. He would have to ask for help to awaken, but it felt embarrassing after he had rejected Dante first. If he were in Dante's shoes, he would have rejected helping him.

As Nathan considered what to say next, Dante spoke, his words shocking him.

"Do you need help awakening?"

"How did you know?" Nathan asked dumbfoundedly, his voice a little louder than usual as he looked at Dante.

Dante simply shrugged in response and said, "It was very obvious. Why else would you be here?"

His ability to figure out Nathan's intentions so easily left him feeling ashamed. However, he had no choice but to swallow whatever pride he had left and ask politely, "Please, Dante, just teach me how to awaken my core. I know I have nothing to give you right now, but-"

"Okay."

Dante interrupted him, shocking Nathan once again with his words.

"Wait, that's it?" Nathan asked dumbfoundedly. Why did this man agree so easily? Did he have evil intentions, or was he simply feeling guilty for what he did to Emily? Nathan couldn't figure him out at all. He was like a closed book.

"I have only one condition," Dante answered, his tone serious as he got up from his seat, "Form a party with me", he started walking away while gesturing for Nathan to follow. 

Nathan couldn't believe his ears. Why was this man so fixed on him? He had nothing to offer, after all.

They exited the tavern and walked for a while, making their way toward the outskirts of Klipsan village. Eventually, they reached a small cave, its interior completely dark.

At the entrance of the cave, Nathan hesitated. He stood still, uncertainty creeping in. Dante, too, slowed his pace, turning to face him as if he sensed his hesitation.

"Why are you doing this?" Nathan asked, trying to hide his unease. He had had enough of being stabbed in the back and would rather die fighting than be played the fool.

"I am doing this for my own purpose," Dante replied, his tone unwavering. "I know you, Nathan. I know the man you are, and I can predict your actions. Even if you betray me, I will have anticipated it. And moreover..." He let the silence hang, building up the suspense. Nathan, swallowing nervously, asked, "Moreover?"

"You can never beat me," Dante said, a cold smirk etched on his face. His words sounded more like an obvious fact than a reminder.

Nathan's eyebrows twitched in annoyance, but he knew this wasn't the time to let pride cloud his judgment. He had made that mistake enough times before.

"How can I trust that you won't use me or stab me in the back?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism.

"Oh Nathan tch tch tch.... I do plan to use you," Dante replied with a hint of amusement, his usual detached expression replaced by something more playful. "But I won't stab you in the back. That would be pointless."

Nathan found his reaction strange and, for a brief moment, considered if Dante might have a split personality. But he quickly dismissed the thought and decided to be direct.

"Why bring me here, then?"

"This is where I awakened, Nathan," Dante said, his gaze shifting to the cave.

"I needed to be inside a void, surrounded by darkness,

to empty my mind and feel the dormant energy inside me,

To touch the essence of anima within me and move them to the center with my willpower".

His words felt like an enlightenment to Nathan, as though he had grasped something new, something raw, a notion he couldn't quite name. He wanted to rush into the cave and follow his instincts coupled with Dante's words immediately, but he fought the excitement and the urge. Wariness overtook his mind.

He still couldn't bring himself to trust him, to trust the twisted man he barely knew.

"You will stay outside the cave," Nathan ordered, his voice edged leaving no room for refusal,

"I will go inside alone and and awaken without anyone interfering, just like you did, cause this is my fight". 

Dante looked at him and paused. The determination in Nathan's eyes burned fiercely, like an unyielding flame refusing to be extinguished. It was the kind of resolve that spoke of a man ready to face his fears, no matter the cost.

After a moment, Dante nodded, his voice carrying a hint of hesitation.

"Fine. Just don't lose focus."

He then proceeded to explain to Nathan in detail about the awakening process he had gone through. His voice was calm and measured, speaking with patience as he carefully answered Nathan's doubts.

Finally, it was time for Nathan to awaken his Nexus core and take his first step toward becoming a full fledged ascender. To do so, he would need to persist, struggle, and understand himself in a way only an ascender could.

Nathan took a deep breath before stepping forward, knowing this would be the toughest trial he had ever faced. Yet, amidst the tension, a flicker of excitement stirred within him. Without hesitation, he started walking into the darkness.

His figure vanished into the cave, but Dante's gaze lingered on the entrance a moment longer before he relaxed his shoulders and let out a sigh of exhaustion.

Truth be told, Nathan going inside alone was exactly what he had intended. As only in solitude could one truly discover the depths within themselves.

When Dante had undergone his awakening, he had meticulously cleaned the cave of insects and other pests. He then placed a warning sign outside so that he couldn't be disturbed. For Nathan, though the cave was relatively clean, Dante decided he would stand guard outside, ensuring no interruptions.

"I really hope you show some promise, Nathaniel Owen," he muttered softly, his gaze lingering on the darkened entrance.

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A/N:

The next chapter is going to be... -Well different or should I say Unique, In a lot of ways... Hehehe...

This is the first step, the first time you will see the man change for the better, no matter how slow or low it is, a change is a change. and that is the only thing constant in Nathan's life.

My MC isn't weak. He is just growing alright. And Don't think too much if a character acts out of line, I know what I am writing as I focus on every dialogue and exchange.

On a side note, Please help me ascend as well by supporting my work