Chapter 32: Neon Gods, Thunder Kings, and Circuits Unleashed
The warehouse shook.
Not from the plasma blasts. Not from the hovercraft wreckage still smoldering by the entrance. Not even from the Chrome Reapers and Spire Syndicate mercs still circling like cybernetic sharks.
It was Elliot.
Or at least — whatever he was becoming.
Dr. Kain's cybernetic hand hovered above the glowing red probe jammed into Elliot's spine — a wild arc of blue electricity still snapping from the connection. Sparks flickered across Elliot's skin, but his Neural Boost wasn't at 200% anymore.
It was beyond that.
The air around him crackled — not just with static, but with something primal. Something ancient.
A low, electric hum rumbled through the walls, shaking the broken warehouse lights, making the air itself feel heavy.
Elliot wasn't just glitching now.
He was thunder incarnate.
Kain's augmented eye flickered as he stepped back, his metal arm twitching. "This… this isn't just a Boost malfunction."
Nova's bioluminescent suit — still flickering from the broken feedback loop — flared again just from standing too close to Elliot.
Her glowing eyes narrowed. "Kain, what the hell did you do to him?"
Kain's grin was all steel teeth and madness. "I didn't fix him."
Another pulse of electricity surged off Elliot's body — a rolling wave of crackling blue static — sending every loose bolt, broken drone, and shattered piece of metal in the warehouse floating off the floor.
The air buzzed.
Kain's voice was a whisper of awe.
"I unleashed him."
The System buzzed — louder than usual — glitching in Elliot's head like even it couldn't process what was happening.
---
[System Error: POWER SURGE DETECTED]
Warning: Neural Boost has evolved.
Status: Unknown.
Alias Assigned: Raijin Protocol — Active.
---
Elliot blinked, his voice a hoarse rasp. "What the hell is the Raijin Protocol?"
The System buzzed again.
---
[Misquote Mode Activated]
Quote: "You are the storm, and the storm is you."
— William Shakespeare… maybe.
---
Nova flinched. "Did the System just quote Shakespeare?"
Elliot's eye twitched. "I think so."
Kain chuckled. "Not just any system — you've got a god in your circuits, kid."
Another pulse of raw power rippled off Elliot's body — the Raijin Protocol sending streaks of blue lightning crawling up his arms, arcing from his fingertips to the broken warehouse walls.
The metal beams above groaned — glowing faintly from the charge.
Nova's suit flickered again, the neon lines running down her ribs and thighs pulsing in sync with every flare from Elliot's body.
Her voice was tight. "Rookie… you're glowing."
The System buzzed.
---
[New Mission: Embrace the Storm]
Objective: Control the Raijin Protocol before you fry everyone.
Bonus: Don't vaporize Nova… or Kain.
Hidden Reward: Uncover the true source of your glitch.
---
Before Elliot could respond —
The warehouse exploded into violence.
The Chrome Reapers charged — led by Rend, his gunmetal body still smoking from the last EMP blast — plasma cannons roaring.
The Spire Syndicate mercs fanned out from the other side — glowing green implants pulsing in sync with their plasma rifles, locking onto Elliot.
Cipher's voice crackled through their comms. "I want the glitch — alive."
Kain laughed, stepping back into the shadows. "Looks like your fan club is here."
Nova's blade hissed to life. "Rookie — time to run."
But Elliot didn't move.
His Boost flared again — a violent pulse of raw electricity — sending a shockwave so strong it fried the closest Reaper's weapon mid-shot.
The plasma rifle overloaded — detonating in the Reaper's hands.
Screams echoed.
Another arc of blue lightning shot from Elliot's palm — on its own — spiraling through the air and shredding a Spire merc's chest plate, sending him crashing into a pile of broken machinery.
Elliot stared at his still-crackling hand. "I didn't even aim."
The System buzzed again.
---
[Achievement Unlocked: Living Lightning]
Reward: +3 Combat Reflex.
Penalty: Citywide blackouts likely.
---
Nova's glowing eyes widened. "You're not just boosting — you're channeling something else."
Elliot's pulse snapped again — another arc of lightning lashing out, striking a metal beam above and sending molten steel raining down on the charging Reapers.
Kain grinned. "You're not a glitch anymore, kid."
He pointed at the electricity rippling off Elliot's body — the way his Boost was no longer reacting to Nova's suit, but feeding off the world itself.
"You're Raijin now — the thunder god."
The System buzzed.
---
[Misquote Mode Activated]
Quote: "I am the danger."
— Walter White… possibly.
---
Elliot blinked. "Did you just quote Breaking Bad?"
Nova dodged another plasma bolt. "I hope that wasn't you."
Another wave of lightning rippled off Elliot's skin — each pulse of electricity syncing with his heartbeat, sending crackling arcs snapping across the warehouse.
His Boost wasn't just firing.
It was alive.
The Chrome Reapers hesitated — even Rend's plasma blade flickered.
Cipher's voice crackled through their comms again. "He's unstable — contain him."
Kain smirked. "Good luck with that."
Another pulse from Elliot's body sent a rolling wave of static through the room — short-circuiting the Spire Syndicate's weapons, making their implants glitch and flicker.
Sparks rained from the ceiling.
Elliot's voice was rough. "I can't… turn it off."
The System buzzed louder than ever.
---
[System Override: RAIJIN PROTOCOL FULLY ACTIVATED]
Status: Uncontrolled.
Objective: Embrace the storm or be consumed by it.
---
Kain's grin was pure madness. "You don't turn it off, kid."
He stepped back, cybernetic fingers still twitching.
"You become it."
The Chrome Reapers charged again.
Nova's blade hissed. "Rookie — let's end this."
Elliot's Boost flared one last time — the Raijin Protocol howling through his circuits — and a massive bolt of lightning exploded from his palm.
The warehouse lit up like a supernova.
The storm had arrived.