As they adjusted their weight, attempting to retreat from the falling branch, their feet skidded upon the slick metal surface beneath them.

In that moment, several things happened at once:

The branch finally gave way with a thunderous crack.

The goons, losing their balance on the metal sheet, stumbled backward.

Nero, acting purely on instinct, gave the sheet a final push.

The goons slid uncontrollably down the makeshift ramp, straight into the path of the descending branch. There was a grim, bone-jarring thud as the hefty wood struck their heads, followed by a chilling silence.

Nero stood rooted to the spot, his heart thudding loudly in his ears. The branch had missed him by mere inches, crashing down instead upon his tormentors with unerring precision. The goons lay sprawled on the ground, utterly motionless, knocked out cold by the force of the impact.

"Oh no, oh no," Nero muttered, panic rising in his throat. He rushed over, his fear of the bullies momentarily overshadowed by concern for their wellbeing.

Kneeling beside them, Nero checked for signs of life with trembling hands. To his immense relief, he found both goons breathing steadily, though they were out cold. The branch, while heavy, had been slowed enough by the smaller branches and leaves to avoid causing serious harm.

Nero sat back on his heels, a hysterical laugh bubbling up from his chest. He had survived. More than that, he had won – not through violence or strength, but through a combination of quick thinking and sheer, dumb luck.

As the adrenaline began to fade, Nero became acutely aware of his surroundings. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, and the alley was a mess of scattered debris, upturned trash, and one very large fallen branch. And in the middle of it all, two unconscious bullies who, until today, had been the source of so much fear and pain in his life.

Nero rose unsteadily to his feet, scarcely able to comprehend what had just unfolded. Yet, for now, he permitted himself a moment to simply breathe, to acknowledge that, for the first time in years, he felt something resembling safety.

Nero looked down at the unconscious goons one last time before dialing. "I really am sorry," he murmured. "But I'm not sorry for standing up for myself."

Suddenly, a notification flashed across his vision:

[New Skill Unlocked: Iron Skin]

Description: Increases physical defense, reducing damage taken from attacks.

Level: 1/5

Effect: 10% reduction in physical damage

Mana Cost: -

Cool Down : 3 minutes

Nero didn't have time to process this fully.

Nero's attention was drawn by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching.

There stood Marcus, his expression a whirlwind of disbelief and anguish. For a moment, he simply stared, eyes wide in utter denial, as if unwilling to accept the scene before him. Then, a flash of anger twisted his features, his face flushing a deep crimson.

It wasn't long before that fury gave way to frantic desperation, his lips moving as though muttering some unspoken plea.

But as reality settled in, his shoulders sagged with the weight of resignation, before bristling once more with a rekindled, unbridled wrath.

Nero scarcely had a moment to collect himself before Marcus, now trembling with fury, charged forward with a roar.

"You blasted weasel!" Marcus bellowed, swinging his fists wildly.

But something was different now. Nero felt the impacts, but they weren't as devastating as before. Between his regeneration and his new Iron Skin, he was able to withstand Marcus's onslaught.

The fight dragged on, with Marcus growing more frustrated and tired with each punch. Nero, battered but healing, kept getting back up.

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Finally, Marcus stepped back, panting heavily. "What... what are you?" he gasped, a hint of fear in his eyes.

Nero, bruised but standing tall, met Marcus's gaze. "I'm done being your victim," he said firmly.

Marcus, confused and slightly afraid of Nero's seemingly inhuman endurance, backed away. "This isn't over," he spat, before turning and running off, leaving his dazed lackeys behind.

As Marcus's footsteps faded, Nero's knees finally buckled. He slumped against the alley wall, his body aching but rapidly healing. Despite his victory, fear still gripped him. He had stood up to his tormentors, yes, but the reality of what he'd done—and what might come next—hit him like a ton of bricks.

