"Kek kek, stop wasting time, Razorgirl. You don't want this place to turn into a bloodbath, right?"
Big John finally spoke, his mechanical voice buzzing with arrogance. His eyes darted between the Orphans leader and the black-haired girl, lingering far too long on the latter. Unhidden lust gleamed in his gaze, he had never seen such a perfect breeder before. That chick had been haunting his wet dreams ever since he first laid eyes on her months ago.
If it hadn't been for this damn Razorgirl swooping in after his gang war mess, that girl would already be his. The thought made his blood boil. He used to hesitate about taking Razorgirl in a one-on-one fight. But now? With his new Murasame arm, he was itching to test it out.
"Check this out—Murasame, straight off the black-market slab, barely used. You're not the only one rocking premium chromes in this area anymore, bitch."
As if to show off his new left arm, he gave it a thorough lick over. Ew... the two girls looked at him with disgust in their eyes.
"Enough nonsense. What exactly do you want, Dick John?"
The Orphans leader shot back, her voice sharp but her eyes betraying unease. The brute was stupid but his strength was real, and that arm, it was no joke. How had he managed to score something like that in a dump like this? What rotten luck.
"I want her, of course!" Big John's grin widened. "You're out of the question, wouldn't want to stick my little John between your metal legs. Though, you might still be good for giving head. Kek kek kek!"
He pointed at the black-haired girl and cackled, the sound raw and vile, echoing like static from a broken speaker.
She looked at the black-haired girl beside her, Xiao Yun. Coincidentally, Xiao Yun was looking back. Their eyes met, and Lena could see the apology written all over her face.
"I'm sorry, Lena sis. If it weren't for me..."
"Frag that! You're not at fault. None of us are. It's this fragging world." Lena snapped, cutting her off before she could say another word.
Then she turned her glare toward Big John, her eyes burning with fury. You want a fight? Fine. We'll even throw in a bonus. We'll give you hell.
Big John opened his mouth again, but before any more filth could spill out, Lena gave the signal. The Orphans charged forward all at once, silent and lethal. Why waste time shouting when every second counts?
As if planned, Lena and Xiao Yun both broke through the chaos, heading straight for Big John. They'd handle him, the rest of the Orphans could take care of the other trashes.
Big John's gang roared as the Orphans slammed into them like a tide. Metal cracked against bone, fists tore into flesh, and the sound of clashing filled the air. Sparks flashed in the dim light, brief flares of violence dancing across the square.
Lena was already on him. She moved fast and low, her chrome legs digging into the ground as she launched herself forward. Big John swung first, an overhead smash that could have take down a man in one hit. She dodged just in time, feeling the wind of the blow brush her cheek. The ground where she stood a second ago shattered like glass.
"Too slow, Dicky!" she taunted, spinning and driving a kick straight into his ribs. Metal met metal with a shriek. The impact sent a shock through her legs, but it was enough to make the brute stumble back a step.
He laughed, a horrible mechanical sound. "Not bad, Razorgirl! Let's see how your fancy legs handle this!"
His Murasame arm snapped open like a blooming steel flower, hidden blades sliding out with a hiss. He swung again, and this time Lena barely ducked under it. One of the blades grazed her shoulder, drawing blood.
Before he could follow up, Xiao Yun darted in from the side. Her movement was clean, deliberate—no chrome, no augmentation, only skill. She slipped under his guard and drove her elbow into his stomach, forcing a grunt from his throat.
Big John glared at her, veins bulging. "You little breeder..."
He didn't finish. Lena's heel caught his jaw mid-sentence, snapping his head back with a loud crack.
"Don't call her that, you fragging drek!" Lena growled, landing lightly beside Xiao Yun.
Around them, the Orphans fought with desperate precision. Cheap implants sparked, blood hit the stones, and the smell of oil and ozone hung thick in the air. The slum kids were outnumbered, but their spirit burned hotter than steel.
Big John wiped the blood off his chin and grinned, teeth red. "Cute speech. But now you've pissed me off for real."
Despite being outnumbered, the Orphans currently held the upper hand. Their fighters were faster, sharper, and more coordinated than the street thugs, cutting them down with clean efficiency. But the true outcome of the battle would be decided by the duel between the leaders, and that fight wasn't looking good.
Lena can definitely feel it when her leg connected with his chin, the damage was minimal. The bastard had plated his skull. It would take everything she had, every ounce of power in both legs, to bring him down and even then, not with just a few hits.
Meanwhile, his Murasame arm was proving to be even deadlier than expected. It was fast, unpredictable, and viciously sharp, leaving no room for mistakes. And if it truly was a Murasame then it was built to last, durable enough that any direct clash between it and her legs would end badly for her.
Xiao Yun wasn't faring much better. Her strikes were graceful, precise, but lacked the power to hurt someone built like Big John. Against an opponent covered head-to-toe in steel, all she could do was distract him. She knew it too. Their eyes met for a brief moment, each silently urging the other to think of a way out before it was too late.
Big John didn't give them that luxury. He charged again, a metal monster in motion, completely ignoring Xiao Yun's attacks. His attention was fixed on Lena, relentless and focused. He wanted to cripple her first and then take his time with Xiao Yun afterward.
Dumb as he seemed, this drek's fighting instinct was terrifyingly sharp. No wonder he managed to lead such a big gang.
Big John's arm hissed with a faint electric whine as he swung it, the metal gleaming with every motion. Lena moved fast, her chrome legs sparking against the ground as she dodged another slash, the blade slicing through air just inches from her throat. The impact left deep gouges in the ground, one wrong move and her head would fly.
"Stop running, bitch!" Big John roared. His every movement was heavy and brutal, like a machine went out of control. Lena kept her distance, knowing she couldn't block a single hit from that arm. Her speed was her only lifeline. But even with her focus locked on survival, fatigue was creeping in. Her enhanced legs could only carry her so long before his power overwhelmed her.
That was when Xiao Yun moved.
"Heyaa!!!" From behind, the black-haired girl dashed into the fray, fist clenching. She struck fast, aiming at the joints of Big John's meaty leg, trying to break his stance but the attack barely staggered him.
Big John turned toward her, eyes flaring with rage, his mind filled with bloodlust.
"You little...!"
He swung his Murasame arm in a wide, furious arc. The blade screamed through the air, fast—too fast. Lena's heart skipped a beat as she saw the deadly swing cutting toward Xiao Yun's side, the edge tracing a perfect line right where her stomach was. Lena open her mouth but can't even scream, Xiao Yun was going to be cut in half right in front of her.
For a split second, time froze. The air trembled from the force of the swing, and the only sound was the high-pitched whine of the Murasame's motor, hungry for blood.
"Oh no you don't!"
Clang.
Everything happened in a flash. From behind Xiao Yun, a man suddenly leapt between her and Big John. His left arm wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her down on her back, while his right leg shot up in a precise kick that struck the joint of Big John's mechanical arm, forcing it upward. The massive blade sliced through the air, inches away just above them, so close they could feel the wind brush their faces.
Before their backs even touched the ground, both of them moved in perfect sync—hands pressing to the floor, bodies twisting as they flipped backward to their feet in flawless coordination.
Xiao Yun stared at the man who had just saved her life. His face was unfamiliar, yet something in his calm smile, the steadiness of his movement, and the way he carried himself felt… nostalgic. It reminded her of her grandfather, of the old days in the dojo, of discipline and warmth.
"Who are you?" she murmured, her heart still racing.
The man met her eyes, his expression soft yet firm.
"Your senior brother," Kang said with a smile.