Its structure featured multiple layers, each providing additional protection, allowing the system to continue operating even in the event of malfunctions.
Every time an attack struck the outer surface, data would be redistributed within a support network, minimizing losses.
If only I had adopted a similar approach, I could have avoided the complications of having to manually reprogram my avatar every time I sustained damage.
Especially for me, as I had neither a technical assistance system nor an advanced artificial intelligence to ease the workload.
Every operation had to be performed manually, a slow and meticulous process. Every line of code, every attempt to repair the damage sustained, required my full attention.
There was no room for error. A small mistake could trigger a chain of malfunctions, forcing me to start over, wasting precious time and energy.
The lack of automated support meant I had to be not only the programmer but also the engineer and the operator.
Every hit my digital avatar took reduced my potential, forcing me to recover the lost data through laborious reprogramming processes.
If I had an AI to handle the repairs, I could have focused on other tasks, but instead, each moment was a battle between efficiency and endurance.
Every command issued, every error corrected, demanded my undivided attention.
"It's done."
I had finished. The security system was under my control. I had breached it without leaving a trace, an undertaking that only a few could comprehend.
But this was just the beginning. Tomorrow, the second phase would begin: the incursion. No mistakes would be tolerated.
***
"Grandma, let's go to the museum!" exclaimed a child enthusiastically, holding his grandmother's hand and looking at her with eyes full of expectation.
"Alright, my sweet grandchild," she replied with a loving smile. "But how about we go to the third museum tomorrow?"
"Third?" the child replied, confused, furrowing his brow.
The grandmother chuckled, gently stroking his hair. "Oh, never mind. I meant the Museum of Wonders, is that okay?"
"Yes! That sounds great!" shouted the child, happily bouncing as he eagerly accepted his grandmother's proposal.
***
[Your vitality has increased to 12]
The message floated before my eyes, flashing for a moment before dissolving.
I continued walking down the street, appearing indifferent, even though a sense of satisfaction was growing inside me.
I had already sent the note to the police, or rather to the Steel Lions.
Now that they knew it wasn't a joke, they would surely be on alert. They couldn't ignore my challenge. They would try to stop me. But I was always one step ahead.
That's why I had increased the difficulty of the riddle: I wanted them to understand that this wouldn't be a walk in the park.
"Stop thinking about it for now," I whispered to myself, trying to push those thoughts away.
"There are other important things I need to take care of."
With a sigh, the reality of my situation weighed heavily on me.
I had to find a job.
At that moment, I was practically homeless, or perhaps worse: without a house, without documents, without an identity that society could recognize.
Officially, I did not exist. This made things incredibly difficult because any mistake could lead to me being labeled a criminal. And ending up in prison was the last thing I desired.
In there, I would never be able to continue being Enigma.
Three months.
Three months, or perhaps even less, and the relentless ticking of the clock would mark my deadline. If I failed, the punishment would be inevitable: my own death.
As I walk along the sidewalk, I accidentally step on a flyer that pulls me out of my thoughts. I stop and bend down to pick it up, curiosity driving me to take a closer look.
"What a stroke of luck!" I think, a faint smile forming on my lips.
I read carefully what is written. The flyer advertises a well-paying temporary job, ideal for someone looking for an opportunity without too many constraints.