Restless.
Irritated.
Her vision and perception seemed to transcend the boundaries of time and space. Vera could clearly sense another 'her,' or rather, these were her own current emotions.
The rage rising from her heart, the violent fury born from her guts.
Brought on by her "God's gift."
An influence that wasn't quite an influence.
And while feeling restless—
Crack!
Inside the armored hover car, Vera opened her five fingers, clenched them, closed them. The bones and joints beneath her sealed tactical gloves made slight sounds. Vera could clearly feel the subtle changes in her entire skeleton, flesh, and even cyberware implants.
That sense of fullness, of amplification, that rush.
"God-given."
The higher the synchronization between Vera and other versions of 'me,' the more significant the enhancement.
"Does this make me some knockoff multidimensional lifeform?"
The multilayered resonance of soul and mind made her vividly recall that moment of 'awakening.'
At the time, Vera's parents had recently passed away, and having just joined Arasaka Academy, she hadn't fully figured out what was happening to her.
Truth be told, since being born into this world, for many years she had never heard any system notifications chiming away, nor did she possess any physical companion items.
Growing up, as her body developed and her brain gradually matured, Vera initially only discovered that her memory far exceeded her previous life.
Her brain processed information incredibly fast, with rapid neural responses, near-photographic memory, and clear, perfect recall. Before her birth parents' accident, she had grown up healthy without illness, disaster, or physical defects.
This made her adoptive parents marvel during their free time: raising this kid was just too easy and worry-free.
Vera had initially joked that maybe two souls overlapping and fusing, along with another round of soul development and enrichment, had brought her enhancement.
This was her transmigration benefit. Her so-called golden finger [cheat ability].
Vera was satisfied.
Being relatively precocious with that awareness brought unparalleled learning ability. Vera learned almost everything quickly.
Growing up, it didn't matter that both parents were busy and she might not see them more than a few times a year during their busiest periods. She was happy to be free.
And she hoped her father would succeed [wordplay on expecting success].
Even knowing she had been reborn in a cyberpunk world of high tech, low life didn't matter, because she had her birth parents' shelter from wind and rain.
Knowing that the city she lived in was called Night City, that garbage dump filled with gang violence, rampant illegal drugs, military-grade cyberware everywhere, and death lotteries for gambling, the life-cherishing Vera smoothly chose to back down, abandoning thoughts of leaving protection to explore the unknown world.
Life comes first!
She didn't dare gamble on a cyber psycho's rationality.
What if a little girl's identity made them more excited?
Her life was her own. Most likely she only had one, and having been reborn so well, she had to cherish it.
Without a system that would execute the host for not completing missions, and without mission guidance or rewards for completing tasks, she was just a slightly smarter girl without that kind of extraordinary power that gathered all manner of great strength in one body. So, she'd follow the standard path.
In short, she felt no urgency.
Whatever her parents wanted Vera to learn, she learned. Whatever they wanted her to do, she did. Even when curious, she'd first ask for permission, and she always performed excellently, becoming 'someone else's child.'
At that time, the suffocating nature of the cyberpunk world, Night City's coldness, and the struggles of the underworld hadn't truly manifested before Vera.
She experienced more of the convenience and entertainment brought by the technological iterations of the cyberpunk world.
Having the luxury to grow up step by step according to her parents' expectations, becoming the good child they spoke of. Following the smooth path her parents had built, just taking over would be fine. Vera had no rebellious phase.
Though she couldn't say she was born in 'Rome,' she was at least on the highway leading to 'Rome.'
Until Vera lost her shelter from wind and rain.
No longer having that luxury...
Passively, she had to become urgent, directly facing the true side of the cyberpunk world.
During those days, some people wanted to swallow the assets she inherited through 'reasonable means,' some wanted to swindle and cheat her clean, and some even wanted to marry her to gain her birth parents' 'political legacy' while pinning her to a bed for some action.
Naturally, Vera wouldn't comply and chose to resist.
She might be lazy and value her life, but that didn't mean she was truly cowardly or a weakling.
