Early morning sunlight filtered in through the thin window of Room 304, casting golden threads across the small dormitory room. Aaryan Verma slowly sat up, waking from his slumber. Another day at **Bangalore Institute of Technology** was underway.
Across the room, Manish Patel was already awake, flipping through a half-read book while sipping tea from a flask he swore was leakproof. The room smelled faintly of instant noodles and eucalyptus oil.
"You're unusually quiet today," Manish said, glancing over his glasses.
"Didn't sleep much," Aaryan replied. He reached for his phone without much thought, unlocking it with a casual swipe. What he saw made him sit a little straighter.
A new icon glowed dimly at the corner of the **translucent interface panel** which had become his life over the last week:
**[SIGN-IN FUNCTION UNLOCKED]**
Aaryan blinked. The system never displayed this tab before.
> **"Daily Sign-In System Activated.
Sign in once every 24 hours to claim passive rewards.
Rewards increase with streak progression. Missing a day resets streak."**
It was an interface for a game—but it wasn't. This was actual.
He clicked **Sign In**.
> **[First-Time Sign-In Reward Granted:
"AI Integration Boost Pack – Tier I"]**
His laptop screen flashed briefly, and the interface there echoed with a low electronic whine. A soothing, female voice spoke from the speaker—different from the system's silent text-based output.
> **"Integration module received. Performance optimization initiated."**
Aaryan lifted his head, surprised. "You again?"
> **"Confirmed. AI operations improved. Multi-threaded processing, local diagnostics, adaptive learning at base level. Full potential restricted by current hardware."**
"So I need better equipment to enable more features?"
> **"Affirmative. Upgrade path recommended. Compatibility threshold: Level-2 custom hardware or equivalent."**
The system panel was still open, and before Aaryan could close it, another notification popped up:
> **[System Task Generated:
"Experiment Permission Required"
Objective: Obtain official lab clearance to begin independent project.
Reward: Viewing of 'Lab Interface Tab' and limited hardware diagnostics.**
He squinted. The system wasn't merely providing him with tools—it was leading him. Step by step.
Taking his laptop and necessities, Aaryan walked towards the engineering laboratory.
---
The tech lab smelled faintly of solder and ozone. It buzzed with quiet concentration—students scattered around, working on circuits, writing lines of code, and testing modules.
Aaryan approached **Professor Raghavan**, a sharp-eyed man in his mid-50s who wore his disinterest like a second skin.
"Sir, I'd like to request approval to start an independent experiment," Aaryan said clearly.
The professor looked up briefly, brow arched. "What kind?"
"Sensor network integration with real-time adaptive feedback. Low-level at first."
"Fine," the professor waved a hand. "No explosions. You're liable for your own components."
With a nod, Aaryan moved to an empty station. The system notification chimed again:
> **[Task Completed: Experiment Permission Acquired]
Reward Unlocked: 'Lab Interface Tab' – Activated**
> *Lab diagnostics, micro-sensor mapping, and device analysis enabled.*
His computer updaded in silence. A ghostly menu stretched across his screen—only he could see it. The AI that was hardwired in glowed to life, automatically synchronizing with lab equipment.
> **"Lab Interface online. Devices found: Six.
Analysis mode: Passive. Waiting for user command."**
Aaryan opened his breadboard and development package, methodically building a minimal setup. He began coding a real-time environmental loop, merging information from motion and thermal sensors.
As he coded, the AI humbly edited syntax, showed optimization choices in yellow, and pointed out bad logic before he even got around to test-running the code. It was having an invisible pro at his shoulder—effective, quiet, and demanding.
Over by the opposite side of the room, **Jay Deshmukh**, a senior with stylish hair and a haughty demeanor, took a fleeting look in Aaryan's direction. Their gazes crossed for a moment, but no word was spoken. Only curiosity. Or perhaps doubt.
It wasn't important.
By mid-morning, Aaryan's test model was stable. Nothing flashy yet, but stable and accurate. The foundation for something much larger.
Just then, the system beeped again:
> **[Mini-Task Unlocked:
Design a Wearable Prototype – Due in 24 hours
Reward: Nano Battery Blueprint – Tier I]**
He furrowed his eyebrow.
Wearable technology?
Now that was a challenge.
Aaryan closed his laptop and leaned back a little, eyes on the whirring fan above. His mind racing faster than the blades.
The system was speeding up. The AI was expanding.
And it was only Day Two.