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Nero's footsteps echoed in the cavernous space as he paced the perimeter, his fingers tracing the rough stone walls. His eyes darted from corner to corner, squinting in the flickering torchlight. He craned his neck, peering up at the shadows dancing across the vaulted ceiling. Dropping to his knees, he ran his hands along the dusty floor, feeling for any irregularities or hidden compartments.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as Nero methodically examined every inch of the chamber. He tapped on loose stones, listened for hollow spaces, and held his torch close to faded markings that might have once been writing. But each potential lead fizzled out, leaving him empty-handed.

His jaw clenched, and he muttered a curse under his breath. Nero's hands balled into fists at his sides, his knuckles white with tension. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply through his nose. The musty air filled his lungs as he held the breath for a long moment before exhaling slowly. His shoulders dropped slightly as he opened his eyes, refocusing on the task at hand with renewed determination.

“It’s like someone left this here on purpose,” he muttered. “Why would anyone do that?” He glanced down at the wooden chest, the carvings still faintly glowing, as if waiting for him to unlock its secrets. “AI, any idea who or what might’ve put this here?”

“No definitive answers,” the AI replied, its voice echoing in the back of his mind. “However, the symbols suggest ties to ancient mythologies, possibly linked to forgotten civilizations or hidden organizations. It is highly improbable that this was left here without a purpose."

Nero chewed on his bottom lip, deep in thought. “Why would they make it so easy to find, then? Or… was it not meant to be found at all?” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “What if the cat was a guide? Or maybe someone sent it…? Could it have been an experiment?”

The AI was silent for a moment, as if pondering his question. “Your hypothesis is valid, but inconclusive. Further data is required. The fact remains that you possess an item classified as ‘mythical.’ This suggests the existence of entities or forces beyond the norm.”

Nero nodded slowly, his curiosity growing. “Maybe this is a test… or maybe this item is the key to something bigger.” He glanced around the chamber one last time. “I’ll find out eventually.”

"I detected a potential anomaly," the AI responded flatly. "The item you found is locked, but once unlocked, it could be of great value."

"Great value? What’s that supposed to mean?" Nero scratched his head. "And a key... How long am I supposed to wait for a key? Do I even need this item now?"

The AI stayed silent, offering no further explanations, leaving Nero to mull over possibilities.

"Could it be... some kind of ancient tech?" He mused to himself. "Or maybe something magical? But that’s ridiculous... right?"

He shook his head, dismissing the thoughts for now. As much as the mystery intrigued him, there were more pressing matters to attend to.

Satisfied that there was nothing more to uncover, he tucked the chest into his bag and made his way out of the hidden passage. As he climbed back onto the street, blinking against the sudden brightness, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. The world seemed different, somehow more vibrant, more alive. The air crackled with an energy he hadn’t noticed before.

“Focus, Nero,” the AI chided gently. “You still have a day to face.”

“Right,” Nero muttered, setting his jaw. “Time to go to school.”

---

The school day was already well underway when Nero arrived, his mind still buzzing with questions about the loot box. But there was another question that tugged at him with each passing second: Where is Kai?

As he walked through the bustling halls, he glanced around, scanning the faces of his fellow students, hoping to catch a glimpse of Kai’s familiar figure. But he found nothing. No sign of the guy who had saved him, who had stood up to the bullies, who had become his unspoken ally.

Nero approached a group of his classmates, clearing his throat awkwardly. “Hey, um… have any of you seen Kai?”

They exchanged puzzled glances before one of them—a girl with short, choppy hair—spoke up. “You didn’t hear? Kai’s been suspended.”

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Nero’s heart skipped a beat. “Suspended? Why?”

“No clue,” she replied with a shrug. “Something about causing trouble. But that’s just a rumor.”

Nero clenched his fists, feeling a surge of frustration. Suspended? Just when I needed him the most? He forced himself to remain calm, thanking the girl before walking away. Why now, of all times?

He tried calling Kai’s phone, but it went straight to voicemail. A sinking feeling settled in his stomach. What if something’s wrong? What if he’s hurt?

The AI chimed in, breaking through his anxious thoughts. “There is a logical means of communication you’ve neglected.”

