Everyone said the battlefield was a meat grinder.
But that saying did not apply to Smasher.
As far as he was concerned, everyone else was the meat. He was the grinder.
After leaving the battlefield and taking up mercenary work, Smasher thrived in Night City, crushing the competition as though he belonged to an entirely different league.
His methods were vicious and brutal, which only deepened everyone's fear of him.
Even after he joined Arasaka and vanished from public view.
He rarely appeared before the world anymore.
Yet his reputation never faded.
Instead, he became something akin to an urban legend.
"Su, take V and run. Leave this to me."
Beads of sweat covered Jack's forehead.
They mingled with the rain.
It was impossible to tell which drops were rain and which were sweat.
Jack wiped his face.
He did not know how long he could hold off a legend like Smasher.
But he knew he had to.
Even if he couldn't, he had to try.
If even one of them escaped, that would be enough.
Su Xiao and V had originally refused this big job.
He was the one who had insisted on dragging them into it.
As a man, he had to stand tall and take responsibility.
Suddenly, Jack felt a hand settle on his shoulder.
He froze for a moment.
Then turned his head.
At some point, Su Xiao had come to stand beside him.
Having a partner willing to stand with him through thick and thin at a time like this was truly precious.
But Jack did not want Su Xiao to do this.
"Su, what are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to take V and leave?"
"What kind of person do you take me for? I won't abandon any of my companions."
"I