The city of Neoterra never slept.
Towering skyscrapers pierced the clouds, their surfaces glowing with neon circuits that pulsed like veins of a living organism. Flying vehicles streamed across the sky, and giant holographic billboards displayed rankings, hero stats, and—most importantly—Robot Power Levels.
Because in this world, your worth… was measured by your robot.
Every human was assigned a Combat Core Robot at birth—an artificial companion bonded to their soul. These robots weren't just machines. They evolved, fought, protected, and most importantly… merged with their users to create powerful warriors known as Sync Heroes.
And everything depended on rank.
F Rank → E → D → C → B → A → S Rank
F rank was trash.S rank was legend.
Only 10 people in the entire world possessed S Rank robots. They were treated like gods—guardians of humanity against the endless wave of monstrous creatures known as Abyss Beasts.
And then… there was him.
A boy stood alone in the corner of a massive training field.
His name was Leorien Vale.
Thin, quiet, with slightly messy black hair and tired eyes that carried years of silent endurance. On his wrist was a small, dull-looking device—his robot core.
Compared to others, it looked… lifeless.
"Oi, F-Rank garbage!"
A voice shattered the stillness.
A group of students approached, their robots glowing with power and pride.
At the front stood Rex Halver, his lips curled into a cruel smile. Behind him flickered his A-Rank robot—Ignis Wolf, a blazing mechanical beast radiating heat and dominance.
Rex shoved Leorien's shoulder.
"You still showing up? Don't you understand? This academy is for heroes… not mistakes."
Laughter followed instantly.
"His robot probably runs on batteries!"
"Even E-rank kids are stronger than him!"
Leorien didn't react.
He had trained himself not to.
Every insult, every laugh, every whisper—it had all become background noise in his life.
Because he already knew the truth they believed.
F Rank.
The lowest existence.
The definition of useless.
"I'm not here to fight," Leorien said quietly.
Rex leaned closer, voice dripping with mockery.
"Then why are you here?"
Leorien looked toward the academy tower.
A massive holographic countdown glowed in the sky:
"Annual Power Measurement Ceremony – 3 Days Remaining."
"…to prove something."
Silence fell.
Then—
Explosive laughter.
"PROVE WHAT?!" Rex shouted. "That you're the weakest human alive?!"
Leorien said nothing.
But deep inside…
Something had begun to stir.
That night—
Leorien sat alone in his dim dorm room.
The world outside was alive with lights and noise.
But inside—
Only silence.
And the faint blue glow of his robot core.
He stared at it for a long time.
"…why are you like this?" he whispered.
No response.
There never was.
F-rank robots didn't speak.Didn't evolve.Didn't change.
They were empty.
Just like everyone said.
Leorien let out a slow breath and lay back.
"Maybe… they're right."
The room fell completely still.
Then—
…tick…
Leorien's eyes snapped open.
"…what was that?"
…tick… tick…
The core flickered.
For the first time in his life—
It reacted.
Leorien slowly sat up, his heartbeat rising.
"…did you just move?"
The light shifted.
From dull blue—
To deep crimson.
"…Awakening… protocol… detected…"
Leorien froze.
His entire body trembled.
"…who… said that?"
"…Host identified… Leorien Vale…""…Synchronization… 0%…""…System damaged… restoring…"
"This isn't possible…"
His voice shook.
F-rank robots don't awaken.
They don't speak.
They don't—
The room exploded with energy.
A violent surge burst from the core, shaking the walls and sending a wave of pressure through the air.
"…Hidden Protocol Unlocked…""…SSS+ Rank Core Activation Initiated…"
Everything stopped.
Even time itself felt frozen.
Leorien's breath vanished.
"…SSS+…?"
That rank didn't exist.
Not in any record.Not in any system.Not in any world.
The core rose into the air, glowing like a heart of pure energy. Crimson cracks spread across its surface, pulsing like something alive.
Then—
A voice.
Clear.
Cold.
Unimaginably powerful.
"…Hello… Leorien Vale…""…I am… your true power."
Something awakened inside him.
Not fear.
Not hope.
Something far more dangerous.
Something that had been waiting.
Far away—
In the forbidden ruins beyond Neoterra—
A colossal Abyss Beast suddenly stopped.
Its massive body trembled.
Its glowing eyes widened.
For the first time—
It felt something it had never known before.
Fear.
Back in the room—
Leorien whispered, barely breathing:
"…why me?"
The core pulsed once.
"…Because… only the weakest… could survive becoming the strongest."
Leorien's fate… had begun.
To Be Contuniued-