Chapter 3: Neon Blades and Dangerous Games

The music throbbed through The Chrome Den like a pulse — primal, relentless. The air buzzed with electricity, synthetic smoke coiling around neon lights as dancers twisted behind holographic screens.

And Elliot was caught somewhere between fight-or-flight and the undeniable heat radiating off Nova's cybernetic body.

Her hand still rested on his knee — a cold, metallic caress that sent a shock through his nerves. Her violet eyes glimmered with amusement, the corner of her mouth curling like she knew exactly what she was doing.

[Libido Meter: MAXIMUM OVERLOAD. Prepare for a meltdown, Romeo.]

"Don't start," Elliot growled under his breath.

Nova chuckled. "What was that?"

"Nothing," Elliot said, too quickly.

She leaned closer, so close her lips almost brushed his jaw. "You've got a habit of muttering to yourself, rookie… makes me wonder what's going on in that head of yours."

[Oh, tell her. Let's really ruin this moment.]

Elliot clenched his jaw. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Her fingers trailed higher, stopping just shy of anything dangerous, but enough to send another surge of heat spiraling through Elliot's gut.

"Try me," she whispered.

Before Elliot could answer — before his brain could catch up to whatever the hell was happening — a loud crash split the air.

The bar went silent for half a second.

Then chaos erupted.

A group of Chrome Reapers burst through the entrance — six of them, all bristling with cybernetic enhancements. Their leader was a massive brute with metal plating covering half his face, and his right arm replaced entirely by a gunmetal claw that crackled with electricity.

"Nova!" the leader barked, his voice a low growl through a voice modulator. "You've got something that belongs to us."

Nova didn't flinch. "Oh, look… scrap metal learned how to talk."

The Chrome Reapers fanned out, the crowd scrambling to clear the floor. A few patrons jacked into their neural implants, recording the incoming bloodbath for some underground stream.

Elliot swallowed hard. "Uh… friends of yours?"

Nova smirked. "Not exactly."

[New Mission: Bar Brawl]

Objective: Survive the Chrome Reapers' attack.

Bonus: Protect Nova.

Failure: Death or dismemberment.

"Awesome," Elliot muttered.

The leader snarled. "You've got ten seconds to hand over the package, or we take it — and your head."

Nova shifted, and Elliot noticed the faint hum of an energy blade unfolding from her wrist.

"Come get it," she purred.

The Reapers charged.

[Pro tip: Don't die.]

Elliot grabbed a metal barstool and hurled it at the nearest thug. It wasn't elegant, but it bought him a half-second to duck under a wild swing from another Reaper's blade arm. The weapon sliced through the air with a high-pitched whirr, missing Elliot by an inch.

Nova was already in motion — a blur of silver and violet. She slashed her energy blade across the chest of the first Reaper, sparks flying as the weapon carved through metal plating. He roared in pain, stumbling back.

Another thug aimed a pistol-arm at Elliot.

[Incoming projectile detected.]

"Shit!"

Elliot dove behind a table just as a plasma bolt disintegrated the wall behind him.

[Your combat reflexes are still crap. Might want to work on that.]

"Super helpful, thanks!" Elliot snapped, grabbing a broken bottle from the floor.

The gun-arm Reaper advanced. Elliot waited until the last moment, then jabbed the broken bottle straight into the thug's augmented thigh.

The Reaper howled.

Elliot followed with a knee to the gut, sending the thug crashing into a table. "How's that for combat reflexes?"

[Meh. 4 out of 10. Points for effort.]

Another Reaper lunged at Nova — this one faster, with spiked implants jutting from his arms.

Nova pivoted, dodging his first strike, then drove her energy blade clean through his shoulder joint. His arm detached with a sickening crunch, wires sparking.

The crowd roared — half in fear, half in excitement.

"Two down," Nova said, her lips curling into a predatory smile.

Elliot barely had time to react before the Chrome Reaper leader grabbed him by the throat and slammed him into a wall. His vision blurred, a metallic claw squeezing his windpipe.

[Health: 67% — might want to fix that.]

Elliot struggled, kicking wildly, but the leader's grip was like iron.

"Pathetic," the Reaper growled. "Nova's new boy toy? What a joke."

Nova's eyes flared. "Let him go."

The Reaper's claws tightened.

Elliot's world was going dark.

Then—

[Neural Reflex Boost activated.]

Suddenly, everything snapped into focus — every detail, every movement, slowed just enough for Elliot to react.

He grabbed a shard of broken glass from the floor and drove it straight into the Reaper's cybernetic arm. Sparks erupted as circuits shorted.

The Reaper roared in pain, his grip loosening.

Elliot didn't hesitate — he swung a wild punch, enhanced by the reflex boost, straight into the Reaper's jaw. The impact cracked something, and the brute staggered back.

Nova was already moving. In a single fluid motion, she sliced her energy blade across the Reaper's neck.

His head hit the floor with a dull thud.

Silence.

The remaining Chrome Reapers looked at their leader's body — then at Nova — then bolted out of the bar without a word.

The music kicked back on, the crowd slowly returning to their drinks.

Nova turned to Elliot, her energy blade retracting. "Not bad, rookie."

Elliot rubbed his throat. "Yeah… thanks for the assist."

Her eyes glimmered. "You did alright on your own. Guess you're not just a pretty face."

[Achievement unlocked: Barely Competent. Reward pending…]

Elliot sighed. "You're the worst."

Nova stepped closer, her fingers trailing along his jawline — a sharp contrast of soft skin and cold metal.

Her voice was a low purr. "You've got fight in you… I like that."

Elliot's pulse spiked.

[Libido Meter: Spontaneous Combustion Imminent.]

Nova leaned in — her lips just grazing his ear. "Maybe after this… we find somewhere quieter."

Elliot swallowed hard. "I… uh…"

Nova smirked. "Thought so."

The System practically cackled in his head.

[Mission Complete: Bar Brawl]

Reward: Advanced Combat Training unlocked.

Bonus: Nova's interest piqued.

Elliot didn't know whether to celebrate or collapse.

Because Nexus-9 wasn't just dangerous — it was lethal.

And apparently, so were the women.