Chapter 23: Neon Wars and Nightmares

The rooftop was a smoking wreck—concrete split wide open, molten plasma still dripping from Cipher's fried cybernetics, and the air thick with static from Elliot and Nova's still-sparking feedback loop.

But the fight wasn't over.

It was about to get worse.

Cipher lay against the broken wall, his red visor flickering like a dying star, but his voice still crackled through the static. "You think this ends here?"

Elliot wiped blood from his mouth—his Neural Boost still roaring at 130%—sparks jumping from his fingertips to Nova's suit, which was still glitching in sync with every jolt.

"I really hoped so," Elliot muttered. "Would be nice to end a fight once without blowing up a building."

[New Mission: Bad Day to Be a Rookie]

Objective: Escape the rooftop alive.

Bonus: Don't cause more structural damage.

Failure: Building collapse… or death. Whichever comes first.

Nova's jaw tightened, her blade still glowing at her side, her bioluminescent suit flickering like a live wire. "He's signaling reinforcements."

Cipher's visor flared—red and furious—before a pulsing beacon shot from his arm into the night sky.

The signal blasted straight into Nexus-9's skyline, a burning crimson symbol hovering above them like a neon scar:

The Chrome Reapers' mark.

And then—

The city answered.

In the distance, neon signs flickered out one by one as a dozen hovercrafts powered up—sleek, black ships splitting from the shadows, engines roaring. From the alleys below, armored figures began to move—clad in gunmetal plating, cybernetic limbs clanking as they armed plasma rifles and electrified blades.

Nova's voice was a growl. "He called the whole damn gang."

Cipher's chuckle was a broken rasp. "And not just mine."

Another beacon flared—this time, a sickly green triangle.

Elliot's stomach dropped. "That's… not good."

Nova's eyes darkened. "That's the Spire Syndicate."

[Alert: Multiple Factions Incoming]

Chrome Reapers (Kill first, ask never)

Spire Syndicate (Profit over bodies)

Ghost Circuit (Silent… but deadly)

[New Mission: Why Is Everyone Trying to Kill Me?]

Objective: Survive Nexus-9's most violent factions.

Bonus: Don't fry Nova again.

Hidden Reward: ???

"Three factions?" Elliot barked. "Did we piss off the entire city?"

Nova smirked. "Welcome to Nexus-9."

The first hovercraft opened fire.

A plasma bolt screamed through the air—tearing a molten line across the rooftop, blasting a chunk of concrete into dust.

Elliot dove for cover—his Boost flaring again—sparks flying as his hands hit the broken ground. Another snap of static shot from his palm to Nova's thigh, sending another ripple of light across her suit.

Nova hissed—half pain, half frustration. "Control your damn Boost!"

"Tell your suit to stop flirting with me!" Elliot shouted back.

[Achievement Unlocked: Hopeless Romantic or Human Taser?]

Reward: +1 Reflex Boost and Nova's ongoing disappointment.

More plasma bolts rained down—scorching the rooftop, forcing Nova to roll behind a destroyed air vent.

Cipher, still broken but grinning beneath his visor, tapped a command on his wrist. "They won't stop until you're both in pieces."

Nova's blade flashed. "They can try."

The first Chrome Reapers arrived—six of them—each a twisted mix of metal and muscle, gun barrels for arms and glowing implants along their spines.

The leader—a seven-foot wall of chrome named Rend—grinned with a mouth full of steel teeth. "We taking them alive, Cipher?"

Cipher's visor flickered. "Not him."

He pointed at Elliot.

Rend's smile widened. "Guess I'm tearing you apart, spark boy."

Elliot blinked. "That's… not a great nickname."

[New Mission: Don't Die to Discount Terminators]

Objective: Survive the Chrome Reapers.

Bonus: Don't earn another dumb nickname.

The first Reaper lunged—an energy blade snapping from his arm—slicing through the air straight for Elliot's head.

Elliot's Boost snapped again—his reflexes flaring—and time slowed.

He ducked—barely—feeling the heat of the blade graze his hair.

Nova was already moving—her own blade hissing as she clashed with Rend, sparks flying as their weapons screeched against each other.

The feedback loop roared—each move Nova made syncing with Elliot's Boost—sending more violent shocks between them.

Another spark cracked from Elliot's hand to Nova's hip—lighting up the lines on her suit—sending another pulse of neon down her thighs.

Nova gasped—her body jerking at the shock—before slamming her blade into Rend's shoulder, cutting a glowing line through his metal arm.

"Rookie—" Nova growled, breathing hard. "If you fry me one more time—"

Elliot raised his hands—still sparking. "It's not on purpose!"

Cipher laughed. "You two are glorious."

The Spire Syndicate arrived next—four mercenaries in glowing green armor, each armed with plasma pistols and retractable claws. They didn't speak—just opened fire.

Plasma blasts screamed through the night.

Nova grabbed Elliot—again—yanking him out of the way as another shot scorched the rooftop behind him.

The feedback loop snapped—another violent jolt from Elliot's Boost to Nova's suit—sending a ripple of neon light across her ribs, her thighs, her—

Elliot choked. "Nova—your suit is—"

"I KNOW."

The System buzzed.

---

[Achievement Unlocked: Sparks Fly… Literally]

Reward: +1 Combat Reflex and Nova's simmering rage.

---

Another wave of plasma bolts.

Elliot's Boost flared again—pushing past 140%—sending stray bolts of electricity arcing from his arms to the nearby tech.

One of the Spire mercs aimed at Nova's back.

Elliot didn't think—he reacted.

His Boost snapped—a violent bolt of raw electricity exploding from his palm—hitting the plasma pistol mid-shot.

The gun overloaded—detonating in the merc's hand.

The merc screamed, his arm a smoking wreck.

Nova blinked. "Did you just EMP his gun?"

Elliot stared at his sparking hand. "I think I did."

Cipher's red visor flickered. "You're more than a glitch."

Elliot's Neural Boost flared again—pushing toward 150%—his body a live wire.

Nova's suit reacted—the bioluminescent lines flaring with every pulse of Elliot's power.

The rooftop wasn't going to survive them.

Neither was Nexus-9.

And with three factions closing in—blades flashing, plasma bolts firing, and hovercrafts circling above—

The war had just begun.