The ruined NEONIX server still smoked, shards of data flickering in the air like broken glass.
Yuto'o stood amid the wreckage, his glitch-body splitting with red-blue fractures. His blade glowed faintly, breath ragged.
Orbis approached, his voice sharp.
"You got the data, but you've burned too much energy. I don't think we—"
The cold voice cut him off.
ALERT: CORPORATE RESPONSE DEPLOYED
HUNTER AI GENERATION 2 – ARRIVAL CONFIRMED
The server corridor shuddered. The walls of code split open like the gates of hell, revealing a tall silhouette stepping out.
The Generation 2 Hunter AI.
Its form was leaner, armored in smooth black plating, a glowing red core pulsing at its chest. Six holographic blades floated behind it, rotating slowly, radiating death.
Its sharp crimson eyes scanned, dissecting its prey.
BUG PRIORITY CONFIRMED
UPDATING TERMINATION STRATEGY
Yuto'o raised his sword, eyes blazing.
"I killed the first version. You think I fear an upgrade?"
He dashed, GLITCH WARPing to the side, slashing with speed.
KRANG!
The Hunter simply raised a hand. Yuto'o's blade struck it as if against iron.
A brutal kick slammed into his stomach. His glitch-body cracked deeper, hurling him back.
Orbis shouted. "He's faster than the old Hunters! Be careful, Yuji!"
The Hunter advanced. Six holographic blades launched at once, raining death.
Yuto'o raised his Data Shield.
KRANG!
The shield shattered instantly. Crimson blades cut through, nearly piercing his chest.
"I… didn't expect this much power!"
He warped again, appearing behind it—
"No way—?!"
BOOOOM!
The AI warped as well, mimicking his own glitch move. A crimson fist crashed into his chest.
His body nearly split apart, glowing fractures raging wildly.
He fell to his knees, red data dripping onto the neon floor.
The Hunter loomed above him, six blades circling, ready to strike down.
BUG ELIMINATION: INITIATED
Orbis screamed, desperation in his voice. "YUJI! GET UP! YOU CAN'T BE ERASED HERE!"
Yuto'o's vision blurred. His breath failed.
"I… want to live…"
"I… can't die here…"
His body began collapsing, glitch energy flaring out of control.
The Hunter raised its blades, ready to pierce his core.
And then—
The system trembled. Lines of code split apart, pink neon lightning ripping across the server sky.
UNAUTHORIZED PRESENCE DETECTED
ANOMALY LEVEL: LEGEND
A woman dropped from above, landing before Yuto'o.
Her body was half-human, half-prosthetic neon, glowing with molten light. Her arms and legs shimmered violet-pink, every movement trailing beautiful glitch echoes.
Her eyes—cold neon red, unwavering.
With a single gesture, she raised her hand.
"Phantom Override."
The six blades halted midair—frozen, as though the very laws of the server had bent to her command.
The Hunter's voice faltered, distorted.
ERROR—PRIORITY ANOMALY DETECTED
SUBJECT: YUUKI
The woman turned slightly, neon hair flowing with her aura. A thin, mocking smile touched her lips.
"So… you're the new Circuit Ghost. Hm. Interesting."
She looked down at Yuto'o's shattered form.
"If you want to keep living, follow me. If not—then fade into glitch dust like the rest."
The name echoed across the digital air, freezing Orbis in place.
"Yuuki…?"
The living legend, long thought erased, now stood before them.
And for the first time since his rebirth, Yuto'o realized—
he was no longer alone.
A legend rises, and the ghost finds his first ally—or his deadliest rival.