Chapter 291: Cast Off!

Words : 1324 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

"Are you sure this damn firmware can be installed like this?" Royce stood beside the electrolytic pool, looking at the woman submerged inside. Militech had given him a lot of support—this was one of them. "Not sure," the ripper muttered under his breath. Royce suddenly flew into a rage, grabbing the guy by the skin so hard that the synthetic layer nearly tore, revealing the chrome plating underneath. "Are you gambling with your damn life?!" "No, boss! Let me explain! Zaria said she's been feeling mentally unstable lately—she needs her sisters' support!" [TN: This is the cyberpsycho from that maelstrom ritual one of the better cyberpyscho fights in the game] What the hell does that mean? Royce glanced around the scene. The woman floating in the electrolytic pool was Zaria. This pool served both as a cooling system and a maintenance solution for cyberware—one of the best cooling fluids on the market. Even top-tier corporate netrunners supposedly used this same model of electrolytic liquid. They had gone through hell to acquire it from Milittech. The pool, along with the adjacent computer, had been upgraded with Militech software. Zaria's cyberization level had surpassed 80%. Both legs were fully mechanical, her feet replaced with razor-sharp blades. Mantis blades lay hidden in her arms. Most of her muscles and organs had been swapped for integrated cybernetic structures—her stomach, lungs, heart—all replaced by machines, unified by a high-end Militech spinal implant. And the Sandevistan implant? Supposedly an internal Militech model. Zaria was already one of the most cyber-crazed fanatics in the gang, constantly preaching about the "Machine God" and "cybernetic ascension." Now, with Militech's backing and the gang's resources, her old, outdated parts had been replaced with cutting-edge upgrades. She was lying in the pool now for a full driver reload—wiping out old, incompatible software and installing a fresh Militech-driven system. Around her, gang members were hitting Black Lace, their expressions twisted in euphoric bliss— For no other reason than the fact that Zaria's sleek, cybernetically enhanced body was floating naked in the pool. Fucking incredible. But those who really understood what was happening were more focused on the people kneeling by the pool. These guys had neural bridges linked to Zaria's system, their minds jacked in alongside hers. They called it their "Shared Cyberware Ritual." Who the hell knew what the purpose was? Blood and electrolytic fluid mixed on the ground, forming strange circles and pentagrams as electric currents rippled through the pool. Anyone with real knowledge of cyberware would take one look at this scene and yell, Idiots! Zaria's consciousness was drifting through cyberspace. As someone untrained, without the intelligence or resources of a real netrunner, she didn't even realize where she was—she had no idea this was cyberspace. But the full Militech software package was loading into her system, overwhelming her with an unprecedented sensation— A euphoria unlike anything before. That feeling came from finally being able to perceive herself existing in this void. For the first time, the ICE embedded in the Militech software stopped her from getting lost in the digital abyss. And so— She thought she had achieved some kind of transcendence. Immediately, she sent a message through the neural link to her jacked-in sisters: [Zaria: Sisters! The time has come! I have found peace!] [Zaria: Now is our moment to seize the tangled cables of fate! Let's all format our brains, do a true hard reboot, and find our new selves!] [Zaria: Machine god is with us!] [TN: Hail the omnissiah] Zaria's overwhelming excitement was translated by the high-end Militech software into invasive commands—every sister linked to her in cyberspace was forcibly formatted! Arcs of electricity violently erupted from their plugged-in cables, lashing out like whips through the electrolyte pool— Almost simultaneously, Royce noticed a surge of red light flooding the warehouse, painting the entire room in an intense orange glow! His Kerenzikov reflexes instantly activated at the spike in tension. He saw the crackling electricity. He saw the reflection in the glass panel on the far wall— A massive shell piercing through the wall!!! BOOM!! The entire structure collapsed in front of Royce. Steel beams crashed down, crushing gang members into compressed meatpacks! He hit the ground hard, eyes locked on his guy—one second, the kid was looking at him, the next, an arc of lightning tore through his chest before steel debris smashed him into a bloody smear on the floor. Royce wasted no time. He turned and sprinted toward the armory. "That old bastard Brick is back! Light his ass up!" No time to deal with that lunatic Zaria anymore—Militech hadn't just supplied him with cyberware! He had Linear Frame tech too! "Fucking insane!!! Brick, holding his customized Satara shotgun, pressed it against his crotch and thrusted mockingly—pure provocation! A new recruit, already suited in Centaur exoskeleton armor, stood atop his freshly acquired Colby truck, firing rounds so powerful the entire vehicle shook! But damn, this truck was built different—not a single dent! Only problem? Brick had already forgotten the kid's full name. "Ah, fuck it! You're the boss now! Your name's Joestar! FIRE THE DAMN CANNON!" "Joestar! Blow that motherfucker Royce to hell!" [TN: Is that a mother fucking jojo reference] The newly renamed Joestar looked dazed. The Centaur exosuit's motors spun rapidly as he prepared to fire—the electrical surge hit so hard he momentarily lost all sensation in his real limbs! But he heard it. He was the new boss now. His neural activity spiked—just as Dum Dum was about to jab him with an immunosuppressant, he snapped back to focus! For a rookie, nothing hit harder than being a legend. "I'M GONNA FUCKING BLAST HIM!!!" BOOM! The second shell obliterated the warehouse wall! Brick watched as the traitors vanished beneath rubble and smoke, howling with laughter— "DIE, MOTHERFUCKERS!!!" Joestar wasted no time, raising his massive shield. Brick, moving fast as hell, immediately activated his Sandevistan and leaped back! That split-second reaction saved his life. Bullets tore through the dust cloud—had he hesitated even a fraction of a second, he would've been ripped to shreds! TATATATATATA!!! The Centaur exosuit's shield deflected the incoming rounds, but the wild recoil sent stray bullets tearing into the truck— CRACK! The vehicle groaned as the Centaur mech jumped, metal snapping in half! BOOM! The truck exploded! Brick had only seen this level of firepower once before—during a hijacking, when Militech's combat drones unleashed hell. "Where the fuck is that old bitch Brick?!" The dust cloud finally settled—Royce stood there, encased in a patchwork Linear Frame, an absolute behemoth of cyberware strapped to his body. His arms had been welded onto twin-linked autocannons. This was Militech's gift to him. Sure, the Linear Frame was cobbled together junk, but the software? The twin-linked machine guns? Top-tier military grade. The Maelstrom grunts huddled behind cover—none of them stupid enough to step out. They weren't suicidal. Royce rattled his cannons—his ammo belt fed automatically into the chambers, mechanical clicks echoing in the room. His face twisted into a smug grin. He had no idea what the fuck Brick was using—but he had Militech firepower. And then— The dust cleared. No, even before it fully cleared—something red flickered through the haze. And when the crimson smoke finally dispersed, it was still standing. A perfectly intact Centaur mech. The only thing the twin-linked machine guns had managed to do? Leave some dents in its shield. And that oversized plasma cannon mounted on its back? It was charging. The red glow wasn't just light—it was plasma, superheated, ready to fire. Royce's smug grin vanished. He had never, in his entire life, seen someone push a Sandevistan hard enough to make it fucking spark. [CAST OFF!] A command was input— And Royce's Linear Frame ejected, launching him like a human missile— BOOM!

Chapter 291: Cast Off!

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