1 Beginning

"My name is Joseph, I am living with my foster mother, Jennifer. Despite the fact that Jennifer is not my biological mother, she had always taking care of me with love. My days as a junk part collector, a job that barely pays the bills. We scavenge these discarded fragments and sell them back to the government. The pay is meager, but it keeps food on our table, enough to sustain both Jennifer and me."

"The government known as the ARTIFICIAL. Their intentions remain shrouded in mystery, hidden within a towering structure that resembles a Skypillar. This colossal tower stretches impossibly high into the sky, a constant reminder of their dominance."

"Yet, within the depths of my heart, I've always dream - to become a mech pilot. In secret, I've secretly building my own mech using the junk parts I've collected over time. For as long as I can remember, I've had love for machines. The intricate mechanisms, the diverse wiring, it's as if each machine possesses its own unique soul. I firmly believe that building and tinkering with machines is not only a profound fascination but also a healthy for our brain."

The next day, while Joseph was diligently going about his usual duties as a junk part collector, a young woman with long, blonde hair approached him. She smiled warmly and said, "Hey Joseph, I'm so glad I caught up with you. I've brought you some food."

Joseph gratefully accepted the meal, his eyes reflecting gratitude. "Oh Erina thank you, you always seem to know exactly when my stomach starts rumbling."

Erina chuckled and continued, "Well, you know, Joseph, it's lunchtime now."

Joseph's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, right, how could I forget?"

"This is Erina my childhood friend, She's grown into a beautiful young woman. We had our fair share of fun during our carefree childhood days. As for me, I've grown into a responsible young man, working hard to make ends meet. Erina, on the other hand, seems to attract admirers from every corner, but it's a puzzle she keeps well-guarded. I've never ask about her love interests." 

"Hey, Joseph," said Erina while Joseph is eating

With his mouth full of food, Joseph respond, "What is it, Erina?"

"Could you please take tomorrow off?" Erina asked, her tone carrying a hint.

Joseph, curious, inquired, "Of course, but why?"

Erina with excitement "Tomorrow is a special day, and I'd really like to spend it with you."

Joseph agreed with a warm smile. "A special day? Alright then."

Erina extended her pinkie finger, and Joseph, without hesitation, interlocked his own with hers. sealing their agreement with the traditional pinkie swear. Even had always continued to drop hints, but Joseph remained blissfully unaware of her affections. He was a young man enamored by machines. The world of machines had him firmly in its grip, leaving little room for deciphering the subtleties of human emotions, especially when it came to matters of the heart. 

"Okay see you Joseph" said Erina with smiles as she going back to home.

"Alright, see you, Erina," Joseph replied, returning her smile as she made her way back home.

As Joseph finally got the job done, he return home, when entering, he greeted Jennifer with a warm smile. "I'm home," he announced.

Jennifer, ever the caring foster mother, inquired, "How was your day at work?"

"It went well," Joseph replied with excitement in his voice. "Today felt like my lucky day. I got a better payment, and Erina even brought me lunch."

Jennifer couldn't help but chuckle knowingly. She smiled and remarked, "Ah… I see….  Erina. She's always looking out for you, isn't she?"

Without missing a beat, Jennifer added, "And speaking of lucky days, today happens to be one of them. I've prepared your favorite dish."

Joseph's eyes widened in delight as he beheld a steaming plate of crab omelette fried rice. "Whoa! Thank you, Jennifer. You truly are the best," Said Joseph, grateful for the meal and Jennifer.

After finishing his meal, Joseph couldn't resist, an irresistible urge drew him and he decide to go at his own backyard workshop. Half of the structure was veiled in a heavy cloth, concealing a secret project that had consumed his thoughts for months. With a determined look in his eyes, he unveiled the hidden creation and continued his laborious work on his own mech. Each piece of junk he manage secretly collected was now a step closer to achieve his dream to be a mech pilot, a dream that burned as brightly as ever in his heart.

"Phew, it's finally done," Joseph exclaimed with a mixture of relief and excitement as he stood back to admire his creation. Determined, he reached for the switch to power on his mech. 

However, his initial joy quickly turned to frustration. "Huh? It's not working? But why?" Joseph wondered aloud, his brow furrowing as he tried to diagnose the issue.

Hours passed until the hours of the night. It was then that a realization dawned upon him. "Ahhh, I see it now! The power core is too old, it's run out of energy. This is an outdated model," Joseph muttered to himself in disappointment. 

