"Jackie, listen up. This serum will give you violent tendencies and an urge to eat."
"When you go out, head to the location I've marked. Wraith has stashed a few large crates of supplies there. Eat them all."
"After eating, your urge to eat will subside significantly. As for the violent tendencies, I trust you can control them."
Leo installed a biological filter at Jackie's damaged joint.
[First Prosthetic System Upgrade: Lizard Berserk Component Type 1]
[Description: Uses a simple biological filter and molecular sieve to reduce the mental impact of the lizard serum.]
[When activated, the implant will trigger a significant enhancement of the recipient's skeletal and muscular fibers, boosting strength, resilience, and recovery.]
[Note: This is the first version, rather basic, but highly effective. Max out your prosthetic capacity.]
[Reward: 1500 tech points]
[Current tech points: 2290]
After completing everything, Leo started the cross-dimensional transmission of a high-concentration nutrient solution from another world.
Jackie was too weak in his current state. Without a boost of nutrients, his recovery would be problematic.
[Cross-Dimensional Transmission]
[-90 tech points]
[Current tech points: 2200]
Bang!
A gunshot rang out from outside. Leo injected the last dose of the nutrient solution and frowned.
"On your way out, take care of the guys outside."
Jackie's eyes, which had been closed, suddenly snapped open!
The netrunner group had been moving slowly, taking time to sneak through the maintenance ducts, which delayed them. Although they managed to access the network on time, there was a slight disagreement on what to do next.
Kiwi and Lucy wanted to retreat, while David wanted to head inside to see if there was anyone to help. Rebecca, being indifferent, decided to back David, thinking the kid was cute.
But just as they were about to jump out of the duct, they saw the scene:
A huge man was holding Cedric by the neck, spouting a bunch of vile, inhumane things.
David clenched his fists in anger.
Kiwi tried to stop him, "That guy's using custom synthetic arms, ones you can't find on the market, and he's equipped with Sanwistan. If we go out, we'll just be killed. Stay calm."
Lucy, sweating, scanned the area for something useful. But there was nothing.
Rebecca, meanwhile, just looked up to see what David would do.
David's emotions were running high, but he mostly kept his cool—until Bowen mentioned that there were a few more of Cedric's friends in the operating room. It was like he found an outlet for his rage. Grabbing his Constitution Arms pistol, he jumped out!
Kiwi immediately shouted, "You're crazy!!!"
David ignored her, yelling as he fired at Bowen, his brain buzzing with adrenaline.
Bowen instantly appeared in front of David, breaking both of his arms with a single elbow strike.
"Aaaaahhhhhh!!!"
"More people? Where did this brat come from—if only you were a bit younger…"
Bang!
From inside the duct, Rebecca fired her dual pistols at Bowen's face. The bullets bounced off his skin.
This stunned Bowen—not because he was hurt.
After years of experience, he had long installed the best subdermal armor on his face.
What shocked him was...
There was a kid here!
"Amazing!!!"
Bowen disappeared from in front of David and reappeared in front of Rebecca, his eyes wide with a twisted grin spreading across his face.
"You're disgusting, get lost!"
Kiwi, Rebecca, and Lucy all opened fire simultaneously, but to Bowen, their attacks were in slow motion.
Even at this distance, though he couldn't dodge the bullets, he could easily avoid their aim with lightning-fast speed.
In a flash, his enormous arms grabbed Kiwi and Lucy by their necks!
"Two girls? My boys would've liked you, but unfortunately, they're dead—though I bet some folks in the city would enjoy you. Now, stay put."
Bang!
The tremendous force made it impossible for them to resist. No matter how skilled they were as hackers, they couldn't keep up with Sandevistan's speed. They were slammed to the ground, losing consciousness.
Rebecca was stunned.
So, this was Sandevistan?
Who exactly were they up against?
"Let me have a taste first…"
Bang!
The door to the operating room swung open. Bowen frowned as he looked back, "Damn, I'm running out of time. What the f—?"
He saw Jackie, who had just had both legs broken, standing there silently, staring at him like a predator.
"What, you got spare implants? Not bad, but you don't think that'll be enough, do you?!"
Bowen vanished from where he stood and punched Jackie in the face!
But Jackie's head only tilted slightly, his cold, predatory eyes still locked onto Bowen. His hands, like iron clamps, seized Bowen's arm.
Bowen realized something was very wrong and tried to escape, but his high-end custom arm was completely immobilized in Jackie's grip.
Bang!
Jackie landed a punch on Bowen's face, nearly dislocating it!
Bowen stepped back and swung again, but Jackie, undeterred, punched back once more!
This time, Bowen's face was now perfectly symmetrical—both sides shattered, with his jaw barely hanging on by skin.
"Wait, I can give yo—"
Bang!
One punch.
Bang!
Two punches.
Bang!
Three punches—Bowen's head exploded. The hulking brute might have had powerful arms, but he had no combat experience. Once he was on the back foot, he completely lost his composure.
TN: Thank god this fucker is dead fuck, Bowen
With the final punch, a twisted, bulletproof skullcap mixed with unknown fluids flew off, landing right in front of Cedric, who had already closed his eyes.
Leo glanced at the now motionless Cedric, silent for a moment.
No battle is without casualties.
"Jackie, go."
Jackie nodded, not saying a word, and quickly ran toward the location Leo had marked earlier.
First, eat. Then crush the Minotaur Mech.
Rebecca, still alive, collapsed to the ground with a long sigh of relief and glanced at Cedric's body.
"Your friend?"
"Sort of."
"Sorry, then."
"He knew this day would come. Tend to your companions and take him out. You guys should leave first."
Leo tossed a few pneumatic injectors to them and turned to start scanning the power lines beneath the factory.
Boom!
The Minotaur Mech chased after Navi—this battle was like a bullfight, with Navi on the ground floor and V using magnetic gear and webbing to draw the mech's attention.
But this time, things were going very wrong.
The Minotaur Mech smashed into another support column, further collapsing the structure!
The ground Navi stood on began to give way!
Bang!177
The ground cracked, and Navi, being a rookie with little cyberware, couldn't escape! He was swallowed by the collapsing earth!
Right before the Minotaur Mech!
It raised its shield high, ignoring V's tiny handgun.
V, clinging to the wall, tried to slow the Minotaur Mech with webbing, but nothing worked!
"Damn it—get out of the way!"
Bang!
The Minotaur Mech staggered, hit by a massive boulder. It turned around to see…
A huge figure charging at it, carrying a giant rock in its hands—still chewing on a synthetic chicken bone!