He needed a moment to process everything, his mind spinning as he tried to piece together the events of the past few minutes. He stared at his hands, eyes wide with wonder, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"I... I did it," he whispered, his voice quavering. "I actually stood up to them."

A new notification flashed across his vision:

[New Skill Unlocked: Adrenaline Rush]

Level: 1/5

Description: Temporarily boost physical capabilities. Higher levels increase potency and duration.

Effect: +15% to STR, AGI, and END

Mana Cost: 20 per use

Duration: 60 seconds

Cooldown: 10 minutes

The AI's voice chimed in his head. "Congratulations on your victory, Nero. You've unlocked a new skill and proven your potential."

A wave of confusion washed over Nero as he realized he couldn't use his new skill.

He opened the skill menu again, his eyes scanning the details. At the bottom, he found a new line: "Mana Cost: 20 per use."

Nero checked his stats, his heart sinking. He had no mana points. "What the heck is mana?" he muttered to himself, scratching his head.

A voice, soft but clear, echoed in his head. "Mana is the energy source that powers your abilities," the AI explained. "Without mana, you cannot use skills that require it."

Nero's confusion deepened. "So, where do I get mana?" he asked.

"Mana regenerates naturally over time," the AI replied. "However, you can also increase your maximum mana capacity and regeneration rate by leveling up your skills and attributes."

Nero nodded, trying to make sense of this new information. "So, basically, I need to grind to level up and get more mana?" he asked.

"Exactly," the AI confirmed. "The more you use your abilities, the stronger they will become, and the more mana you will be able to wield."

Nero sighed, realizing that his newfound powers were not as straightforward as he had hoped.

Nero nodded weakly, still trying to process everything that had happened. He knew he had a long way to go. He needed to learn how to fight properly, how to use his abilities more effectively. But for the first time in years, beneath the fear and uncertainty, he felt a small spark of hope.

As he struggled to his feet, still shaky and unsure, a voice called out from the entrance of the alley.

"Hey, you okay there?"

Nero looked up to see an older student approaching. He recognized him as a second-year, though he couldn't recall his name. The senior student had short, brown hair that was always slightly tousled, and a pair of kind, hazel eyes that seemed to see right through people.

The senior reached Nero and, to his surprise, clapped him on the back with a grin. "That was something else, man! I saw the whole thing. Never thought I'd see the day someone stood up to Marcus like that."

Nero blinked, unsure how to respond. "I... uh..."

"You're pretty interesting, you know that?" the senior continued, seemingly unfazed by Nero's stammering. "Standing up to those guys like that... it takes guts."

As the senior spoke, Nero felt his trembling slowly subsiding. The fear was still there, but the unexpected praise and friendly face were like a lifeline in the chaos of his thoughts.

"Thanks," Nero managed to say, his voice still shaky but growing steadier.

The senior nodded, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "I've got a feeling things are going to get pretty interesting around here. Keep your head up, yeah?"

With that, the senior gave Nero another pat on the back and walked away, leaving Nero to ponder this strange turn of events.

As Nero stumbled out of the alley, his battered body aching, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in a nearby shop window. He was a shadow of his former self. His once pale skin was now marred by bruises and cuts, his eyes sunken and filled with a weariness that belied his young age. His hair, normally neat and tidy, was now a wild mess, strands matted with sweat and dirt.

Nero's thoughts raced as he made his way home. He was still processing the fight, his newfound powers, and the enigmatic senior student. The realization dawned on him: his life would never be the same again.

As he walked through the local park, lost in thought, he came across a group of girls chatting on a bench. One of them, a girl with long, flowing blonde hair and bright blue eyes, caught his attention. She was strikingly beautiful, with an infectious smile and melodious laughter that captivated Nero. He couldn't help but stare, his heart pounding in his chest.

But as Nero stood there, transfixed by the girl, a cold shiver ran down his spine. A familiar voice echoed in his head, one he had once tried to ignore.

"You're not safe here, Nero," the voice said, its tone laced with malice. "You're a target now."