Nexus

"If you mean to ask what it is you now see—it is known as the Nexus. From here, probabilities are calculated so that the proper path may be chosen."

―Juno explaining the Nexus to Ratonhnhaké:ton, 1769.

Juno and Ratonhnhaké:ton inside the Nexus

The Nexus was a disruption in time from where probabilities were calculated, to which the Isu had access. It was used by the Isu to predict the "proper path" for individuals or to speak with individuals from the future. The Nexus could be entered through certain Pieces of Eden such as a Crystal Ball or Apple of Eden.

History

18th century

In 1725, the British Assassin Edward Kenway was briefly transported to the Nexus when a monk used a crescent-shaped Piece of Eden against him. After experiencing a vision of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, as well as both past and future Assassins, Edward witnessed the Dutch explorer Hendrik concealing a sea log within Ferdinand Magellan's cross. This confirmed to Edward that he needed to find the cross in Cebu, and the Assassin subsequently awakened from the Nexus.

Juno introducing herself to Ratonhnhaké:ton in the Nexus

In 1769, Edward's grandson Ratonhnhaké:ton entered the Nexus through his tribe's Crystal Ball. He was greeted by Juno, who told him that by maintaining his current path, it would lead to the destruction of his village. She instead directed him to join the Assassins, knowing that this path would lead to him obtaining the Grand Temple's key. Ratonhnhaké:ton later entered the Nexus again in 1783 after obtaining the key, and Juno instructed him to hide it where nobody would look for it, knowing that his descendant Desmond Miles would eventually find it.

21st century

In 2012, after Desmond Miles fell into a coma and his consciousness became trapped in the Animus' Black Room, he was met by a digital construct of Clay Kaczmarek. Clay told Desmond that in order to regain his consciousness and prevent the memories of his ancestors from overlapping with his own, he needed to achieve a Synch Nexus by reliving all the unfinished memories of his ancestor, Ezio Auditore. Once Desmond had done so, he was transported to the Nexus by the Apple of Eden beside his comatose body, where he was greeted by Jupiter. The Isu showed him the aftermath of the Great Catastrophe and told him to go to the Grand Temple, where he would find the means to prevent the Second Disaster. After this, Desmond awakened from his coma and regained consciousness.

In 2023, Edward Kenway's descendant Noa Kim found the crescent Piece of Eden encountered by his ancestor in the shipwreck of the SS Ourang Medan near the Strait of Malacca. As he touched the artifact, its powers, combined with the Bleeding Effect that Noa was suffering from, caused him to hallucinate the Sage Bartholomew Roberts, and both men were transported to the Nexus. There, the apparition of Roberts taunted Noa about succumbing to the amulet's effects and Edward's memories, but Noa was able to retain control of his mind and ultimately awakened from the hallucination.

Noa Kim and Edward Kenway in the Nexus

Later, when Noa found another artifact inside the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, he was again transported to the Nexus. There, he was forced to overcome several trails created by the Piece of Eden to prove that he was worthy of claiming it. After again being met and taunted by Roberts, Noa was attacked by a projection of Edward. Deducing that the apparition in front of him was just a reflection of himself, Noa put his hands up and refused to fight it, declaring that he would not deny or fight who he was anymore.

The Piece of Eden then tempted Noa by offering to answer his life's biggest question: the mystery of his family's roots and what had truly happened to his father. However, Noa refused, declaring that he would stop looking into the past for answers and instead forge his own path alongside the people he cared about. This answer satisfied the Piece of Eden, and Noa subsequently awakened from the Nexus and retrieved the artifact. In the process, he achieved a Synch Nexus with Edward and was cured of the Bleeding Effect.

Trivia

• "Nexus" was the original working title for Watch Dogs, another Ubisoft title.

Gallery

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  Concept art of Ratonhnhaké:ton's spirit journey in the Nexus
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  Ezio Auditore talking to Desmond Miles in the Nexus
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  Jupiter and Desmond Miles inside the Nexus
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  Edward Kenway in the Nexus
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  Noa Kim and Bartholomew Robets in the Nexus
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  Edward and Roberts in the Nexus

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Revelations (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Revelations novel
• Assassin's Creed III
• Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple