Cyberpunk: Ultimate Cyborg System-Chapter 605: Black Skull. (Part Thirty Seven)

After testing out all of VOLCAN's armors, Dante formed an understanding of how to use them and which one he would use the most often. Some had abilities that showed their effectiveness even when used with the lower level armors. Others won't show their potential unless used with the higher-level armors.

Type 7 was the latter. With light being its specialty, the abilities it had weren't geared for dealing damage. Only once it gets to Level 3 does the Radiant Beam become available, and even then, the amount of energy it consumes with each use and the lack of durability of the armor didn't make it worth the hassle of equipping it, especially with better alternatives.

That much hadn't changed when using it as a Module for his arms. That said, while its destructive capabilities pale compared to other Types, Dante figured out ways to make it useful in a situation where he didn't want to take the lethal approach.

When he opened his eyes and saw the army of identical red demons surrounding him, Jason quickly realized that he had been dealing with a mirage of some sort. His anger made him cross the chance that they were clones with actual, physical form, even if that explained how he ended up in that state.

""""""What's wrong? Tired already?"""""""

The copies spoke in overlapping voices, which made it seem as if there were more than one of them. With each voice apparently having its own source, finding the real one was going to be impossible.

""""""Go on. Try it.""""""

By this point, Jason should have already grasped that winning wasn't in the books for him this time. The Red Demon was right about those who use Catalyst developing a god complex. Jason had the presence of mind to realize he was no different, but in his case, it was justified.

The cyborg boom came and went, and now it was time for the Genomes. Despite having lived in both eras, he held back on getting any enhancement for himself, afraid of the sacrifice needed to obtain that power. It wasn't until he was cornered in the Red Garden mansion that he bit the bullet and took the pill, desperate for a way out.

He was one of the chosen. He awakened a power that transcended the mundane, putting him on the same level as the greats. That power earned him the recognition of those who birthed the miracle drug, making him one of their prophets. He only needed to take the throne of his syndicate, turn it into a powerful hand they could use to reshape this world. His power would then be anchored, and he would truly become a god among men.

'Not… yet…' 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Rage and pride reignited his will, and he once again pushed himself up, slamming the fresh burn wound into the ground. The pain flooding his nerves didn't register in his mind. It might have surpassed anything he had experienced in his life, but as a founding member of the biggest gangs in Neo-Vatra, Jason wasn't a stranger to suffering. He had tasted the pain of fighting powers that surpassed everything he had, and he always came on top at the end. That's how he made it this far, and that's how he will continue to move forward, never letting anything get in his way.

The world shattered, cracks spreading like chaotic tendrils of lightning. Jason drew on the power of his mind, harnessing it to guide his ability even as the effects left his range. His targets broke one after the other, shattering like a mirror struck by his vengeful fist, and then-

"GAHH!!!"

His body went flying, blasted by a light yet burning strike. He tried to overcome it and launched another attack at the world, but another strike sent him flying. He was trapped in a Kaleidoscope, surrounded by mirrors on all sides. Each mirror reflected only what his opponent wanted him to see, and whenever he shattered one of them, a weak beam would reach him from a direction he least expected, reflected by the same mirrors he was lashing at.

Radiant Kaleidoscope creates the mirrors, Radiant Beam provides the light, and Radiance Control manipulates it, creating images of countless demons and weakened laser beams that detonate the air upon impact. With the bastard's hands severed, he wouldn't be able to inject himself with that mystery juice that extends the time limit on his ability. The broken space that shielded him from physical attacks was powerless against light, so the beams still reached him even when he tried to hide himself inside a shell.

All that was left was to wait for him to spend everything he had, and once that was over, he would be entirely powerless. That was the strategy Dante came up with, and that's how he was going to deal with the bastard and all the trouble he had caused them.

At any point since this fight started, Dante could have easily ended it, and on his own terms. He could have sneaked up on his opponent using Silent Ghost Mode, and he could have retreated, waiting until the bastard lowered his guard before striking. Dante could have looked for one of many chances to knock him out, but that's not how he wanted to do this. He wanted the bastard to fight. He wanted him to hold on to the hope that he might be able to come out on top, only to rip it from his grasp before dragging him to his last destination—the very bottom of what can only be described as hell.

"Damn you…" Kicked to the ground once more, Jason struggled to force himself up. Slamming his arm into the ground, a spark of pain ignited what was left of his will. He gave up on directing his ability and any semblance of reserving the energy fueling it. If he was going to go down, he would take the entire city with him.

The world shattered, and the cracks spread in every direction, breaking everything they touched. A single beam bounced off a mirror, then another, then another, slipping through the shattered space between the cracks until they reached the source, slamming into the skull-faced bastard like a baseball thrown by a rather pissed pitcher. The Break ability was cut, and the world mended itself. Jason was allowed to try once more, but he was stopped again, and again, and again.

In the end, Jason reached the end of his rope, and he could no longer find it in himself to resist. Not bothering with his attempts to rise anymore, he rested on his side, a vacant look on his face as a stream of tears flowed from his bloodshot eyes. As the city noise finally flowed back into the crater his rampage had created, he heard the sound of rubble crunching under slow, heavy steps. A shadow fell on him soon after, and his gaze shifted upwards, catching sight of the red demon who managed to thoroughly crush him.

"You done?"

The question did cut, but Jason no longer had the will to lash out.

"Kill… me…"

"Kill you?" Tilting his head a little, Dante spoke in a flat, humorless tone. "Did you really think it was going to be that easy?"

Black Skull was a criminal organization of the worst kind. They saw the demand for something most would feel sick just from it crossing their minds and decided to turn it into a source of profit to feed their greed. The world had no shortage of villains who profit from the suffering of those who lacked the means to defend themselves, but to take away the innocence of children and then rob them of the future, that was something one can never come back from—an evil worthy of a punishment much worse than death.

"Good night, Jason," Dante said. "Make sure to enjoy it," As the darkness began to seep from the corners of his vision, Jason heard the words that would seal his fate. "It will be the last one you have."