> "So in the end... I really did fail, huh?"
A long, drawn-out sigh escaped the young man's lips as he walked alone down the street, his heart heavy with disappointment.
Lifting his head to gaze at the sky, a deeper sadness welled up from within.
His name was Liu Zhenxin, 20 years old. Unemployed.
The reason for his sigh was simple: despite everything, he still hadn't managed to solve his job problem.
Honestly, with his degree from some no-name third-rate university, people like him were everywhere — totally replaceable. This was already the 14th job interview he'd failed.
To make matters worse, his major was civil engineering — one of the most cutthroat and competitive fields out there.
And with a background like his, getting hired was next to impossible.
That was what weighed on Liu Zhenxin the most these days: the hopelessness of not being able to find work.
He patted his pocket — all he had left to his name was just a few dozen yuan.
> "Looks like... I'll be sleeping in the park tonight."
He arrived at a public park, ran his hand across a bench, and let out a bitter laugh as he sat down.
Luckily, the weather wasn't too cold yet — still tolerable. If it were winter, he honestly didn't know what he'd do.
Ever since he'd moved south on his own, he hadn't had a single good night's sleep. Every night was spent scraping by in cheap motels.
Back in the day, Liu Zhenxin never had to worry about things like this.
His family used to be fairly well-off — his father was a well-known local business owner. Money and comfort were never a concern.
But then his father was diagnosed with cancer. The family spent every last cent trying to treat it. And after his father passed away, everything fell apart — leaving Liu Zhenxin in the mess he was in now.
With a heavy sigh, he nibbled on a piece of bread and sipped bottled water. He pulled out his phone and tapped on a familiar icon on the screen.
In an instant, the display went black — bold words flashed up:
> Neon Genesis Evangelion: Daybreak
That was the name of the mobile game.
Aside from its stunning visuals, what hooked him the most was the intense combat — it felt powerful, real. That's why he'd fallen in love with it.
Of course, his love for the game was deeply connected to the anime itself: Neon Genesis Evangelion.
He was obsessed with the Human Instrumentality Project, the religious symbolism, and the layers of existential philosophy in the show. He couldn't get enough.
> If only I could go to the world of Evangelion... I'd change everything.
As the game's music echoed in his ears, Liu Zhenxin piloted Unit-01, cutting down enemy after enemy with ease.
But eventually, the dreaded "Low Battery" warning popped up. With a long sigh, he pulled his jacket tighter and curled up on the bench.
> Damn it... now I can't even charge my phone anymore.
With another sigh, he closed his eyes, ready to drift off into sleep.
But then —
> "HELP! Somebody! Robbery!!"
A woman's desperate scream pierced the night. Liu Zhenxin jolted upright, spotting a panicked woman in the distance — and two men fleeing ahead of her, one of them carrying a briefcase.
> Huff...
He took a deep breath.
By modern logic, it wasn't his business. He should've stayed out of it. But... the direction those thieves were running?
Straight toward him.
He barely had time to think. Before he knew it, the two were right in front of him.
> "OUTTA MY WAY!"
One of them shouted and lunged at him, trying to shove him aside.
But instead of being thrown down, Liu Zhenxin braced himself — and collided head-on with the thief.
> "Move it or I'll kill you!" the man barked, eyes wild and murderous.
People nearby screamed and scattered in fear.
Strangely, instead of backing down, a fire ignited inside Liu Zhenxin.
His life was already in ruins. Was he supposed to just curl up and run from everything now too?
> Hell no. Not anymore.
> "Drop the case!" Liu Zhenxin snapped coldly.
> "You looking to die, punk?!"
The thief snarled and lunged — a glint of steel flashed in his hand. A knife!
If that stab connected, Liu Zhenxin would be seriously injured — maybe even killed.
But at the last second, he dodged swiftly, his body twisting away from the blade.
The knife slashed harmlessly past his waist.
He inhaled, stepped in — grabbed the man's wrist, and twisted down with force.
> Crack!
> "AAAHHH!!!"
The thief let out a shriek, collapsing to the ground and writhing in pain.
Disarming him with bare hands — a technique Liu Zhenxin had learned years ago. He hadn't practiced it much, but it was just enough.
Then the second thief charged in, face twisted in rage. The two clashed violently.
But shockingly — Liu Zhenxin held his ground. More than that — he was winning. Blow by blow, the thug was being forced back.
> "Put. The case. Down!" Liu Zhenxin roared, just as the sound of police sirens echoed from the distance.
The color drained from the thieves' faces.
Their fear turned into desperate fury.
> "Damn it, if we don't kill this guy, we're not getting out of here!"
> "Take him out!!"
Both attackers lunged. But Liu Zhenxin didn't flinch. He focused his strength and drove his fist hard into one thief's chest — the impact knocked the man back several steps.
> "Die, you bastard!!"
Just then, the first thief — still on the ground — grabbed a flower pot from somewhere and hurled it at Liu Zhenxin's head.
> SMASH!
It hit dead center. A splash of blood trickled down his forehead.
The world spun. His vision blurred.
> "Damn... what a shitshow…"
That was the last thing he muttered before everything went black — and Liu Zhenxin collapsed to the ground, unconscious.