The Nexus

Alexander's heart raced as he found a secluded spot to activate the passcode. With a deep breath, he accessed the chip within his cybernetic enhancements, and a surge of virtual data flooded his senses. The world around him melted away as he was drawn into The Nexus—a vast, underground net that interconnected the minds of Neo Aetheria's citizens.

In this virtual realm, every individual had their own avatar, a representation of their true selves or a carefully crafted persona. The avatars transcended physical limitations, allowing people to explore the boundless possibilities of their imaginations. From fantastical creatures to cyberpunk warriors, the avatars ran the gamut of human creativity.

Alexander marveled at the immersive landscapes of The Nexus. He found himself in a bustling metropolis teeming with life, a digital mirror of the city he now called home. This was not just any simulation; The Nexus was a reflection of the collective consciousness of Neo Aetheria's citizens.

As he explored further, he encountered a myriad of platforms within The Nexus—virtual worlds designed to cater to various interests and desires. There were bustling marketplaces where people traded virtual goods, theaters showcasing mesmerizing performances, arenas hosting intense competitive games, and even open platforms for pleasurable desires. But that's not all, In this virtual world crime was still inevitable and it is in the form of hacking, stealing and selling data to dealers and mercenaries.

He was overwhelmed by how this new world's security system is not functional given how he got through the black market easily and how vulnerable each citizen of Neo-Aetheria was. He saw this as an opportunity to rise up in status, but the risk is as big where you can be at the top once, then next second straight down bottom, similar to the Earth's stock market. But in this world, it is not just the economy that is volatile; everything is.

He was aware that he was still a nobody in this society and that risks to him were limited, but his prior instinct tells him otherwise. So he logged out of the Nexus and carefully considered everything: how this world's economy works, how the security systems work, how the regulatory body works, and even how their human body works. As he did so, he came to the conclusion, "Perhaps this is true equality... Individually, everyone is equally powerful with limitless potential, with no one above to limit ones actions and desires."

With a newfound perspective, Alexander saw the potential in this world of limitless possibilities, but also the risks. Unlike on Earth, where if you have a complete monopoly on highly significant resources, you control the economy and the society. The principle of survival of the fittest applies on Earth. However, because of the human-machine enhancements, everyone is fit here. One's resources can be taken over by another in a matter of seconds, he reasoned. So the goal here is to hold your ground as long as possible. Trust is never a factor here; you can form groups and communities to defend yourself, but there was never a "head" to begin with; there was only an idea where anyone can steal and claim it as their own. So he looked into factors where the greatest power can be obtained.

He began to hypothesize a simple triangular-case scenario. If a man went into full cyborg mode, leaving only his organic brain, he would gain superior abilities in combat, durability, and violence. However, he could still be vulnerable to a malnourished body with exceptional hacking skills that could fry his brains out. On the other hand, this hacker could be countered by a man with physical capabilities on par with the cyborg but equipped with unprogrammed armor and weaponry. This combatant would possess similar combat abilities and aggressiveness, which the hacker's physical abilities couldn't keep up with. And this enhanced superhuman combatant is countered by the cyborg with the organic brain, thanks to the cyborg's close-to-unlimited stamina.

However, the persona that combines all three characteristics—cybernetic enhancements, hacking skills, and superior physical capabilities—is the weakest of all since it is countered by each of the specialized personas. Despite having multiple strengths, this all-in-one persona becomes a vulnerability as it can be overpowered by the specialized skills of the other three individuals. I mean it is impossible to specialize in all three characteristcs right? You cannot have implants that is both unprogrammed and programmed.

Alexander is lost in thought and has no idea where he would place himself, but he noticed a hole, all of them required a brain to function, which means the greatest common factor he could find is the Mind, and dealing with this shit is incomprehensible. With his ambition and determination, he could not find another way to deal with it other than to specialize in one aspect, which is to study the Brain, Mind, Consciousness, or whatever you want to call it, despite knowing how difficult this subject would be. He then decided to go home.

As Alexander returned to the orphanage, his mind buzzed with thoughts of the dangerous world he had just explored within The Nexus. Alexander having experienced The Nexus, with a default avatar, he knew he needed an edge to navigate the treacherous waters of the criminal factions. Drawing upon his instinct as a he found an opportunity. He recalled the previous conversations he had with Ethan, the tech-savvy prodigy, he began to inquire further about the coding system of Aeonia—the underlying architecture that governed the holographic data and avatars within The Nexus.