With newfound resolve, he returned to the sprawling heap of garbage and discarded machinery, determined to find a solution. As he dug through the piles of debris, his hands came into contact with something peculiar—a mysterious power core unlike any he had ever seen.

The word "G.E.N.E.S.I.S" was etched onto the surface, its letters gleaming faintly in the darkness. Joseph's curiosity piqued, he murmured to himself, "What is this power core? It's different from anything I've ever seen."

Without hesitation, he carefully retrieved the power core and cradled it in his hands. "I've never heard of this kind of model before," he mused, intrigued by the unfamiliar technology. With his precious discovery, Joseph made his way back to his backyard workshop.

With a sense of exhilaration coursing through him, Joseph carefully integrated the "G.E.N.E.S.I.S" power core into his mech's core system. As he initiated the activation sequence, a surge of energy surged through the mech. His mech finally came to life, and Joseph couldn't contain his excitement.

"Wohooo! It's finally alive!" he exclaimed, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. With newfound confidence, he tentatively began to manipulate the controls, causing the mech's massive limbs to move, albeit slowly and deliberately. The feeling of control and power was electrifying, and Joseph knew that he was one step closer to realizing his dream of becoming a mech pilot.

Time had slipped away unnoticed as Joseph marveled at his mech However, a glance at the clock reminded him of the late hour. "Oh... I didn't realize it's already midnight," he muttered to himself. Joseph realize tomorrow held special significance—it was the day he had promised to spend with Erina, a day he couldn't miss.

The next day, Joseph was jolted from his sleep by Jennifer's urgent voice. He struggled to shake off his sleepiness, mumbling, "What is it, Jennifer?" with a heavy yawn.

Jennifer, however, was insistent. "Wake up now! Don't you forget? Erina is waiting for you downstairs."

Panic washed over Joseph as the realization hit him. "Oh no," he muttered, hastily throwing himself into a frenzy of preparation, determined not to keep Erina waiting any longer.

As Joseph going down, he greeted Erina with a warm, "Good morning."

Erina, however, responded with a hint of exasperation. "Good morning? Joseph, it's already afternoon."

Joseph's eyes widened in realization, and he stammered, "Oh, I didn't realize that."

Jennifer, observing the exchange, couldn't help but chuckle and smile as she watched the interactions between Joseph and Erina.

At outside, Erina couldn't contain her frustration any longer. "What caused you to wake up so late? Is it because of that machine again?" she asked, her tone a mix of sulking and annoyance.

Joseph nodded, admitting, "Yes, it was the machine."

Exasperated, Erina sighed and said "For heaven's sake, Joseph, an hour has already passed!"

Joseph, realizing his mistake, attempted to make apology and tried to persuade her. "I know you're upset, and I'm sorry. Today is your special day, right? Come with me; I have something to show you."

Erina, still a little disgruntled, responded with a reluctant "Hmph! Fine."

Together, they made their way to Joseph's backyard workshop, Joseph unveiled his secret creation, a towering mech concealed beneath a massive cloth. Erina gasped in shock at the sight.

"What is this, Joseph?" she asked, her eyes wide with astonishment.

Joseph with pride and he continue "Don't you remember? I told you I've always dreamt of becoming a mech pilot. Today, I want us to ride it together."

Erina's eyes held a hint of concern. "You want me to ride that thing? Is it safe?"

Joseph reassured her, saying, "Don't worry, it's safe. I've taken all the necessary precautions to ensure our safety. Today is your special day, and I want to make it memorable for you."

As they ride on the mech's, in controlling system Erina couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety. She turned to Joseph and asked, "Joseph, isn't this your first time controlling this?"

With a confident yet cautious grip on the controls, Joseph guided the mech around the backyard. "Yes, Erina, it is my first time," he admitted. "But don't worry, I've been practicing diligently at night to prepare for today. We're in safe hands."

As the mech continued its determined stride across the backyard, Joseph couldn't contain his excitement. He turned to Erina and said, "Let's see if it works. We're going to fly."

With a mix of anticipation and exhilaration, Joseph pushed the button and pulled the trigger. The mech in responded to his command, its powerful thrusters propelling it upward. Erina gasped in awe as they left the ground behind and fly to the sky.

"Whoa! It worked, Erina! Look, we're flying!" Joseph exclaimed, his joy in his voice.

Erina was awestruck by the breathtaking view from the sky. "Wow, we're already in the sky," as she responded while her eyes filled with a mix of shock and excitement.

