Alex ran all the way home.
His lungs burned as he sprinted through the streets of Horizon Zone Zero-One. His mind
was still spinning from everything that had happened.
The accident.
The mysterious girl.
The slap.
The strange transparent card with 100,000 credits.
And the words she had said on the phone…
Peak Level Five Warrior.
Alex didn't understand what most of that meant.
But one thing was clear.
That girl was definitely not normal.
By the time he reached his house, his chest was rising and falling violently.
He pushed the door open and rushed inside.
THUD.
He dropped his backpack onto the table.
Then Darex's bag right next to it.
Alex bent forward and placed both hands on the table, breathing heavily.
"Haah… haah… haah…"
Just then—
Two arms suddenly wrapped around him from behind.
Alex jumped slightly.
A playful voice spoke right beside his ear.
"Hey little brother."
Alex turned his head.
Standing behind him was his big sister.
She hugged him tightly from behind and laughed.
"How are you?"
She poked his shoulder.
"And why are you breathing like this?"
She tilted her head suspiciously.
"Did some wild animal chase you all the way home?"
Alex sighed.
"Something like that…"
He muttered quietly.
"Today has been a terrible day."
His sister raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really?"
"School finished today and instead of celebrating you look like someone stole your future."
She released him and walked around the table, staring directly into his face.
"What happened?"
Alex scratched his head.
"A lot of things happened."
"But first…"
He collapsed into a chair.
"I need oxygen."
Meanwhile — The Syncro Tower
Across the city, the golden-haired girl stepped out of her flying car.
Her name was Jessi.
And she was walking toward the tallest building in the entire city.
A massive tower pierced the sky like a steel spear.
Three hundred floors high.
The building shimmered with advanced metallic glass.
At the top of the tower glowed a massive symbol.
SYNCRO ORGANIZATION
This place was the center of the Warrior Synchronization Program.
The place where ordinary humans came to become warriors.
Jessi stepped inside the building.
Her expression was cold.
Her golden eyes carried visible irritation.
Several warriors standing near the entrance immediately noticed.
Two of them whispered quietly.
"Why is the young lady so angry today?"
"Are you crazy?"
"Don't ask!"
"If she hears you, you'll regret it."
Unfortunately for them—
Jessi heard everything.
She stopped walking.
Slowly she turned her head.
Her gaze landed on the two warriors.
"You two."
Both warriors instantly straightened.
"You have nothing better to do?"
"If you're so free…"
She crossed her arms.
"Go patrol the outer district."
"For the next one month."
The warriors turned pale.
"A whole month?!"
"You heard me."
Her voice was calm.
But terrifying.
The two warriors glared at each other.
"This is your fault!"
"No, it's yours!"
"If I'm suffering, you're coming with me!"
Both of them walked away miserably.
Meanwhile Jessi pressed the elevator button.
The transparent elevator arrived.
She stepped inside.
The doors closed.
The elevator shot upward.
Floor 40.
Floor 120.
Floor 210.
Floor 300.
The doors opened silently.
Jessi stepped out.
Her anger still hadn't faded.
"What should I do about that boy…"
She muttered to herself.
"Calm down."
"Control yourself."
"If it were anyone else…"
"…he would already be dead."
She entered a private lounge.
A large mirror stood against the wall.
Jessi stopped in front of it.
She stared at her reflection.
Golden hair.
Perfect warrior suit.
Cold expression.
Then suddenly—
CRACK!
She punched the mirror.
The glass shattered instantly.
Fragments fell across the floor.
But her hand wasn't injured.
Not even a drop of blood appeared.
Her body was far stronger than a normal human.
She walked out calmly.
A nearby worker froze when he saw the broken glass.
"M-Ma'am?"
"The mirror inside broke."
Jessi said coldly.
"Clean it."
"Yes ma'am!"
The worker ran inside.
Meanwhile Jessi walked toward a large office door.
She pushed it open.
Inside sat a middle-aged man behind a desk.
He looked up calmly.
