diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f86e9bf..1c58920 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 I often wonder what it would look like to build sites & apps knowing just the basics.
 
 I thought:
+
 - What if I knew how to write HTML and I can have a dynamic web page from that?
 - What if I knew how to build custom elements and that's all the component system I needed?
 - What if I can write HTML fragments and assemble them easily in a page?
@@ -25,10 +26,13 @@ I thought:
 **McFly** is my reimagination of web development: Back to the basics. Into the future.
 
 ## Project Status
+
 We are currently in a Proof of Concept phase. All parts are subject to breaking changes in minor releases.
 
 ## Try it today
+
 Run the following to generate a McFly starter project.
+
 ```
 npm create mcfly@latest
 ```
@@ -42,36 +46,43 @@ npm create mcfly@latest
 ✅ Deploy anywhere, even the Edge<br>
 
 ## Special directories
+
 **1. `./src/pages/`**
+
 - file-based routing for `.html` files
 - directly use custom elements & static fragments (no imports or registry maintenance needed)
 - use `<script server:setup>` to define logic that runs on the server, which then gets stripped away
 
 **2. `./src/components/`**
+
 - custom element constructor files (only `.js` files for now)
 - all components are automatically registered using their file names; a `hello-world.js` component can be used as `<hello-world>`
 - static `.html` fragments; a `my-header.html` fragment can be directly used as `<my-header>`
 
-**3. `./routes/api/`**
+**3. `./src/api/`**
+
 - file-based routing for REST API endpoints
 - e.g., `./routes/api/users.ts` can be accessed via `http://<domain>/api/users`
 - TypeScript or JavaScript welcome!
 
 ## Packages
+
 The following are the project packages published on the NPM registry:
 
-| Package | Description | Version |
-| --- | --- | --- |
-| [`@mcflyjs/cli`](https://ayco.io/n/@mcflyjs/cli) | The McFly CLI tooling | ![npm version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/%40mcflyjs%2Fcli) |
-| [`@mcflyjs/config`](https://ayco.io/n/@mcflyjs/config) | Nitro server config for McFly projects | ![npm version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/%40mcflyjs%2Fconfig) |
-| [`@mcflyjs/core`](https://ayco.io/n/@mcflyjs/core) | Route event and config handlers | ![npm version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/%40mcflyjs%2Fcore) |
-| [`create-mcfly`](https://ayco.io/n/create-mcfly) | Script for scaffolding a new McFly workspace | ![npm version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/create-mcfly) |
+| Package                                                | Description                                  | Version                                                          |
+| ------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| [`@mcflyjs/cli`](https://ayco.io/n/@mcflyjs/cli)       | The McFly CLI tooling                        | ![npm version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/%40mcflyjs%2Fcli)    |
+| [`@mcflyjs/config`](https://ayco.io/n/@mcflyjs/config) | Nitro server config for McFly projects       | ![npm version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/%40mcflyjs%2Fconfig) |
+| [`@mcflyjs/core`](https://ayco.io/n/@mcflyjs/core)     | Route event and config handlers              | ![npm version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/%40mcflyjs%2Fcore)   |
+| [`create-mcfly`](https://ayco.io/n/create-mcfly)       | Script for scaffolding a new McFly workspace | ![npm version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/create-mcfly)        |
 
 ## More info
+
 This framework is a result of [an exploration](https://social.ayco.io/@ayo/111195315785886977) for using [Nitro](https://nitro.build) and custom elements using a minimal [Web Component Base](https://WebComponent.io) class.
 
