Cyberpunk: Ultimate Cyborg System-Chapter 582: Black Skull. (Part Fourteen)

Scalding water hissed as it rained from above, falling down on the unmoving body and washing the scars littering its front and back. The hands it pressed against the wall lacked skin and muscle, appearing like sharpened bones carved from metal. The arms connecting to it were no different, painting the image of a corpse that had its flesh stripped away.

Its legs still retained theirs, but the fresh wounds covering them gave the impression that it could fall off at any moment.

The dried blood had long since been washed, yet the water continued to pour, rendering the skin red as it tried to burn it off. Nevertheless, even with the temperature raised to the max, the safety measures enforced by strict regulations made it impossible to scald oneself in one of those showers.

A faint beep accompanied the appearance of a notification. The water reserved for the day had been consumed, requiring an additional purchase to extend the shower. Few would bother doing so once it got to this point, so they either get out and go on with their life, or they stand there and continue contemplating it.

[Two hundred fifty one. That was the number of victims caught in what the news dubbed as the worst terrorist attacks Neo-Vatra had ever seen. Five were members of a local gang, presumably hired as security guards. Another twelve were the staff on night shift—caretakers hired to look after the building’s residents. The remaining two hundred thirty four were underage children. Among them, two third had tragically lost their lives. The rest were rushed to the nearest hospital in critical conditions. Though everything has been done to keep them alive, their survival still hangs on a thin thread. Even if they managed to keep going, the injuries they suffered would insure that they never have a normal life.

The perpetrators of the attack had not been identified, and their motives remains a mystery. The targeted facility had been an unofficial shelter waiting for the city to approve its legal status. With its occupants being mostly children, one can only wonder what kind of evil would-]

With a thought, Dante closed the screen floating before his sight. The chill rolling over his skin was becoming harder to ignore, and the lies spread by those who claim to be the protectors of truth were like flint scattering sparks around a very short fuse.

They know both the motive and the identity of the perpetrators, yet they still feigen ignorance. Truth brings with it a lot of uncomfortable questions, and whoever is paying for the spreading of lies had no intention of answering them.

Once the hospital staff were done moving the survivors, Dante closed the portal and turned to face the worlds strongest. By that point, the rest of Flame Guard had joined him, and they all stood on one side, tension rising as they stared the blue power suit down.

For a few very long minutes, Dante didn’t move from his spot and just stood there. The heroes didn’t act, however. They kept their guard up and prepared to engage, but it didn’t seem like they planned to throw the first punch.

Whatever their reason was, Dante didn’t bother to ask it. He teleported away, leaving the country entirely. If he had stayed there for one more minute, he would have likely exploded. Dropping in the middle of the ocean, he removed his armor and let the waves take him in whatever direction they liked. Despite the low temperature, his mind refused to cool down.

The darkness had already consumed his thoughts, and all he could do was try to stop it from affecting his actions that struggle was futile, however. No matter how much he tried, there was no stopping it at this point. All he could do was delay the inevitable.

A message reached him at one point. Riot reported that the bounty hunters had retreated after his disappearance. The big guy managed to knock out a few of them, so they had a few prisoners to interrogate.

Dante couldn’t care less about the fodder. The Shirogane assassins wouldn’t have been caught so easily, but it was unclear whether they were still in the city. If their goal was to kill him, then they were bound to show themselves sooner rather than later.

With that in mind, Dante sent a couple messages and teleported to his apartment’s replica, then opened a portal to his real apartment. The reply arrived soon after he was done with his shower, and a few minutes later, the door bell rang.

A blue haired beauty came in. The grim expression she wore told him that she knew about what happened, but she elected not to bring it up.

"Marie?"

"She’s safe." Suzuka replied. "Grandma knows how to deal with Silent Breath users, so you don’t have to worry."

A relieved sigh escaped Dante, and for a moment there, his body most all its strength. Examining himself, he realized the weakness hadn’t spread through his entire body as it had felt. Only his lower half, which still retained its flesh and bone, was influenced by the exhaustion plaguing his mind.

Gathering the fingers of his bionic right hand, he hit his leg one, then twice. The pangs of pain he felt warned of the damage he was causing to himself, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop. As she watched from the side, Suzuka’s expression darkened, but her moth remained sealed. Finally managing to reclaim his senses, Dante restrained himself and turned to look at the box she had brought in.

"Is this it?"

"Yeah," the blue haired beauty replied. "I tried finishing them much earlier, but..." sighing, she shook her head. "Sorry, I... couldn’t make it in time..."

"No..." closing his eyes, Dante shook his head slowly. "You have nothing to apologize for."

He walked over and placed his hand on the box, sending it to his Storage. Threads of light erupted from his body and surrounded his skeletal arms, changing their shape and size. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

As he Equipped one of his jackets, Suzuka walked over and held something up to him. Staring at it for a moment, Dante hesitantly reached out and took it.

"I have improved on the design. It’s abilities might be limited, but it’s better than having to wear a suit or a cloak the entire time."

The item she handed him looked familiar, and it took him a moment to recall where he had last seen it. The segmented plating and other components gave it a clean mechanical feel, but the design gave the impression of an item one would find buried in the ruins of s castle on an island nation in the east. The crimson coating, the sharp fangs, and long knife-like horns. All of it gave the item a truly ominous feel, and as he continued to stare at it, Dante realized it was the same mask the blue demons he once fought had.

"I know where the Shirogane clan resides." Suzuka said. "If you want me to take you there, just ask."