Immediately after, all the energy weapons fired simultaneously!
Dozens of blue energy beams wove into an inescapable net, sealing off all of Kyo's escape routes!
"Damn it!"
Kyo roared, pushing his flame power to the limit, forming a wall of fire to try to block them.
But it was useless!
Those blue energy beams seemed naturally suited to counter his flames, easily piercing through the fire wall and slamming into his body!
"ARGH—!"
Kyo screamed. His entire body went numb, and the power within him seemed locked by something, completely unable to mobilize!
"Kyo!" Yuki screamed in terror.
"Run... run!" Kyo used his last strength to push Yuki away. "Don't worry about me! Find Cloud!"
Then his vision went black as he lost consciousness completely.
In the final second before blacking out, the last thought that flashed through his mind was—
"Damn! I should have... listened to that guy Cloud..."
...
Several more months passed.
South Town, seaside, abandoned dock.
Cloud looked at the military tablet Heidern had handed him. On the screen, hundreds of videos showed "Clone Kyos" causing chaos around the globe, making his blood pressure spike.
"I knew it..." He sighed helplessly, rubbing his forehead. "Flags really shouldn't be raised carelessly. That guy is a textbook example of not listening to warnings."
He'd clearly warned him back then, yet he still got captured and turned into "cloning material."
Sigh, I'm not actually a god. The "inertia" of the main storyline sometimes really can't be completely changed.
"According to our analysis!" Heidern's voice was extremely grave. "Someone is using Kyo Kusanagi's genes to mass-produce clones! And attempting to... overturn the entire world order! Behind them is a massive technological organization!"
Just then, the system notification chimed in Cloud's mind!
[Ding! Major world-line deviation detected! Main Quest triggered!]
[Main Quest: The Steel Nest]
[Quest Background: A mysterious organization called NESTS is attempting to create gods through cutting-edge biotechnology. Originally, their target was you, but because you defeated Orochi, they don't dare act rashly against you. So they stole Kyo Kusanagi's genes, mass-produced clones, and are using this as a foundation for even crazier experiments.]
[Phase 1 Objective: Investigate the mastermind behind the clone incident and locate NESTS's true headquarters.]
[Quest Reward: Source Points ×150,000.]
[Failure Penalty: One random harem member's affection resets to zero and enters blackened state.]
Looking at this quest, especially that absolutely "psychotic" failure penalty—
Cloud's gaze turned completely cold.
He slowly raised his head, looking at the tablet screen showing all those clones wearing Kyo's face doing various idiotic things.
Only one thought remained in his mind.
"Kyo Kusanagi, oh Kyo Kusanagi... you've really... caused me a huge headache."
"Looks like cleaning up your mess is my job again."
"NESTS..."
His lips curved into a cold, reaper-like smile.
"Very good."
"You've successfully... caught my attention."
...
South Town, late night, abandoned industrial district.
The moon shone pale, casting the rust-covered steel pipes and abandoned factories into grotesque shadows.
This was the city's scar, a legal blind spot, and also... a breeding ground for evil.
Tonight, a chase between technology and flame would unfold here.
"—BOOM!!!"
A thick concrete wall was smashed open by violent force!
A massive, mobile-fortress-like metal figure burst through the gap, cradling a young man in black leather with red hair.
It was Maxima and K'.
"K'! Are you okay?!" Maxima's electronically synthesized voice was filled with anxiety. His armor was covered in burn marks and gashes, clearly having been through a fierce battle.
"Cough... cough... I'll live." K' coughed twice, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
On his right hand wearing a red glove, an unstable crimson flame flickered on and off.
His eyes were filled with irritation, unwillingness, and a deep confusion.
Just moments ago, they had destroyed a NESTS secret base in South Town, trying to find clues about K's past.
But what awaited them wasn't truth—it was endless pursuers.
And a "new product" that filled them with despair.
"Warning! High energy signature detected! Target approaching rapidly!" The radar in Maxima's helmet blared a piercing alarm.
"Tch, these annoying flies!" K' spat, forcibly suppressing his injuries. The flames on his right hand blazed again.
Just then, dozens of blue laser beams shot from the darkness behind them like rain, cutting off all their escape routes!
Following that, modified soldiers in white skintight combat suits with insect-like compound eye masks surrounded them.
These modified soldiers moved swiftly with seamless coordination, like emotionless killing machines.
Leading them was a tall man with long silver hair wearing a bizarre mask.
"K', the defector." The masked man's voice was cold and mechanical. "By organization's highest directive, you are to be recovered."
"Recovered?" K' sneered. "By you... failed copies?"
"Whether we're failures, you'll soon find out."
The moment the masked man finished speaking, all the modified soldiers' eyes flashed red as they attacked simultaneously!
A brutal siege began once more!
...
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