The venue pulsed with life. The air inside the old warehouse was thick with heat, sweat, and the electric hum of anticipation. Fans packed tightly around the stage, their cheers and chants building as Grave Signal launched into their next song. The bassline rumbled through the concrete floor, the sound so loud it felt like a living thing crawling up Ruki's spine.
Ruki stood near the back with Chiyo, just far enough from the crush of bodies to keep some space but close enough to feel the energy washing over her. The lights above flickered erratically, dancing in rhythm with the music. The rawness of it all—the unpolished edges, the unbridled passion—was unlike anything Ruki had experienced before.
"Wow," she muttered, unable to hide her awe.
Chiyo nudged her with an elbow, grinning. "Told you they were good! Just wait—this next part is gonna blow your mind."
On stage, the band moved like a single entity, their synergy palpable. K stood at the center, his dark-brownish hair catching the light as he leaned into the mic, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. Ash was to his left, his fingers flying over the guitar strings with wild precision. Maya and Yulia held the rhythm steady, their beats and bass driving the crowd into a frenzy.
Ruki's eyes locked onto K, her breath catching as the song transitioned into a slower, more somber tempo. The crowd quieted, the chaos shifting into something almost reverent. K's voice softened, his lyrics weaving through the air like a spell.
"Caught up in the neon lights, I lose myself inside your eyes.
You make me want to believe in, that there's something to believe in."
He continued singing as Ash followed up behind with a contrasting scream.
"Take me home, to the place that I know.
You're the something I believe in, when there's nothing to believe in."
The words struck her like a chord. For a moment, the weight of her reality—the lab, Smasher, Arasaka—melted away. All she could hear was K's voice, raw and vulnerable, carrying a truth she couldn't name. Her chest tightened, not with pain, but something else. Something she hadn't felt in years.
Chiyo noticed, her grin widening as she leaned closer. "Oh my god. You're totally swooning."
"I am not," Ruki protested, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Please. You look like you're falling in love over there. And that K…" Chiyo fanned herself dramatically. "Absolute fucking heartthrob."
Ruki rolled her eyes but didn't deny it. For the first time in a long time, she felt… alive. She let herself relax, let the music carry her, until—
Her stomach twisted.
It was subtle at first, a chill that crawled across her skin, raising the hairs on her arms. Something was wrong. Her eyes darted to the edges of the crowd, searching for the source of her unease. That's when she saw it.
A figure moved through the sea of bodies, their face hidden beneath a cap and hood. They didn't sway to the music or cheer like the others. Instead, they moved with purpose, their steps methodical and deliberate. The glint of white metal caught her eye—a hand, fully cybernetic, the plating sleek and pristine.
Then she saw the eyes. Red. Cold. Watching the stage with a focus that sent ice down her spine. This wasn't a fan.
Her gaze snapped upward to one of the high windows, where a drone circled outside. Its sleek, angular design bore the unmistakable markings of Arasaka. She froze as it scanned the crowd with a faint blue light, passing over her briefly before moving on. She didn't notice the way it lingered just a second too long before continuing its path.
"We need to go," Ruki said suddenly, grabbing Chiyo's arm.
"What? Why?" Chiyo frowned, clearly confused. "The show's not even over!"
"Now, Chiyo," Ruki insisted, her voice sharp. The urgency in her tone made Chiyo hesitate, but before she could protest further, the doors at the back of the venue burst open.
Armed Arasaka agents stormed in, their black armor gleaming under the flickering lights. More agents poured in from side entrances, their weapons drawn, as the crowd erupted into chaos. Screams mixed with the pounding bass as fans surged backward, trying to escape the soldiers' advance.
A sudden crash shattered the high window above, and a drone descended, its spotlight blinding as it illuminated the stage. A voice boomed from its speakers, cold and commanding.
"YOU ARE TRESPASSING ON ARASAKA TERRITORY. THIS VENUE IS UNAUTHORIZED. DISPERSE IMMEDIATELY OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES."
The crowd roared in defiance, their anger spilling over into shouted curses and thrown bottles. The agents held their ground, their rifles ready, but the tension in the room was reaching a breaking point.
On stage, the band stood frozen, their wide eyes reflecting the chaos. K turned to Ash, who clenched his jaw and gripped his guitar tightly.
"We have to do something," Ash said, his voice low but urgent.
"Like what?" K asked, his hands gripping the mic stand.
Ash didn't answer. Instead, he stepped forward, slung his guitar back into position, and strummed a defiant chord. The sound rang out, sharp and rebellious, cutting through the noise. The crowd cheered wildly, their fear momentarily forgotten.
Ash glanced back at K, a small smirk on his lips. "If we're going out, we're going out loud."
One by one, the band joined in. Maya's bassline growled low and heavy, Yulia's drums picked up the beat, and K's voice rose above it all, raw and defiant. The crowd surged forward again, fists pumping in the air as the music filled the room.
Smasher 2.0 stood near the back, his hood now lowered. His glowing red eyes flickered as the music grated against him, stirring something deep within his programming. He tilted his head, as if trying to process the noise, his movements jerky and unnatural.
"You rockerboys are all the same," he muttered, his voice a low growl. "All noise… nothing to back it up."
His arm shifted, the plates retracting to reveal a concealed weapon. The barrel began to glow, a high-pitched whine signaling its charge.
On stage, Ash noticed the red glow aimed at them. His eyes widened. "K, get down!"
He shoved K to the ground just as Smasher fired. The blast tore through the stage, turning Ash, Maya, and Yulia into a mist of blood. K hit the floor hard, debris slicing into his face. He clawed at the ground, his eyes bleeding, his vision gone. The crowd erupted into panic, scrambling for the exits as more drones descended.
Ruki and Chiyo fought through the chaos, pushing their way outside. The night air hit Ruki like a slap, but before she could catch her breath, a black truck screeched to a stop in front of them.
The doors flew open, and men in suits poured out. They grabbed Chiyo before Ruki could react.
"Let her go!" Ruki shouted, stepping forward, but a familiar voice stopped her cold.
"Ms. Fujioka."
She turned to see the cigar-smoking executive from the lab—Masato Inoue. His grin was as sharp and cold as his cybernetic face.
"Let's take a ride, shall we?" he said, his tone mockingly polite. Behind him, Chiyo was shoved into the truck, kicking and screaming.
Ruki's heart raced as she looked between Chiyo and Inoue. She knew better than to resist. Without a word, she climbed into the truck, the door slamming shut behind her.
Meanwhile…
Outside the venue, an older man stood on the sidewalk, watching the chaos unfold. His sharp eyes scanned the fleeing crowd until they landed on a figure crawling out of the wreckage.
K collapsed onto the pavement, his body broken and bloodied. The man approached, crouching beside him with a sigh.
"Shit, kid," he muttered, shaking his head. "What the hell happened to you?"
K gasped, his voice barely audible.
"You're not gonna make it like this," the man said, pulling a medkit from his jacket. "Hang in there."
K could hear the man shuffling around and he lost consciousness. He was slipping away, his body growing cold as the senses began to dull. Then, there was silence. Darkness.
Chapter End—