Chapter 27: Mayhem, Malfunctions, and Misquotes
The city of Nexus-9 was in full-blown chaos.
Explosions lit up the night sky — plasma blasts ripping through the rooftops as three factions closed in like cybernetic vultures. Hovercrafts roared overhead, gun barrels glowing, engines screaming, and the neon skyline flickered like a malfunctioning circuit board about to short out.
But the real storm wasn't the city.
It was them.
Elliot's Neural Boost surged at a blistering 180% — raw, violent electricity crackling from his fingertips like living lightning. Every flicker of his power synced to Nova's bioluminescent suit, the neon lines along her ribs, waist, and thighs flaring brighter with every pulse.
The feedback loop wasn't just a glitch anymore.
It was a time bomb.
And the timer was ticking.
Nova sprinted ahead — her energy blade humming at her side, her suit glowing brighter every time Elliot's Boost snapped another jolt of static into her circuits. "We need to get off the rooftops before we light up half the city!"
Elliot ducked another plasma blast that tore a chunk out of the building behind him. "We're already lighting up the city!"
The System buzzed.
---
[New Mission: Run Like Your Circuits Depend on It]
Objective: Escape the rooftops without frying Nova or getting vaporized.
Bonus: Don't let Elliot's Boost hit 200%.
Failure: Instant death… or worse: Nova's disappointment.
---
A Chrome Reaper leapt from a nearby hovercraft — a seven-foot wall of metal and rage named Rend — his gunmetal arm morphing into a glowing plasma blade.
His voice was a metallic growl. "I'm gonna cut the glitch out of you, spark boy."
Elliot blinked. "Okay, can we stop with the nicknames?"
Nova swung her blade — slashing at Rend — but the second Elliot moved to dodge a blast, the feedback loop snapped again.
Electricity roared from Elliot's palm to Nova's suit — sending another jolt of raw power racing down her spine, lighting up the neon lines along her body.
Nova twitched mid-swing — her bioluminescent suit flaring in sync with Elliot's Boost — the glow racing down her back, over her ribs, and dangerously low again before snapping back up.
She gasped — half rage, half something else.
Her glowing eyes locked onto Elliot. "Rookie—"
Elliot's heart collapsed. "I didn't mean to—"
The System chimed.
---
[Libido Meter: Overload Detected]
Warning: Neural Boost syncing with highly questionable impulses.
Solution: Stop touching Nova.
---
"IT'S NOT ON PURPOSE!" Elliot roared at the System.
Nova blinked. "Did you just yell at nothing?"
"It's a condition!"
Rend lunged — his plasma blade slicing through the air — but Elliot's Boost flared again.
Time slowed.
Electricity snapped from Elliot's fingers to Rend's blade — overloading it — and the plasma weapon short-circuited, sending an arc of molten energy spiraling into the air.
The blast hit a rooftop antenna, which promptly exploded.
Nova ducked. "Did you just EMP his sword?"
Elliot stared at his still-crackling hand. "I think I'm a walking tech hazard."
The System buzzed.
---
[Achievement Unlocked: Certified Menace to Cyberkind]
Reward: +3 Reflex Boost.
Penalty: Extreme property damage… again.
---
The Ghost Circuit hovercraft circled lower — plasma cannons glowing — and a robotic voice crackled from the speakers.
"Target locked. Initiating termination sequence."
Nova grabbed Elliot's arm — again — sending another violent jolt through the feedback loop, lighting up the glowing lines on her suit like a malfunctioning Christmas tree.
Her voice was a snarl. "We jump—NOW."
Elliot's eyes went wide. "We're not jumping—"
She yanked him toward the ledge.
The System buzzed.
---
[New Side Quest: Leap of Poor Judgment]
Objective: Survive the jump.
Bonus: Don't scream like a child.
Hidden Reward: Less bruises… probably.
---
Nova leapt off the rooftop — dragging Elliot with her.
"WHY IS THIS YOUR SOLUTION TO EVERYTHING?!" Elliot roared mid-air.
The building behind them detonated — a plasma blast from the hovercraft reducing it to a smoking crater — as they plummeted onto the next rooftop.
Elliot hit the ground hard, rolling through shattered glass, his Neural Boost still flaring at 180%, every nerve firing at once.
Nova landed beside him, her suit still glitching from the feedback loop — the neon lines along her thighs rippling in sync with Elliot's electric pulse.
She groaned. "Rookie, you're gonna fry me alive."
Elliot winced. "You keep grabbing me—"
Another snap of static shot from his arm to Nova's waist — lighting up her suit again — the glow flaring dangerously bright along her stomach and hips before glitching back up.
Nova's breath hitched. "Seriously?"
The System buzzed.
---
[Libido Meter: Beyond Repair]
Warning: You are now the problem.
Solution: Consider professional help.
---
"I hate you," Elliot hissed at the System.
Nova blinked. "... I hope that wasn't directed at me."
Before Elliot could respond, another Spire Syndicate merc landed on the rooftop — plasma pistols aimed at their heads.
"Boss says we bring the glitch alive," the merc sneered.
Cipher's voice echoed from the merc's comm. "Barely alive."
Elliot groaned. "Oh my god, does he ever shut up?"
The System buzzed.
---
[New Mission: Shut Cipher the Hell Up]
Objective: Disable the comms or punch Cipher in the face.
Bonus: Make a witty one-liner while doing it.
Hidden Reward: Cipher's broken nose.
---
The Spire merc opened fire.
Elliot's Boost snapped — another arc of raw electricity exploding from his hand — overloading the plasma pistol in the merc's grip.
The gun detonated in his hand.
The merc screamed, his arm smoking as he staggered back.
Nova smirked. "You're getting good at that."
Elliot wiped more blood from his mouth, his Boost still crackling. "Yeah — because I'm one bad day away from becoming a citywide blackout."
The System buzzed again.
---
[Misquote Mode Activated]
Quote: "With great power… comes even worse decisions."
— Uncle Ben… probably.
---
Nova blinked. "Did you just misquote Spider-Man?"
Elliot's eye twitched. "It's not me—"
Another plasma blast.
Another snap of static.
Another wave of chaos.
The hovercrafts were circling lower, the factions were closing in, and their feedback loop was spiraling past critical levels.
The city wasn't about to explode because of the war.
It was about to explode because of them.
And Elliot wasn't sure if they'd escape Nexus-9—
Or burn it to the ground.