The rusted door exploded inward with a bang, throwing sparks into the dark lab.
Toma dove behind a collapsed server rack, lungs heaving. He gripped a broken steel pipe in his hands, knuckles white.
[Three hostiles. Weapons: suppressed SMGs. Tactical gear. Initiating Threat Priority Index…]
The HUD flared to life across Toma's vision, painting the men in crimson wireframes. Taglines appeared over their heads:
[PRIMARY THREAT]
Estimated Kill Value: ¥750,000
Critical Hit Bonus: ¥125,000
Missed Shots Penalty: -¥10,000
Toma's heart pounded.
One of the mercs stepped closer, scanning the dark. "I've got movement. Back-left quadrant."
[Overdraft Suggestion: Use debris for feint. Strike jugular. 95% lethality. Expected payout: ¥150,000.]
Toma's grip on the pipe tightened. "I don't even know how to-"
[Initiating Muscle Sync Override: Courier Reflex + Killer Instinct patch active.]
Time slowed.
Toma's breath sharpened. The rain outside sounded like it was underwater.
He burst from cover with a roar, pipe raised.
"CONTACT!" one of the mercs shouted.
The first man swung around too late, Toma drove the pipe into his throat. Bone cracked. The man gurgled, fell.
[Lethal hit confirmed.]
[Deposit: +¥750,000]
The numbers flashed in his HUD. His balance ticked up to -¥17,250,000.
Toma froze for a second. He had actually done it.
Then pain.
A second merc grazed his shoulder with a burst.
Toma dove and rolled behind a console.
The second merc advanced.
[Combat Bonus Unlocked: Momentum Takedown. Would you like to activate?]
"Yes! Do it!" Toma shouted.
Toma launched forward, low and fast. He slammed into the man's legs, knocking him off balance, and slammed the pipe again, this time into the base of his neck.
CRACK!
He didn't scream. He just dropped.
[Kill Confirmed. Deposit: +¥750,000]
[New Balance: -¥16,580,000]
Blood coated his sleeves. His pipe. His face.
Toma stood there, panting, staring down at the body.
Then the third guy opened fire from behind. "He's just a damn courier! Why won't he go down!?"
Bullets riddled the wreckage around him. Sparks exploded from fried wires.
[Taking fire. Activating Defensive Instincts.]
[Suggestion: Throw pipe. Flank. Disarm.]
Toma hurled the pipe like a spear. It clanged off the shooter's helmet, stunning him for a split second.
Enough.
Toma charged. This time he didn't think. He reacted.
He tackled the merc to the ground, wrestled the gun away, and fired three rounds into his chest.
POP! POP! POP!
Silence.
Blood pooled beneath the body.
Toma dropped the weapon, stumbling back like he'd just come out of a trance.
He was shaking. His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
[Kill Confirmed. Deposit: +¥750,000]
[New Balance: -¥15,830,000]
The system voice rang through the silence like a stock ticker in a nightmare.
[Total earnings: ¥2,250,000. Combat Efficiency: 82%. Suggested Weapon Unlock: Twin Pistols.]
Toma collapsed to his knees.
He was breathing hard. Covered in blood. Hands trembling. "… I actually killed them…"
[Correction: You survived. These were professional killers. You defended yourself with minimum expenditure.]
He screamed, slamming his fist into the wall. "I'm not one of you! I didn't want this!"
[Want is irrelevant. You are in debt. The system operates under strict financial reality: earn or die. Would you like to apply your earnings?]
Toma didn't answer.
He was too busy puking into a drain pipe.