Alexis got up early, while it was still dark.
His back ached from the thin mattress, and the cold metal floor didn't help. He was still not used to it ever since he transmigrated to this world.
'I'm really not coming back…'
He sighed as he couldn't do anything about his situation.
The room he had was small, just a bed, a shelf, and a door that didn't close all the way. He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and stared at his hands.
They were smaller and younger than before... However, it was still rough due to his current living condition.
'Has it been a week or two?'
He remembered being someone else… He was older and stronger. He remembered being a Mech Pilot, as he fought numerous battles, fixed various machines, and used a name in that past life, Xieren.
But none of it made sense now.
Creak~
The door creaked open.
Rago stepped in. He was already dressed in his usual stained overalls. He didn't say good morning. He never did.
"Get up…" Rago said. "We've got parts to sort."
Alexis nodded and pulled on his boots. They were too big. Everything was either too big or too broken. He followed Rago outside into the scrapyard.
The air smelled like dirt, rust, and some burnt plastic... Piles of metal stretched in every direction. There were old cars, broken panels, stripped wiring, and many other piled-up metals. They were the city's leftovers.
Rago handed him a pair of gloves.
"Start with the west pile. Look for anything with copper. We need it."
Alexis took the gloves and walked toward the pile. He didn't ask questions. He'd learned that already.
Rago wasn't cruel, but he wasn't warm either. He gave him food, a place to sleep, and work. That was enough.
As he dug through the pile, Alexis kept thinking about the city. He could see it from here… There were tall buildings, bright lights, and walls that blocked everything out. He'd never been inside. Rago, the owner of the scrapyard and his only guardian, said it was dangerous. He said people like them didn't belong there.
But he knew that this place was even more dangerous.
After all, he entered this body since Alexis had originally died after touching something in the scrapyard.
His death allowed him, Xieren, to enter this body and continue with his life… As for the item that caused his death, he couldn't even find it anymore.
Nonetheless, as Xieren continued living here as Alexis, he fully understood that if he didn't try to be brave enough to make some changes, he'd be stuck here in the scrapyard forever…
He had seen the posters… There were recruitment drives, talent assessments, with promises of salary, healthy food, housing, and something else… gene enhancement.
If you passed the tests, they'd upgrade you. Make you stronger, faster, and better.
However, they only accept those 15 years old and below.
He was already fifteen, and this was his last chance to get out of here and try to live a better life.
'Gene enhancement, huh…' Alexis thought.
In his old life, it had made him one of the best pilots. Here, he wasn't sure how it would help.
Unfortunately, he had no idea if he had inherited something other than his memory and slight physical enhancement.
His cuts healed quickly… His body still reacted faster than it should, and he didn't get tired easily like the others. However, it was still not enough to conclude that his previous gene enhancements had been carried over.
After all, if it did, he wouldn't be struggling here in the scrapyard.
If he had inherited more, it was definitely not a complete gene enhancement, or perhaps, it wasn't fully awakened yet. He wasn't sure.
That afternoon, after finding a few kilos of copper, he found a time to rest. Then, he asked Rago about the assessments.
"You want to join the city soldiers?" Rago said, not looking up from his workbench.
"I want to see what they're offering."
Rago snorted. "They're offering chains. You think they give out power for free? They'll take your name, your mind, and whatever's left of your soul."
Alexis didn't answer.
He just stared at the city's inner walls in the distance…
"I still want to check it." He said softly.
Rago heard this, but he didn't say anything.
Later that night, Alexis found an old flyer under a stack of metal sheets. It was faded, but still readable.
[ CITY RECRUITMENT - TALENT ASSESSMENT ]
[ Open to all ages 8 to 15. Gene enhancement available for qualified candidates. Report to Gate 7. No ID required. ]
He folded the flyer and slipped it into his pocket.
He didn't know what he'd find there. But he knew one thing…
If he stayed here, nothing would change. If he went, maybe he'd fail. Maybe he'd lose more than he already had.
But doing nothing wasn't an option anymore.
He tightened his grip on the flyer and looked out toward the inner walls.
Passing the assessment meant more than just gene enhancement.
It meant getting a Status Card. It was the only thing that gave someone a legal identity inside the city. With it, he could access clean housing, education, clinics, and even job terminals. Without it, he'd always be stuck outside, scavenging through trash and hoping not to be noticed.
Rago didn't have one. Most people in the outer zones didn't. They weren't citizens. They were just tolerated.
But Alexis wasn't like them. He wouldn't be satisfied with his current life.
Tomorrow, he'd go to Gate 7.
And if he passed…
He'd finally be recognized as more than just another outer-zone scrap boy.