Ryo's world felt like it had imploded.
He wasn't just some guy who got isekai'd.
He wasn't even human.
Not anymore.
The cybernetic soldier—this ghost from his past—stood before him, hand extended, eyes gleaming with an offer that felt more like a trap.
> "Join us, Prototype 001."
"Reclaim what was stolen from you."
Ryo stared at that outstretched hand, heart hammering.
His mind screamed in protest.
But his body?
His body was itching to move. Tensing, vibrating with a strange, electric pull toward the others.
A part of him wanted to take it.
A part of him wanted to remember.
But the other part—the part that still clung to who he was—wanted to tear this bastard apart.
Rejection or Acceptance?
Vos's voice cut through the silence.
"Ryo."
Ryo's eyes flicked to him.
The captain's rifle was still trained on the enemy. His expression was unreadable, but his meaning was clear.
Are you with us? Or with them?
Karin's knuckles were white around her pistol.
She was watching him too.
Not the Lazarus soldiers.
Him.
Like she wasn't sure what side he was on anymore.
That realization stabbed deeper than any bullet ever could.
Ryo took a slow breath.
Then he looked at the cybernetic soldier and said, "Go fuck yourself."
Hell Breaks Loose
The man's smile didn't falter.
But his hand lowered.
> "I expected as much."
Then he vanished.
Ryo's instincts flared.
He moved.
Fast.
Faster than he should have been able to.
A metallic fist whizzed past his skull, barely missing.
The cybernetic soldier had crossed the entire room in an instant.
"Contact!" Vos shouted, firing.
The room erupted into chaos.
A Battle of Monsters
Ryo's body moved on instinct.
He twisted, brought his rifle up—only for the man to grab it mid-motion and crush it like plastic.
"GODDAMN IT!" Ryo growled, slamming his knee into the bastard's ribs.
The man barely flinched.
Instead, he grabbed Ryo by the collar and threw him across the room.
Ryo's back slammed into a terminal, sparks showering around him.
His ribs should've broken.
They didn't.
Instead, he was back on his feet in seconds.
> "Oh, ho! Look at you, rookie! Adapting already!"
> "Guess you really are built different."
Ryo wiped the blood from his mouth, teeth bared.
Fine. If this bastard wanted a fight—
He'd get one.
Adaptive Evolution: Online
The cybernetic soldier lunged again—this time faster.
But this time, Ryo saw it.
Not just the movement.
The pattern.
> [Tactical Analysis: Enemy Speed Calculated.]
[Prediction Algorithms: 70% Sync.]
Ryo's body reacted before his brain caught up.
He sidestepped.
The punch missed.
Then Ryo's fist lashed out.
Not a human punch.
Stronger. Faster.
Metal met metal.
The cybernetic soldier actually stumbled.
And for the first time—his expression shifted.
> Surprise.
Ryo exhaled. His hands were shaking.
But not with fear.
With power.
> "Ohhh, shit. Rookie's leveling up."
The cybernetic soldier's eyes narrowed.
"So. You are waking up."
His tone wasn't angry.
It was pleased.
Like this was exactly what he had wanted all along.
Vos and Karin Hold the Line
Meanwhile—hell was breaking loose.
The other Lazarus soldiers had engaged.
Karin and Vos were dodging, weaving, returning fire—but their bullets were barely slowing the enemy down.
One of the cybernetic warriors caught Karin's wrist mid-shot, twisting the gun away. She snarled, drove a combat knife into his throat—
It barely sank in.
The bastard just smirked.
Karin yanked the knife free and rolled back before he could grab her.
> "Yeah, kid, your normal weapons? Useless."
> "Maybe use that shiny new upgrade instead?"
Ryo clenched his fists.
His body was adapting.
He could move faster. Hit harder.
It wasn't enough.
He needed more.
The System's Offer
> [IRONBORN PROTOCOL – LOCKED FUNCTIONS DETECTED.]
[OVERRIDE AVAILABLE.]
> [WARNING: UNTESTED UPGRADE – RISK LEVEL HIGH.]
> "Wanna roll the dice, rookie?"
Ryo didn't hesitate.
"Do it."
> [OVERRIDE ACCEPTED.]
[FORCED EVOLUTION: ENGAGING.]
Ryo's veins ignited.
A shockwave rippled through his body.
His vision sharpened. His muscles reinforced. His bones hardened.
> [NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: GEARBOUND REFLEXES]
[New Combat Function Acquired: Enhanced Striking Force]
Becoming the Monster
The cybernetic soldier grinned.
"Now you're ready."
Ryo charged.
Faster than before.
Faster than humanly possible.
His fist slammed into the man's gut—and this time, the bastard flew backward, crashing through a terminal.
Karin and Vos's fights froze.
Everyone had felt that impact.
Ryo exhaled, smoke curling from his skin.
His body felt weightless. Powerful. Alive.
> "Oh, rookie."
> "You're not human anymore."
The cybernetic soldier rose from the wreckage.
His grin was wild. Excited.
> "Yes. That's it. That's who you are."
His body shifted.
Gleaming metal expanded from his spine, plating reinforcing his form.
> [WARNING: ENEMY ASSUMING COMBAT FORM.]
The bastard cracked his neck.
> "Now… let's see what you can really do."
The real fight was just beginning.