After leaving the Afterlife Bar, David, Jack, and Lucy strolled along the neon-lit streets of Night City.
Jack, a little buzzed from the drinks, chuckled as he walked beside them. "Hey, David, let's head to your place and crack open a few more beers. Also, you gotta teach me more of those tricks for winning Misty over—seriously, that move from earlier worked like a charm!"
David and Lucy exchanged amused glances.
"Yeah, we'll see," David replied with a laugh.
The trio continued through the bustling streets, their footsteps echoing against the pavement. As they turned into a narrow alley, the atmosphere shifted. The distant hum of traffic faded, replaced by the faint rustle of leaves stirred by the night breeze.
David's laughter trailed off as his expression hardened. His instincts flared, and without thinking, his observation haki—his "hearing and seeing" ability—activated. His awareness expanded, sweeping through the alley and the surrounding area.
Hidden in the shadows, multiple figures lingered, their presence faint but unmistakable.
"What the—?" David's eyes narrowed. This setup... it's just like the last time Lucy and I got ambushed.
"Lucy, Jack—stay sharp," David warned. His tone left no room for doubt. "We've got rats hiding in the dark."
"Rats?" Jack blinked, still slightly tipsy. "Pfft, come on, David. The only rats around here are the cockroach-sized ones—"
CRACK!
A gunshot echoed through the alley, splitting the night air.
"Jack, move!" David shouted, shoving Jack aside.
The bullet smashed into the stone wall where Jack had been standing, leaving a smoking hole in the concrete.
"Shit!" Jack swore, adrenaline instantly sobering him up. He pulled his pistol from his waistband and ducked behind a stack of crates. "Who the hell's taking shots at us?!"
"Thermal readings up ahead—multiple hostiles!" Lucy called out. Her blue cyber-optic eyes glowed red as they scanned the darkness.
Their attackers remained hidden, but David knew exactly who they were.
Tyger Claws…
"So those bastards are still after us, huh?" Jack muttered, peeking from behind cover.
"Yeah... and they've come prepared." David's gaze swept the alley as he processed the situation. His haki mapped out every hostile in the vicinity. On a nearby rooftop, a sniper adjusted his aim, preparing for another shot.
"Careful—they've got a sniper on overwatch," David warned.
"Well, we can't sit here and wait to get picked off!" Jack growled.
"Give me a bullet!" David called suddenly.
Jack blinked. "A what?"
"A bullet—just trust me!"
Though confused, Jack quickly tossed David a spare round from his pocket. David caught it and focused his magnetic powers. The bullet hovered above his palm, vibrating as electromagnetic energy charged through it.
On the rooftop, the Tyger Claw sniper loaded another round into his rifle, the faint green glow of his night vision lens gleaming through the darkness.
BOOM!
The sniper fired.
But this time, David was ready. His observation haki outlined the bullet's trajectory before it even left the barrel. With a flick of his wrist, David launched the charged bullet from his palm.
WHOOSH!
The projectile zipped through the air faster than the eye could see, colliding with the sniper's rifle muzzle just as the Tyger Claw pulled the trigger.
KABOOM!
The sniper rifle exploded in the sniper's hands. The force hurled him backward, his body crashing against the rooftop with a sickening thud. Smoke and sparks rose from the mangled remains of the rifle as the sniper lay motionless.
"Bullseye!" Jack whooped.
"Let's move before more show up!" David ordered.
"Move?!" Jack barked. "There's only one way out of this alley, and you can bet they've got it locked down!"
"No choice—we push through!"
Without hesitation, David sprinted forward, Lucy and Jack close behind.
At the alley's exit, more Tyger Claws emerged from the shadows—at least a dozen of them, armed with pistols, shotguns, and katana swords. Their black outfits bore the fluorescent tiger emblem of their gang.
"Damn it, these guys again!" Jack snarled.
"Go, go, go!" one of the Tyger Claws shouted.
