Nexus Ascension: My Comprehension Defies the Heaven Chapter 3: Back Home

Grey returned home. Nightfall had descended, with the final rays of the sunset vanishing past the horizon. His sister and father, Richard, were already back—Alissa probably wrapping up her training, and his dad returning from his job.

Grey headed directly to his room without delay, closing the door firmly behind him.

Richard and Alissa shared a quick eyebrow raise upon witnessing this—but as always, they soon resumed their personal tasks. Such conduct from Grey was entirely familiar.

Inside Grey’s room.

He quickly shed his clothes and stepped into the shower; the technique he’d employed caused heavy sweating, some of which evaporated into smoke from the intense body heat.

After a brisk, invigorating shower, Grey prepared to examine his newfound power.

Defier of Heavenly Logic—that was his ability’s name. This rare gift enabled him to grasp concepts that ordinary folks or even prodigies found bafflingly difficult.

Take, for instance, that life-or-death moment: he overturned the odds against heaven, the supposed supreme ruler of the world, and grasped a technique that harnessed his body efficiently without excess energy loss or needless motion, while mastering adrenaline to unleash speed and strength matching a Pseudo-level first rank practitioner, based on their cultivation path.

Pseudo-level evolvers described individuals who hadn’t fully crossed into 1st Rank territory. They lagged slightly behind the weakest true 1st Rank evolvers and occupied a limbo phase, not yet formally ranked.

Evolution featured four primary stages—spanning 1st Rank to 4th Rank. Every Rank split into twelve standard sub-levels, a norm across all paths. Given the vast array of paths and their unique frameworks, evolutions were broadly labeled by Rank—1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Rank—for universal reference.

"This is a very interesting bug I can utilize." Grey nodded, wearing a matter-of-fact expression.

Had he owned eyeglasses, he’d surely adjust them with a scholarly demeanor, but alas, none were at hand.

Having devoured nearly hundreds of web novels, Grey harbored no uncertainties about his future path or how to wield his heaven-defying gift.

It was straightforward.

First, amass wealth to guzzle energy potions like plain water!

Second, rise as the ultimate powerhouse!

And third, craft his flawless evolutionary path, free of imperfections!

Creating a personal path sounded insane or utterly unattainable, yet as a seasoned web novel enthusiast, he brimmed with confidence to forge it!

Clearly, cosmic energy compatibility eluded him. So why not pioneer his own evolutionary route?

"Maybe I can, but what’s the point of that?"

He might even derive a method to reshape his body for cosmic energy affinity, but for what reason?

Instead, he’d discover an energy surpassing cosmic energy and all others used by evolvers!

His faith in this ability burned strong, especially after the Truck incident revealed its full might.

"But how will I find another form of energy though?" The thought dimmed Grey’s gaze.

His ambitions soared, yet starting points escaped him.

"Should I begin by observing other energy forms?" Grey pondered while browsing energy types on his computer via the internet.

Thanks to his heaven-defying prowess, he was certain it fell within its scope.

Before long, his attention landed on the Immortal Evolutionary Path.

The Immortal Path stood out; it shunned cosmic energy, drawing on Spiritual energy instead—deemed superior by many. No direct comparison existed, yet online debates thrived with wild theories.

Sadly, Immortal Path cultivation was beyond him; his Spiritual energy affinity was the poorest, worse even than cosmic energy.

Still, exploring various energies could deepen his overall energy insight, potentially yielding a related technique.

Becoming an evolver was non-negotiable; he’d accept nothing short.

Dreams fueled him: someday, he’d devour stars, dictate millions’ fates with a finger snap, and traverse the cosmos bodily, just like in those novels.

Achieving that demanded flawless, peerless evolver status!

Suddenly, the sound of his room door creaking open reached him, revealing his father Richard standing there.