"Hmm?"
"What happened, daughter?"
"Why are you so angry?"
Jessi stepped inside.
"Father."
"You won't believe what happened today."
Her father raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Did your accident damage your body?"
Jessi shook her head.
"That's not the problem."
"Then what is?"
She clenched her fists.
"That boy."
"What boy?"
"The boy who caused the accident."
Her father leaned back.
"Yes?"
Jessi hesitated for a moment.
Then spoke.
"He kissed me."
The entire room became silent.
The assistant standing nearby froze.
The chairman blinked slowly.
"…What?"
Jessi's face turned slightly red.
"He touched me."
"He performed CPR on me."
The room fell into complete silence.
Even the air felt frozen.
Then suddenly—
The assistant lifted a file in front of his face to hide his expression.
Meanwhile the chairman suddenly burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
His laughter echoed through the room.
The entire tower slightly trembled.
Warriors throughout the building felt it.
"What's happening?"
"Why is the chairman laughing like that?"
Inside the office—
The chairman wiped tears from his eyes.
"Is this true?"
"That boy touched you?"
"And he's still alive?"
Jessi glared at him.
"Father!"
"Why are you laughing?!"
Her father smiled.
"Because this is unbelievable."
"You know yourself very well."
"No one has touched you without permission."
"From the Basra incident until today."
"And yet…"
"This boy managed to touch you."
Jessi crossed her arms.
"I let him live."
"Well that's good!"
"At least someone managed to touch you."
"Maybe I should meet him."
Jessi immediately shook her head.
"No."
"I'll deal with him myself."
The chairman leaned forward slightly.
"So he lives in Horizon Zero-One?"
"Yes."
"Is he a warrior?"
"No."
"He said he might apply tomorrow for the warrior serum."
Her father smiled.
"Interesting."
"Then we will meet him soon."
Jessi narrowed her eyes.
"I will deal with him personally."
Her father chuckled.
"Careful."
"Finding a man brave enough to touch you without permission might be difficult."
"Father!"
"Relax."
The chairman picked up a tablet.
"I was reviewing today's warrior applications."
"How many?"
"Thirty-seven."
"How many passed?"
"Five."
Jessi nodded.
"Synchronization rates?"
"Fifty."
"Forty-nine."
"Thirty-five."
"Thirty."
"Twenty-eight."
"Only five out of thirty-seven…"
"That's normal."
The chairman smiled.
"We've been doing this for years."
"We never lack warriors."
Jessi stretched her hand.
"Show me the file."
"Maybe that boy is inside."
The chairman handed the tablet to her.
She began scanning the list.
Page after page.
Name after name.
Then she frowned.
"This file is too large."
"I don't remember his face clearly."
The chairman activated the tower's AI.
The Syncro Tower AI was the most powerful artificial intelligence system in the city.
Connected to every surveillance network.
"AI."
"Yes sir."
"My daughter had an accident today."
"Yes sir."
"Road number 300-23."
"Yes sir."
"Find the boy involved in the accident."
"Searching…"
The system analyzed the entire city network.
Within seconds—
"Candidate identified."
"Application found."
"Candidate number…"
"45."
Jessi leaned closer.
"Show me."
The screen displayed the profile.
Name: Alex
Age: 18
Family Background:
Father — Government employee
Mother — Housewife
Sister — Government employee
A completely ordinary family.
Jessi scoffed.
"A common background."
She crossed her arms.
"Father."
"Do you think this boy can become a warrior?"
Her father smiled slightly.
"Maybe."
"If he survives your temper."
Jessi smirked.
"Good."
"I want to see how strong this boy can become."
Back at Alex's House
Meanwhile Alex sat at the dining table.
His big sister stood across from him with folded arms.
"Now talk."
"Why did you run home like someone chased you with a knife?"
Alex sighed.
"Today…"
He rubbed his head.
"Something strange happened."
His sister leaned forward.
"What happened?"
Alex stared toward the window.
"A car accident."
And the chapter ended there.