Alex stood in the middle of his room while his father held his shoulders.
For the first time in his life, he was looking directly into his father's eyes without lowering
his gaze.
His fists were clenched tightly.
So tightly that thin lines of blood were slowly dripping from his palms.
But Alex didn't notice.
He was too focused.
Too determined.
"Father… I understand what you're afraid of."
His voice was calm but firm.
"I know you don't want me to become a warrior."
His father watched him silently.
Alex continued.
"But I'm not a politician who can join the government."
"I can join the army… but even soldiers stand below warriors."
He tightened his fists further.
"You can become a billionaire… you can have millions or billions of credits… but even then
you will still stand below a warrior."
The room fell silent.
Alex's voice grew heavier.
"There are two types of death."
"One death comes naturally."
"You don't feel pain… you don't feel fear."
"But the second kind…"
He slowly raised his head.
"…is when you live in a world where someone stronger can kill you anytime."
His father's expression changed slightly.
Alex stepped forward.
"Warriors follow rules."
"They restrain themselves."
"But what happens if those rules break one day?"
His voice trembled.
"In that moment… people like us…"
"…will become nothing more than resources."
The word hung in the air.
Resources.
Alex shook his head.
"I cannot watch my family become someone else's resource."
His eyes burned with determination.
"That's why I will become a warrior."
"No matter what."
Even if—
His voice lowered.
"Even if I have to go against you."
For a moment, the room felt frozen.
Alex stared directly into his father's eyes.
Neither of them moved.
Then suddenly—
His father pulled him into a tight hug.
Alex froze.
His father's voice was quiet.
"…I understand."
But inside his heart, another thought echoed.
If my son disappears for six months…
I must accept that he sacrificed himself.
But he didn't want that.
No parent ever did.
Still…
He couldn't break his son's spirit either.
After a moment, he stepped back.
"Alright."
"You should sleep now."
"Tomorrow you will probably submit your application form."
Alex shook his head.
"I'll submit it tonight."
His father blinked in surprise.
But before he could say anything—
Ding Dong.
The doorbell rang loudly.
Outside the house, Darex stood in front of the door holding several plastic bags filled with
snacks.
He stretched his arms up and down, warming up like an athlete.
"Man…"
He muttered to himself.
"What kind of rule is this?"
"In this place people still treat eighteen-year-olds like children."
"I mean seriously."
"Nineteen years old before drinking alcohol?"
"I hate these rules."
He lifted the bags again.
Inside were chips, burgers, soda, and all kinds of junk food.
"No alcohol, no problem."
"We'll still party."
He pressed the bell again.
Ding Dong.
Inside the house, Alex's sister shouted.
"Coming!"
A few seconds later, the door opened.
Darex instantly raised both arms dramatically.
"Oh my dear sister!"
"How are you today?"
She stared at him with pure annoyance.
"You useless brat… you came again?"
"Of course I did."
"My best friend lives here."
"Where else should I go?"
She stepped aside.
"He's upstairs."
"He just finished arguing with Dad."
Darex's eyes widened.
"Wait… what?"
"He argued with Uncle?"
"When did that happen?"
He scratched his head.
"When I was young my father used to beat me so badly I couldn't even stand."
"But Uncle never even hit him once."
"That's unfair."
From behind him, Alex suddenly appeared.
"So you want me to get beaten?"
Darex grinned.
"No no."
"I just came for the party."
"Party?"
Alex's sister grabbed Darex's ear.
"What party?"
"You're too young to drink."
"Ow ow ow!"
"We didn't bring alcohol!"
He raised both hands defensively.
"It's just a celebration."
"Celebration for what?"
Darex pointed at Alex proudly.
"His first breakup."
She crossed her arms.
"You're celebrating his heartbreak?"
"Of course."
Then Darex rubbed his hands together.
"I told him from the beginning."
"Iris was way out of his league."
"But he never listens to me."
Alex immediately grabbed Darex by the neck.
"You talk too much."
"Come on."
"Let's go upstairs."
A few minutes later—
They were sitting on the rooftop.
The city lights spread endlessly across the horizon.
Darex opened the food bags dramatically.
"Look at this feast."
"Even without alcohol we can celebrate."
Alex grabbed a burger and started eating immediately.
"I skipped dinner."
"I argued with my father."
Darex raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because I want to become a warrior."
"Oh."
Darex nodded casually.
"Good choice."
Alex stared at him.
"You're not surprised?"
"Not really."
"My parents don't even know what warriors actually do."
"They don't care what I become."
Then Darex smirked.
"But if you think you're going alone…"
He pointed at himself proudly.
"…then you're mistaken."
Alex frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"If you go…"
"I'm going too."
Alex burst out laughing.
"You?"
"You can't even stay quiet for five minutes."
"That's a medical condition."
"If I stay silent for five minutes my hemoglobin level drops."
"My soul will immediately leave my body."
Alex shook his head.
"You're ridiculous."
They kept eating and joking under the night sky.
After a while, Alex suddenly asked—
"Did you submit your warrior application?"
Darex nodded casually.
"Yeah."
Alex froze.
"You did?"
"And you didn't tell me?"
"Why would I?"
"I thought we'd do it together!"
Darex leaned back comfortably.
"You're right."
"We should do things together."
Alex glared at him.
"You betrayed me."
Darex chuckled.
"Relax."
Then he tossed a small device toward Alex.
"I submitted yours too."
Alex caught it.
"What?"
Darex grinned widely.
"Your warrior application."
"Candidate form."
"Everything."
"I already filled it out."
Alex stared at him in shock.
"You did what?!"
Darex stretched his arms behind his head.
"Relax."
"If you're going to become a warrior…"
"…then we're doing it together."
The wind blew softly across the rooftop.
Far away—
Inside the massive Synchro Tower—
A notification appeared on a massive holographic screen.
NEW APPLICATION CONFIRMED
Candidate ID: 45
Name: Alex
And somewhere high above the city—
A pair of cold golden eyes slowly opened.
Jessi smiled faintly.
"So…"
"You finally submitted the form."
"Alex."
The game—
Had officially begun