Chapter 24: Neon Inferno and Bad Decisions
The rooftop was a warzone — plasma blasts, crackling electricity, and the violent hum of energy blades slicing through the night. Sparks rained from the broken lights above, and the entire building groaned like it was seconds away from collapse.
But the real storm wasn't the firefight.
It was Elliot and Nova.
His Neural Boost was at 150% — raw electricity surging through his veins, crackling off his skin like live wires. Every spark from him synced with Nova's bioluminescent suit, the glowing lines along her ribs, waist, and thighs pulsing in rhythm with his power like they were locked in a deadly, neon heartbeat.
And the feedback loop wasn't just alive — it was feral.
The more they moved, the more the storm built. Every time Nova swung her blade, Elliot's Boost flared, and every jolt from Elliot's hands sent another shock through Nova's suit, lighting up the patterns across her body like a glitching star.
And now?
Now, they had three factions hunting them down — Chrome Reapers, Spire Syndicate, and Ghost Circuit — all trying to kill them or worse.
Cipher stood by the rooftop's edge, blood dripping from his damaged cybernetic arm, his red visor flickering as he watched the carnage unfold like a twisted spectator at his own death match.
His voice was a rasp. "You two are a walking apocalypse."
Elliot wiped a streak of blood from his mouth. "We prefer the term chaotic couple goals."
Nova elbowed him. "We are not a couple."
The System buzzed.
---
[New Mission: Third-Wheel Carnage]
Objective: Survive all three factions trying to kill you.
Bonus: Don't let Nova kill you first.
Failure: Immediate dismemberment… or worse: another awkward moment.
---
Another plasma blast screamed past Elliot's head, burning a smoking hole through the wall behind him.
He ducked. "Who's shooting now?!"
Nova's blade clashed with a Chrome Reaper — a hulking slab of metal named Rend — their weapons sparking against each other in a brutal, neon dance.
"Does it matter?" Nova snapped, pushing Rend back with a brutal kick.
The System pinged again.
---
[Pro Tip: If you can dodge plasma, you can dodge a punch.]
— Probably not Gandhi.
---
Elliot blinked. "Did you just butcher a quote from Dodgeball?"
[I never miss a chance to motivate. Also, you suck at dodging.]
Another blast roared toward Elliot.
His Neural Boost snapped again — time slowing — and he twisted just enough to let the plasma bolt graze his shoulder instead of his head.
The heat seared his jacket. "Damn it!"
Nova parried another attack from Rend, her suit flaring brighter as Elliot's electricity fed into her again. The neon lines along her waist and thighs rippled with every pulse from his Boost, and Nova jerked at the sudden shock.
Her voice was a growl. "Rookie — I swear — if you fry me one more time—"
Elliot held up his hands, still sparking. "It's not on purpose—"
Another snap of static jumped from his palm to Nova's hip.
Her suit flared again — the light racing down the lines of her body, glitching violently at her thighs before crawling back up her ribs.
Nova gasped.
Elliot's brain short-circuited.
[Libido Meter: Redline Overload. Neural Boost syncing with other impulses.]
"Not now," Elliot hissed at the System.
Nova's glowing eyes blazed. "Focus, rookie."
Cipher chuckled. "This is fascinating."
The Spire Syndicate arrived next — four mercs clad in glowing green armor, their plasma pistols aimed squarely at Elliot and Nova.
The lead merc sneered. "Boss says we bring them in alive."
Rend, still reeling from Nova's blade, growled. "They won't stay alive for long."
Elliot's Boost surged again — pushing past 160% — sending another shockwave through the rooftop.
The feedback loop between him and Nova snapped even harder — a violent pulse of static flaring from Elliot's arm to Nova's suit — lighting up every glowing line across her body like a detonation.
Her suit glitched — hard.
The neon lines across her stomach and thighs flickered wildly, pulsing brighter the longer they stayed connected.
Nova groaned — more frustration than pain. "Rookie — we're going to implode."
Elliot's heart slammed into his ribs. "I know — I can't stop it."
Cipher's visor pulsed. "I wonder which of you breaks first."
The System buzzed again.
---
[New Side Quest: Last Couple Standing]
Objective: Don't die. Don't kiss Nova. Definitely don't do both at once.
Reward: Slightly less humiliation.
---
Nova's blade clashed with Rend's again — her bioluminescent suit still reacting to Elliot's wild Boost, every swing glowing brighter as his electricity fed into her.
The glow trailed down Nova's back — following the lines of her spine — before flaring along her thighs again, so bright Elliot thought she might detonate.
Her jaw clenched. "You're too close—"
Elliot dodged another plasma blast. "You're the one standing next to me!"
The feedback loop snapped.
Another shockwave ripped through the rooftop.
The blast was so strong it knocked one of the Spire mercs off balance, sending him crashing into the wall behind him.
Elliot blinked at his still-sparking hand. "Did I just EMP him again?"
Nova, still glowing like a malfunctioning neon sign, muttered, "I don't know whether to thank you or kill you."
Cipher chuckled. "I'd vote for kill."
The System buzzed.
---
[Achievement Unlocked: Human Bug Zapper]
Reward: +2 Combat Reflex… and Nova's eternal annoyance.
---
Another blast from Cipher's plasma arm—this one stronger—aimed directly at Elliot.
His Boost snapped again — time slowing — and his instincts kicked in.
Instead of dodging —
He grabbed Nova's arm, yanking her with him.
The plasma bolt seared the spot where Nova had been standing half a second ago.
The feedback loop howled — sending a pulse of raw electricity through Nova's suit as Elliot's Boost surged.
The glow along Nova's body exploded — neon light flaring down her ribs, waist, and thighs — syncing with Elliot's pulse.
Nova's voice cracked. "Rookie—"
Elliot groaned. "I didn't mean to—"
Another snap of static — another violent shockwave — and the entire rooftop shuddered.
Cipher stepped back, his visor flickering wildly. "You're going to tear this city apart."
Elliot wiped blood from his lip. "We're trying not to—"
The hovercrafts above them powered up their plasma cannons, glowing barrels locking onto Elliot and Nova.
Nova's blade hissed. "We need to move."
The System pinged again.
---
[New Mission Unlocked: Run Now, Flirt Later]
Objective: Escape the rooftop and survive Nexus-9's factions.
Bonus: Don't fry Nova again.
Hidden Reward: ???
---
Elliot's Boost roared.
Nova's suit flared.
The rooftop was seconds from total collapse.
And the factions closing in weren't just here to fight.
They were here to finish them.