“What?” Nero muttered, feeling a little annoyed. “What are you talking about?”

“You exchanged email addresses with Kai during your hospital stay. Utilize that channel.”

Nero blinked, surprised he had forgotten something so simple. “Right… you’re right.” He pulled out his phone, tapping out a quick email:

> Subject: You okay?

Hey Kai,

Heard you got suspended. Tried calling but no answer. Are you alright? Let me know if we can meet up. We need to talk.

– Nero >

He hit ‘send’ and stared at the screen for a moment, willing a response to appear. But nothing came. With a sigh, he tucked his phone back into his pocket, feeling the weight of the chest pressing against his back like a constant reminder of the mysteries yet to be solved.

The rest of the school day passed in a blur. Nero’s thoughts kept drifting back to Kai, to the chest, to the secrets that seemed to be unfolding around him. He could barely concentrate, his mind buzzing with questions and half-formed theories. When the final bell rang, he was the first to leave the classroom, eager to get out of there and find some answers.

But just as he stepped outside, he felt it—a shift in the air, a chill that sent shivers down his spine. He looked up and froze. Standing before him was Marcus, the ringleader of his bullies, flanked by two of his cronies—Jake and Simon, who he recognized all too well. They were sneering, arms crossed, eyes gleaming with malice.

But they weren’t alone. Behind them stood Blake, a senior from the third year, his muscular frame towering over the others. And with him were four more boys—strangers, older, their faces hardened and scarred in ways that spoke of fights and violence far beyond the playground.

Marcus drawled, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “Look who we have here. Thought you could walk around all brave now that Kai’s out of the picture, huh?”

Nero’s heart skipped a beat, and he took an instinctive step back, his eyes darting around, searching for an escape. But they had him surrounded, blocking every path. His hands trembled, fingers twitching at his sides as his pulse quickened. Run, fight, or… what do I do?

“Adrenaline spike detected,” the AI observed calmly. “Heart rate elevated. Fear response initiated.”

“Not helping!” Nero snapped inwardly. He forced himself to breathe, to think.

I’ve got to think... Keep calm. There has to be a way out of this without fighting, Nero thought, his eyes darting around as he assessed the situation. I don’t like violence. There’s got to be another way.

“Where’s your knight in shining armor now?” Marcus taunted, taking a step closer. “Looks like you’re all alone again, little nerd.”

Nero swallowed hard, his throat dry. They think I’m weak… They still think I’m the same scared little kid from before.

“Are you going to cry?” one of the older boys jeered, cracking his knuckles. “Or do you actually have some fight in you?”

Nero’s breath hitched, and he felt something shift inside him. A spark, a flicker of the courage he’d been building all this time. It was small, fragile, but it was there.

“I’m not the same as I used to be,” Nero muttered, more to himself than to them. He straightened his shoulders, forcing his legs to stop trembling. “You… you don’t scare me anymore.”

Marcus laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. “Oh? Is that right?” He stepped closer, his face inches from Nero’s, breath hot against his skin. “Then why are you shaking?”

“I’m…” Nero paused, forcing himself to meet Marcus’s eyes, to hold his gaze.

“What, cat got your tongue?” Marcus laughed, stepping closer.

Nero took a breath, keeping his voice steady. “You don’t have to do this,” he said, trying to sound reasonable. “Kai’s not here... but that doesn’t mean I’m the same person I was before.”

Marcus cocked his head, mock surprise on his face. “Oh? So you’ve grown a backbone now? Cute.”

Blake cracked his knuckles, advancing alongside Marcus. Nero could feel the tension mounting, but something in him refused to let go of the courage he had scraped together.

I can’t fight them... I don’t even know if I can win, Nero thought to himself. But maybe... maybe I can stall. Or maybe there's a way out of this.

The circle tightened, the air thick with tension, and Nero could feel every eye on him, waiting for him to break.

As the circle around him tightened, Nero’s mind raced. He wasn’t a fighter, but he wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of seeing him break either. He just had to hold on, long enough for something to change.

“Be ready,” the AI whispered in his mind, the voice like steel. “They’ll strike any second.”

And as they stepped forward, Nero took a deep breath, fingers clenching into fists.