[$%%##""#$]
[Error]
"Hey kid, I'm sorry. I didn't know this was your bed or something," Old Wolf tried to calm Axel, who did not stop his attack.
[$$#$%]
"Where… where are we?" Axel asked with a broken voice.
"We are in Star City, of course, the best city in the world." The irony in Old Wolf's tone was palpable, but he had no other answer.
Axel released the man's neck and Wolf fell to the ground instantly.
"Thank you, sir, I promise I will never come back to these territories," Wolf excused himself and immediately ran away.
["$$#3$]
"Shit, what happened? My mind keeps showing these error messages, but it doesn't hurt like before."
A little calmer, Axel leaned against the alley wall to think.
He had been beaten by Toxic Demon, and he even thought he had died. They clearly put him in a garbage bag, so that part was easy to understand.
What he couldn't understand was what happened to his chip.
[Special Ability]
[#$$##]
[No Limit]
"Is it some kind of damage error or something? Did the change actually happen or is it just an overlay message?" Doubts invaded Axel's mind. But standing still was useless.
Better to investigate. Where could he find food nearby?
Axel's body had strangely recovered from the damage, as if someone had healed him.
He still had the money from the delivery to Toxic Demon and was not planning to waste it.
After walking for a few minutes, he found a fried chicken shop. He had never allowed himself to eat something like that.
However, now that he had extra money, a guilty pleasure wouldn't hurt.
"Welcome!"
The words from the woman at the counter hit his ears, a warm and affectionate voice.
She was a very beautiful girl with golden-colored lips and long metal nails of the highest quality.
But when she fixed her gaze on Axel, her warm and kind expression instantly changed.
Axel had forgotten. He was trash in Star City, not someone used to entering shops in the more common districts of the city.
But it didn't matter—he had money, and he would pay like any other customer.
"Yes, good morning, miss, I would like some fried chicken," Axel said as he approached the counter.
The woman looked him up and down with disdain, not believing Axel's words at all.
And let's be honest, who could blame her?
If you walk into a store after coming out of a garbage bag, with dirty clothes and hair, of course people will stare.
But to Axel, who was used to living among the trash of the trash, this couldn't be a problem.
"I'm sorry sir, we don't give food away here. We only sell it," the girl replied with all the toxic sweetness possible.
"Yes miss, I know, I have money."
The woman analyzed Axel again, frowned, and took her time before responding:
"Sir, I don't accept drugs as payment, I'm sorry." This time she didn't bother hiding her disgust.
"No miss, I mean it, let me show you." Axel began searching his pockets, but when he was about to pull out the money, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey kid, she told you no. What are you gonna do? Pull out your cheap knife and threaten her?"
It was a tall man wearing an extravagant white cowboy outfit. His abdomen and metal chest were exposed, matching his silver shoulders.
But Axel's attention was redirected to the badge on the man's low-quality leather jacket.
He was a Neo Police officer.
"What's going on, sweetheart? Is this guy trying to scam you?" the man asked, never taking his eyes off Axel.
The woman nodded instantly. They didn't even let him show the money.
"No, that's a lie! I have my money and—"
Pow!
Before he could explain, a punch struck Axel's face, sending him flying.
"Well then, justice will do its job," the man declared before winking at the girl.
[""$$"$#]
[%%%$%&/]
[No Limit]
[$$&%$]
Axel got up instantly after the messages appeared in his mind. He didn't know why, but he was in trouble.
"Come on, kid, get in fighting stance and show me what you've got!" the officer shouted, raising his fists in a boxing pose.
A shine began to radiate from his fists, and in seconds, his knuckles turned into golden spheres. This was a chip Axel knew well.
Justice Fist — given to all Neo Police officers in Star City.
["#$$##$]
[Ability detected]
[Do you want to steal this ability or only copy it?]
What? Copy? Steal? What was it talking about? Axel's mind filled with questions, but with no time to think, he chose his answer.
[You have chosen: Copy]
[#$%&$$$%$##$$$$]
[%&%$#&&]
[No Limit activated]
Axel's fists began to shine just like the officer's, and in a matter of seconds, he also had metallic knuckle spheres.
The only difference was that Axel's were silver.
[Justice Fists transferred temporarily]
"What the hell, kid? How can you use that? Don't tell me—I already know. You're an illegal chip dealer, aren't you?" the man shouted angrily. Axel had just used the signature chip of the Neo Police against him.
This was too big of an offense.
Without wasting more time, he lunged at Axel, intending to knock him out.
Axel, still in shock from the situation, could barely form a clumsy stance, leaving his lower abdomen exposed.
The officer didn't miss the chance and threw an uppercut directly into his gut.
Bam!
The impact echoed through the shop, but Axel had just survived a one-sided massacre. A small hit wasn't going to stop him.
Without hesitation, filled with adrenaline, he punched the officer straight in the face.
Bam!
"You son of a bitch, you're gonna pay for that!" The officer counterattacked, launching a hook at Axel. Axel tried to block, but failed.
The punch landed full force and Axel checked how comfortable the floor was.
"Then tell me, kid, who are you and how do you have that chip?" asked the officer, approaching Axel.
But Axel didn't reply. He got back into a fighting stance.
"Great, then we'll settle this at the station." The man mirrored him.
"I can't win then."
Axel rushed toward the officer, who was waiting for him.
But instead of hitting him, Axel twisted and launched his punch toward the window.
CRACK!
It was time to escape.