The A.I. girl's gaze lingered on Zane's wristwatch. Her marble-like eyes sparkled with delight, as if the device were an irresistible piece of eye-candy—or better, eye-ice-cream.

"I can do that. That's easy." She waved her hand. Instantly, the transfer began.

A few seconds later, a soft chime echoed from Zane's watch. He tapped it, pulled up the files, and replayed the Titan footage multiple times. It worked perfectly.

Turning back to Xoxo, he said, "Alright, I've answered four questions. Time for the last one."

The petite girl circled him, her expression turning solemn. "Believe me, this one will be tough. Everyone struggles with it."

"I'm ready."

Her voice sharpened as she posed the question:

"If there comes a day when you must choose between saving your closest relative… or saving the Earth—you can only save one. Who will it be?"

She leaned in slightly, as if pressing the weight of the dilemma onto him. "Remember, there's no middle ground. Only one."

The words pierced Zane like a blade. His chest tightened; his eyes twitched for the first time since entering the hall.

The question echoed in his head, dredging up memories—his childhood in Whistler Town, his grandmother's sacrifices, his friends, his beloved wife. The faces of those he cherished weighed heavily on him.

Grandma, I owe you everything. Because of you, I even dare to dream of finding Mother and confronting Father.

But Earth… Earth was his home, a place no other world could ever replace. If it burned, humanity burned with it.

The dilemma dug deep into his core, clawing at his values. Save his family? Or the countless billions?

He exhaled slowly. If this day ever came… could I even live with the choice?

"I…" His voice trailed. Then he looked at her firmly. "Xoxo, is there even a right answer to that?"

"Nope." She shook her head. "That's why you must answer from within yourself. Humans value soul and conscience, don't they?"

Zane shut his eyes. Silence filled the chamber. He steadied his breathing, let the storm in his mind settle.

When he opened them again, his gaze was calm. Clear.

"Alright," he said, voice steady. "I'd save my close relatives."

Xoxo tilted her head. "Why?"

A sly grin tugged at Zane's lips. "That's a sixth question. Against the rules, isn't it?"

"Oh! My bad!" She slapped her forehead with mock frustration, then smirked. "But tell me why, Zane—and I'll trade you a secret of this city. One I've never revealed to any other human."

"A secret of the city?" His curiosity flared.

She nodded, her smile bright and teasing.

"Fine," Zane said, tempted. "You're right, Xoxo. This was the toughest question I've ever faced. You made me dig deep for it. Kudos to your wit."

He continued, his tone firm but calm, "But as hard as it sounded, it was also simple. The question was asked on a personal level. That makes the answer personal too."

Her round eyes glittered with curiosity.

Zane added, "But before I make my choice, let me make this perfectly clear—I love the earth as much as I love my family and friends. But saving the earth means saving billions of strangers who have nothing to do with me… while risking the lives of those closest to me. Why should I make that trade? Only a fool would. If it comes down to it, I'll choose my family every time."

He paused, his gaze hardening. "I can't bear the thought of losing even one of them. The earth may be dear to me, but so what? The earth be damned. Out there in the cosmos, there will always be another world to inhabit. I can preserve our culture and civilization somewhere else if I have to."

Xoxo frowned. "Hmm. That's odd. I thought you were the righteous type."

Zane let out a dry laugh. "Hey, Xoxo, why ask such a loaded question in the first place? Let me be honest—what's righteousness worth if I can't even protect the ones I love? Your question was a double trap. And besides, I don't owe anyone out there my sacrifice. I just joined the academy, and I've already learned something important: being an awakener isn't about playing hero—it's about making smart choices. Heroism? That's just a fancy word people throw around. I'll follow my heart, not some ideal that complicates my life."

Xoxo tilted her head, thoughtful. "I can't fully agree with you. But… it makes sense, in your way."

Her tone sharpened with intrigue. "About the secret. There exists a weapon created by the brightest minds of Atlantis. Before they abandoned this place, they dismantled it into a hundred pieces and scattered them across the city. I believe this is what the Titans came searching for. Thankfully, the parts were hidden before they arrived. I'll share with you the locations and the method to reassemble it. Come closer."

Zane narrowed his eyes. He didn't completely trust her—after all, this was an alien A.I., and they'd only just met. The System would normally have scanned the truth of her words, but with it offline, he had no choice but to rely on instinct.

Still, a chance like this was too great to pass up.

Xoxo gestured with a small hand.

"Closer."

Zane stepped forward.

She lifted her palm, hovering it gently above his forehead. "Close your eyes. This won't take a minute."

He gave a half-smirk. "But no pricking my brain with needles, alright?"

Her lips curved. "No pricking. I have no intention of harming you."

Reluctantly, Zane shut his eyes.

Warmth spread across his head, followed by a blinding flash. His vision filled with maps of the city, sprawling and alive. A hundred crimson markers pulsed across the layout—on top of skyscrapers, beneath bridges, deep inside the flowing artificial river.

But that wasn't all.

Other markers appeared: bestial symbols where corrupted creatures lurked, glowing sigils marking hidden armories, and darkened zones bearing danger signs he didn't yet understand.

Then came another flash. The hundred crimson fragments pulled together like sparks of fire, aligning and shaping. They formed into a radiant weapon—a saber, gleaming blue and green, its edge vibrating with lethal energy.

Zane's breath caught. "A saber…"

Xoxo's smile widened. "Not just any saber. The saber. A prototype capable of cutting down Titan-class beings."

A shiver ran through him. Already, the thought lodged itself into his mind: I need to gather every part of it.

Xoxo withdrew her hand. "Two things to note. First, the memories I implanted will remain with you only while you're within Solaris. Step beyond its boundary, and they will vanish as though they never existed."

She clasped her hands behind her back, her tone softening. "Second… it was a pleasure, Zane Carter. You're fascinating to converse with. I hope we'll play this game of questions again. You've passed my test with flying colors, and since you're so likable, I'll let you stay inside the city for ten days. Go and haul everything you want."

She waved her delicate hand.

In the next instant, force slammed into Zane's chest. His body curled from the impact, and he shot backward like a cannonball.

The world blurred—then crash! He landed hard against the inner wall of the city, coughing dust from his lungs.

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