This was reality, not a game. Putting on a skin did not instantly change someone's stats or strength. Even wearing her older sister's combat suit, Celine could not last long. After begging for mercy, she fell asleep.
District 25, early morning.
Beneath the morning sunlight, this cyberpunk city district revealed its distinctive appearance. Towering skyscrapers, intricate networks of pipes, flickering neon lights, and drones weaving through the sky formed a picture of a futuristic metropolis.
The streets bustled with traffic and people. Maglev cars sped along, leaving trails of light and shadow, while driverless buses stopped punctually at their stations. Passengers converged from every direction, some looking down at the transparent screens in their hands, others talking to the virtual assistants in their glasses.
At the end of this street stood an enormous holographic billboard, playing all manner of advertisements and news to supply the city with information. Beneath it stood a futuristic office building, a landmark of District 25. Every day, countless people entered it to begin their work.
It looked as though the district had never been attacked at all. The earlier Space-Based Weapon seemed like nothing more than an illusion, leaving the people of District 25 utterly unaffected.
In an office at the Alt Conglomerate, Jonas sat in his office chair, enjoying his breakfast.
The lamb chops had a deep brown hue, like skin gently kissed by the sun, full of natural appeal. Each chop had been cut neatly to the same size and a uniform shape, like a row of exquisite little hills that made one want to explore further.
Their surfaces had been roasted to perfection, golden brown and thoroughly enticing. The grain of each lamb chop was clearly visible, like a unique mark bestowed by nature, while the edges had been lightly browned, creating