Cyberpunk Patriarch

Amidst the chaos, Arthur spotted a towering figure cutting through the crowd. The man was built like a beast, his muscles rivaling those in the Animal Gang.

Placid.

Arthur smirked. So, instead of selling chickens at the market, you're lurking in an underground tunnel now?

The peace treaty was long gone. There was no point in negotiations.

As far as Arthur was concerned, Placid needed to die.

Without him, Maman and the other Voodoo Boys would be nothing but a bunch of netrunners, vulnerable and exposed. If they wanted revenge, they'd have to think twice before picking a fight with him.

Arthur's cybernetic legs activated, propelling him forward like a bullet.

Before Placid could react, Arthur lunged, his mantis blade glowing red as it sliced toward Placid's waist.

A Battle of Blades

Placid wasn't just muscle—he was fast.

Instead of dodging, he whipped out a massive butcher knife from his waist, swinging it with brutal force.

CLANG!

A burst of sparks exploded between them as their blades clashed.

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"Damn, where'd you get that? Who the hell drops that much money on a custom butcher knife? That's some rich-people nonsense. And isn't this a Dragon Kingdom blade? Shouldn't you be using a cheap street shiv?"

Placid's glare darkened, his voice like gravel.

"A red mantis blade, neural acceleration, teleportation implants... Damn foot-wiping rag, you're everywhere. You should be hiding, Arthur, not picking fights with us."

Arthur chuckled. "Arthur? Never heard of him. I'm just a passing knight of justice who couldn't stand your bullshit."

Placid's veins popped, his rage barely contained.

Arthur grinned. Looks like my ally came through.

It seemed that whatever tech the network monitor provided had successfully blocked the Voodoo Boys' scanners.

A rare and valuable trick in Night City.

Arthur made a mental note to demand more of this tech as an apology for getting thrown into this mess.

Placid clenched his teeth. "Knight of justice? Arthur, your rep in Night City is worse than a serial killer's."

Their blades clashed again—a furious storm of steel and light.

Arthur's mantis blade flickered, cutting deep into Placid's reinforced butcher knife. Sparks erupted and faded in the dark tunnels, only to return with each collision.

Arthur's cybernetic reflexes burned hot, but he could feel the fight dragging on.

He glanced around.

The network monitor's team wouldn't be able to hold the Voodoo Boys back forever.

If he stayed locked in battle with Placid, he'd die here.

Time to end this.

Arthur's smirk deepened.

A Trick Up His Sleeve

In a split second, Arthur retracted his right mantis blade and slammed his fist into the ground.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he tossed a small round device onto the floor.

BOOM!

A cloud of white smoke exploded, swallowing the battlefield in an instant fog.

At the same time, Arthur's optical camouflage activated, making his entire body disappear into thin air.

His mantis blades retracted, leaving no trace of his presence.

Placid froze, his grip tightening around his butcher knife.

He scanned the area, muscles tense, waiting for an attack that never came.

Then—

A metallic clank echoed from the gate.

Though faint, Placid heard it immediately.

His instincts screamed—Arthur was running away.

Arthur!" Placid roared. "You coward! Fight me!"

He sprinted toward the exit, eyes blazing with fury.

The Voodoo Boys never let an enemy escape alive.

As Placid reached the gate, his heart pounded at the sight before him.

One of his men lay motionless, a pool of blood spreading beneath him.

The air was deadly silent.

On the ground—fresh footprints.

Arthur was gone.

Placid's blood boiled.

With a snarl, he swung his butcher knife at the iron door beside him.

CRASH!

The blade cut deep, embedding itself in the metal.

He gritted his teeth. "BLEACH! He got away!"

Then—

A flash of red.

Two searing-hot laser blades pierced straight through Placid's chest.

Front to back.

The light burned through flesh and metal alike, the heat so intense it left a sickening sizzle in the air.

Placid choked, blood dripping from his lips.

He stared in disbelief at the twin mantis blades protruding from his chest.

Arthur grinned darkly, his body slowly phasing back into view—top to bottom.

Placid gasped, "You… b****!"**

Arthur smirked. "What am I? I just killed your whole crew, and when Maman returns, she'll have no proof it was me. Suspicion isn't evidence. Next time, don't call me a foot-wiping rag."

Arthur twisted the blades, then ripped them free.

Placid's body dropped like a sack of bricks.

Arthur crossed his arms, the mantis blades extending outward.

With a single X-shaped slash, Placid's head was severed cleanly.

Time to Leave

Arthur scanned the now-empty tunnel.

Nothing but blood and silence.

He pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, letting out a slow exhale.

No way in hell was he going through the main gate—the Voodoo Boys were waiting upstairs.

They had probably planned a "party" for him.

And Arthur wasn't in the mood to be the guest of honor.

Instead, he turned toward the small escape route he had carved out earlier.

Before stepping through, he pulled a grenade from his pocket.

He gave it one final spin in his hand… then tossed it straight into the hacking device.

BOOM!

The explosion roared, red-yellow flames consuming everything in its path.

Arthur didn't bother looking back.

He took another drag of his cigarette, then stepped into the darkness.

-------------------------------

Visit our Patreon for more:

patreon.com/Samurai492