The hum of the city was always there, even beneath the cold silence of his bedroom. Zayn's eyes flicked open, the morning light spilling through the blinds, illuminating the sleek, mechanical arm that lay beside him. He had grown used to it. It was no longer just a tool. It was a part of him, as natural as breathing.
"Zayn," a voice echoed in his mind. The voice was cold yet comforting, like an old friend who spoke in a language only he understood. "You've grown. It's time for me to level up."
He sat up, rubbing his eyes. The hand felt heavier today, more... alive. As he flexed his fingers, a soft, low hum reverberated from the metallic joints.
"Level up?" Zayn thought, his brows furrowing. "What does that mean?"
"You'll see." The voice was confident, almost eager. "Activate System."
A flash of light filled his vision, blinding him for a moment. Then, as his eyes adjusted, something strange appeared before him — a holographic interface, floating in mid-air, shimmering with digital symbols.
[System Online]
Zayn blinked, shaking his head. He rubbed his eyes, but the hologram didn't disappear. A translucent display was hovering inches away from his face. His hand twitched involuntarily.
[Status Screen]
Name: Zayn (Z)
Age: 16
Class: Cyber-Enhanced
Health: 40%
Strength: 20
Speed: 30
Intelligence: 45
Hacking Skill: 50 (Basic)
Arm Functionality: 45%
Energy Reserve: 20% (Recharging)
AI Compatibility: 60%
Special Skills:
Hack Integration (Unlocked)
Zayn stared at the screen, his mind spinning. The numbers were so low, it felt... almost insulting. He couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. This was his "power"? This weak, broken system?
He flexed his mechanical fingers, almost desperately willing them to move faster, stronger, anything more than what they were. But they didn't. The system showed no signs of any other powers — no cool abilities, no hidden strengths. Just a weak foundation.
"This is... it?" Zayn muttered to himself, frustration bubbling in his chest.
"Yes," the AI responded in a calm, soothing tone. "This is where you begin."
Zayn's heart sank, but a small flicker of curiosity tugged at him. He couldn't shake the feeling that the system was hiding something — something more. It was clear that his arm was special, that there was potential in it. But right now, it was just another machine, one that was far from perfect.
"What am I supposed to do with these stats?" Zayn thought bitterly.
"You will level up," the voice responded, almost as if it had heard his thoughts. "But first, you need to unlock your potential."
Zayn's fingers twitched again, and the screen disappeared. His arm felt lighter, like the system was pulling away for now, but the sense of something big was still in the back of his mind. What did it all mean?
The halls of Novus High School were filled with the usual noise — the chatter of students, the clatter of lockers, the hum of the air conditioning. Zayn walked through it all, like he always did, his mechanical arm hidden beneath his jacket sleeve. He hadn't had a single friend in three years here, and he didn't care. Not really. It was easier this way.
No one noticed the way his mechanical arm occasionally twitched, or how he would often look down at his hand as if expecting something more from it. No one seemed to care about the kid who kept to himself. Not that he blamed them.
He walked into class and took his usual seat at the back. His desk creaked under his weight, and he dropped his backpack beside it, letting out a quiet sigh. The room buzzed with the energy of students exchanging stories and gossip, but Zayn kept his head down. No one here knew what he had been through, what the arm meant to him. They couldn't understand.
A low hum started again beneath his skin, and Zayn's eyes flicked down to his arm. The faint holographic screen appeared once more, floating just before his face. The system seemed to activate on its own, without him asking.
[System Update]
Mission Available:
Hack into School's Network — Reward: Unlock Minor Upgrade
Current Skill: Hacking (Basic)
Zayn narrowed his eyes. The system was giving him a mission. A hack. Was this the level-up it was talking about?
But before he could make a decision, the teacher walked in, and the screen vanished. Zayn clenched his hand into a fist, feeling a rush of determination. He had to do this. He had to figure out what this system was really about — even if it meant starting with something as small as hacking the school's network.
The bell rang, signaling the start of class. As Zayn settled into his seat, he couldn't shake the feeling that his life was about to change — that this weak system, these low stats, were just the beginning.
And no matter what, he was going to make it grow.