Chapter 455 - 427: Walking in the Rain

Iron Soldiers were a type of armored robot, perhaps less agile than humans, but their powerful propulsion allowed them to carry an ample amount of weaponry and sufficiently tough armor to be immune from most small arms and blast damage.

Atlas also needed similarly armed units, even in Night City with its prominent reputation, Lille had to ensure he wouldn’t get shot in the back.

Adkaduo also needed these things for line running.

"Big brother Jack!" Jostar yelled as he chased Mackinaw in a small van, sticking his head out and shouting, "We’re coming up on 20–56 Erlen Street!"

Here, there were far fewer people, and no prostitutes either.

As the shady corners became more frequent, the encircling advance slowed considerably, and people could sense an unusual atmosphere in the air...

Especially since there were fewer cars here, Mackinaw had simply covered up with a shell, but if one looked closely, one could still see what the people inside were doing.

Szzz—

In the back of the van, Jack continually heard the light sounds of welding, the collision of armor fitting together, and the buzzing of gears and motors working in coordination...

The flashing lights and blinding glare of the welder alternated before his eyes as he watched pieces of armor being affixed and one power system after another coming online, his heart pumping more Lizard Serum, strength surging...

This was literally a boy’s dream come true.

[Name: XS-1 Power Exoskeleton (Semi-Framework)]

[Description: After long-term research and practice, the strength of graphene-alloy composite materials used as structural components has been proven reliable.

We have also successfully reversed engineered the armor-piercing alloy used in the Scorpion Battle Suit and achieved mass production, a very costly, but widely useful super-hard alloy.

The XS-1 Power Exoskeleton elevates the overall construction of the exoskeleton to a higher level with a more stable framework, more powerful propulsion, larger physique, and greater weapon compatibility.

However, there is an issue: to ensure that the user’s consciousness is not distorted by this great power, it would be best to provide them with more comprehensive training, or, get them to use the latest version of the second-generation prosthetics.]

[Remarks: The prototype version is adapted for Jack’s prosthetics usage with a semi-framework structure. Some energy will come from the Lizard Fury component, with no weapon interfaces on the upper body.]

[Function: Active Defense System, Power Engine Ammunition Feed Structure]

"Mano... Come on, tell me the truth, did you really make this thing with your own hands?"

Szzz—Click.

The torque wrench in the center of the Octopus Arm extended from a crack, while the other Octopus Arm forcefully closed it, the lock retracting.

The last module was installed.

Bang, bang.

"Otherwise, what? You were awake, right?" Lille playfully tapped Jack’s transparent helmet with his Octopus Arm, "What’s wrong? Got a problem believing it?"

"Mano... I don’t know how to explain it, this feeling..."

Lille smiled, his Octopus Arms unlocking the final safety latch, the entire mechanism, including the scorching weight of the joints, was released under the effect of gravity—

Jack felt for the first time since using Lizard Fury that sensation he had missed!

That power surged from his heart, spreading through his limbs and entire body!

The formerly somewhat heavy and inflexible fiery joint gloves suddenly felt light, and his stance no longer felt shaky, allowing him to...

Throw a punch like a boxer once again, rather than flying up to elbow someone.

Whoosh—

Jack swung his fist fiercely, and Mackinaw’s front end suddenly tipped up, thankfully V quickly pulled the handbrake...

Bang.

"What are you two messing around with back there!" V leaned out of the window, irritably slapping the side of the van.

"Accident! It was an accident!" Jack tilted his head and then turned back to Lille with a mischievous grin, "Mano..."

Jack suddenly stopped—

They had just driven past a building. NCPD police were still conducting a floor-by-floor search, but Jack, who had just activated the enemy-tracking feature in his helmet, spotted someone on one of the floors raising a rocket launcher and a sniper rifle...

They were the targets!

Whoosh—

In the dark streets, the rocket launcher’s flare glowed like a tiny sun completely overshadowing the intermittently bright street lamps, and bullets were hidden within!

The joy Jack felt having just put on his armor was overshadowed by urgency: he was in armor, Lille was not!

No matter how brilliant a brain might be, a single shot could burst it open like a watermelon!

[Active Defense Engaged]

A line of small text popped up in the HUD in front of Jack, but he didn’t notice it at all.

Several small holes in the armed backpack on his armor opened up, and tiny, fast bombs shot out!

Jack stomped his foot, intending to protect Lille, but he was still too slow compared to the bullets...

Boom!

The bombs fired from the storehouse exploded simultaneously in mid-air, creating a circular explosion screen of shockwaves and flames, which seemed to form an invisible wall!

The first wall blocked the bullets that were about to hit Lille and the car, imparting lateral momentum to the bullets, which then whizzed past the two of them along with the fragments!

A second wave of explosions followed, completely detonating the rockets at a higher altitude!

Bang!

The front of Mackinaw’s car suddenly reared up and then slammed down.

Under the cover of the firelight, the Octopus Arm patted Jack on the shoulder.

"Time to get out and do what you’re best at."

Jack got the message, bent his legs, stored up power, and stared intently at the dispersing smoke...

Boom!

The two-meter-tall giant armor leaped up, the jet fans on both elbows and shins working in unison, shocking onlookers as he soared five meters high and smashed a fist into the building!

But the Mackinaw underneath him wasn’t so lucky; that jump directly broke the car’s chassis, and after the front lifted, it never came down again.

"Damn!" V slapped the steering wheel hard—

It clearly wasn’t drivable anymore!

"Ah!!"

Bang!

A Scavenger was flung out of the building and onto the wall of the building opposite, the immense force sticking him to the wall!

"What a monster, damn it!"

The horrific scream and sight abruptly woke everyone up!

From a dark corner tremulous cries emerged, bullets and hand grenades flying everywhere, a battle ready to erupt at any moment!

Bullets rained from the still unoccupied front, the Octopus Arm picked up a broken piece of Mackinaw as a shield, using two octopus limbs as legs, swiftly made it to the front of the car—

Only then did V inside the car just manage to pull out a gun, contemplating his escape route.

Lille yanked open the car door, "Get out, quick!"

"At least you’ve got some conscience..."

V suddenly laughed, aiming the gun at the enemy while keeping one hand on Lille’s shoulder—

As the trigger was pulled, a curious thought suddenly crossed V’s mind:

Wealthy people’s chauffeurs always hold an umbrella for them when they get out of the car...

I’ve never had someone hold an umbrella for me in the rain, but could this be what it feels like?

The hail of bullets seemed like the unrelenting rain of Night City, pattering on the metal, explosions blooming like fireworks, the reflection in the scope glittering like crystals in the rain...

A row of bullets shot through the gaps in the shield, and two Scavengers about to pull the pins of their grenades fell in response.

Jack reached out from between the buildings, his massive armored gauntlet magnetically clinging to the wall, he pulled hard, and a large chunk of concrete was dislodged, crushing the head of another unfortunate soul.

The NCPD, the Moxes, and people in the alleys crazily exchanged fire, a firefight typical of long durations...

But this time, three figures moved swiftly through the rain of bullets, rapidly advancing the frontline.

The ceaseless gunfire, bullets, explosions, falling limbs and bodies, the giant cyborg furiously tearing buildings apart...

Two figures walking in the rain.

Hanging onto Lille, V whispered, "This is the first time someone’s held an umbrella for me."

The sound was just soft enough to be drowned out by the rain.