Richard Lockhart, Grey's father, was a man in his thirties sporting a rugged stubble beard, lengthy eyebrows, and firm brown eyes. His features looked quite ordinary, yet his frame revealed another tale—wide shoulders, ropy muscles, and an aura that led folks to subconsciously question if he could be an Evolver.

Richard held no status as an Evolver, though. He remained a simple factory laborer, his sturdy build shaped by countless years of dragging heavy burdens and enduring harsh toil.

No physical likeness linked Richard and Grey, which made perfect sense—they shared no blood relation.

Many years back, Richard discovered Grey, only a few months old, deserted at the entrance to a public park. Refusing to abandon the baby, he carried the child home and reared him as his true son.

"Were you studying for the upcoming Entrance Exam?" Richard inquired with a soft smile, his gaze landing on the lit-up screen displaying evolutionary path resources in front of Grey.

"It’s good that you’ve already started preparing. If you can pass, you might even have the chance to become an evolutionary path researcher—and perhaps discover a path of your own." Warmth filled his voice, laced with motivational zeal. "Work hard."

"Yes..." Grey gave a gentle nod.

Truthfully, he wasn't readying himself for that so-called entrance exam to elite universities two months away. Rather, he explored his recently gained powers—probing their boundaries, hunting for the dim contours of a unique path. Naturally, he couldn't reveal any of this to Richard.

Richard's smile widened further. "It’s time for dinner. Come, I made stir-fried chicken today."

"Yes, Dad." Grey rose from his seat and trailed Richard to the dining room, forsaking the glowing screen.

Grey entered the dining room behind his father, where his sister had already settled in.

Alissa occupied the opposite side of the table, eyes locked on her phone, her face distant and inscrutable.

"Alissa Lockhart," Grey pondered silently.

Beneath the cozy illumination, her flowing, silky white hair gleamed softly, outlining a countenance that was refined yet captivating. Her profound blue eyes, tranquil but keen, harbored an elusive acuity. Each aspect of her looks fused into a beauty that appeared innate and seamless—matched with an elegance that captured eyes without effort.

This mesmerizing young woman was his stepsister. Even more impressively, she stood as a genius. Before wrapping up high school, she'd been recruited by the Evolver’s Association and ascended to official ranker in Nova City.

Merely a week prior, she'd secured her ranker license. At her current speed, eclipsing their father's accomplishments wouldn't take long.

Her position as a First Rank Evolver granted her access to Association quests—raiding those Corruption fields for hunts, profits, and reputation. Grey wouldn't bat an eye if she'd kicked off already, concealing it from him and Richard.

This realm deviated from the ordinary. A mysterious force infested it, steadily tainting all things, eroding the essence of being.

They bore the name Corruption Fields.

Without prelude, a Corruption Field erupted—a dark obsidian fissure encircled by coiling crimson energy tendrils. It resembled a savage tear in reality, a rotting gash devouring all that ventured near.

From engulfing one street to swallowing a full town, an unattended Corruption Field could swell massively enough to swallow a city whole.

To dispel a Corruption Field demanded slaying the twisted entities spawning from it. Their might fluctuated, contorted by corruption intensity. After their demise, the residual noxious power at the field's nucleus needed purification. Only then would the Field vanish.

Essentially, it formed a blight chewing through the world—a ceaseless calamity craving eternal alertness. Throughout Blue Star, millions of evolvers stood perpetual guard on the battlefront, battling to restrain the Corruption Fields.

Richard stayed true to his core as a father. Tender, devoted, and safeguarding, he yearned solely to shield his two children. Most of all, he hoped Alissa would steer clear of perils until high school ended and her entrance exam succeeded.

Put simply, he desired her to cherish the fading sparks of everyday youth before treading the evolver's grueling trail.

Yet Grey grasped his sister's nature far better. Cool and detached outwardly, she possessed no cruelty. Hidden under the frosty shell lurked a girl who'd shouldered the drive to bolster Richard since childhood.

Certainly, another key point deserved note—Alissa completely loathed him.