[SYSTEM — POST-CONFRONTATION URBAN STATUS]
Location: Central SectorStructural Damage: MODERATEActive Protocols: AUTOMATIC REGENERATION• Concrete reassembling• Metal structures realigning• Urban energy stabilized
City Status: FUNCTIONAL
The studio door slid open with a low hiss.
Rodyn entered. The weight of the fight still seemed stuck to his broad shoulders.
He didn't waste time with small talk.
— That woman Lira killed… — he began, voice rough. He stopped for a second, as if the words hurt. — …she was alive.
Lira slowly lifted her gaze, brows knitting together.
Rodyn continued, almost chewing each syllable: — Correct movement. Normal strength. — But the reaction… wrong.
A discreet warning flickered in the corner of everyone's vision.
[SYSTEM — ENTITY ANALYSIS]
— It was a zombie — Rodyn finished, dryly.
Silence fell heavy over the studio.
— A functioning body… — he murmured, almost to himself. — …but with no one truly inside.
Outside, the city kept stitching itself back together: concrete regenerating, beams straightening, lights returning to a steady pulse.
The silence didn't last long.
Inker was the first to move. He activated the system with the calm of someone who had already expected that conversation.
[SYSTEM — DATA CORRELATION ACTIVATED]
— I was going to tell you that — he said, voice low and controlled.
Rodyn turned his head toward him, waiting.
— The readings we got after the fight match exactly what you felt during combat.
The holographic panel opened in translucent layers.
[SYSTEM — BIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSTIC]• Vital functions: ACTIVE• Neural pattern: INCONSISTENT• Response latency: ELEVATED
— Living body — Inker summarized. — Absent consciousness.
Lira clenched her fingers tightly, knuckles whitening.
— So… I didn't fight her — she murmured, voice almost fading.
Inker shook his head calmly.
— You fought what was left.
He switched screens. Two virtual cores appeared, connected by a pulsing red data thread.
[SYSTEM — INFECTION MODEL]
The first core glowed faintly.
[SYSTEM — REANIMATION MODULE]Function: Keep the body activeState: STABLE
The second pulsed stronger, almost aggressive.
[SYSTEM — CONTROL MODULE]Function: Link to a living hostState: ACTIVE
— One keeps the body moving — Inker explained. — The other gives the commands.
Vivienne let out a low curse. Her purple LEDs flashed aggressively.
— Biological puppet.
Inker simply nodded.
[SYSTEM — TACTICAL CONCLUSION]Real Targets: LIVING OPERATORSReanimated: DISPOSABLE UNITS
Vivienne slammed her open hand onto the workbench. The LEDs exploded into intense purple for a second.
— Cowards. They send the dead to fight for them.
Rodyn lifted his gaze, expression hard.
— That explains her calm. — She wasn't afraid of dying… because she was already dead.
Inker closed the current panel and opened another.
— You want information on the Snakes, right?
Before anyone answered, the system was already responding.
[SYSTEM — CRIMINAL FILE ACTIVE]
A silhouette appeared, rapidly gaining detail.
Light blond hair, impeccably aligned. Mage's hat in matte silver, without adornments or symbols. Simple, dark, functional clothing. Entire left arm of polished silver. A discreet gold ring on the right hand. One bronze eye. The other pure silver.
The name formed below, in sharp letters.
Argovain
[SYSTEM — IDENTIFICATION CONFIRMED]Name: ArgovainTitle: Mage of Noble MetalsAffiliation: Snake GangFunction: Right HandLevel: 35
The hologram rotated slowly, showing every angle.
— He's not the leader — Inker said, pointing at the figure. — He's worse. — He's the one who organizes, supplies, and keeps everything running.
Vivienne let out a short, dry laugh. Purple LEDs dancing.
— Of course… the guy who looks like he never gets his hands dirty.
Lira watched the image with cold focus.
— That type always stays in the shadows.
Inker nodded once.
— And that's exactly why he's dangerous.
Lira kept her eyes on the hologram for a few more seconds. On the simple clothes. The matte silver hat. The calm posture of someone who doesn't need to shout to be noticed.
A half-smile formed at the corner of her mouth.
— I have to admit… — he's got style.
MAIN TASKS
Gather Field IntelligenceAnalyze known gang routes and underworld contacts.Locate possible hideouts or secondary bases.Reward System: +10% investigation experience for critical data obtained.
Identify the Gang's Right HandConfirm Argovain's presence at points of interest.Record appearance, behavior, and nearby allies.Reward System: +5% team morale for successful identification.
Map Gang ResourcesLocate and catalog weapons, body modifications, and technologies used by the Snakes.Determine threat levels and defensive capabilities.Reward System: +15% tactical perception when finding special weapons or equipment.
Plan Approach or ConfrontationEvaluate risk of direct combat or infiltration.Define group roles: assault, support, distraction.Reward System: +20% combat efficiency in a future mission if planning is complete.
Additional Objective: Eliminate as many members of the Snake Gang as possible
[SYSTEM — EXPERIENCE REWARD]• Snake — Common Member: +40 XP• Snake — Armed Soldier: +80 XP• Snake — Elite / Modified: +150 XP• Snake — Lieutenant: +300 XP
Sequence Bonuses:• 5 eliminations without pause → +10% XP• 10 consecutive eliminations → +25% XP• Full area cleanup → +500 XP (Group)