As he entered the bustling common room of the orphanage, he spotted Ethan tinkering with a holographic gadget, as always. The young boy was engrossed in his own world of technology, and Alexander couldn't help but admire his brilliance.

"Hey, Ethan," Alexander said, approaching the boy with a hint of excitement in his voice. "I need your help with something. You know more about the coding system of Aeonia than anyone else I've met."

Ethan looked up, his eyes widening at the prospect of being of assistance to someone as skilled and experienced as Alexander. "Sure, Lex. What do you need?"

Alexander crouched down, lowering his voice to ensure they had some privacy amidst the busy activities of the orphanage. "I've been exploring The Nexus, and I've realized that understanding the coding system could give us an edge in dealing with the criminal factions. With your expertise, we might be able to expose their secrets and dismantle their networks."

Ethan's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "That's incredible! I can't believe you've been to The Nexus. It's so hard to access for most people, but you managed to get in."

Alexander smiled "Well you know how I am more curious than a cat", appreciating Ethan's admiration but knowing he had a task at hand. "Would you help me learn how to create and modify avatars in The Nexus?"

Ethan's response was immediate. "Of course, Are you sure thats it? isnt there a default guide in creating those like a game?"

Alexander replied "Well those defaults can be better right? Just help me understand the program and i'll do the rest myself."

Ethan nodded eagerly, his fingers already itching to dive into the virtual world's coding mysteries. "Absolutely, Mr. Alexander! I can show you the basics of avatar creation and modification in The Nexus. With your understanding of the coding system, I'm sure you'll be able to create avatars far superior to the defaults."

As they settled down in a quieter corner of the orphanage, Ethan began explaining the intricacies of The Nexus' avatar system. He guided Alexander through the holographic interface, showcasing the different options and features available for customization.

"See here, Mr. Alexander, this is the code that defines the avatar's appearance—the hair, the eyes, the clothes, everything," Ethan explained, highlighting lines of code that controlled various visual elements.

Alexander leaned in, studying the code intently. His instincts kicked in, recognizing patterns and potential improvements. "Interesting," he mused. "What if we tweak these parameters? Could we create an avatar that's more inconspicuous or one that blends in with specific environments?"

Ethan's eyes widened with excitement. "Oh yeah, your'e right! With some adjustments, we could... Bingo!" As the hours passed, Alexander and Ethan delved deeper into the world of avatar coding. They experimented with different modifications....

"Ethan, this is exactly what I just needed," Alexander exclaimed, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Thank you for your help." He patted Ethan's shoulder appreciatively before turning to head back to his room.

Once inside his room, Alexander sat in front of his holographic terminal, fingers flying across the virtual keyboard. Drawing upon his instincts and the knowledge Ethan had shared, he began to craft an avatar that would be the ultimate tool in navigating the treacherous waters of The Nexus.

As lines of code danced on the screen, Alexander's mind was alive with possibilities. He realized that he could create an avatar with the ability to change its appearance at will, adapting to any situation or environment. It was a digital chameleon, capable of mimicking the appearance of everyday citizens or even replicating known members of the criminal factions.

The hours passed swiftly as Alexander lost himself in the intricacies of coding. With each modification, he honed the avatar's capabilities, making it more sophisticated and versatile. He added algorithms that would analyze and replicate the body language and speech patterns of those it mimicked, making it even more convincing in its role.

Finally, as the first rays of dawn touched the horizon, Alexander leaned back in his chair, admiring his creation. The avatar he had crafted was a masterpiece—an amalgamation of his CEO acumen and Ethan's technical prowess. It was a tool that would grant him access to the hidden corners of The Nexus, where valuable information and secrets awaited.

Alexander smiled contentedly as he securely stored the avatar's code in his data storage, knowing it had the potential to change the course of his goals. But his delight quickly turned to dismay when he realized that it was still vulnerable to colliding with other avatars and that this was a flaw in his plan.

"Well, what can I do? I'm still an infant in this world," he mumbled under his breath. Exhausted, he felt the need to sleep...