Alex stood in the middle of the school ground.
The crowd had slowly started dispersing. Students who had gathered to witness the dramatic confession scene were now leaving in groups, whispering among themselves.
The flying car that had brought Sonic had already vanished into the sky.
Inside it, Iris sat quietly in the passenger seat.
Through the transparent rear glass, she could still see Alex standing alone in the distance.
He looked small.
Still.
Frozen.
Sonic noticed where her gaze was fixed.
"What happened?" he asked with a teasing smile.
"Did my little monster… the girl who spent her entire childhood annoying only me… suddenly fall in love with someone else?"
Iris frowned.
"If that's the case," Sonic continued dramatically, "my heart will break."
"Maybe I should stand where Alex was standing… and wave goodbye while watching you two walk away together."
Before he could finish—
THACK!
Iris smacked the back of his head.
"Who told you something like that?"
"We're friends."
"Friends?" Sonic rubbed his head.
"Then why the drama?"
Iris crossed her arms.
"Do you remember what happened two years ago?"
"When you left to become a warrior?"
Sonic nodded.
"Of course."
"And do you remember what I told you?"
She looked straight at him.
"I said I wanted to become a warrior too."
Sonic sighed.
"Yes… and I told you not to."
"Because becoming a warrior is dangerous."
"I told you to first make a name for yourself among humans."
"Then I would allow you to take the SG-01 serum."
"The one that allows people to become warriors."
Iris leaned back in her seat.
"But until now… you're only Rank Two."
Sonic chuckled.
"And you say that like it's a bad thing."
"Becoming Rank Two within one year is actually impressive."
"Not impressive enough," Iris replied quietly.
Sonic glanced at her.
"So what do you want?"
Iris suddenly leaned forward and hugged him.
"For now… you don't need to worry about me becoming a warrior."
Sonic froze for a moment before smiling softly.
"Good."
"Stay like this for now."
"I'll keep climbing the ranks."
"And everything will be fine."
Iris pulled back and studied his face.
"You're not a normal person."
"You're different."
"Your body… your talent… your background."
"You have advantages normal people don't."
Sonic shrugged.
"At least I have a background."
"That's already more than most people."
"And honestly…"
He smiled.
"We could live comfortably even without becoming warriors."
Iris shook her head slowly.
"No."
"After everything you told me about warriors…"
"I think we both should become one."
"Being a warrior is useful."
"And powerful."
Sonic's expression darkened slightly.
"It's also dangerous."
"You haven't seen the real dangers yet."
"That's why you think becoming a warrior sounds exciting."
He looked out the window.
"If the world ever becomes dangerous for you…"
"…then don't become a warrior."
"We'll live a normal life."
Iris looked at him carefully.
"Why are you suddenly worrying about me?"
Sonic smirked.
"Because I can."
Meanwhile…
Back at the school grounds.
Alex still hadn't moved.
To him, time had stopped.
The ground beneath his feet felt like the last place where his memories existed.
His mind drifted.
Back to the first day he met Iris.
Seventh grade.
A shy girl with curly hair who had accidentally spilled water on his notebook.
The way they had laughed.
The way they had become friends.
The countless conversations.
Years of friendship.
All of it replayed in his mind.
And yet…
Before he could think further—
A hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.
"Hey."
Alex blinked.
Darex was standing beside him.
"Bro."
"I need your signature."
Alex frowned slightly.
"What?"
"Just sign something."
Darex held out his phone.
Alex barely looked at the screen.
His mind was still lost in memories.
Without thinking—
He signed.
"Thanks!" Darex said cheerfully.
Alex suddenly snapped out of his thoughts.
"Wait."
"What did I just sign?"
Darex grinned.
"Oh nothing."
"Just withdrawing money from your bank account."
Alex's eyes widened.
"WHAT?"
"Why would you need my signature for that?!"
"You already have my password!"
Darex waved his hand casually.
"Relax."
"We're going to party tonight."
"Party?"
