Dawn came too early, announced by Kade pounding on Nero's door like the building was on fire.
"RISE AND SHINE, CLIFF-JUMPER! TIME TO GET SWOLE!"
Nero groaned into his pillow. Every muscle in his body ached from yesterday's dungeon run. His Corruption sat at 42/100, a constant weight in the back of his mind. And now Kade wanted him to voluntarily go fight more monsters.
"Why did I agree to this again?" he thought groaning.
"I CAN HEAR YOU NOT GETTING UP!"
"I'm moving!" Nero called back, dragging himself out of bed. His reflection in the small mirror looked rough—dark circles under his eyes, hair sticking up at odd angles, the general appearance of someone who'd been isekai'd and was not handling it well.
He splashed water on his face, changed into his spare clothes (thank you, video game inventory logic), and opened the door.
Kade stood there with two travel packs, a grin that was far too cheerful for this hour, and what looked like a new sword.
"Good morning!" Kade thrust the sword at him. "Got you an upgrade. Basic steel, nothing fancy, but better than fighting bare-handed after your last one shattered."
Nero took the sword. It was well-balanced, simple, functional. "You didn't have to..."
"Already paid for out of yesterday's dungeon loot. Consider it a party investment." Kade handed him one of the packs. "Healing potions, dried food, water. We're going to be out all day."
"Where are Finn and Lyra?"
"Finn's still in the Guild archives. Lyra's scouting safe dungeon routes. We need ones that aren't corrupted." Kade started walking, and Nero fell into step beside him. "Today's just you and me, mate. Bonding time and power-leveling."
The streets were quiet this early. Merchants were just setting up stalls. The morning air was cool and carried the smell of fresh bread from the bakery.
"So," Nero said as they walked. "What's the plan exactly?"
"Simple. We're hitting the Westwood Dungeon—Bronze-rank, recently cleared, low corruption risk. It's got good enemy density and respectable XP. We'll clear it multiple times if needed."
"Multiple times? Don't dungeons need time to respawn?"
"Normally, yeah. But there's a trick." Kade grinned. "If you don't take the core reward at the end, the dungeon resets within a few hours instead of a few days. Adventurers use it for grinding levels."
"That seems like an exploit."
"It absolutely is. The Guild pretends not to notice because it keeps low-level adventurers alive longer." Kade's expression turned more serious. "But here's the thing...I'm not doing this run with you. Not really."
Nero blinked. "What?"
"You're Level 5. If I'm in the party actually fighting, you'll get carried again and your XP will be shit. So here's what we're doing: I'm going to be your safety net. I'll be there, I'll intervene if you're about to die, but otherwise? You're soloing this dungeon."
"I'm sorry, what?"
"You can do it," Kade said with complete confidence. "You survived goblins solo at Level 2. You're Level 5 now with better stats and a class. Plus, you've got that code-vision thing that shows you enemy weaknesses. You'll be fine."
"And if I'm not fine?"
"Then I tank the hits and we retreat. But Nero—" Kade stopped walking and turned to face him. "You need to get stronger. Fast. The Debuggers are coming, and when they do, you can't rely on us to protect you. You need to be able to protect yourself."
It was the most serious Nero had ever seen him as he spoke with honest concern.
"Besides," Kade added, his grin returning, "I'll be right there. You won't be alone. Think of me as your very large, very armored emotional support animal."
Despite his anxiety, Nero laughed. "That's not how emotional support animals work."
"You'd be surprised!" Kade responded with a wink
—
The Westwood Dungeon entrance was smaller than Thornwood's, a cave opening in a rocky hillside, marked with the Guild's registration seal.
Kade checked the seal. "No corruption detected. Recent clear was three days ago. Should be fully respawned by now." He looked at Nero. "Ready?"
"No."
"Perfect! That's the spirit!"
They entered together. The familiar sensation of reality shifting washed over Nero, and then they were inside.
The dungeon was different from Thornwood—less stone corridor, more actual cave system. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, and water dripped somewhere in the darkness. The lighting came from bioluminescent moss that cast everything in a blue-green glow.
```
[ENTERING DUNGEON: WESTWOOD WARREN]
RANK: Bronze
RECOMMENDED LEVEL: 6-10
PARTY SIZE: 3-5
CURRENT PARTY:
[Kade Morrison - Lv 18] - Set to PASSIVE MODE
[Nero Cross - Lv 5] - ACTIVE COMBATANT
CORRUPTION GAIN: +1 per 30 minutes (dungeon stable)
Quest: Solo Clear (Kade's Challenge)
- Defeat all enemies with minimal assistance
- Bonus XP for solo kills
- Penalty: Pride damage if Kade has to save you
```
"This system has a sense of humor," Nero muttered, reading the quest notification.
