When Owen woke up again, it was already the next afternoon. He was clearly in a hospital room.
Checking the date, he realized he had been unconscious for an entire day.
Just as he was sitting up, he saw Carlos' familiar face appear outside the door.
"Finally, man! You're awake! I knew you'd be fine. How are you feeling?"
"Uh... honestly? Terrible. My whole body hurts. Did you punch me while I was out?"
"Hahaha! Joking already? You're definitely fine."
Carlos, grinning with excitement, gave Owen a friendly punch on the shoulder. Owen winced in pain, and Carlos quickly apologized after remembering Owen's condition.
"How long was I out?"
"A day and a night. But don't worry—I already called your mom and told her you were on an urgent assignment."
"Thanks, man."
Owen wasn't afraid of getting hurt or facing danger—what he feared most was making his mother and sister worry. Carlos had thought of everything in advance, proving again why he was a true friend.
"Hey, guess what? Do you know who was in that Cadillac we intercepted? We hit the jackpot!"
"Who?" Owen asked, intrigued. He had passed out during the incident and knew nothing about what happened afterward.
"Remember that bank robbery? The guys in the Cadillac were the robbers."
"No way!"
"Haha, I knew you wouldn't believe me! I couldn't believe it either, but it's true. Forensics confirmed it—ballistics from the weapons in the Cadillac match those used in the bank robbery.
"One of the suspects died on the scene, but the other survived. George questioned him, and the guy spilled everything. There were four of them. After the heist, they fought over the loot, and one of them tried to betray the others but failed. That's why they were on the run. Now George is leading a team to round up the rest of them. Dude, we nailed it! We're going to get a huge commendation, hahaha!"
Owen was stunned. Life was full of surprises. Who would've thought that a robbery case with zero leads would be solved so quickly due to an internal conflict? And by pure chance, he and Carlos had ended up as the heroes of the case.
"You should've seen George strutting in front of the chief like a peacock. And Chief Javier didn't even mind—he's probably excited to boast at the next press conference. You know how he'll go, 'Our West Hollywood Division remains committed to improving safety throughout Los Angeles...' Hahaha!"
Carlos's impression was so spot-on that Owen could vividly picture the scene in his mind. He laughed heartily with Carlos, but soon exhaustion caught up with him.
Carlos noticed and said, "Alright, man. You need more rest. Don't rush to leave the hospital—let the department cover the bill. I gotta head back to the station, but I'll check on you tomorrow. Oh, and by the way, I saw a few cute nurses around here. You should make the most of your stay!"
Carlos left, and Owen lay on the bed, unable to fall asleep despite his fatigue. It definitely wasn't because of any "cute nurses"—he had seen several nurses, and none of them were attractive.
His mind kept replaying the sensation of adrenaline coursing through his body during the shootout. The rush was exhilarating, unlike anything he'd ever experienced in his previous life.
Because Owen wasn't an ordinary person—he was a transmigrator. More specifically, a soul transmigrator.
The story began thirteen years ago. One day, after going to sleep, he woke up to find himself in the body of a seven-year-old white boy named Steven Owen.
In his previous life, he had been a regular software engineer—an overworked, underpaid cog in the machine. His days were a monotonous cycle of work and exhaustion. By the time he reached his thirties, he was still single, with few friends and a limited social life. He was a textbook introvert, practically a shut-in. His life was a failure by any standard.
Then, one day, after working too many late nights in a row, he died of sudden cardiac arrest. His soul crossed over into this world.
At first, Owen thought he would get some kind of "cheat system" like the protagonists in novels—something that would help him rise to greatness, marry a wealthy beauty, and live the dream life. But fate had other plans.
He had no system, no wise mentor, no special missions, and no genetic mutations. In fact, this world wasn't even the same as the one he came from.
Though technology, culture, and economics were largely similar, history had diverged significantly after World War II. None of the famous people or events he knew existed here.
Was this a parallel world?
Reluctantly, Owen tried everything he could to find answers, but eventually, he had to accept reality. He wasn't some destined hero with plot armor. He got sick like everyone else, bled when injured, and lived an entirely ordinary life. The only advantage he had was the knowledge from his previous life.
So, he lived quietly, growing up and attending a third-rate college. After graduation, he became a police officer.
Owen had resolved to live differently this time. Since fate had given him a second chance, he was determined not to waste it. He threw himself into self-improvement, working out, swimming, and trying new sports and experiences. He became a fitness enthusiast.
That's when he met Carlos—someone who would have a profound impact on his life. Carlos introduced him to a whole new world of adventure.
At first, Owen had been just a regular patrol officer, driving around the streets on routine duty. One day, he stumbled upon a DEA operation that escalated into a shootout. He helped arrest a major drug lord named Sonny Stock.
During that incident, Owen discovered the power of adrenaline for the first time. When it surged through his system, he felt like a superhero.
The arrest earned both him and his partner a promotion. While his partner, Carl, chose to remain in patrol, Owen transferred to the major crimes unit.
Carlos became his new partner and colleague. An extreme sports enthusiast, Carlos introduced Owen to activities like street racing, skydiving, parkour, and rock climbing. These adrenaline-fueled experiences showed Owen the thrill of pushing his limits.
It was during these activities that Owen realized he was different. Whenever his adrenaline spiked, his strength, speed, reflexes, and dynamic vision were significantly enhanced. Tasks that seemed impossible to others were effortless for him.
This feeling of being in complete control fascinated him. He began experimenting with harnessing his adrenaline consciously, but mastering it was no easy task.