Screams filled Goldhill.

  Pandemonium followed.

  People flooded the streets even though it was late in the night.

  These citizens weren’t under attack or injured in any way, they all just received the same notifications. A shift in the universe happened and a new function in the System had been made available. Excitement. Fear. Surprise. People were feeling everything at once as a chorus of discussion filled the night air.

  Synexus was still talking to Gene in the park when it happened and people in their night clothes suddenly surrounded him meeting with their neighbors to see if anyone had any information. Of course, no one did except for a few people claiming they knew something was coming. Synexus only laughed.

  “Maybe you should have waited until the morning to do this.”

  “I decided to do it at night to avoid this. I didn’t realize the notification would wake them.”

  The owl shook their head as several citizens approached Synexus asking him if he got the notification as well. Just like Synexus, they were given retroactive Progress Credits for each level they had achieved. At 100pc for each level, it was more money than some people had ever had in their lives.

  He got up and made his way back to his friends at the inn to make sure they were okay. Only Ecclo had known what Synexus wanted to do. He was planning on telling all his friends and getting their input, but the timing after the show just felt right. Now he would have some explaining to do.

  At the inn, people were flooded into the main room trying to ask the innkeeper what was going on like she had some idea. She was simply telling people to go back to their rooms and check out the features closely and assured them they weren’t in danger.

  When Synexus arrived at the top of the stairs, he could already hear the calm discussion his friends were having. Kumo was at his door banging on it thinking he was still asleep, or something had gone wrong. His foot stepped onto the top floor and instantly they all turned towards him with eyes wide in surprise.

  “WHAT DID YOU DO?!” Kumo waved her hands erratically while walking towards him.

  “What do you mean? How did you guys know it was me?”

  “Synexus, it’s named the Progress Nexus.” Shell said calmly.

  “Yeah, if you slow it down and sort of mush the words together, your name is in it. Progre-ss-nexus. Snexus. Synexus.” Zuls said with a little laugh as she tried what she stated.

  “Wow, I didn’t even realize that.” Synexus turned to Gene and the owl shrugged.

  “None of this is here nor there. Synexus can you please explain what you did?” Vorin tried to get everyone back on track.

  Synexus sighed. “Alright, so when I touched the Nothing Stone, I absorbed some Divine mana and was given a Divine skill selection. A Divine skill basically adds a function to System. This is what I chose to create. I felt it would boost the progress of every class chosen.”

  Prith stepped forward with a big smile on his face.

  “You are something else. This will help the world immensely. My family will be able to sell their fish much more easily, not to mention all the natural treasures of the Smile Isles. I’m hoping other sword masters sell some tomes on their swordsmanship.”

  “Well, it will be for the entire universe, so you could even learn some alien techniques too, Prith.”

  Prith beamed and then exclaimed he was going to get a drink then went down the stairs.

  “Could you not have at least told us before you did this?” Kumo was standing right in front of him by this point.

  “I wanted to, and I planned too, but the timing felt right. I’m sorry. I was coming to tell you all when you already seemed to have guessed it.”

  “Will this bring any danger to the group?” Vorin cut in once more.

  “It shouldn’t. System said they would leave my name out of every notification to protect my involvement.”

  “Good enough for me then! I wonder if I can buy some alien plague vials or something to increase my skills. This will make our adventuring more efficient.” He followed Prith down the stairs to the bar.

  “Yeah, I think it’s brilliant! This is something we all needed. Thanks, Synexus. It kind of sucks that no one will know how amazing you are.” Zuls put a hand on his shoulder and then followed the other two.

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  “Umm…Synexus. I would like to talk to you later if it’s possible. I think I just had an idea, and this new function will help.” A genuine smile spread across Shell’s face, and then she went down to the bar with the other three.

  Gene had flown over and was whispering with Yu the whole time this was happening.

  “Synexus, will this allow my people to obtain knowledge?” She finally broke her silence.

  “One stipulation I had with System was to allow the selling of information. So, perhaps.”

  “Then this is truly an incredible feat. Thank you! I have much to think about.” She and Gene went back into her room and the door shut behind them.

  That left only Kumo and Synexus in the hall.

  “I got a broken body and a day in bed after fighting those things. You got Divine mana and a chance to do this.” She didn’t sound bitter or envious. There was a bit of laughter hidden in her words.

  “That’s just how incredible I am. What can I say?”

  That caused her to burst out in an actual laugh.

  “We will have to do something to deflate that head of yours. I’m just glad you’re my friend. Now I know what I have to look forward too when I reach Divinity.” A smile flashed across her face.

