There was no sense of up or down, no left or right.V drifted with an enormous jellyfish in the void.Time felt like it passed in a single second—and like millennia.
Eventually, the giant jellyfish broke the silence."Are you grieving?""No. I'm thinking about how to get the hell out of this place.""And after you leave, where will you go?""To take revenge."
V opened her eyes. For the first time, she remembered everything from her dream.A dark void? A massive jellyfish?Whatever. None of that mattered.
She had only one thing left to do.
When the nurse came for a routine check, she froze.The patient who should've been unconscious was already up and wearing a suit.
"Deputy Chief V… you—you can't get up. You need to rest!""Thanks for the concern. I'll rest—but not now."V smiled. "Could you call Joanne Koch for me?"
"A-ah, yes! Right away!"
Meeting Room
Joanne Koch looked haggard as she delivered her report.
"The underground facility is destroyed. The Heteromorph units too. Rebuilding means starting from scratch. Fortunately, Kenichi Saburo didn't touch the researchers or workers—he likely sees them as Arasaka Michiko's property. Even so, our losses are catastrophic. Militech and Kang-Tao security forces were wiped out. Meredith Stout is still in critical condition. And Xu Zhong, he…"
V's expression was calm. "Go on."
"Xu Zhong's primary heart was completely destroyed, and the auxiliary heart suffered severe damage. Kenichi Saburo clearly knows exactly what he's doing. The good news is that the auxiliary heart prevented him from dying on the spot. The bad news is severe hypoxia from blood loss has caused catastrophic brain damage. He's in a deep coma and reliant entirely on machines."
"His chances of recovery?"
Joanne paused. "Zero."
"Don't give up. 'Not now' doesn't mean 'never.' Cryo-freeze him. When there's a way to heal him, wake him."
"That… might work. But given who he is, Kang-Tao may not agree."
"I'll talk to Kang-Tao. Go."
"How? Kang-Tao cares a lot about returning the dead to their homeland."
"They care more about vengeance."V stood. "And I'll hand them the killer."
Joanne's face changed. "You're going after Kenichi Saburo? No. You've already proven you can't beat him."
"Relax, Koch." V smiled faintly. "I can't beat him now. But the me from the past could. Give me two hours—everything will reset."
"V…"
"Oh—bring me some pneumatic injectors. Fill them with MaxDoc. The strongest formula you've got."
Arasaka Tower
Security had been waiting.
Despite being wrapped in bandages, the captain stood straighter than ever."Deputy Chief V, Arasaka Security has fully assembled. Please give the order!"
"You're coming too?" V asked.
"Yes!" the entire unit shouted.
"That's the First Lone Wolf you'll be facing. Aren't you afraid?"
"We are. But we're more afraid of losing you. I'm not good with words, but after you came, we finally started living like actual people. So I figured—even if we're useless, if we can take one bullet for you, it's worth it. So don't hesitate—use us however you want. It would be our greatest honor. And if it comes down to it, abandon us without guilt. We have no regrets!"
V laughed. "That's you 'not good with words'? Really?"
The captain flushed.
"All right. Thank you for the thought. But this is personal—between me and Kenichi Saburo."She patted his shoulder. "I didn't turn you back into human beings just to throw you in front of cannons. Protect the company. I'll be back soon."
V boarded an AV and headed toward Konpeki Plaza.
Kurt Hansen called.
"Deputy Chief V, I heard everything. I've got around eight hundred boys here—fully kitted. Say the word and I'll level Konpeki Plaza!"
"Aw, Dogtown's big boss being sentimental?"
"Sentimental my ass! Those corpos won't work with some stray dog like me. If you die, who the hell am I supposed to cling to?"
"Classic Kurt Hansen—sharp as ever. But don't trouble your men. It's a small matter. I'll handle it."
"You sure? That's the First Lone Wolf."
"Relax. Not for long."
"Fuck. I don't know where you get your confidence, but fine. If you die, I'm taking the money and running!"
