# Chapter: All Is Lost Part 2
Nero stumbled along the familiar path to his home, his shirt barely hanging on by tattered threads, his pants torn at the knees, and his hair matted and disheveled. Each step reminded him of the kicks and punches he’d endured, and even though his regeneration ability had done its work, the dull ache of his fading pain lingered. Without his abilities, he'd have been in a far worse state—probably lying in a hospital bed with fractured ribs, a broken nose, and missing teeth. Instead, there were only scratches and the dull sting of a lost tooth that, according to his AI, would take a little longer to regenerate fully.
Why? Why do I keep letting this happen?
His feet dragged against the pavement, every movement echoing the weight of his thoughts. He couldn’t help but replay the scene over and over again: the way they’d laughed as they rained blows upon him, their fists hitting harder than ever before. This time, they hadn’t even pretended to hold back. And in the end, all he could do was endure.
He shook his head, wincing as a small jolt of pain shot through him. His AI’s soothing voice interrupted his spiral of self-pity, the glowing notification hanging in the air before his eyes:
---
[Rapid Regeneration]
Level: 2/5
Description: Accelerate natural healing processes. Higher levels increase healing speed and effectiveness.
Effect: Heal 15 HP per second
Mana Cost: -
---
[Iron Skin]
Description: Increases physical defense, reducing damage taken from attacks.
Level: 2/5
Effect: 20% reduction in physical damage
Mana Cost: -
Cool Down: 3 minutes
---
Nero took a moment to register the words, then gave a weak, hollow chuckle. Level 2… He had improved. But what was the point? His own skin might be tougher, his wounds might close faster, but none of it mattered when the pain still lingered, when the hits still landed. It was just a delay to the inevitable, another layer of armor to peel away before they reached his core.
“Seems like the beating helped you, after all,” his AI chimed in cheerfully. “Your rapid regeneration and iron skin have improved due to increased usage.”
"Great," Nero muttered bitterly, his voice barely more than a hoarse whisper. "Next time, maybe I'll let them break a few bones and see if I can hit level 3."
He knew it wasn't the AI’s fault, but somehow, hearing it so chipper while he felt like collapsing was too much. He brushed away the notifications, and as he did, a sigh escaped his lips. He veered off his usual path, trudging toward a nearby park. It was one of those small, tucked-away places, forgotten by most, but he liked it. It was quiet, peaceful—somewhere he could be alone with his thoughts.
Nero sat on an old wooden bench, the sun dipping low on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. He watched the colors blend and shift, as if the world itself was bleeding, just as he had done hours earlier.
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“Kai…” Nero whispered, a pang of guilt stabbing through him. “You’re suspended, and I couldn’t even stand up for you.”
He clenched his fists, feeling the skin stretch and sting. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was Kai’s face as he stood up to Julian’s goons, unflinching, unwavering. And now, Kai was gone. The only friend he’d ever had in this godforsaken place, forced to leave because of someone like Julian Caldwell.
I should’ve done more.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Nero stood up and made his way home. The journey felt longer than it ever had before, as if each step was another mile dragging him further into his thoughts. Once home, he peeled off his ragged clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water scald his skin until he felt numb.
For a moment, he toyed with the idea of transferring to another school or maybe just dropping out altogether. Anything to escape this cycle of violence, fear, and humiliation. But would that solve anything? Would running away change who he was?
Would Kai have run away?
He drifted off into a restless sleep, lost in an endless loop of questions with no answers.
---
When he woke, it was already dark, the blinking numbers on his clock reading 11:00 PM.
I slept that long? He groggily rubbed his eyes, feeling disoriented.
“You needed it,” his AI said softly. “You’ve been under a lot of stress.”
He said nothing, just nodded as he dragged himself to the kitchen and cobbled together something resembling a meal. The silence was suffocating, and he found himself glancing at his phone more than once, hoping for some miracle message from Kai saying he’d be back.
At 12:20 AM, Nero’s phone buzzed, jolting him out of his thoughts. An email notification blinked on the screen. From Kai.
With trembling fingers, he opened it. The message contained a single attachment—a voice recording. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he tapped ‘play.’
“Kai…?” His voice cracked as he whispered the name, almost as if saying it would conjure his friend back into reality.
---
The sound of rain filled the silence first, a steady patter that sent shivers down Nero’s spine. Then he heard Kai’s voice, ragged and breathless, “Why are you doing this?”
Alexios’ voice cut through like a blade, smooth and mocking. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m here to bring you back. The Cursed Angels never forget their own. But I’m not in a rush.” Nero’s blood ran cold as the conversation continued, the words tumbling out, revealing pieces of Kai’s past he’d never imagined. Every word from Alexios felt like a hammer blow, each taunt and challenge striking at Nero’s heart.
He listened to the fight, the clash of fists, the grunts of pain. He heard the thunderous roar of Kai’s rage, felt the desperation in every strike, every word he uttered. He could almost see it—the way Kai fought with everything he had, refusing to yield, even when it was clear he was outmatched. Nero’s hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms as the recording played on.
“I’m not… going… to lose,” Kai’s voice was weak, yet resolute.
“Such wasted potential,” Alexios replied, his tone dripping with disdain. “But I’ll honor your spirit… by ending this quickly.” The final moments unfolded with brutal clarity, and then, silence.
Nero sat there, staring at the screen, unable to process what he’d just heard. His body trembled, the shock, the horror, coursing through him like a storm. He wanted to scream, to cry out, but no sound escaped his lips. He felt… numb.
Kai… gone?
It didn’t feel real. It couldn’t be real.
Slowly, his fingers moved on their own, dialing the emergency number. "999," he whispered, his voice barely audible. He gave them everything— the details he had heard, every word Alexios had spoken. But even as he spoke, even as he tried to do everything he could, he felt something inside him crack, a small fracture spreading across his heart.
---
The call ended. Nero sat in the darkness, his shoulders shaking as tears streamed down his face. He had lost the only person who had ever stood up for him, the one person who made him believe that he wasn’t weak, that he wasn’t alone. And now, all he felt was emptiness. Cold, unyielding emptiness.
Maybe I’m not cut out for this...
The thought lingered, dark and heavy, as he stared at the screen, watching the notification blink in front of him.
[Mission Completed: Voice Recording Received. Objective: Assist Kai in Danger—Failed.]
[Quest: The Apprentice]
[ Description: Train under Kai to improve your fighting skills and control over your abilities. ]
[ Failed ]
And for the first time in a long time, Nero felt himself break. Not in anger, not in resolve, but in sorrow.
Nero stared blankly into the night, the tears still flowing, as he whispered into the darkness, "I'm sorry, Kai."