Chapter 35: After the Battle

Five years ago.

"I don't know if he'll survive, but we have to try," Nina said through her mask, glancing at Leon Black.

"Just do your best," Leon replied firmly.

On the hospital bed in front of them lay a severely burned boy—Mike Taylor. His skin was scorched and barely intact, his body trembling on the edge of death.

"This kid… it's pitiful. He was peacefully asleep at home, and a cyberpsycho's bomb turned his world upside down," Lena Fox muttered, working tirelessly as a nurse to maintain his vitals.

"Compared to his family, who were killed instantly, at least he has a fighting chance," Leon said grimly. He pulled a large green case from storage and opened it.

Inside lay dozens of silver-white cybernetic scales, chilled under low-temperature preservation.

"This was originally meant for you..." Lena said, her voice tinged with hesitation.

The legendary 'True Skin', worth a fortune, had taken them six long months to acquire. Using it on this boy was risky—if the surgery failed, the entire set would be contaminated and rendered useless.

"It's fine," Leon said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He's got the will to survive. It would be a shame to let that go to waste."

He gave a small smile. "Maybe our underdog crew will gain a powerful new ally."

---

Ten days later.

In the recovery ward, Nina stared in disbelief as Mike Taylor began his rehabilitation.

"I've never seen anyone take to True Skin like this. It's as if it was custom-made for him," she said, tapping notes into her tablet.

"A natural-born cyberwarrior," Lena agreed, her own screen displaying the surgical process she had meticulously recorded.

Seven cyberware slots had been successfully opened during the operation. It was a stunning success—Mike had gone from near death to super-soldier potential.

Cyberware required dedicated body slots—ports for installing enhancements. Nina had prepared these points in advance during surgery, allowing for seamless future installations.

Still, compatibility and adaptation were the real challenges. Replacing one's body with seven synthetic parts required not just surgical success, but mental and physical resilience.

"He's doing great," Nina said. "Compared to you, though… he's still got a ways to go."

She chuckled, remembering Leon's own surgery. Ten cyberware slots, no rejection, and he was walking within three days.

Even in all her years as a doctor, she had never witnessed such absurd compatibility. His adaptation shattered all known limits.

"You really are a walking legend," Nina muttered.

"What's a legend?" a voice asked.

They turned to find Mike Taylor standing nearby, his eyes serious.

Nina answered, "It's when people from eighty to eight know your name. You become part of the city's history."

But Mike was looking at Leon, not her.

"They said you are a legend," Mike said. "So tell me—do you know Adam Smasher?"

Leon nodded. "I do."

"Then I'll beat him. And I'll become a legend."

"Understood," Leon replied without a trace of mockery.

As Mike returned to his training, Nina leaned in and whispered, "Isn't that aiming a bit too high?"

Leon chuckled. "A true legend deserves a worthy goal."

---

Present day.

"Defeat Adam Smasher?" Takemura Goro scoffed. He wiped the blood from his lip and shook his head. "You're strong, I'll give you that—but compared to the guy who survived a nuclear blast? Please."

Mike Taylor's expression shifted. Fury boiled over.

"I will defeat him! I will become a legend! AHHHHH!!!"

He charged, roaring like a beast. His arms, once pale, turned a molten red as his internal arm cyberware ignited.

Takemura barely dodged the punch, but the heat singed his skin. The strike cratered the ground behind him, sending smoke curling into the air.

Mike's internal systems were fully activated: a hyper-accelerated circulatory system, a mechanical heart, and high-speed micro-rotors. His attack speed doubled in an instant.

Takemura's instinctive evasions started to fail. He was pushed back, relying solely on Jinzong Maru to defend himself.

Even when he managed to slash at Mike's arms, the blade would strike cybernetic bone—far tougher than any organic material.

Mike's skeletal system was fully upgraded: bionic joints, kinetic reinforcement, and titanium-alloy bone marrow.

"This guy...!" Takemura's hands trembled from the impact. Mike Taylor's enhancements were beyond what he'd expected.

"Is this all you've got?" came a voice.

Takemura's eyes widened. Behind me? He spun to strike—but hit only air.

A trap.

Mike appeared from the front and smashed his fist directly into Takemura's back with enough force to launch him like a meteor into a nearby pile of construction rubble.

Mike dashed after him, kicking up dust and shattered concrete. But when he reached the impact site—Takemura was gone.

"Tch… slipped away?" Mike muttered. His enhanced optical scan came up empty. He sighed, powered down his cyberware, and turned around.

"Sorry, I let him get away."

"It's alright, Big Brother Taylor," Lily Cross replied casually. "That's just how ninjas are—slippery."

This had been an attempt. A gamble. But she hadn't really expected to catch someone like Takemura on the first try.

People all over Night City had tried and failed.

---

It wasn't until the team had long since left that a figure crawled out from a nearby garbage heap.

Cough, cough…

Takemura winced in pain and wiped blood from his mouth.

"Who the hell was that guy?" he muttered.

Takemura had studied Night City's power players. Most of the elite fighters were affiliated with corporations. Freelancers with Mike Taylor's power level were nearly unheard of.

He needed answers.

"Guess I'll have someone look into him," Takemura said. Though he'd defected from Arasaka, he still had a few trusted friends inside. He couldn't ask for open support, but quiet intel gathering? That was possible.

But for now, he needed to vanish. Lay low. Find out what happened to V. He could only hope her allies had reached her in time.

---

Meanwhile, at Leon Black's medical facility...

"These injuries…" Viktor murmured as he inspected V's head, hands trembling.

"Is it serious? Need help?" Nina asked, looking over at the blood-soaked figure.

Normally, it was frowned upon to assist another doctor without permission—especially when dealing with someone's friend. But Nina couldn't ignore the scene.

"No, thank you," Viktor replied. He didn't want Nina getting too involved, especially since he'd recognized the biochip inside V.

"You're free to use the equipment here," Leon said, walking in. "But I'll be sending you the bill."

He wasn't a charity. He'd helped V because he needed Viktor to finish Lena Fox's surgery without distraction. But use of his high-grade equipment? That came at a price.

"Understood. Thank you," Viktor said, grateful but already mentally tallying the cost.

Thanks to the equipment, he made good progress. Half a day later, he finally exhaled in relief—V was stable.

"She's out of danger."

"Should I send someone to take her back?" Leon asked, eyeing V's head, now wrapped in thick bandages like a zongzi. "Or would she be safer here?"

"Send her back…" Viktor sighed. "This place is amazing, but I really can't afford it."

"Then go with her," Nina said gently. "I can manage things here."

Viktor looked uncertain.

Leon shrugged. "Nina said she's got it. Just come back tomorrow for follow-up."

"Alright," Viktor nodded. He called a Delamain taxi and rode with V back to her place.

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