"Yeah."
"To celebrate your breakup."
Alex stared at him in disbelief.
"You're making fun of me."
Darex shrugged.
"Why would I?"
"I've had so many breakups that I'm used to it."
"Used to it?"
"Yeah."
"Twelve breakups in twelve years."
Alex slowly removed his shoe.
"You idiot…"
"You've been cursing me this entire time!"
Darex jumped back.
"Hey! I wasn't cursing you!"
Alex threw his shoe at him.
"You kept saying every girl I date will leave me!"
Darex grabbed his backpack and ran.
"No! That's not what I meant!"
"I meant if one girl leaves, a hundred will come!"
"So now you're saying all hundred will leave too?!"
"NO!"
"Not all!"
"Maybe one or two will stay!"
"You're hopeless!"
The two started chasing each other across the sidewalk.
Students nearby watched with confusion as the two boys continued arguing like children.
Eventually Darex suddenly stopped running.
Alex couldn't stop in time.
BAM!
They collided.
Darex fell flat on the ground.
Alex landed on top of him.
Darex turned bright red.
"Dude!"
"Don't sit on me like that!"
"What if the girls see this?"
"They'll think I'm gay!"
Alex quickly stood up.
"What kind of nonsense are you talking about?!"
Darex dusted himself off.
"Anyway."
"Let's not fight."
"Tonight we celebrate."
"What are you planning now?" Alex asked suspiciously.
"I'm going to buy some party supplies."
"You take my bag and go home."
"Why me?"
"Just do it."
Darex threw his bag toward Alex.
"I'll come to your house later."
Alex sighed and picked up the bag.
"Fine."
As he walked down the road…
His eyes suddenly drifted toward the skyline.
The massive three-hundred-floor tower stood tall above the city.
Once upon a time…
That building had been his dream.
He wanted to live there with his family.
But now—
He felt nothing.
That dream was gone.
Now he had only one goal.
Become a warrior.
Not to impress anyone.
Not to win someone's love.
But to gain power.
To rise in the hierarchy.
To reach a level where he would never need to bow before anyone again.
Alex smiled faintly.
"If I keep having friends like Darex…"
"…girls will come and go anyway."
He kept walking.
Lost in thought.
He didn't notice the road ahead.
Or the flying vehicle moving along the highway.
Inside the vehicle, a girl suddenly noticed him.
"Why is that guy walking onto the road?"
She slammed the brakes.
The vehicle screeched through the air.
Alex suddenly heard the sound.
His eyes widened.
Too late.
His mind flashed through memories.
His parents.
His sister.
Darex.
"If Darex hadn't gone to buy party supplies…"
"…we would still be walking together."
Alex closed his eyes.
This is it.
The flying car swerved violently.
It missed Alex—
But slammed into the divider.
BOOOOOOM!
The vehicle exploded.
Alex slowly opened his eyes.
For a moment he couldn't understand what had happened.
He touched his body.
"I'm… alive?"
His heart pounded violently.
"If I survived…"
"…my legs and arms should be broken."
But they weren't.
He looked at the burning wreckage.
A terrible thought struck him.
"Did someone die because of me?"
He remembered the law.
If someone dies accidentally because of you…
Five years in prison.
"I'm eighteen…"
"That means I'll be twenty-three when I get out…"
His breathing became heavy.
"But maybe…"
"Maybe the person survived."
"If the car is damaged, my parents can pay for it."
"And when I become a warrior…"
"I'll repay everything."
Slowly—
He walked toward the wreckage.
The car looked completely destroyed.
Alex wiped the smoke from the window.
Inside—
A girl sat in the driver's seat.
Not moving.
Alex's heart stopped.
"Did I… kill an angel?"
Just then—
The car door suddenly opened automatically.
And a mechanical voice echoed inside the wreckage.
"Emergency system activated."
"Life signal detected."
"Medical protocol initiating."
Alex froze.
The story… had just begun.
Rise of the Cybe