The silence in the car was palpable and thick, the hum of the engine and Trish's shaky deep breaths the only sound to be heard. James was mechanically catching his breath, his Malorian gently tapping against his knee, his finger still lightly resting just above the trigger.
Jessica's hands were gripping her knees, just a bit too tight, the denim beneath them actually tearing from the strain. Her jaw clenched like she's holding herself back from shouting.
Trish—the blonde woman had a white knuckle grip on the steering wheel, her eyes wide and focused squarely on the road.
Congratulations! Mission Accomplished!
Rewards - Kerenzikov Boost System, 5,000 Eddies, 2500 EXP!
Level Up! Level 15! + 5 Attribute Points
James eyed the rewards, his focus taken away as with just a thought he'd opened his stats.
Name - James Buckley
Title - Murderer
Age - 19
Eddies - €13,000
Level - 15
STR - 14
END - 11
DEX - 28
INT - 9
WIS - 9
5 Attribute Points!
Skills
Inventory (!)
Missions
Store
Settings
Before he could think twice, he assigned his new points.
+2 DEX, his nerves wired tighter, a rush of energy running through him.
+3 END. A more subtle shift. The dull ache from the fall, the lingering bruises—already fading. His eyes traced the new numbers on his stats, something sharp and electric humming under his skin.
Before he could get sidetracked, he opened his inventory with a thought. The tension in the car, the rattled breathing, the quiet fury—none of it mattered right now.
Kerenzikov Boost System.
Increases DEX by 3.
A high-performance upgrade to the standard Kerenzikov reflex booster. This military-grade modification enhances reaction speed, movement fluidity, and overall combat agility.
Equip
Exit
James didn't hesitate, selecting equip almost instantly. He didn't care that he was in a car with two random people, he was consumed.
Pain.
His muscles locked up, his jaw clenching so hard his teeth nearly cracked. It felt like someone was forcefully threading red-hot wires through his spine, his nerves lighting up with electric fire.
His vision blurred, the world flickering between reality and a cold digital overlay. A rush of data flooded his brain—reaction speed recalibrations, muscle optimization protocols, combat subroutines—each one punching through his nervous system like a live wire.
He sucked in a sharp breath, his grip on his Malorian white-knuckled. The pain burned, twisted, then—just as suddenly—snapped into silence.
James blinked, flexing his fingers. His movements were even smoother, like a well-oiled machine. He exhaled, his breath shaky but exhilarated.
The Kerenzikov Boost System was online.
Jessica watched with confusion and slight discomfort in her eyes, her fingers still gripping her knees as if restraining herself from saying something. Her gaze flicked to the right side of his neck once more, noticing the odd ports in his skin.
She shivered, her hand dropping to her waist where a flask of cheap alcohol sat, as if it might offer some comfort, but it didn't.
Who the hell was this guy?
Her eyes flicked to Trish.
She looked terrified.
Fuck.
"Trish, pull over." She said, a steely tone in her voice. Her sister in all but blood didn't hesitate, quickly pulling off to the side of the road.
James was no longer just some lead in her case. He was a whole new problem, one she hadn't signed up for, and wasn't being paid to deal with.
"Alright, get out." Jessica said plainly to James.
James snorted, his grip tightening around the gun, but he didn't move. He could see the tension in Jessica's posture, the subtle signs of unease in her shoulders and the way her hand gripped the flask at her waist like it was some kind of lifeline.
His eyes flicked to the blonde woman in the driver's seat, she was frozen, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. Jessica noticed his switch in attention, her eyes narrowing.
"I said, get out, now" she repeated, her tone harsh.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." He said easily, his voice carrying a hint of disinterest as he leaned back against the seat, his eyes glancing at the scenery outside the car window.
He wasn't about to stick around where he wasn't wanted.
With a slow, deliberate movement, he reached for the door handle.
The door creaked open, and he slid out of the car, his boots hitting the pavement with a soft thud. He didn't spare Jessica or Trish a second glance as he slammed the door, a bit harder than necessary.
The car sped off without another word.
James adjusted his jacket, his eyes following the car until it disappeared from sight.
He looked around, his eyebrows furrowing.
Where the fuck was he?
—-
Eventually, he found a shady but cheap hotel. The kind of place where the sheets smelled like old cigarettes, and the walls had more stains than he cared to think about.
The sound of distant sirens rang through the building, his ceiling fan letting out an odd, definitely not intended buzzing that grated on his nerves.
He was laid back against the bed, his system open, it's blue light illuminating his room gently.
Name - James Buckley
Title - Murderer
Age - 19
Eddies - €13,000
Level - 15
STR - 14
END - 14
DEX - 33
INT - 9
WIS - 9
0 Attribute Points!
Skills
Inventory
Missions
Store
Settings
He eyed the 'Store,' his fingers hovering over the interface before gently clicking it. A large grid quickly popped up in his vision, filled with boxes—each containing items. Some were familiar such as a Malorian Overture, others more…unfamiliar.
Cyberware, cars, guns, metal arms, eyes, hands…even mechanical genitalia. James scrolled through the list, his mind a mix of horror and awe. Each item seemed more bizarre and fascinating than the last.
He eventually found something that caught his eye, a jacket.
It was made of rough, darkened leather, with an almost absurdly large collar inlaid with dark orange LEDs. The jacket had a rugged, worn-in feel, with visible stitching and reinforced seams.
He checked the price tag—500 Eddies.
He smirked. He could do that.
Suddenly, the jacket seemed to materialize in front of him, dropping onto his lap. James ran his fingers over the jacket, the leather cool to the touch, the plating heavier than he'd expected.
It had a certain weight to it, like it could take a hit and still hold its shape. His fingers brushed over the LEDs, watching them light up with a faint hum.
James scrolled through the store's options, his fingers moving quickly over the interface. The items on display were a mix of mundane and wild—anything from street-level gear to top-tier military tech. He eyed the weapons first, lingering on a few pistols and shotguns, but none that grabbed him like the jacket.
His gaze drifted to the cyberware section. He'd seen the basics already—eyes, arms, legs—but there were more intriguing options here.
He paused on an implant that could enhance his reflexes, something called a "Synaptic Accelerator." Next to it, an advanced version of the Kiroshi optic implant, one that boasted thermal vision and even the ability to see through walls.
He clicked on a pair of cybernetic hands, ones designed for combat, built with reinforced joints and grappling capabilities. The thought of those hands crushing someone's neck sent a spark of thrill through him.
The only problem…the price.
Most of the implants were expensive—lower tier ones around 30,000 eddies, and the military-grade ones pushing 100,000.
His eyes landed on something called Mantis Blades. Long, razor-sharp blades that could extend from his forearms. He could almost feel the thrill of using them, imagining the devastation.
Mission - Edgerunner
Goal - Acquire Mantis Blades.
Rewards - Mantis Blade Mastery (Level One & Two), Edgerunner Title.
Failure - Don't ever acquire Mantis Blades.
A grin tugged at his lips.
He needed Eddies.
—-
Now we've got 90 powerstones!? Crazy, BUT I won't lie, I've written like 10 stories, and I STILL don't really know what they even do! :]