Enhanced Knuckle Duster Mk. II “Scorching Knuckle”

[TN:Two Chapter for making up yesterday]

Two worlds, working in sync.

In the Marvel world, Leo's goal was to develop new firearms compatible with exoskeletons.

Michael walked into his private design studio, turned on his computer, created a new folder, and planned to review some existing designs for inspiration.

Then Leo sent him a file, scans, and schematics for two guns.

The coffee he'd just raised paused midair. Michael froze.

"What the hell?" Michael shook his head. Maybe the boss had secretly been planning these designs for a long time.

Fine. He'd build them first and test them — figure out how to do it.

While he was pondering how to build these two guns to check their quality, the manufacturing system received the data, alloy fed into the machining centers, and robots started producing parts.

Michael looked up just in time to see Leo inserting the data chip into the machining center.

"Huh?"

Well, he'd check the exoskeleton prototype that needed tweaks and run some tests.

More data appeared on his screen — all combat data, and under extreme conditions too.

"Hm."

Michael looked up, baffled, at Leo.

But Leo had already left the control panel and was heading straight to the machines, ready to assemble the first prototype.

"What are you staring at? Get ready for the first test — then we'll make adjustments."

"Right."

Michael gave up thinking that efficiency was a good thing.

In the cyberpunk world, though, was where Leo really needed to build the prototype.

Michael specialized in advanced cybernetics, including exoskeletons, but his designs needed to be mass-producible, and the Marvel world's conditions were much better than here.

But here, the prototype had to be pushed to the limit.

The exoskeleton Jackie used earlier was the Atlas Group's current prototype — overall still lightweight, except for the heavy "enhanced knuckle duster" component.

This time, to increase protective coverage and safety, the exoskeleton's strength needed another boost, so they used only the newly synthesized material.

These materials were originally intended for Dr. Otto's prototype tentacle arms — the best materials Leo had on hand. Very difficult and expensive to synthesize; there wasn't enough for building vehicles, but perfect for crafting equipment.

Thicker structures, more motors, more conduction cables.

If the old exoskeleton was basically just a metal frame to boost Jackie's physical strength, then now, in addition to the beefed-up supports and conduits, it was fitted with actual powerful composite alloy armor.

On the lower body, the armor was lighter, just roughly covering the frame. Beneath it, standard power cells were added to support more exoskeleton modules.

Starting from the torso, large metal plates covered the chest, abdomen, and spine; the shoulders and arms were even more heavily armored.

For Jackie, this medium-class exoskeleton still ran on the bio-energy from the Lizard Berserker module, right at the limit.

So for him, the power cells were slimmed down, the upper body armor was redesigned: thicker plating, and fitted with the second version of the enhanced knuckle duster.

In addition to the jet thrusters, a ranged weapon module was needed.

Given that this weapon would mostly be used up-close and personal, they chose to integrate the Malorian 3600 Super SMG design — firearms hold up better than fancy tech weapons.

Each arm housed twelve 14mm caseless rounds, with special internal heat pipes and thrusters. The heat from firing built up at the knuckle duster's front; after multiple consecutive shots, the front could reach 200°C.

This heat didn't significantly affect the glove's durability, but if it struck someone, just touching it would cause severe burns.

[R&D Complete: TacticalCore — Exoskeleton Prototype Mk. III]

[Description: The third prototype with increased hardness, categorized as medium-weight compared to Mk. II.

Maintains a degree of flexibility, focuses on better defense and energy supply, supports heavier external weapons, and enhances frontal combat capability.]

[R&D Complete: Exoskeleton Component — Enhanced Knuckle Duster Mk. II "Scorching Knuckle"]

[Description: A bigger, sturdier enhanced glove — and it's hot.]

[Developers: Leo, Michael]

[Tech Points Rewarded: 500]

[Current Tech Points: 8500]

[Michael: Boss, developing stuff with you is exhausting… but I love it.]

It really was exhausting. Normal development had bursts of inspiration over time, and lulls when you looked for ideas.

But working with Leo, from start to finish, there was no "looking for inspiration."

The workflow was smooth but incredibly intense. His computer fan was already making weird noises, but his boss still looked calm.

Leo said nothing, just stared at the leftover materials displayed on the screen.

There was more surplus than he expected, especially the other composite materials.

Just as he thought that, the mechanical arm at his waist lifted up, waving in front of him.

[Little Octopus: Boss, upgrade me, please. This arm is too short and stiff.]

Compared to the shortened Marvel tentacle arms, the ones here really were short and had few joints.

There was just enough leftover material — might as well do an upgrade.

Leo shrugged and fired up the fabricator again: "Sure. Not just longer — I'll add another arm too."

Meanwhile, in the other world, Michael saw Leo standing still for barely two minutes before he was back at his computer.

If you're going to upgrade, do it thoroughly — plus, this was a good chance to unify equipment across both worlds.

Two hours after the Dewdrop Inn shootout.

Near the Santo Domingo overpass, all the cars that had fled in panic were now parked here.

"I told you to stop sniping and retreat! Which word didn't you understand?!"

A man, apparently the team leader, furiously grabbed his teammate's collar, furious that his orders had been ignored.

The sniper frowned, slapped his hand away.

"I was this close to taking down that big bastard — you guys were the cowards!"

"Idiot!" The leader clutched his head, exasperated. "Them knowing we have a sniper and them not knowing are two different things! Did your brain get scrambled on the boat?!"

The sniper still shook his head. "I told you — I was this close. You didn't back me up."

The leader was done arguing — that was the problem with hastily assembled teams: anything could happen in a fight.

His plan was to retreat when their hacker screwed up, minimizing casualties.

But the sniper only cared about the job — people dying didn't matter, a job was a job.

And the end result? They accomplished nothing and exposed the stamped sniper rifle!

"Sigh." The leader sighed, swallowing a string of curses — pointless to say anything now.

On the riverbank, the team's tech specialist was tinkering with the stamped sniper rifle.

His cybernetics were extensive and obvious — two cyber-arms built purely for handling machinery, and one cyber-eye with a high-power microscope, its long lens constantly zooming in and out.

While adjusting, his synthetic voice droned on:

"I heard the Six Street Gang is planning a shooting competition at Woodhaven to celebrate taking care of some traitors.

After that, nobody's going to care about the few traitors still hiding. So, according to plan B, we can't risk a sneak shot anymore.

Our fee doesn't cover going in at that kind of disadvantage. Either we take out the boss during the event or we abandon the job now."

The leader smacked his own face in frustration.

Abandon the job and run now?

Who knew what would kill them on the way back — or if they'd even make it back.

He looked at this slapped-together crew, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

"...The good news is, their car got blown up. Doesn't seem as legendary as people say.

I bet the hype's because they always use the same Machinaw setup for jobs — good marketing.

They want to force us into the open? Fine, we'll come out."

He paused, then looked at the sniper: "Since you love going solo so much, this time you'll work solo. No shared ops network."

The team started discussing their attack route. The tech expert looked at the sniper rifle in his hands, thinking:

Such a fine weapon, wasted on a moron.

Wasn't there a single merc who could get him excited?

He watched the grinning sniper come over to pick up the rifle, handed it over expressionlessly.

Come to think of it, those two guns of his even got picked up by those three freaks.

So stupid.