 **Nitro** is the same production-grade web server powering [Nuxt](https://nuxt.com/)
 
 ---
-*Just keep building*<br />
-*A project by [Ayo Ayco](https://ayco.io)*
+
+_Just keep building_<br />
+_A project by [Ayo Ayco](https://ayco.io)_
diff --git a/packages/core/cli/commands/build.mjs b/packages/core/cli/commands/build.mjs
index 38e36ea..a246c71 100644
--- a/packages/core/cli/commands/build.mjs
+++ b/packages/core/cli/commands/build.mjs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
   prerender,
 } from 'nitropack'
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url'
+import { nitroConfig as mcflyNitroConfig } from '@mcflyjs/config/nitro-config.js'
 
 async function _build(args) {
   consola.start('Building project...')
@@ -21,7 +22,6 @@ async function _build(args) {
     const { config: nitroConfig } = await loadConfig({ name: 'nitro' })
 
     const nitro = await createNitro({
-      extends: '@mcflyjs/config',
       rootDir,
       dev: false,
       minify: args.minify,
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ async function _build(args) {
       // spread mcfly.nitro config
       ...(mcflyConfig.nitro ?? {}),
       ...(nitroConfig ?? {}),
+      ...mcflyNitroConfig,
     })
     nitro.options.runtimeConfig.mcfly = mcflyConfig
 
diff --git a/packages/core/cli/commands/serve.mjs b/packages/core/cli/commands/serve.mjs
index d3453c6..fa7503d 100644
--- a/packages/core/cli/commands/serve.mjs
+++ b/packages/core/cli/commands/serve.mjs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import { resolve } from 'pathe'
 import { loadConfig } from 'c12'
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url'
 import { dirname } from 'pathe'
+import { nitroConfig as mcflyNitroConfig } from '@mcflyjs/config/nitro-config.js'
 
 const hmrKeyRe = /^runtimeConfig\.|routeRules\./
 const __filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
@@ -62,7 +63,6 @@ async function serve(args) {
       // create new nitro
       nitro = await createNitro(
         {
-          extends: '@mcflyjs/config',
           rootDir,
           dev: true,
           preset: 'nitro-dev',
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ async function serve(args) {
           // spread mcfly.nitro config
           ...(mcflyConfig.nitro ?? {}),
           ...(nitroConfig ?? {}),
+          ...mcflyNitroConfig,
         },
         {
           watch: true,
diff --git a/packages/core/package.json b/packages/core/package.json
index a30d03d..e50b527 100644
--- a/packages/core/package.json
+++ b/packages/core/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@mcflyjs/core",
-  "version": "0.7.2",
+  "version": "0.8.0",
   "description": "McFly core package",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "index.js",
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@
     "h3": "^1.13.0",
     "nitropack": "latest",
     "pathe": "^1.1.2",
-    "ultrahtml": "^1.5.3"
+    "ultrahtml": "^1.5.3",
+    "@mcflyjs/config": "workspace:*"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@vitest/coverage-istanbul": "2.1.8",
diff --git a/packages/core/route-middleware.js b/packages/core/route-middleware.js
index 2c847e5..d94cb5e 100644
--- a/packages/core/route-middleware.js
+++ b/packages/core/route-middleware.js
@@ -22,12 +22,22 @@ import {
  * McFly middleware event handler
  */
 export default eventHandler(async (event) => {
+  const timeStart = performance.now()
   const hooks = createHooks()
   Object.keys(mcflyHooks).forEach((hookName) => hooks.addHooks(hookName))
   const { path } = event
   let { mcfly: config } = useRuntimeConfig()
   const storage = useStorage()
 
+  const publicAssets = (await storage.getKeys('root:public')).map(
+    (key) => `/${key.replace('root:public:', '')}`
+  )
+
+  // if not page, don't render
+  if (event.path.startsWith('/api') || publicAssets.includes(event.path)) {
+    return
+  }
+
   if (!config || Object.keys(config).length === 0) {
     config = defaultMcflyConfig
     consola.warn(`[WARN]: McFly configuration not loaded, using defaults...`)
@@ -85,6 +95,13 @@ export default eventHandler(async (event) => {
     hooks.callHook(mcflyHooks.pageRendered)
   }
 
+  const timeEnd = performance.now()
+  consola.info(
+    'Page rendered in',
+    Math.round(timeEnd - timeStart),
+    'ms:',
+    event.path
+  )
   return (
     html ??
     new Response(