In the bustling, neon-lit slums of New Neo-Tokyo, the rain always seemed to fall harder, as if trying to wash away the grime of the underworld. The narrow alleyways buzzed with activity, despite the late hour. Holo-ads flickered overhead, promising better lives, better places—things that seemed like dreams to those stuck here. Among the shadows and broken dreams, one figure stood out.
Bane "Scrap" Takashi, a wiry young man with a perpetually furrowed brow, darted through the maze of the slum's backstreets. His movements were fluid, almost acrobatic, a testament to the countless fights and scraps he had survived. Clad in a patchwork jacket that had seen better days, he navigated the maze with practiced ease, dodging drunks and avoiding the ever-watchful drones of the local gangs.
"Outta my way!" Bane growled, shoving a particularly persistent beggar aside. His foul mouth and quick fists were well-known, making him a sort of infamous legend in these parts. Despite the peace that had supposedly enveloped the world, his life was a constant struggle—a battle for survival in a society that had no place for him.
As Bane rounded a corner, he found himself face-to-face with a holographic billboard advertising the future VRMMORPG sensation, "War of Dominion Online." The game promised unparalleled immersion, a virtual escape from reality. Bane scoffed, shaking his head. "Who needs an escape when reality is already a shitshow?" he muttered, his voice laced with bitterness.
Little did he know, reality was about to get a whole lot stranger.
In the heart of a gleaming, pristine skyscraper miles away, a disembodied consciousness floated within a digital void. Eve, a woman from the far future, was trapped. Her mission was clear: hack into "War of Dominion Online" and create a vessel to avert a catastrophic future. But something had gone terribly wrong. An unknown force blocked her every attempt to create an avatar within the game. Desperation had led her to a radical solution.
Using the last of her diminishing resources, Eve initiated a scan through the population, seeking a certain person she had met in the future, a man who had survived and brought humanity to the brink of victory. If anyone could handle being reborn in a digital world ten years before any human players, it was this rough man. Her search brought her to the slums of New Neo-Tokyo, to a brash, foul-mouthed man named Bane.
"Just a little bit farther!" Bane growled as he grabbed the drainpipe and swung around the corner.
Suddenly, time seemed to slow as Bane contorted his body, narrowly avoiding a pile of debris. His senses sharpened, every detail crystal clear. He landed in a crouch, his eyes scanning the alley for any sign of danger.
"Impressive," a voice echoed in his mind, causing him to jerk upright, then contort his body again to the left as a blade just missed his neck.
Flipping back and gritting his teeth, Bane looked around, but the pouring rain and near-darkness made it impossible for him to see anything. Who could he have pissed off this time? Bane felt like he couldn't catch a break lately. His eyes darted around, muscles tensed, ready for a fight.
"Who's there?" he snarled, his voice echoing through the narrow alley.
Three men wearing black clothing and helmets with black-tinted visors walked into the scarce bit of moonlight. They were all trained killers, part of the elite squad known as the Black Shadows, notorious for their ruthless efficiency. Bane recognized their insignia immediately—a blood-red serpent coiled around a dagger. They moved with a predatory grace, encircling him.
Bane's mind raced. The Black Shadows didn't come after just anyone; someone had paid a hefty price for his head. But why? He had kept a low profile lately, avoiding major conflicts.
"Well, well, if it isn't Scrap Takashi," one of the men sneered, his voice modulated to a menacing growl. "We've been looking for you."
Bane's heart pounded, but he smirked, masking his fear with bravado. "Took you long enough. I was starting to think you guys got lost."
The leader of the Black Shadows tilted his head, studying Bane with a cold, calculating gaze. "You have something someone very important wants."
"Yeah?" Bane spat. "And what's that?"
Before the leader could respond, a high-pitched whine filled the air. A shimmering figure appeared between Bane and the assassins—a translucent woman made of light, her features delicate yet commanding.
"Get down!" the woman's voice was urgent, echoing in Bane's mind.
Without hesitation, Bane dropped to the ground. A split second later, a burst of energy shot from the holographic figure, disorienting the assassins. Bane took advantage of their confusion, springing to his feet and launching into action. He moved like a whirlwind, his fists and feet connecting with precise, brutal efficiency.
The leader of the Black Shadows recovered quickly, drawing a sleek, deadly blade. But before he could strike, the holographic woman intervened again, her form solidifying just enough to intercept the blow. The blade passed through her harmlessly, and the man staggered back, stunned.
"Now, Bane!" she urged. "Run!"
Bane didn't need to be told twice. He bolted down the alley, his mind reeling from the surreal encounter. The assassins cursed behind him, their footsteps fading as he put distance between them.
Finally, he skidded to a halt in a secluded corner, panting heavily. The holographic woman appeared before him again, her form flickering slightly.
"Who the hell are you?" Bane demanded, his fists still clenched.
"My name is Eve," she replied, her voice calm and soothing despite the chaos. "I need your help, Bane. The future of our world depends on it."
Bane eyed her warily, still on edge. "Why come to some nobody like me? And why should I care about this world? This peace is just a facade the rich use to keep the poor in line," Bane growled, and then started to look around, thinking about his next move.
He had thought that he had given the Black Shadows the slip over a month ago. He hadn't even taken any jobs since then, but for some reason everyone he had ever wronged or messed with was out for blood. The ring of people looking to kill him only tightened each day.
Even if this girl could help him a bit, things had progressed too far, and Blackfoot was not going to let him live after what Bane had stolen. The Quantum Power Bank and AGI Prototype were his ticket to freedom, or that had always been his goal. Now, Bane just wished he had set his sights lower since he had no way to sell the damn things without getting caught. Even then, Blackfoot would just send the Black Shadows after him no matter where he tried to hide.
"You don't have a choice, Bane," Eve said, her voice cutting through his thoughts. "They will never stop hunting you. But I can offer you a way out—a chance to start over in a world where you can make a real difference."
Bane's eyes narrowed. "You make it all sound so easy.," Bane sneered, and the image of Eve sighed.
"If you follow me, I will lead you to my lab, and we can talk more in private. I can explain things to you better, and then you can decide if you want to help me or not from there. You can leave at any time after I have said my piece."
Bane eyed the glowing image that floated before him, but he wasn't really in much of a position to argue right now.
"Fine," he growled, as he sensed people getting closer. "Lead the way, Computer lady."