Cabin 43.
Alex stepped inside the room.
The door slid shut behind him with a soft mechanical sound.
Inside the cabin sat a woman wearing a black mask. She was sitting calmly beside a testing console.
She looked up.
"Welcome."
Her voice was smooth.
"My name is Jessica."
"I will be conducting your test."
Alex blinked.
"Test?"
"I thought we were just here for the serum injection."
Jessica stood up slowly.
"Yes."
"But before the serum…"
"…we test your physical capability."
She tilted her head slightly.
"So."
"Shall we begin?"
Alex scratched his head.
"Wait."
"You're sure about this?"
"I'm a guy."
"I might be stronger."
Jessica chuckled softly.
"Of course."
"Please show me your strength."
Before Alex could reply—
She vanished.
Alex froze.
"What—"
"Where did she go?"
A sudden movement behind him—
SLAP!
A sharp sound echoed through the cabin.
Alex was thrown to the floor.
He clutched his cheek.
"What the hell was that?!"
Jessica stood behind him calmly.
"You didn't see me?"
Alex stared at her.
"You used power."
"You're a warrior!"
Jessica shrugged.
"Power?"
"No."
"I only used my strength."
Alex frowned.
"You expect me to believe that?"
Jessica smiled.
"You want to see real strength?"
Alex hesitated.
"…Yes."
Jessica walked toward the metal wall beside them.
She raised her fist.
And punched.
BOOM.
Her fist pierced straight through the reinforced wall.
Like it was paper.
She slowly pulled her hand back.
"That's my strength."
Alex's soul nearly left his body.
Sweat immediately appeared on his forehead.
Inside his mind—
Am I seriously supposed to fight her?
How many bones will survive this?
My ribs? My kidneys?
Observation Room
Jessi's father watched the scene through the monitoring screen.
He sighed.
"I told her not to hit him too much."
"She'll scare him half to death before she even starts the test."
Back in Cabin 43
Jessica turned back toward Alex.
"What happened?"
"Aren't you a man?"
"Men aren't supposed to be afraid."
Alex stood slowly.
"I'm not scared."
"Oh?"
"Then fight."
Alex coughed awkwardly.
"Well…"
"I was thinking maybe…"
"…I'm not ready to become a warrior yet."
Jessica raised an eyebrow.
"So?"
"So maybe I should bring my friend instead."
"I'll try again next time."
He turned toward the door.
Jessica grabbed his collar instantly.
And threw him onto the testing bed.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"I thought you were strong."
"Now you're running?"
She looked at him coldly.
"And from what I know…"
"…you come from a common background."
"Which means you probably have no real power."
She stepped back.
"You're just a piece of trash."
She turned toward the door.
"When you actually gain power…"
"Come challenge me again."
Alex's Anger
Something snapped inside Alex.
His teacher's words echoed in his head.
Common people are nothing in front of warriors.
Alex stood up.
"You're using warrior power!"
Jessica turned back.
"Oh?"
"You moved too fast."
"No human moves like that."
Alex clenched his fists.
"If you have courage…"
"Fight me again in six months."
"After I become a warrior."
Jessica laughed.
"You want me to wait six months?"
"I'm not fighting you."
"I'm testing you."
She suddenly rushed forward.
BAM!
Her kick slammed into Alex's stomach.
The impact was brutal.
Air exploded from his lungs.
His vision went white.
His mouth filled with saliva.
His eyes nearly popped out.
Jessica looked down at him.
"Pathetic."
Alex slowly raised his head.
"You should control your kicks."
Jessica frowned.
"What?"
At that moment—
Alex moved.
He used the only trick he knew.
He hooked his foot behind her supporting leg.
And kicked the other leg forward.
Jessica's balance broke.
"Oh—"
She didn't expect it.
They both fell.
Alex landed on top of her.
Without thinking—
He grabbed her collar.
And punched.
THUD.
The punch hit her cheek.
Alex grinned weakly.
"I win."
Observation Room
Jessica's father jumped from his seat.
"What?!"
"That boy…"
"…touched my daughter without permission?"
He stared at the screen in shock.
"Interesting."
Cabin 43
Jessica's eyes burned with anger.
"You… punched me?"
Alex shrugged.
"You said if I landed a punch I'd win."
"So I did."
Jessica was about to explode—
But suddenly—
A voice came through her earpiece.
"Jessica."
Her father.
"That boy is perfect."
"Train him."
"I'll speak with him later."
Jessica closed her eyes.
"…Father."
"You know what I'm thinking."
"Yes."
"And you know what I want."
"Yes."
She sighed.
"…Fine."
She looked back at Alex.
"Understood."
Before Alex could react—
SMACK!
She slapped him again.
Alex instantly lost consciousness.
Jessica caught him before he hit the floor.
She placed him on the medical bed.
Then she prepared the serum injector.
"This time…"
"My father saved you."
She injected the serum.
"But next time…"
"If you're not strong enough…"
"…I won't forgive you."
"I don't want a weak partner."
She turned and left the cabin.
Serum Reaction
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Alex's body stayed still.
Then suddenly—
The serum began reacting.
Monitoring Chamber
In the central monitoring room, a massive holographic AI display appeared.
All candidates' synchronization rates were being tracked.
Jessica stood beside her father and the chief assistant.
Hundreds of names appeared in floating holographic panels.
Synchronization percentages began rising.
Candidate after candidate.
The screen switched to Darex.
His synchronization rate started climbing.
1…
3…
7…
15…
20…
25…
30…
Then—
It stopped.
31%.
The assistant nodded.
"Candidate Darex."
"Synchronization rate: 31%."
"Qualified warrior candidate."
Jessica crossed her arms.
"Not bad."
Her father smiled slightly.
"But the real question…"
He looked at another screen.
"Is Alex."
And Alex's synchronization number had just begun to rise.