The line disconnected.
The AV continued forward.
The closer it came to Konpeki Plaza, the more congested the sky and ground became.Corpo vehicles, news AVs, and MaxTac units filled the air.Fixers, mercs, and gangs lined the streets below.Bars, restaurants, plazas—every screen in Night City played the same broadcast.
The massacre that night had exploded across the city's news cycles. Arasaka couldn't cover it up—too big, and V's coma had thrown leadership into chaos.
Now the entire city knew of the feud between V and Kenichi Saburo.They knew Arasaka had split.
The vassal strong, the lord weak—war was inevitable.
What would be Night City's future?A new path led by V?Or the old suffocating Arasaka returning?
Everyone was watching—waiting for the result.
"Hard to say… that's Kenichi Saburo we're talking about. The world's number one Lone Wolf."The Zetatech representative sighed.He wanted V to win—but this wasn't braindance.Feelings didn't grant power.Strength alone decided the future.
V was resting her eyes when another holo-call came in.
A Mantis Operator appeared.
"Inspector Melissa Rory. Something you need?" V asked.(Melissa Rory—real name Loryssa Rory.)
"We can help you solve your current problem," she said sincerely.
"You speaking for NCPD? MaxTac? City Hall?"
Melissa replied, "The Night Family."
"Get lost."
V cut the line.
Konpeki Plaza
The AV landed on the rooftop helipad—the same place where Saburo Arasaka once descended, never to leave alive again.
Would V share his fate?
She slid her friend's Black Rod behind her waist.She already knew the answer.
She descended the steps—"Thump, thump, thump."
Entering the familiar living room, she saw Kenichi Saburo sitting on the sofa, back to her, watching some trashy variety show.
Hearing footsteps, he didn't even turn his head.
"You're not here to surrender—your killing intent is too loud. Guess I didn't hit you hard enough last time. Should've gutted that Militech woman too."
"No."V walked toward the potted décor, picked up the iguana resting on it, placed it inside the elevator, and pressed the button."The one you should've killed was me."
"Oh? You think you can win this time?"Kenichi finally turned, amused."Don't forget—you're a defective body who can't fight more than three minutes."
V didn't argue.She simply drew a silver-white injector.
"This restores my damaged neural pathways temporarily. Downside? Thirty-seven point forty-four percent chance of death."
Kenichi raised a brow."You willing to gamble?"
V didn't answer—she plunged the needle straight into her chest and pushed the plunger.
Kenichi rose."You're digging your own grave."
"Maybe. But I know one thing."V lifted her head."You're dead."
"Hah! No one's talked to me like that in fifty years."Kenichi grinned viciously and flipped a dagger between his fingers.
V curled a finger at him.
Kenichi's face darkened as he threw the blade.
V kicked—He kicked back—Back and forth the dagger ricocheted, faster and faster, shredding the sofa to powder as blinding arcs cut the room.
"Haaah!"Kenichi roared, adding rotation and speed.The spinning blade screamed like a demon as it tore toward V.
She leaned back, the edge grazing her nose—then caught it mid-flight between two fingers.
The demon turned lamb.V flipped it between her hands like a butterfly—then suddenly hurled it like a dragon.
Kenichi reached—missed—The dagger struck his forehead—
But with the handle, not the blade.
A mistake?No—V walked past him and turned on the sound system.
Music echoed.
"I can throw knives too. You're nothing. Get up."
Humiliation flooded the world's strongest Lone Wolf.
He swung—V headbutted his nose—Blood spurted—An over-shoulder throw smashed him from the 100th to the 99th floor.
"Bakaaa!"
He leapt out of the dust—A kick—V struck his shin—A punch—she pivoted away—Grab, pull, spin—A jump—A spinning kick blasted him down another level.
Boom!
Another floor destroyed.From 100 to 98.
He spat out a tooth.
