The boy and the man stood side by side. Before them, amidst the lingering dust and smoke, stood an uninvited guest. A pair of crimson eyes, dazzling and soul-piercing, trailed wisps of red light.
Such fierce eyes, yet upon closer look, revealed only lifeless vacancy.
Time dragged slowly, and the haze seemed to disperse with excruciating slowness.
Without a sound, Lin Mo exited his Sandevistan state. The flow of time returned to normal.
"Motherfucker! You looking for trouble, asshole?!"
Jack, who had been pulled aside by Lin Mo, finally snapped to attention. He drew his pistol and aimed straight at the mysterious figure shrouded in dust.
"Answer me! Are you looking to die?!"
The Haywood tough guy glared furiously at the sudden intruder, ready to unload lead.
"Reiko... Reiko..."
The haze parted. A towering figure slowly emerged—over three meters tall, towering even over Jack. His bulging arms and thighs looked like coiled steel cables, and his crimson eyes glowed beneath a garish outfit—Tiger Claws attire.
On his back was a blood-red katana, paired with a fiery scabbard, along with several high-powered rifles. The patches of exposed skin revealed artificial dermal plating, almost indistinguishable from real flesh.
Lin Mo wasn't about to believe this T800-sized monster had just "slipped and fallen" from the top of a building. What a load of crap.
"Careful, Lin Mo."
Jack's brow furrowed. Despite his earlier rage, he quickly regained his composure, shielding Lin Mo like a responsible adult.
Lin Mo said nothing. With a frown, he slipped silently behind the crowd—and vanished.
Seconds later, he reappeared in his original spot, now wearing a katana at his waist.
The whole process was so fast Jack didn't even notice. He just felt a breeze behind him. Glancing back, he asked in disbelief, "Dios mío, kid—where'd that blade come from?"
Lin Mo gave him a look, raised a finger to his lips, and made a soft "shh" gesture.
Jack got the message and turned his focus back to the mountain of a man before them.
The intruder, who had landed like a superhero, now stood eerily still. He swayed as if sleepwalking, barely able to stand.
"Reiko..." he murmured, lost in a dream.
"Tiger Claws scum! What the hell are you doing here? Answer us!"
The dramatic entrance had naturally drawn attention. A group of Moxes rushed over, weapons in hand, faces grim as they surrounded the interloper.
The giant didn't respond. His blood-red eyes flickered between rage and confusion.
Pain etched itself across his monstrous features as he kept muttering the same two syllables, like a pilgrim in devotion—or a ghost walking toward damnation.
The Moxes exchanged dark looks. Rikki, leading them with a shotgun in hand, was more puzzled than enraged.
He looked like a Tiger Claw—appearance, gear, everything.
The Moxes knew Tiger Claws well. They had a long-standing grudge with them.
If a whole gang of Claws had stormed in on bikes, they'd open fire without hesitation.
But this guy? Falling from a rooftop with no warning, landing unscathed, and looking like a walking arsenal?
Rikki's mind raced. Was this a trap? A decoy to draw attention while something else went down behind the scenes?
The tension in the air was suffocating. Some bystanders, sensing the incoming storm, quickly fled.
Lin Mo scanned the area. The crowd had mostly cleared out. Only he, Jack, and the Moxes remained.
Jack muttered, "These girls don't have the guts to shoot... getting punked on their own turf and they just stand around. Pathetic."
Lin Mo frowned. "They don't know this guy's intent. If they shoot without cause, the Claws will have an excuse to retaliate. Then it's not one psycho—it's a gang war."
Jack sighed. "That's the curse of small-time outfits. Always tiptoeing around."
"But looks like we're done here. Let's bounce."
He patted Lin Mo on the shoulder and turned to leave—but Lin Mo's next words made him stop.
"No. It's not over yet."
The boy's voice was cold. He slowly drew his katana. His Reaction stat—14—was screaming at him. That overwhelming, animalistic pressure was back. Danger was imminent.
Despite being surrounded, the intruder showed no fear. He stood expressionless, muttering in low whispers.
"Boss... you think he's cyberpsycho?" one Mox girl asked.
Rikki nodded slowly. "Call NCPD. Let them deal with it."
The girl lowered her Lexington and began backing toward the bar.
"Reiko... why... did you leave me?"
That mournful whisper froze her in her tracks.
A massive, icy hand landed on her shoulder. Words whispered like death against her ear sent shivers down her spine.
She turned—terrified—and saw shadows flash past her vision. Muffled screams rang out.
And then she saw it—Rikki, in the monster's grasp, held like a doll. One massive hand squeezed her waist; the other rested on the first girl's shoulder.
His glowing red eyes flickered with grief.
"Don't leave me..."
"OPEN FIRE!" someone screamed.
Gunfire erupted.
Muzzle flashes filled the alley, bullets slamming into the giant's body—sparks flew, but he didn't flinch.
They were hitting, every round landing on target. But it was like firing into an armored truck.
His subdermal plating must be top-tier!
Lin Mo's eyes widened. What kind of monster is this?!
Then came the roar:
"REIKOOOOOOO!"
No attack—just one stomp.
His chrome-plated foot smashed the pavement. Stone shattered, debris flew, and a shockwave knocked everyone back.
The nearest girl was thrown into a railing, clutching her skull in pain.
"BASTARD!" Rikki, still in his grip, fired point-blank into his head.
The shotgun blast left only a few dents.
"Monster..." she gasped. His grip crushed her spine. If he hadn't held back, she'd be dead already.
Yet his face showed no anger—only sorrow.
"Why..."
"WHY MY ASS!" Rikki spat in his face.
That did it.
He stared at her, eyes turning feral. His hand clenched.
Wind howled.
A blur shot in from the dark—Lin Mo, a streak of twisted neon, his blade aimed like a viper at the giant's throat.
The monster finally flinched. He stepped back—an instinctual dodge.
And he threw a punch.
His fist struck air—but connected with Lin Mo's blade mid-swing.
Steel clashed with alloy, sparks flying.
The katana scraped across synthetic skin, revealing gleaming metal beneath.
Animal instinct... Lin Mo thought. He shouldn't be able to track me.
No Sandevistan. No motion blur. But he predicted Lin Mo's strike.
Like a frog snapping at a fly.
His strength... speed... almost matching mine!
Lin Mo gritted his teeth, both hands pressing the blade forward. But he was straining.
The giant only used one arm—and still overpowered him.
His blade trembled. The fist crept closer.
Rikki raised her shotgun again. BANG! Another shot to the head.
Sparks flew. The monster's head tilted slightly.
Now!
Lin Mo vanished.
He reappeared by the giant's flank. His blade—Black Unicorn—stabbed toward the neck.
But then—clamp!
The monster caught the blade... with his armpit.
Flesh burned. Sparks flew. The edge halted—barely an inch from his throat.
He stopped it with friction?!
Lin Mo tried to twist and slice—nothing. It was stuck.
Even Black Unicorn can't cut through?!
He yanked the blade free with effort, sparks cascading down.
The katana gleamed once more under the moonlight.
Lin Mo crouched, blade ready, waiting.
Two strikes had failed—but he still had the advantage.
The brute had strength, yes—but his nerves couldn't keep up.
Only those with top-tier reflex implants—or Sandevistan—could truly match Lin Mo's speed.
This guy... didn't have speedware.
Only one thing made sense:
That neural implant once designed to rival Sandevistan—
The Berserk system.
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