The weight of the broken bottle against his head was far lighter than the weight of his father’s words, which still spun in his mind like shards of glass. The dried blood on his forehead stung with every movement, but he ignored it. The physical pain seemed insignificant compared to the deeper wound gnawing at his heart.


    To him, they were more than just a myth.


    The members of Nexus weren’t just warriors; they were masters in various fields: archaeology, science, cooking… each of them possessing a unique expertise that made them indispensable.


    Ikku knew that to achieve his goal of finding the legendary jewels, he first had to join Nexus.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.He found an old bench, secluded and out of sight, and decided to spend the night there in the open air. The cold seeped through his clothes, but he had no other choice. Lying down, even for a few hours, would give him enough energy to keep going.


    “Hey!” he shouted instinctively. “You mangy mutt!”


    “