Joseph smiled warmly at her. "This is my gift to you, Erina. I've known how much you've always dreamed of flying through the sky, and today, on your special day, I wanted to make that dream come true for you," he said, his words filled with sincerity and affection.

Even Joseph always dense about Erina's deeper feelings, he was determined to make her happy and ensure that she felt appreciated and cherished. He recognized the importance of their friendship and the special bond they shared, and he made every effort to understand and support her in his own unique way.

As they continued their flight, their joy was interrupted when a group of mech security units surrounded them. One of the security officers said "Halt! Identify yourselves, mysterious mech!"

Erina's expression turned to one of worry as she recognized the emblem of ARTIFICIAL on the security mechs. "Oh no, it's the ARTIFICIAL mech security," she said, her anxiety evident.

Joseph,He reassured Erina, saying, "It's okay, Erina. I'll handle this." With confidence. as he carefully guided the mech to touch down on the ground.

Stepping out of the mech, Joseph faced the approaching officers, who seemed rather stern. One of them addressed him, saying, "Hey, young man, don't you know?"

Joseph in confuse his brow and asked, "Know what?"

The officer continued, "You cannot control a mech as you please. It's prohibited for those of a lower class like you to pilot one, unless you have a mech pilot license."

Joseph, realizing his mistake, apologized, saying, "I'm sorry, officer."

However, the officer remained firm. "No apologies. Unless you hand over that mech."

Joseph, his passion for his own creation ""No, you can't! I built it on my own. Becoming a mech pilot is my dream. You can't take that away from me!" 

Another officer intervened, attempting to diffuse the situation. "Hold on, young man, let's not be too hasty."

The officer then whispered to the one trying to confiscate Joseph's mech, "Give them a chance. It seems this is their first time."

After a brief discussion, the officers finally made a decision. "Fine, consider this a warning," one of them said. "If we catch you riding without a license again, there will be consequences. You've been warned."

As Joseph and Erina made their way back to the backyard workshop, Joseph couldn't help but express his regret. "Sorry, Erina. A lot of things happened today," he said, his tone filled with remorse. 

Erina, however, quickly reassured him, saying, "It's okay, Joseph. There's no need to apologize, and I should be thanking you."

Joseph was taken aback and asked, "What for?"

Erina smiled warmly at him and replied, "For the surprise. Thank you, Joseph. It means a lot to me."

Joseph was about to respond, but before he could finish his sentence, Erina leaned in and kissed him, leaving him pleasantly surprised and momentarily speechless.

At night as Joseph and Erina stood outside Joseph's backyard, a mysterious figure suddenly approach before them. The old man's presence was unexpected, and he approached the two with an air of enigma that hung around him like a shroud. The old man, wore a hooded cloth that concealed his features in shadow. His face remained hidden, adding to the intrigue surrounding his identity.

"Hello, young man," the mysterious old man began, "I saw you controlling those mechs. You have potential with that kind of machine."

Joseph, in curious and responded, "That kind of machine? What do you mean?"

The old man leaned in slightly and said, "The power core you used, the one called GENESIS, is something the government employs the lowest class of humanity, like you, to find."

"Why?" Joseph asked, his concern growing. "Is this power core a threat to them?"

The old man's gaze remained as he said to them, "The power core holds great potential. You must keep it away from the government's grasp. Do not let it fall into the false hands."

Joseph, his curiosity piqued and asked "Who are you, old man?"

With a cryptic smile, the old man replied, "I'm the man who once reached the surface of the tower."

Erina couldn't contain her curiosity and interrupted, "Reached the surface of the tower? What do you mean?"

The old man, decide reveal the truth "The world you are living in right now, it's not real. It's an illusion created by ARTIFICIAL. The sky you see, the mountains you admire, it's all an illusion. Our world, where we currently reside, is like a tower buried deep underground. The current floor is where the lowest class of humanity resides."

Joseph and Erina exchanged stunned glances, their minds struggling to grasp the astonishing revelation. Joseph continue to speak " if this is true? how we can trust you?"

The old man responded with a sense of conviction, "You wanted to be a mech pilot, didn't you? Become one of them, and one day, you will uncover the truth, young man."

"Farewell, young man," the old man continue. "May fate bring us together again."

Joseph, still filled with questions and an overwhelming desire for answers, stammered, "W-wait!" But before he could reach out to the old man. The old man suddenly disappear.