The gang members charged without hesitation, their blades gleaming beneath the neon haze. Yet David instantly noticed something unusual—their weapons weren't made of metal.
"Non-metal weapons…" David muttered. Smart. They know about my magnetic abilities.
Jack opened fire, his pistol barking as he took down two gang members in quick succession. Lucy moved with speed and grace, her mantis blades slicing through the air as she cut down another attacker.
"David, watch out!" Lucy shouted.
A katana-wielding Tyger Claw lunged from David's left. Without thinking, David twisted aside, dodging the blade by a hair's breadth. He countered with a swift punch to the gut, enhanced by his magnetic abilities to deliver bone-crushing force. The gang member collapsed with a wheeze.
Another attacker closed in from behind, brandishing a carbon-composite baton designed to bypass David's magnetic manipulation.
CRACK!
David spun and slammed his elbow into the thug's jaw, knocking him flat.
"Keep moving—we've gotta break through!" David shouted.
But before they could push forward, a new figure stepped into the alleyway—a tall man with sharp, angular features, his eyes glinting with malicious intent.
Zhumushan Zhengguchi.
"Ah… so you're David," the Tyger Claw leader sneered. "I've heard a lot about you. You've caused my gang quite a bit of trouble."
"I'm just returning the favor," David shot back.
Zhumushan smirked. "Let's see how well your metal tricks work when you're outnumbered and surrounded." He clapped his hands, signaling the rest of his gang.
From the rooftops above, additional Tyger Claws appeared, armed with bows, crossbows, and projectile weapons designed to bypass David's abilities.
"Archers now? Seriously?!" Jack growled.
"Stay close and keep moving!" David commanded.
The Tyger Claws unleashed a volley of arrows and bolts. Using his observation haki, David anticipated their trajectories and dodged the incoming projectiles with inhuman precision. He deflected one arrow mid-air with a quick swipe of his arm, using his magnetic powers to subtly alter its course.
Lucy ducked and weaved through the barrage, while Jack fired relentlessly, covering their advance.
But Zhumushan was already closing in. He moved with alarming speed, drawing a short katana from his waist—crafted from advanced carbon fiber to render David's magnetic powers useless.
With a swift slash, Zhumushan forced David to leap back. The Tyger Claw leader pressed forward, his strikes swift and precise, each swing designed to force David into a corner.
"You're fast," David admitted, dodging another slice.
"I've trained for this moment," Zhumushan replied, his grin widening. "Let's see how long you can last without your powers."
The two clashed in a flurry of blows. Though David couldn't manipulate Zhumushan's weapon, he still used his enhanced strength and reflexes to keep pace. Their fight became a blur of motion—blades clashing, fists flying, and sparks flying from the impact of metal against stone.
"David, hurry up!" Jack shouted. "More of 'em are coming!"
"Go! I'll catch up!" David called back.
"Like hell we're leaving you!" Jack growled.
Lucy nodded, stepping beside David with her mantis blades gleaming in the neon light.
"Fine… let's finish this together," David said with a determined grin.
Their combined assault forced Zhumushan onto the defensive. David's fists, Lucy's blades, and Jack's gunfire created a relentless onslaught that the Tyger Claw leader struggled to counter.
Realizing he was outmatched, Zhumushan snarled and threw a smoke grenade at the ground, creating a cloud of thick, choking vapor.
"Coward!" Jack shouted, coughing as the smoke engulfed them.
By the time the smoke cleared, Zhumushan had vanished, leaving only the faint sound of footsteps echoing through the alley.
"Damn it! He got away!" Jack cursed.
"Forget him—we need to get out of here before more show up!" David urged.
Without hesitation, the trio sprinted down the alley and emerged onto the main street. Neon lights and distant sirens greeted them as they vanished into the night, their pursuers left behind in the darkness.
Though the fight was over, David knew this was only the beginning. The Tyger Claws wouldn't stop until they settled the score—and next time, they'd come back stronger.
But David wasn't afraid.
Because now, he was ready for them.
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