After , the next number is easy to see coming. 二 (èr)two — is just one stroke plus a second one below it, a little longer than the top line.

Two strokes, two snakes

Since 一 became a snake, naturally becomes two snakes. Eon draws the two strokes, the AI renders a matching pair, and the pattern starts to glow:

一 = 1 stroke. 二 = 2 strokes. So far, the number of lines equals the number. (Hold onto that — it makes a surprising turn at four!)

A real AI lesson hiding inside

Eon asks the AI to make the snakes "realistic" — and it goes too far, turning out laggy, almost scary images. So his dad turns the realism down until they're fun and cartoonish again.

Lesson: with AI art, cranking "realistic" all the way up isn't always better. The right setting is the one that fits what you're making — here, friendly and fun.

Try it

Write — top line short, bottom line a bit longer. What two things could your strokes become? Two snakes? Two sticks? Two clouds? Picture it, and the character sticks.