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Nero walked along the cracked pavement, feeling the crisp morning air biting at his skin. He adjusted his collar, pulling it up against his neck as a chill ran through him. The sun was still rising, painting the world in soft hues of orange and gold, casting elongated shadows that stretched out like dark fingers across the empty streets. It was quiet, a strange calm before the chaos that always seemed to follow him these days.

The journey to school had become more bearable since the system awakened within him. He no longer trudged with slumped shoulders and a hunched back, looking over his shoulder at every passing shadow. Now, every step felt lighter, more deliberate. His senses were sharper, his mind clearer. The AI's calming presence was always there in the back of his head, humming softly with calculations and analyses that somehow made everything feel… safer.

It’s strange, he thought to himself, how something as small as a voice in your head can make the world seem less terrifying.

The streets slowly began to fill with life as people emerged from their homes, yawning and stretching as they prepared for another mundane day. But for Nero, every face, every movement, was an opportunity to observe, to learn. He watched how a shopkeeper arranged his wares, how a young couple bickered over something trivial, how a child chased after a runaway ball with unrestrained joy. He felt a pang of envy—how carefree they all seemed, unaware of the shadows that lurked just beneath the surface of reality.

Nero's thoughts drifted to the day ahead. He felt his anxiety bubbling up again, threatening to overwhelm him. What if the bullies are waiting for me? What if things have only gotten worse? He clenched his fists.

And then there was Kai. The thought of him made Nero’s chest tighten. He hadn’t seen Kai since that day—the day they fought side by side, the day that changed everything. They had both been taken to the hospital, but Nero had no idea if he was still there. What if he's out already? What if he’s waiting for me at school, ready to defend me again? The thought was comforting, but uncertainty gnawed at him. Maybe he should visit Kai. Or at least call him.

The AI’s voice broke through his thoughts, cutting through the silence with its usual mechanical clarity. “Worrying about uncontrollable variables is inefficient, Nero. Focus on immediate priorities.”

Nero smirked at that, shaking his head slightly. “You know, sometimes a little worry is just being human.”

“Indeed,” the AI replied, sounding almost amused, “but you are no longer just human.”

That thought lingered, its weight pressing against his mind like a heavy shroud. He took a deep breath and continued walking, trying to push the doubts away. As he rounded a corner, he noticed something odd—a cat perched up on a tree branch, meowing frantically. It was stuck, its tiny claws desperately clinging to the rough bark as it tried to keep from falling.

Nero felt a pang of sympathy. He’d always had a soft spot for cats. They were independent, mysterious, and misunderstood—much like himself. He approached the tree, reaching up carefully. “Easy there,” he murmured, his voice soft. “I’ve got you.” He stretched, managing to grasp the cat around its middle and gently pull it free from the branches.

The cat blinked up at him, wide amber eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of gratitude. It meowed softly, rubbing its head against his chest before jumping down to the ground. Nero watched it for a moment, expecting it to scurry away. But instead, the cat began to walk off, pausing every few steps to glance back at him.

“That’s… odd,” Nero muttered, scratching his head.

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“Follow it,” the AI suggested.

Nero frowned. “Why? It’s just a cat.”

“I detected a potential anomaly in its behavior. It may lead to something… interesting.”

The idea seemed absurd, but there was a strange conviction in the AI’s voice that piqued Nero’s curiosity. He hesitated for only a moment before nodding. “Alright, lead the way then,” he said to the cat, as if it could understand him.

The cat darted ahead, moving with surprising agility. Nero had to jog to keep up, weaving between pedestrians and sidestepping puddles as he followed the small creature. The streets became narrower, more claustrophobic, as they ventured into an older part of town—an area Nero rarely visited. The buildings were weathered and worn, their brick walls coated with grime and graffiti.

“Where are you taking me, little guy?” Nero muttered, but the cat only meowed in response, picking up the pace.

After several minutes, they arrived at a dilapidated, seemingly abandoned building. Its windows were boarded up, and the wooden door hung loosely on its hinges. The cat paused at the entrance, looking back at Nero one last time before slipping inside.

“This is definitely not suspicious,” Nero muttered, rolling his eyes. He took a step forward, but the floor creaked ominously under his weight. He paused, scanning his surroundings. Something felt off. “AI, anything on your scanners?”

“Anomalous energy readings detected,” it replied, its tone suddenly serious. “Proceed with caution.”

Nero took a deep breath and pushed open the door, slipping into the darkness beyond. The cat was already halfway across the room, its tail flicking back and forth. It led him toward the back, where an old, ornate carpet lay spread out on the floor. Nero took a step forward—and then froze as the ground beneath him gave way.

“Whoa!” He yelped, flailing as he tumbled down into darkness. He landed with a thud, groaning as pain shot through his shoulder. “Ow… okay, that was definitely not the plan.”

“No injury detected,” the AI chimed in helpfully. “You’ve stumbled upon a hidden passageway.”

Nero rolled his eyes, pushing himself to his feet. “Yeah, I figured that out.” He glanced around, his eyes slowly adjusting to the dim light. He was in a narrow tunnel, the walls covered in moss and strange markings. The air was musty, heavy with the scent of damp earth.

As he ventured deeper, the tunnel opened up into a small, dimly lit chamber. In the center was a wooden chest, intricately carved with symbols that glowed faintly in the darkness.

“A loot box?” Nero muttered in disbelief, kneeling down beside it. “This can’t be real.” He reached out, running his fingers over the carvings, and felt a strange energy pulse beneath his touch. “AI, what is this?”

“Scanning…” The AI’s voice was tinged with excitement. “Item classification: Mythical Level. This item is currently locked. A key is required to unlock its true potential.”

Nero’s heart raced as he stared down at the chest. “What’s inside?”

“Unknown,” the AI replied. “But whatever it is, it’s powerful.”

Nero’s fingers tingled with anticipation as he lifted the chest, noting how light it felt despite its size. “A key, huh? Guess I’ll have to find that later.”

The AI hummed in agreement. *“Indeed. This is only the beginning.”*

Nero’s eyes flicked toward the entrance of the chamber, where the cat sat watching him with an eerie stillness. It meowed once before turning and disappearing into the darkness, leaving Nero alone with his newfound treasure.

“Well,” Nero murmured to himself, “that was one way to start the day.” He couldn’t help but smile.

The shadows may have deepened, but the path before him had never been clearer.