"What's it say?"
"Apparently I get bonus XP for not needing rescue, and my pride takes damage if you have to intervene."
Kade laughed. "I like your system already. Come on, first chamber's just ahead."
They moved forward. Nero's Debug Mode was active, feeding him information about the environment, structural weak points, safe paths, potential ambush locations. The first chamber opened up into a larger cavern. And waiting there, eight wolf-sized rats with matted fur and glowing red eyes.
```
[DIRE RAT x8 - Level 7]
BEHAVIOR: Pack Tactics
WEAK POINTS: Exposed throat, soft underbelly
THREAT LEVEL: Moderate
RECOMMENDED STRATEGY:
- Isolate targets
- Use environment (stalagmites for cover)
- Exploit poor climbing ability
```
"Dire rats," Kade said, stepping to the side of the chamber. "Classic dungeon enemy. Fast, decent damage, but fragile. They'll try to surround you. Don't let them." He leaned against the wall. "They're all yours."
Nero swallowed hard. Eight enemies. All higher level than him.
"You can do this. You've got Debug Mode. You can see their weaknesses. Just... don't panic." he whispered to himself.
He drew his new sword and stepped forward. The rats noticed him immediately. They chittered—a horrible sound like nails on metal—and spread out, trying to flank him. Nero backed toward a cluster of stalagmites, using them to guard his flanks. The rats circled, looking for an opening.
The first one lunged.
Nero's Exploit Detection flared. He saw the trajectory, the timing, the exact moment to strike. His sword came up and caught the rat mid-leap, the blade sliding perfectly between ribs. Critical hit. The rat dissolved.
```
[DIRE RAT DEFEATED - SOLO KILL]
[+35 XP] (Bonus applied)
```
Seven left.
They came at him in a coordinated rush. Nero dodged left, using a stalagmite as cover. One rat tried to follow—he kicked it into another, tangling them up. His sword flashed twice. Two more dissolving into light.
Five left.
A rat got past his guard, claws raking his leg. Pain flared, and his HP dropped.
```
HP: 165/190
STATUS: Bleeding (Minor)
```
Nero gritted his teeth and spun, his sword catching the rat across the neck. Four left.
The remaining rats backed off, reassessing. They'd learned he was dangerous.
"Good," he thought grimly. "Be afraid."
He pressed the attack, not giving them time to coordinate. His Debug Mode showed him their patterns, their weak points, their hesitation. He exploited all of it.
Three. Two. One.
The last rat tried to flee. His sword caught it from behind.
```
[COMBAT COMPLETE]
[DIRE RATS DEFEATED: 8/8]
[+280 XP] (Solo bonus: +40%)
[Level Up! You are now Level 6!]
HP: 165/210
All wounds healed through level-up
```
Nero stood there, breathing hard, covered in rat blood and dungeon grime. But alive. Victorious.
Kade was grinning from ear to ear. "THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!" He strode over and grabbed Nero in a crushing hug that lifted him off his feet. "Eight versus one and you didn't take a single hit that mattered! That was brilliant!"
"Can't... breathe..."
"Oh, right." Kade set him down, still beaming. "See? You're a natural! Your code-vision thing is basically a cheat code for combat."
"It helped," Nero admitted. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving him shaky but exhilarated. "I could see what they were going to do before they did it."
"That's going to make you terrifying at higher levels. Imagine that combined with actual combat training." Kade collected the loot—rat pelts and a few copper coins. "Come on. Seven more chambers to clear. Let's see if we can get you to Level 8 by lunch."
They cleared three more chambers before Nero's stamina started flagging. Slimes, more rats, and a pack of corrupted wolves. Each fight was brutal, exhausting, and exhilarating. Kade intervened twice. Once when Nero got swarmed by slimes and couldn't see through the acid coating his face, and once when a wolf's bite nearly took his arm off. But otherwise, he let Nero handle it. By the time they stopped for a break, Nero was Level 7, his clothes were destroyed, and he'd never felt more alive. They sat in a cleared chamber, sharing water and dried meat.
"You're doing good," Kade said. "Really good. Most Level 5s would've tapped out after the first chamber."