V descended like a meteor—Both fists crashed into his chest—Reinforced bones cracked—Blood sprayed—The floor collapsed—
97…96…95…90…85…80…73!
A quake of destruction.
V stood.Kenichi was drowning in blood.
She pulled him up by the throat and stabbed—A hiss.
The pain… lessened?He looked down.A pneumatic injector—MaxDoc.
"You—?!"
V tossed it aside."I throw punches too. You're nothing. Get up."
Another humiliation.
He lifted a steel bar—V grabbed one too—
They clashed—Through walls—Into the central load-bearing column—A thunderous crack shook the entire building.
Steel on steel—Left leg—right leg—groin—jaw—Kenichi flew like a golf ball.
He fell—V stabbed another injector into him.
"I fight with blunt weapons too. You're nothing. Get up."
His vision went red.He drew the Arasaka Tsumetogi—V drew her Militech Lexington.
Both fired—Both dodged—Both emptied mags—Both reloaded simultaneously.
Kenichi unleashed eight bullets—V focused, time slowing—Single-fired eight bullets to intercept—Then fired twelve shots directly into the barrel of the Tsumetogi.
The gun exploded.His hand shredded.
V reloaded at inhuman speed—Two steps—done.Her shots shattered Kenichi's legs—He kneeled—Her muzzle touched his forehead—
Then withdrew—Another injector stabbed in.
"I shoot too. You're nothing. Get up."
Terrified beyond fury, Kenichi extended a dagger—It telescoped into a longsword.
Glass shattered—They fell from the 73rd floor—
News crews screamed.
Kenichi slashed—V kicked off falling glass—Tendons hissed, boosters flared—She vaulted upward, grabbing the 75th floor wall.
He fired his grappling claw—Sliced the wall apart—V fell into open air—
"Let's see you maneuver now! SPLAT FOR ME!"
V extended her arm—Behind herself.
A micro-plasma rocket fired.The recoil became her wings—She twisted, aligned—And charged.
A thunderclap—She and her blade smashed through the wall.
Reporters zoomed in—Debris everywhere—Kenichi kneeled, stunned.A long scar ran down his face—Just like Meredith Stout's.
"I—it looks like… Deputy Chief V won!"The anchor's voice cracked.The city erupted in cheers.
Corpo elites were horrified.
Zetatech's rep—Abernathy's husband—spilled his drink."V really won? Beat the strongest Lone Wolf? Arasaka's insane not to worship her! I need to call HQ!"
Many shared his thought.V did not care.
She had only one task left.
"I fight with blades too. You're nothing. Get up."
She approached with another injector.But this time Kenichi refused.
"Kill me."
"You submitting?"
"You're a monster. I admit defeat."
"Good."V pocketed the injector."Your spirit's broken. Now I'll break your body."
She punched him—Sent him flying through multiple walls—Across the entire 75th floor.
One eye burst—He staggered—V kicked him again—
"You want to destroy everything I care about? Fine. Then I'll destroy everything of yours—your body, mind, dignity, honor. After today you'll be a clown in history. You protect nothing—not even Arasaka Michiko. After you die, she'll become my toy."
"You… won't…"He stood, trembling, armless—He still had legs—
V broke them both.
"Now you understand—you're just a lucky bastard born in a world without me. With me here? You're NOTHING."She grabbed his head."'First Lone Wolf'? Bullshit."
The Black Rod snapped open—The broken blade pierced his neck—Blood gushed—She twisted, cracked his spine—And tore his head off.
The body collapsed.Blood soaked the suit.
V raised the severed head to the cameras.
"Don't panic. Today's killing ends here. This was personal—between me and Kenichi Saburo. Starting tomorrow, I'll fulfill a friend's wish. Night City will change. I won't steal from anyone, and I welcome cooperation—but I don't tolerate threats.Remember—this dead man is not the First Lone Wolf.The one still alive is.If you disagree, come test it."
She tapped her chest."In short—From today on, Night City listens to ME."