Chapter 1: Blood and Circuits

The rain hit the pavement in a constant rhythm, a metallic tap-tap-tap that mixed with the distant hum of neon signs. The alleyway smelled of oil, smoke, and something distinctly rotten.

Elliot didn't have time to dwell on any of it.

The man in front of him—if you could still call him that—was more machine than flesh. His left arm was a serrated blade from elbow to fingertip, and his eyes burned an unnatural crimson. His skin was a patchwork of steel plating and faded tattoos, and the way he moved—too smooth, too fast—sent a spike of panic through Elliot's chest.

"Hey, uh… maybe we talk this out?" Elliot tried, his voice cracking just a bit.

The cybernetic thug grinned. His teeth were filed to points. "Talk's cheap, meatbag."

He lunged.

[Alert: Enemy attack incoming. Dodge or die, genius.]

"Yeah, thanks for the heads-up, asshole," Elliot snapped, throwing himself to the side just as the blade-arm whistled past his face. It carved a clean slice into the brick wall behind him.

The System chuckled. [Oh, I'm loving this already.]

Elliot stumbled, his heart slamming against his ribs. The thug came at him again, and this time, Elliot barely managed to roll away. His body felt sluggish—like he was moving through syrup—while the other guy moved with cybernetic precision.

"I don't even have a weapon!" Elliot shouted.

[Mission update: Find a weapon. Optional: Don't die like a punk.]

"You're so helpful!"

The thug was on him again, slashing in a flurry of bladed strikes. One swipe caught Elliot's coat, slicing it open like tissue paper. Another nicked his arm—hot pain flared, and blood dripped down his wrist.

"Shit—shit—shit—!"

His foot kicked something hard and metallic. A broken pipe, lying in the trash.

[Bingo! Primitive, but better than your soft fists.]

Elliot grabbed the pipe and swung wildly. It wasn't graceful—it was desperate—but the thug hadn't expected him to fight back. The pipe smashed into the man's wrist, sending up a shower of sparks.

"Ha!" Elliot shouted. "How do you like that, you tin-can fu—"

The thug growled and punched Elliot square in the gut with his non-blade hand.

The world went sideways. Pain exploded across Elliot's ribs as he hit the ground hard, coughing.

[Pro tip: Taunting the cyborg murder-machine might not be the brightest strategy.]

"Noted," Elliot wheezed.

The thug loomed over him, blade raised high. "Time to die, meatbag."

[Now would be a great time for a counterattack.]

With a roar of pure adrenaline-fueled panic, Elliot swung the pipe again—this time aiming for the thug's knee. There was a sickening crunch as the joint buckled, the metal plating caving inward.

The thug howled, his balance thrown.

"Take that, you walking blender!" Elliot snarled, swinging again—once to the head. The pipe connected with a meaty thud.

The thug's glowing eyes flickered—once, twice—then went dark.

He collapsed in a heap of cybernetic limbs.

[Mission Complete: Initiation into the Underworld]

Reward: Basic Cybernetic Enhancement unlocked.

Access granted to Level 2 Gear Shops.

[Bonus: You didn't die. Yay.]

Elliot slumped against the wall, panting. "Holy… shit…"

His hand was still shaking around the pipe, knuckles white. Blood—his and the thug's—splattered the ground. The alley smelled like burnt circuits and iron.

Then, his left wrist buzzed.

A sleek, holographic interface appeared, projected directly from his skin.

"Whoa."

[Time for your reward, champ.]

A new window opened. It showed a minimalist menu with a flashing icon: Basic Cybernetic Enhancement — Neural Reflex Boost.

"Wait, so I can just… install this?"

[Yep. Think of it like a software update. Except instead of fixing bugs, it makes you less of a wimpy office drone.]

Elliot pressed the install button.

A sharp pain lanced through the back of his neck—like an electric current rushing through his spine. His muscles twitched uncontrollably for a moment, then—suddenly—he felt faster. His fingers flexed, his vision sharpened, and his heart rate calmed almost instantly.

"Whoa… that's… that's insane."

[Congratulations! You're now 20% less pathetic.]

"Bite me."

[You wish.]

A sultry voice cut through the rain. "Well, well… not bad for a newbie."

Elliot looked up.

She stood at the mouth of the alley—a woman in a skintight bodysuit that shimmered with holographic patterns, a long coat draped over her shoulders. Her hair was a cascade of silver, glowing faintly at the tips. Cybernetic implants ran along her neck and down her arms—sleek, elegant tech, not the crude mods the thug had.

And her eyes—bright, glowing violet—were locked onto Elliot like a predator spotting prey.

"Uh… hi?"

[Warning: High-level combatant detected. Threat level: Unknown.]

The woman smirked. "Relax, rookie. If I wanted you dead, you'd be in pieces by now."

"Comforting."

She sauntered closer, the holographic patterns on her suit shifting—subtle, hypnotic. The rain only made the fabric cling more to her curves.

[Heads up, loverboy. Your 'libido meter' just spiked.]

Elliot mentally shoved the System's voice to the back of his head. "So, uh… who are you?"

She leaned in—close enough for him to smell the faint, electric scent of her cybernetic enhancements. "Name's Nova. You just killed a Chrome Reaper. That makes you interesting."

Elliot swallowed hard. "Glad… I could impress?"

Nova chuckled. "Don't flatter yourself."

Her hand—cold, mechanical—traced a slow line down his chest. Elliot's breath hitched.

[Libido meter: CRITICAL.]

"Would you shut up?" Elliot hissed internally.

Nova raised an eyebrow. "Talking to yourself already? Cute."

"Long day."

She smirked again, stepping back just enough to give him some breathing room—but not enough to let the tension snap. "Tell you what, rookie… you want to survive in Nexus-9? You need more than luck and a rusty pipe."

"I'm listening."

"Come with me. I'll introduce you to someone who can actually teach you how not to die."

Elliot considered his options—follow the dangerously attractive woman who might kill him or stay in a dark alley until the next cyborg psycho showed up.

"Well… lead the way, Nova."

She turned on her heel, hips swaying, and Elliot followed.

[Mission Update: Trust or Lust?]

Objective: Follow Nova without dying.

Bonus: Try not to embarrass yourself.

The System's voice was practically purring.

[Let's hope she's into clueless office workers with a death wish.]

Elliot sighed. This was going to be a long night.