Sentinel!

By the thirtieth century, humans had developed to the point where people with superpowers, known as exemplars, existed—those with unique talents, or "IL." The population of exemplars had only grown over time, and now, a staggering percentage of the population were exemplars. Every young child aspired to become one, whether they dreamed of being heroes or exemplary doctors or lawyers, as seen on television and in movies.

However, Tson, under his current circumstances, believed that dream was somewhat unattainable for him. His hypercognition IL was not a flashy, combat-capable power. While his mind was quicker than others, he questioned whether it would ever be enough to transform him into a true hero—someone capable of running, fighting, and saving lives.

Today marked the beginning of his final days as a high school senior, soon to be followed by the start of his university days. It was the day when the future, once distant, would be laid bare before him. He adjusted his bag on his shoulder and walked toward school. The gate looming ahead of the building was sleek and ultra-modern, made of glass and steel with displays scattered across its surface. Upon entering, biometric face scans ensured that only authorized people could pass. The same system was used for automated classrooms, doing much more than simply identifying students; it would turn the lights on in a room if it detected someone inside.

"TSON!" A familiar voice called out. Tson turned and saw his best friend, Kevin, jogging toward him. Kevin didn't have an IL power—he was "IL-less," as people called it. Despite this, he was the best martial artist Tson knew. If it weren't for his lack of an IL, Kevin would surely be the best martial artist alive.

"Hey, Kev," Tson forced a smile. "You ready for the big talk today?"

Kevin shrugged, his expression somber. "Nah, I'm skipping it. Going to hang out in the dojo," he said, pausing to adjust his gear. "I love it in there. No IL, no future, right?"

Tson frowned. If Kevin had been born in another era, he would've been a martial arts legend. But in this world, without an IL power, Kevin would always be sidelined. "You could still come. You never know…

Kevin laughed. "Really? I see you haven't quit that optimism. But nah, I'll catch up later." He put on a weak smile before heading off.

The school bell rang, pulling Tson from his thoughts. He hurried inside, knowing he was late. As he entered the classroom, he could feel the teacher's disapproving eyes on him.

"You're late, Tson," the teacher said coldly. "Nice of you to finally grace us with your presence. God knows we've rarely seen the genius in class. No doubt you have more important things than this class," he added in a mocking tone.

Tson muttered an apology and slipped into his seat, just as a group of pro-heroes entered the room. They stood tall at the front, their gleaming uniforms a reminder of the kind of future many students dreamed of.

One of the heroes stepped forward. "We're here today to recruit some of the best students directly into our agencies. If you qualify, you can skip university and go straight into hero work. But let me be clear—only the top one percent will make the cut."

Tson listened, intrigued but doubtful that his abilities were enough. He wasn't part of the one percent. His combat scores were far from impressive—some might say terrible—though he knew agencies cared mostly about combat prowess.

After the recruitment speech, representatives from various fields—lawyers, doctors, and other professionals—gave their pitches. As Tson half-listened, a woman from the Exemplar Doctors Academy waved at him from across the room, trying to get his attention. He sighed. They all wanted him for his brains, not his potential as a hero.

When the presentations ended, Tson slipped out of the classroom, uninterested in their offers. He knew where he needed to be—back home, working on his real future.

Tson's home was nothing short of a technological fortress. A sprawling mansion perched on a hill, adorned with advanced technology, cobblestone paths, and wings filled with labs, libraries, and more. As soon as he entered, the weight of the day lifted slightly.

Before heading to his lab, Tson stopped by a particular room—his brother's recovery chamber. Inside, his brother lay unconscious, monitors attached to his still form. His left arm and right leg were missing, and his breaths were shallow.

Tson clenched his fists, remembering the mission that had nearly killed him. His brother had been a spy, declared dead to the world, but here he was, fighting for his life. All for six small objects—arc reactors—that his brother had stolen from a mad scientist bent on eradicating exemplars. Now, those identical reactors were hidden in Tson's lab, crucial to his ultimate plan.

Tson entered his lab, a massive room filled with machines and screens. The arc reactors, secured in a vault, awaited him. They had cost his brother his limbs, his career, and nearly his life. But Tson would make them worth it.

On a screen, multiple projects were displayed: Project Prime, Nexon, Rampage, and Sentinel. Project Sentinel was his current obsession—a prototype robot that could change everything.

"Merci, activate Sentinel," Tson commanded. The AI obeyed, and a towering robot emerged from the shadows. It was sleek and black, with a glowing "S" emblazoned on its chest. Sentinel was designed to mimic the movements of the greatest minds, accessing data from both public sources and hacked databases.

The problem was power. Tson needed the arc reactors to bring Sentinel to life.

He approached the vault, took one of the six reactors, and inserted it into Sentinel's chest. The moment it clicked into place, a surge of energy pulsed through the lab, lighting up the other reactors. Tson barely had time to react before everything went dark. His vision blurred, and the last thing he saw was Sentinel coming to life.

Then, he blacked out.