In Watson District, Lier and Muramasa's information-layer battle had burned out vast swathes of circuitry. A few lights showed through the darkness, and people who had prepared ahead of time began using their backup power supplies.
With the annoying advertisements of the past and the dazzling light pollution gone, the streets felt a little deserted.
But there were only fewer people.
In contrast, a terrifying sound echoed through the district--
Clack clack clack clack clack clack--
Bang!
A four-legged robot with absolutely no sense of design sprinted around the corner at high speed. Two of its legs clung to the wall, while the other two skidded across the ground.
Its extreme speed and sheer weight kept both the walls and the ground from staying intact. The four-legged war machine left a series of horrible gouges in their surfaces, then nonchalantly crushed the cars parked along the street!
Muramasa's huge hands also swiftly stripped the cars of their fuel tanks, engines, and other parts, gradually refining its design.
The four-legged war machine was becoming faster and faster.
Stronger.
There were two voices in Muramasa's head. One told it that it should take the opportunity to run and look for another way out of Night City, saving its own life.
The other told it that even if it ran, they would catch up sooner or later. This was humanity's stronghold, and it wouldn't get away. It had to win this confrontation.
Humans searched for meaning and became lost. Sometimes AIs did too, though that was usually called a self-check.
But now, Muramasa didn't perform that unnecessary self-check. Both thoughts echoed in its head, and it chose to act on the second one.
The Legendary Mackinaw was just ahead. The final battle was about to begin--
The four-legged war machine was primitive and