After that, she changed from her good girl attitude, handled her parents' funeral, properly entrusted their 'inheritance,' and threw herself into Arasaka Academy's frenzied learning.
Perhaps that's when her body and brain truly matured, or maybe her soul and flesh completely merged, or it could have been the change in mindset.
Vera began having very strange dreams constantly.
As the dreams deepened, they made her very relaxed, peaceful, incredibly serene. Gradually, she could see clearly the world in her 'dreams.'
She seemed to be in another world, living another life, extremely realistic, with all five senses present. She could actually control it, could act according to Vera's thoughts and wishes.
As time passed, Vera discovered she hadn't forgotten anything she'd seen or learned in the 'dreams.' While still at Arasaka Academy, she hadn't changed at all, but the power continuously surging through her limbs and body, and her increasingly clear thoughts, were so real.
Those weren't dreams.
By now, Vera had grown accustomed to another field of vision, another 'me's' existence.
Clearly having two consciousnesses, two viewpoints, two sets of thoughts and ideas based on their respective realities, yet they melted and coexisted perfectly together. It felt natural, as it should be. Vera felt no discomfort at all. It wouldn't affect her thinking at all. Whatever she thought, that version of her working at Umbrella would do.
To use an inappropriate example, Vera was like playing a game, controlling another version of herself in a role-playing scenario.
A role-playing experience where she could perfectly comprehend the joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness in the 'game,' learn the knowledge, techniques, and insights within, and even incorporate everything from there into herself.
The power of two Veras.
This was how Vera jokingly referred to her power.
Even though both Veras were just ordinary biological humans, when combined, it was enough for Vera to transcend the limits of human physical capabilities. Moreover, there were plenty of ways to enhance further.
Where was the third Vera?
Vera anticipated this.
But currently, the most important thing was:
Venting!
---
"Director Russell, we've arrived."
At 4:09 PM, Vera's Arasaka armored hover car arrived in the old district of Night City's northern industrial area.
At the street corner in mid-air, following Vera's orders, two armored hover cars from the Arasaka special assault unit deployed from Night City's Arasaka military base had already arrived.
Clang—
The turret rotated downward. The Arasaka armored hover car hovering near the intersection opened its searchlight, crimson lasers projecting across the intersection to mark out a large landing zone. Pterodactyl attack drones and Octant heavy combat drones buzzed around the perimeter.
The hatch opened with a 'whoosh.'
Thud thud thud—
From inside the cabin, packed full of Arasaka heavy soldiers, they jumped out and landed with thunderous crashes, steadily hitting the ground.
"Holy crap, something big's going down!"
"Let's get out of here!"
"Those are Arasaka heavy soldiers!"
...
Sensing trouble brewing, pedestrians immediately scattered and fled. Wait for the traffic light? Screw that, saving their lives was more important!
Thud!
Clang—
Landing, Vera flexed the precision thermal katana and smart combat shotgun suitable for alley fighting in her hands. Her heavy bulletproof helmet sealed shut, and her crimson holographic tactical visor lit up.
At the same time, on the other side of space-time.
San Francisco, Umbrella Building press conference hall.
Surrounded by burly black-suited bodyguards, Vera, serving as Umbrella's Director, stood at the podium with the expression of someone whose father had just died.
Below the stage:
"Director Russell, why did you choose to continue destroying nature and our shared home after receiving our joint letter? Do you want our descendants to live in a cold world without greenery or animals?"
"Director Russell, it's said that San Francisco's equality organizations are seeking to sue you and Umbrella Corporation, alleging racial discrimination in Umbrella's recent hiring practices. How will you respond?"
"Director Russell, cyberware and prosthetics—artificial steel replacing God-given flesh and blood. Facing opposition from religious organizations, don't you have anything to say?"
"Director Russell..."
...
With each question they asked, negative emotions accumulated and erupted. On this side of space-time, as if personally being interrogated, Vera's breathing under her helmet grew heavier.
"Huff... my temper control still needs work."
Since the 'me' in that other world can't vent, then I'll do the venting.
'Reasonable and legal' venting.
"Recovery and elimination mission, begin!"
Time to kill.