"Most Level 5s probably have proper training," Nero countered. "I'm just flailing around with a cheat interface."
"Flailing with style, though." Kade took a bite of jerky. "Can I ask you something? And you can tell me to piss off if it's too personal."
"Sure."
"Yesterday, when you said you don't remember much before waking up in the forest... how much of that was true?"
Nero went still. Dangerous question.
But Kade had earned some honesty.
"I remember," Nero said slowly. "Not everything, but enough. I remember working too much. Being alone too much. And I remember dying." He looked at his hands. "I had a heart attack at my desk and I just... stopped. Then I woke up here."
Kade was quiet for a long moment. "That's why the title. 'Dead Man Walking.' You actually died."
"Yeah."
"And now you're here, in our world with magic and monsters and a system that's literally killing you again if you use it too much." Kade shook his head. "That's a little messed up, mate. cosmically unfair"
"Pretty much."
"But you know what?" Kade turned to face him fully. "You're also here with people who give a shit about you. You've got a party. You've got friends. And I don't know if that balances out the cosmic unfairness, but it's something."
Nero felt a light warmth in his chest.
"You're a really good person, Kade," he said quietly. "Like, genuinely. I don't know what I did to deserve you guys, but I'm grateful."
Kade's expression softened. Then he reached over and ruffled Nero's hair roughly, making him sputter.
"You can thank me later. We've got a dungeon to clear and levels to grind!" But he was smiling. "Come on. Three more chambers, then we'll head back. I want you at Level 8 minimum before we meet up with Finn and Lyra."
```
[RELATIONSHIP UPDATE]
Kade Morrison: SWORN BROTHER → SOUL BROTHER (95/100)
New Effect: [Unbreakable Bond]
- Kade will always come for you, no matter the cost
- You would do the same for him
- This bond transcends normal party mechanics
- In your darkest hour, Kade's presence will anchor you to reality
```
Nero blinked at the notification, something tight in his throat.
"Soul brother? Ninety-five out of one hundred. One more point and we'd max out?" He thought.
He stood up, gripping his sword. "Let's finish this dungeon."
"That's the spirit!"
—
They cleared the remaining chambers. The final boss—a Alpha Dire Wolf at Level 10—gave Nero trouble, but he managed it with only minor intervention from Kade (one shield block when the wolf went for his throat).
```
[DUNGEON CLEAR: WESTWOOD WARREN]
[SOLO COMPLETION BONUS: +200 XP]
[Level Up! You are now Level 8!]
[Level Up! You are now Level 9!]
STATS INCREASED:
STR: 18 → 24
VIT: 19 → 25
AGI: 20 → 26
INT: 25 → 35
WIS: 22 → 30
NEW SKILLS UNLOCKED:
[Code Analysis - Lv 1] - Analyze system structures for weaknesses
[System Mapping - Lv 1] - Create mental maps of dungeon layouts
[Combat Proficiency - Lv 3] - You're getting better at not dying
```
They emerged from the dungeon into afternoon sunlight. Nero was exhausted, filthy, and his Corruption had increased to 43/100 (one point from ambient dungeon exposure). But he was Level 9. In one day, he'd gone from Level 5 to Level 9.
"Not bad for a morning's work," Kade said, clapping him on the back. "One more level and you'll hit the first milestone. Level 10 unlocks class specialization options."
"Specialization?"
"Every class branches at Level 10. You get to choose which direction to develop. For you, System Specialist probably branches into something broken and overpowered." Kade grinned. "We'll figure it out. Come on, let's get you cleaned up. Lyra and Finn should be back by now, and we can compare notes over dinner."
As they walked back toward Grayhollow, Nero's system pinged one more notification.
```
[TIME REMAINING UNTIL DEBUGGER ARRIVAL: 36 hours]
[MAIN QUEST PROGRESS:]
✓ Reach Level 10 before Debuggers arrive (In progress: Level 9/10)
? Discover the source of dungeon corruption
? Find a way to reduce CORRUPTION score
✓ Keep your party alive (So far)
? Don't become a dungeon boss
[You're running out of time]
[But you're not running alone]
```
Nero glanced at Kade—this massive, loyal, ridiculous person who'd spent an entire day helping him level up, who trusted him despite knowing what he was, who'd somehow become one of the most important people in his new life.
"Thirty-six hours," Nero thought. "Whatever happens, I won't let these people down."
They walked back to town together, and for the first time since arriving in Etheria, Nero felt like he might actually survive this.