"Domo, Blade Iron Ninja desu."
"Domo, Death Ninja desu."
A routine mutual greeting, both revealing their ninja names—a formidable foe!
Lucy wielded her monomolecular wire, enveloped in orange light—Cherry Blossom Reinforcement Technique!
Takemura, as Saburo Arasaka's personal bodyguard, was the epitome of unwavering loyalty, one of the few Arasaka could truly trust.
Over the years, Saburo Arasaka had relentlessly pursued ninja power, and the Ninja Soul within him was one of his rare gains.
It was a legendary cursed blade 'Beppin' discovered in an ancient Egyptian ruin.
After obtaining it, Takemura was coincidentally possessed by the Blade Iron Ninja's Ninja Soul, becoming Saburo Arasaka's true trump card.
His lifelong combat training, indomitable will, innate talent combined with effort, and the unbreakable cursed blade 'Beppin' made him a terrifying ninja.
"I'll give you one last chance, Miss Lucy. There's no need to let minor 'disagreements' escalate beyond reconciliation."
"Join Arasaka Technology, and with your (ninja) abilities, you'll hold a position second only to mine—one below all others, above ten thousand."
Saburo Arasaka tempted her once more, but subconsciously—no, deliberately—he avoided addressing a certain issue.
That was David's fate: gravely wounded, most bones shattered, Karate and strength utterly depleted, thrown from the top of Arasaka Tower.
He didn't believe David could survive, and moreover... he didn't want him to.
Even if saving David would better persuade Lucy, he refused! He refused to save a True Ninja!
The flames of jealousy, once ignited, were hard to extinguish. Saburo Arasaka was obsessed with True Ninjas; theoretically, the man who built Arasaka Technology shouldn't be so irrational.
But even an imperfect choice was fine—he had the confidence and power to forcibly control Lucy.
After over a century of toil, couldn't he indulge a little? David? No mercy!
The consequence of this was—
"I refuse."
The enmity of her husband's (?）killer was irreconcilable, and Lucy already despised Arasaka, so cooperation was impossible.
"Is that so." Saburo Arasaka had anticipated this, but he must obtain Lucy's power.
The cursed blade Beppin was unsheathed, an ominous aura enveloping Lucy. In an instant, she realized she was outmatched.
As a netrunner, combat wasn't her forte. Though she drew Death Ninja's ninjutsu and Karate, against such a strong foe, she had no chance of victory.
She was confident she could easily dispatch those so-called Cyber Biochemical Ninja · Experimental Models. Saburo Arasaka himself wouldn't be her match. But Takemura's sudden appearance made her understand the meaning of 'foundation.'
"If you're not cooperating, then I'll make you cooperate by force. Take her down, Takemura."
"Hai!"
As Takemura descended, Lucy launched her attack. Vast orange light spread as she reinforced her 'magnetic field'—her netrunning ability empowered by Karate energy!
Netrunning power combined with ninja strength, and finally... influence over the 'Word Spirit Space'!
This was a ability akin to the Lord's Virtual-to-Real Conversion Jutsu, only far more immature.
Takemura swung without hesitation. The orange light spelled danger, so he cleaved it all!
Lucy's unfinished technique prototype was effortlessly sliced by 'Beppin,' as was the monomolecular wire in her hand.
Even reinforced, it couldn't compare to Beppin. The immense force left Lucy utterly unable to resist.
Yet she wasn't overly panicked. On one hand, she knew Saburo Arasaka wouldn't truly kill her—he still needed her abilities.
On the other, after touching the 'Word Spirit Space,' she sensed a profound dissonance, realizing the existence of the Virtual-to-Real Conversion Jutsu!
The true mastermind wasn't Saburo Arasaka? She discovered he was merely a pawn; the real boss was someone else.
'Mufoofuofoo~'
Lucy's eyes flashed with 'Star Grail' and 'Zaibatsu Cinema,' its immense power nearly covering the entire Word Spirit Space, obscuring the mastermind's true face.
Everyone in Night City was influenced by this force. She had to do something...
Lucy's netrunning had undergone a qualitative leap. Aware of this, in the moment before her memories were distorted, she transmitted the relevant information outward.
In real space, Takemura had closed in on Lucy, slashing at her with hand as blade.
"Yeeart—"
No evasion—Lucy took the strike head-on. All her energy had been spent transmitting the intel.
Takemura, expecting a trap, felt solid feedback from his hand.
Lucy fell without suspense.
'Even Saburo Arasaka is just a pawn. How cruel and ironic—is this the ninja world?'
In the instant before blacking out, her gaze at Saburo Arasaka mixed hatred with a trace of pity.
Though Saburo Arasaka had successfully captured Lucy and his long-cherished wish was about to be fulfilled, he felt profound unease for some reason.
'Is it an illusion?'
...
...
Wind howled around his body in freefall. David had never been so exhausted; not a shred of power remained in him.
Arasaka Tower had over a hundred floors. Theoretically, the fall would take about ten seconds, but it felt interminably long to David.
His body plummeted: tens of meters, hundreds, thousands... He found himself engulfed in darkness.
His past flashed before him like a legendary lantern show. So, was he dying?
His ninja transformation was incomplete; David hadn't undergone the Flower Viewing Ritual. Strictly speaking, he wasn't a True Ninja, lacking qualification to enter Kinkaku.
So what was this place?
"This is hell, the underworld, the rift between the real and supernatural worlds—the 'Otherworld.'"
Sea of fire, river of blood, demons, even evil dragons—human legends of 'hellscapes' were actually glimpses into the underworld.
So he'd been killed and fallen into hell? David thought, then suddenly realized the voice was familiar.
"Schwarzer... Teacher..."
David didn't know how to address her, but he understood now: the 'training chip' was ninja inheritance.
"Call me whatever, David."
Her appearance meant the time was ripe. The Lord's scheme paired with his ninjutsu was powerful, but who could match Machine Ex Machina in 'scheming'?
Schwarzer anticipated the finale; it couldn't be the Lord's desired outcome.
"The most important thing now—is do you crave power, David?"
David's protagonist luck had been exhausted after becoming a legend. Fate maliciously let him fall to Adam Smasher.
But after David's death, a vengeful demon would be born.
________________________________________
Get rewarded for helping with our community goals!
🎯 Reward for all: +1 bonus chapter at 50 Powerstones.
🚀 Tier Reward: Help us reach 20 members for +5 chapters on all stories!
👻 Join the crew by searching Ms. Medusa on (P). You know the spot! 😉