You're Already Dead

"The client's stable. He suffered secondary injuries from the fall, but if reinforcements arrive in time, he can still be saved if we get him to a hospital."

The captain felt slightly relieved and used the communicator to contact headquarters for reinforcements.

Just then, a scream rang out.

Two katanas pierced the chest of a team member responsible for keeping watch.

The team member was lifted into the air, then the katanas pulled apart in opposite directions.

Splurt—

The team member's body was torn into four pieces.

Blood splashed all over the attacker.

The captain and the remaining team member's eyes widened.

A chill shot from their tailbones straight to the tops of their heads.

The reason their AV had crashed

was that this mercenary known as "the Ripper" had performed a double jump and landed on their AV before it had time to gain altitude.

The two pilots had been unable to react and were stabbed to death in the cockpit.

That was what had led to the current situation.

And now, the bastard had caught up with them again?

"Open fire!"

The captain and the remaining team member no longer hesitated. They raised their guns and fired.

Trauma Team used Smart Weapons exclusively.

And only the top-tier weapons manufacturers could produce Smart Weapons.

Most of the bullets struck the target.

Yet the target did not fall.

"How is that possible?!"

The two stared in stunned disbelief.

Then the remaining team member seemed to think of something.

"That lunatic definitely has Subdermal Armor and Berserk Cyberware implanted throughout his body!"

As its name suggested, Subdermal Armor was armor installed beneath the skin that provided resistance to damage.

When struck, Subdermal Armor would briefly turn into a gel, neutralizing the impact of bullets.

Then it would solidify instantly, trapping the bullets inside.

Subdermal Armor came in various models. The best models had the strongest defenses and were the most resistant to damage.

Berserk Cyberware, meanwhile, belonged to the same category as Sandevistan: military-grade cyberware.

If Sandevistan was acceleration cyberware, then the effect of Berserk Cyberware was equally straightforward.

It made people berserk.

Entering a berserk state greatly enhanced strength and resilience while further increasing resistance to damage.

The team member who had just issued the warning was caught off guard when the Ripper appeared right in front of him. His head was split open like a watermelon, his brain matter and blood mixing with the torrential rain.

Standing beside the corpse, the Ripper was completely drenched by the curtain of rain.

Slowly, he revealed a cruel smile.

He raised the bloodstained blade in his right hand and pointed it at the captain and the female medic, who had crawled out after hearing the commotion.

It was as if he were saying—

"That leaves just you two."

In such a short time, four team members had been lost.

Fear spread like a plague.

It clutched the hearts of the captain and the female medic.

They could barely breathe.

The captain gritted his teeth and shielded the female medic with his body.

"Nadia, take the client and get out of here. I'll hold her off."

"No, Dobbs!"

"Go! Or it'll be too late!"

Nadia gave the captain a deep look, then turned and climbed into the AV, dragging the client away into the distance.

The captain swiftly replaced his magazine.

He aimed at the Ripper and pulled the trigger.

The Ripper was like a cheetah sprinting through the rain. Most of the bullets struck his body, only to be squeezed aside and deflected after hitting his Subdermal Armor.

As the two katanas drew closer and closer, the captain did not think of himself.

He only hoped Nadia could escape.

Just as the captain realized he had no hope of surviving, several Flashbang Grenades suddenly came flying over.

Blinding white light filled his vision.

The Ripper reflexively shut his eyes.

The two katanas still hacked toward the captain's position based on the memory in his mind.

But this time, they struck nothing.

His body also pitched forward with the momentum.

The Ripper jolted and hurriedly adjusted his posture.

Then he wildly swung his katanas in every direction.

But he felt them strike nothing.

Only after his vision recovered did he see clearly.

Su Xiao had dragged the captain away, saving his life.

The Ripper's ocular implants were not authentic Chirol products, but knockoffs obtained from the black market.

Although they were not genuine, this overclocked modification had an effect comparable to the real thing.

Of course, the consequence was that it could cause irreversible aftereffects to the body.

When the Ripper realized that Su Xiao had ruined his good deed,

the mocking expression he had worn while toying with his prey like a cat was gone.

It had been replaced by wariness and caution.

You're Already Dead

"You're looking to die?"

"No, you're looking to die. You nearly got my people killed, you know?"

If this mercenary had not stabbed the Trauma Team pilots to death, the AV would not have crashed.

If Su Xiao had been even a moment slower back then, Lucy would have become Lucy paste.

Saving these two members of Trauma Team was merely incidental.

Su Xiao's main objective was to make sure he did not let this mercenary who had nearly killed Lucy off the hook.

The Ripper stuck out his tongue and licked the katana stained with blood and rainwater.

Then he suddenly pushed off with his right foot, sending water splashing from the ground as his entire body shot toward Su Xiao like a cannonball.

Su Xiao did not back down either. He charged forward to meet him.

Three katanas collided in a crisscrossing clash, ringing out with the sound of metal striking metal.

The Ripper swung his two katanas into a whirlwind. Even the air was torn apart, emitting a sharp, mournful shriek.

Although Su Xiao had not implanted Berserk Cyberware,

he had invested the Potential Points earned from his recent commissions into his skills.

With the bonuses from "Blade Mastery LV5," "Dodge LV5," "Block LV5," and the Power Gauntlets worn on both hands, he was not at a disadvantage in the slightest.

Not only did he block or dodge every one of the Ripper's attacks, but he also responded with equally fierce counterattacks.

Suddenly, the Ripper gripped a katana in each hand and slashed toward both sides of Su Xiao's neck.

Su Xiao ducked beneath the attack, allowing the katanas to carry away a few strands of his hair.

Then he drew a blade flash and slashed toward the Ripper's waist and abdomen.

Subdermal Armor could withstand the impact of bullets, but it certainly could not face the edge of a katana head-on.

The Ripper's body suddenly jerked backward like a tightly drawn bow.

Only then did he barely evade the slash and avoid being disemboweled.

The Ripper hurriedly retreated, trying to create some distance.

But Su Xiao's pursuit arrived immediately.

The two were already close to each other. Su Xiao took one step forward, then swung his blade and reached his target.

The Ripper raised his blade to block.

He stopped the attack.

But the arm of his other hand suddenly warped, revealing a dark gun muzzle.

Bang!

A bullet burst from the barrel and shot toward Su Xiao.

The Ripper revealed a cruel smile.

"You're already dea—What?!"

Under the Ripper's disbelieving gaze,

Su Xiao released his left hand from Muramasa and raised his arm horizontally in front of him.

The bullet struck the Power Gauntlet.

A streak of dazzling sparks scraped across its surface.

Su Xiao withdrew Muramasa with the momentum and thrust his blade again.

Muramasa transformed into a streak of light and stabbed toward the Ripper's head.

The Ripper had not expected Su Xiao to block even this move. He hurriedly turned his head aside.

He barely dodged it.

But Muramasa still left a wound across the Ripper's face.

Blood streamed down.

A vicious glint flashed across the Ripper's face.

Ignoring everything else, he savagely slashed both blades toward Su Xiao's chest and abdomen.

He was gambling.

He was gambling on whether his head would fall first or Su Xiao would be cut in half first.

If Su Xiao flinched, there was no way he could block everything.

Su Xiao had only one blade, while he had two.

"You want us both to get hurt? Who would want to get hurt alongside you?"

Seeing through the Ripper's intentions, Su Xiao withdrew Muramasa.