''This is much different than what I expected.''


    Nux muttered as he stepped out of the Cosmocraft,nding on the metallic tform with a soft thud. As he straightened his back, he took in his surroundings, his gaze calm but observant. He quickly stored the Cosmocraft in his storage ring and then started observing his surroundings.


    Nexus was unlike anything he''d seen before. The air was filled with a new type of energy he had never sensed before.


    It wasn''t just the energy itself, Nexus itself was something far different than the worlds he had been to so far.


    Towers of dark alloy gleamed under a strange source of light that looked like a sun, stretching into the skies like monstrous spikes. Neon lights flickered at the base of the massive structures, casting an ever-changing kaleidoscope of colours over the metallic streets below.


    Unlike Yrniel, which carried a sense of ancient mystery and natural energy, Nexus exuded an industrial edge, a bustling hub ofmerce, battle-worn technology, and power trading.


    Mercenary banners could be seen all around the walkways, insignias from different worlds proudly disyed on every corner.


    As he watched, a convoy of armoured vehicles rumbled past, each covered in alien symbols and scars from previous missions.


    Yes, vehicles.


    Although not exactly simr, but these vehicles Nux saw definitely made him recall the cars and tanks he saw back on Earth. This is what made him realize that he wasn''t in some backward ce that still uses carriages, faster vehicles existed here and the air was filled with the mingling scents of machinery, oil, and something distinctly metallic.


    Of course, this alone wasn''t something that would surprise him, he had long expected to see a few recreations of Earthly designs.


    Honestly, even back in Yrniel, the Dwarves easily had the ability to create such vehicles, they just didn''t feel the need to.


    Yes, the shorties werezy.


    Shaking his head, he nced at the crowd around him, his eyes burning with curiosity. Mercenaries of every imaginable race moved through the streets, each radiating a different level of Aura.


    Some towered above the others, massive, muscr beings with skin-like scales, glistening and hard as steel. Others were sleek and ethereal, their forms partially translucent, phasing in and out of view.


    One particrlyrge figure caught his eye, a giant d in heavy armour that looked like it was fused to his body, with a mouth of tusks and eyes that glowed an eerie red.


    Closer to him, a group of mercenaries with elongated, fox-like features and sleek, metallic tails were bartering with a vendor selling strange weapons that hummed with a peculiar dark energy.


    Beyond them, serpent-like creatures slithered, their scales reflecting strange hues as theymunicated in anguage that sounded like a whisper in the wind. One creature turned toward him, its slit eyes assessing before returning to itspanions.


    Nux stared at them for a while before his continued to walk, his steps slow and deliberate as he observed the varied life of Nexus.


    Ahead of him stood a massive holographic disy, advertising ''Prime Contracts'' avable to those deemed worthy. Nux''s eyes briefly scanned the offers: high-stakes missions across the Universe, each promising riches, power, or secrets long lost.


    In one corner, a trio of heavily armoured figures whispered to each other, each casting wary nces at the other mercenaries around them, as if at any moment they might be drawn into battle.


    Nux observed them all, of course, as he did that, others did the same.


    Nux wasn''t the only being whonded on Nexus, as a Mercenary World, it weed countless guests every day. Mercenaries returning from their missions, mercenaries looking for new missions, new mercenaries who just started their journey, all kinds of people came to Nexus on a regr basis.


    So normally, another beinging to this ce shouldn''t attract a lot of attention, but…


    Nux was different.


    And the beings of Nexus could sense it.


    Nux was different from the usual mercenaries who arrived with swagger and battle-worn pride. Here, every neer carried a sense of hunger, ambition, or desperation, but Nux moved with a silent authority, a confidence that felt unshakable.


    He didn''t radiate his Aura to unt his power, he didn''t need to. He had absolute confidence in himself, and it showed.


    And because of that, Nux attracted attention.


    As he strode through the crowded streets of Nexus, eyes turned, some curious, some calcting, others with a gleam of challenge.


    To the hardened mercenaries of Nexus, he was a neer to be measured and tested, a potentialpetitor in a realm that allowed no room for weakness.


    His calm, unassuming confidence, however, struck a nerve; it was a demeanour they weren''t ustomed to, especially in one who seemedpletely unknown.


    "What''s with him?" scoffed a tall, armoured warrior with skin like cracked white stone. His tone was dismissive, but his gaze lingered on Nux as if waiting for him to show some w, some sign of where his real limitsy.


    "I don''t like the way he walks. It is annoying."


    The beingmented.


    "Seen his type before. Acting all high and mighty. It wouldn''t take long for him to jump around like a dog, fighting for scraps before giving up and crawling back to that weird ship he came in on."


    Beside him, a feline-faced mercenary flicked her tail, eyes narrowed with faint irritation as she watched Nux pass by.


    A reptilian figure with shimmering scales huffed, folding his arms as he eyed Nux.


    "Just another nobody. You''d think he''d be a bit more cautious,"


    He muttered to hispanions, his eyes flicking up and down, scrutinizing Nux''s casualposure.


    "We''ve had so-called ''quiet types'' like him before. They break fast enough."


    He shrugged.


    Nux, however, continued walking. His expression unreadable, meeting their nces with an indifference that only seemed to raise their displeasure further.


    A group of shadow-skinned assassins stood nearby, leaning against the wall with crossed arms, smirking as they exchangedments in low voices.


    "Look at him. He''s eitherpletely oblivious or trying too hard to look untouchable," one sneered, his voiceced with sarcasm.


    "Can he not understand what we are saying?" One of them questioned.