  “Now who needs their head deflated.”

  She shook her head and then hugged him.

  “This is really incredible. My family and my friends back in Whisper will benefit from this. Thank you.” She let go of him and then smacked his shoulder. “Let’s go get a drink!”

  ***

  A night of drinking and celebrating passed as they all discussed various things and browsed the Progress Nexus. Millions of listings were already pouring in by the time they had gotten down to the bar.

  Synexus was amazed at how System had handled the integration. You could search for items by thought, and filter items the same way. It would tell you the seller’s name, and what planet they were from. If they were a seller, then they had a little start next to their listing. He even bought a common stone from a different planet that someone listed immediately which they all believed was just a test to see how it worked. Instantly, his Progress Credits went down, and the stone appeared in a flash of light. What’s more was there was a little notification attached to the purchase that just came up as “simply a test”. That meant sellers could leave notes, or instructions for the people who purchased their items.

  Ecclo had stumbled upon them at the bar and told Synexus he had already listed all the different types of bamboo. For sellers, it was much easier and they simply had to think about the items in their stock to mass list them. Another difference was System didn’t take those items to the spatial warehouse to be held, so the sellers could list them on the nexus and still have them for locals to buy. System would even automatically remove the listing when the trader mentally acknowledged that it was sold locally.

  Another big surprise was how lenient System was on who was and wasn’t a banker. Perhaps an oversight on Synexus’ part because some planets that weren’t as advanced yet wouldn’t necessarily have a banker yet. So, when Ecclo told him that it counted anyone with a currency exchange skill as a banker, it made him feel a little better. Even unadvanced planets would have some sort of trade even if it was a barter system. He was sure System did everything they could to make this available to everyone.

  Ecclo even said he was able to put items up for private sales that way if someone didn’t have enough guins on them but had the PCs then he could simply start a private sale with them to handle it all through the nexus which Synexus’ wouldn’t have even thought of.

  When he awoke the next morning, his plans were to start power training his skills once more to breakthrough the wall to level 21, but as soon as his eyes opened there was a knock on his door.

  Upon opening the door, he saw it was Shell and Yu who both asked to speak with him.

  “We know it’s early and we apologize for intruding.” Shell politely said as they entered.

  “You’re never intruding. What is this about?”

  “We both have a request for you regarding the use of your skills.” Yu interjected.

  “Well, I was planning on doing some power training on Enemy Transmutation today, but I assume that isn’t the one you are in need of.”

  “No, but we can be patient if you need to prioritize levelling up.”

  “Nonsense. There is always time for that after. What do you need me to create?”

  Shell motioned Yu to go first.

  “Yesterday, we all went to look at dresses. This is something that I’ve never done before for obvious reasons, but the seamstress said she could craft one for me. When I looked at her selection of fabrics, none of them seemed perfect. I want something that is like my feathers to cover my more naked features. I thought maybe you could make that happen.”

  “Interesting! I would love to see what this seamstress comes up with. We can head there right after this, and I’ll find the closest material she has and change it to something durable like your feathers. It’ll be a great challenge.”

  “Thank you, I’ll wait for you outside then.” With a small bow, she left the room.

  “Now, Shell, is this regarding your idea from last night?”

  “Yes! I was wondering if you could help me create something new. Something that would allow me to sell my music to a wider audience via The Progress Nexus. My thoughts so far are a crystal of sorts that could record sound and then play it back or turning sound into some sort of potion that they could drink and when they do, they can hear the song. I know those sound impossible, but if anyone could do it, it’d be you. No worries, if you don’t think you can help me though.”

  “Those inventions sound fascinating! Imagine all the things people could do with a device that could record sound, as a matter of fact, I’ve encountered something similar before in my trial. Technology that captured images as well as sound. I believe I told you about it before. I’d need to sit down and think for a bit on how I could recreate it and then alter it to work with mana, that way more people could enjoy it.”

  “Wait, so you really think this is possible?”

  “Everything is possible when System is involved. I’ll work on it after I go help Yu. The universe will fall in love with your music, Shell.”

  She smiled and left the room.

  Synexus got ready for the day. An odd start to be sure and he was unsure how to feel that his friends felt the need to formally ask for his help. Of course he would help! It’s not like Shell needs to be asked to heal anyone with her song or Yu needs to be asked to use her fire to save your life. He browsed the listings quickly to see if anything called out to him while his thoughts raced on the subject and then he went downstairs to meet Yu. She was clearly excited to finally be able to get a dress worthy of a sphinx.