The first rays of dawn cut through the glass-and-steel skyline of Neoterra, painting the city in streaks of neon gold. At the heart of the metropolis stood the Aegis Academy, a towering fortress of glass, steel, and technology. Inside, the air buzzed with anticipation.
Today was the Power Measurement Ceremony—the one day every year when all student robots were scanned by the Core Analyzer, a colossal device capable of measuring every robot's rank and combat potential. The results weren't just numbers—they dictated status, respect, and survival.
Leorien Vale had spent countless nights preparing for this moment, though preparation was a cruel joke when your robot was an F Rank. Still, he arrived early, head down, footsteps silent against the polished metal floors.
The Main Hall was packed. Holographic projectors floated above, showing every corner of the school. Hundreds of students, their robots gleaming and humming with energy, waited nervously for their turn. The air smelled of ozone and oil, of ambition and fear.
At the podium stood Director Selvaris, a tall figure whose S-Rank robot towered behind him like a black-and-gold sentinel. His voice boomed:
"Welcome, students, to the Annual Power Measurement Ceremony. Today, the strength of your bond, your skill, and your potential will be revealed. May your efforts shine!"
Applause echoed. Some were genuine. Most were just relief that they weren't the lowest-ranked, like Leorien.
One by one, students stepped onto the Measurement Platform, their robots syncing as the giant scanner spun around them. Red lights, holographic numbers, and energy readings flashed in mid-air, announcing E, D, C, B, A, and S ranks.
Each time a high rank appeared, cheers erupted. Each F rank drew snickers.
And then… it was Leorien's turn.
The laughter began the moment he stepped onto the platform.
"Here comes the loser!"
"That toaster's about to break!"
Leorien's palms were sweaty. His F-Rank robot, a small, scratched, barely functional core, hovered beside him. Its light flickered faintly—a weak, unremarkable blue.
The Measurement Platform roared to life, scanning every atom, every circuit, every flicker of energy. Red lasers danced around his robot as numbers began to appear above its form.
…F Rank… F Rank… F Rank…
The hall erupted. Laughter, whispers, pointing fingers. Leorien's ears rang.
Rex Halver stepped forward, smirking.
"See? I told you. Nothing but garbage. Go home, F-Rank trash!"
Leorien's chest tightened. His heart pounded. And yet… something inside him remained calm. Almost… waiting.
The scanner's lights shifted. A deep hum filled the hall, different from the usual chirp of the Core Analyzer. The F-Rank readings flickered… then disappeared.
A hush fell.
Red numbers began to flash.
Not low numbers.Not weak.
They went off the charts.
Blue light exploded into crimson. The small core beside Leorien glowed fiercely, pulsating like a heartbeat of pure energy.
"…Host identified… Leorien Vale…""…Synchronization… 0%…""…Hidden Protocol Activation Detected…"
Everyone froze. Students, teachers, even the robots themselves seemed to hesitate.
"…SSS+ Rank Core Engaged…"
The hall trembled. Sparks of energy shot across the walls. The ground shook. Holographic displays went dark as the Core Analyzer struggled to contain the anomaly.
Leorien felt the power surge through him—not just his robot, but himself, as though every weak moment, every insult, every failure had been stored like fuel… and now it ignited.
He didn't move his hands. He didn't shout. He simply let the power flow.
The crimson light expanded, forming a massive silhouette behind him: his robot, no longer small and weak, now towering, sleek, and radiant, radiating SSS+ energy that dwarfed even the S-Rank machines.
The room went silent.
Rex's smirk faltered.
"Wh-what… is this?!"
Director Selvaris' eyes widened. He stumbled back, his voice trembling slightly:
"This… this… this should not exist…"
Leorien felt a calm, strange voice inside his mind—the robot core speaking directly to him.
"…I am the Forbidden Core… and I have waited for you, Leorien Vale. Together, we will redefine the world…"
For the first time in his life, Leorien did not feel weak. Not powerless. Not insignificant.
He was the strongest, in a way no one had ever imagined.
And in that moment, the students who had mocked him fell silent, staring in awe, fear, and disbelief.
The boy with the weakest robot had become… the apex of power.
And somewhere deep in the shadows, beyond the city, a pair of glowing eyes watched the display, unblinking and hungry.
The Abyss Beasts had felt the shift. The balance of power was changing.
And the world… was about to burn.
To Be Continued