Lior Ahn sat quietly at the back of the classroom, sunlight casting golden rays on his porcelain skin. His hair, black as ink, framed his face in soft waves. He wore his school uniform perfectly, the tie slightly loosened, collar crisp, sleeves neatly buttoned. There was an air of otherworldliness about him—calm, beautiful, and distant.
While the other students whispered, passed notes, and chuckled about weekend plans, Lior focused on the skeletal diagram on the board.
He didn't care about popularity or parties. His eyes were always on the brain.
His dream? To become a neurologist. Not just any neurologist—but the best.
But dreams didn't mean much when your family could barely afford rent.
Still, Lior studied endlessly—every textbook he could borrow, every online lecture he could find. The idea of understanding the brain's mysteries—the electric whispers between neurons, the cause of consciousness—it was everything to him.
And today... something was different.
A strange static buzzed in his ears. The clock ticked too loud. His vision blurred for a second. He blinked.
Then—everything stopped.
The classroom around him stilled, and a soft blue light flooded his vision.
> [SYSTEM BOOT COMPLETE]
[Neurological Ascension Program Activated]
[User: Lior Ahn]
[Mission: Become the World's Greatest Neurologist]
[First Quest: Memorize Complete Brain Anatomy (ETA: 3 Days)]
[Rewards: +5 INT, Memory Retention Upgrade Lv.1, Beginner Medical Kit]
Lior's heart thudded in his chest. "W-What the hell…?"
> [Do not panic. You have been chosen.]
> [This world needs a mind like yours.]
The light dimmed.
Time resumed.
But Lior had changed.
---
Later that evening, walking home under the dusky sky, Lior opened his system panel.
It floated before him, semi-transparent and glowing. His first mission pulsed softly. He tapped it, and a detailed 3D model of the human brain appeared in midair. Sections rotated automatically, labels glowing as if he were inside a holographic textbook.
He was... in awe.
Just then, a sleek black car pulled up beside him. The window rolled down.
Inside sat a man—impossibly handsome, sharp grey eyes like steel under moonlight, obsidian hair slicked back with effortless power. His suit looked like it cost more than Lior's rent for a year.
The man's gaze locked with Lior's. Cold, calculating… but also something else. Recognition?
"You dropped this," the man said, holding up a small leather notebook Lior hadn't even noticed fall.
Lior stepped closer, his heartbeat stuttering for reasons unrelated to the system.
"Th-Thank you."
The man's fingers brushed his as he returned the notebook.
"I'm Renji Vale," he said, voice smooth as silk and twice as dangerous. "And you are... far too young to be meddling in neural networks."
Lior's eyes widened. He hadn't told anyone.
Before he could ask, the car window rolled up, and Renji drove off, leaving the faint scent of cedar and control in the air.
---
> [WARNING: Target Identified — Renji Vale, CEO of ValeTech Global.]
[High Compatibility Detected. Potential: Partner. Potential: Threat.]
Lior stared down the road, heart racing.
Something told him this wasn't the last time their paths would cross.
And something even deeper whispered—
This was just the beginning.