With a deafening whoosh, V instantly ducked. The massive katana sliced through the air above her and buried itself deep into the wall.
A cold bead of sweat slid down V's cheek. Ando let out a furious roar, stomping hard enough for the ground to crack beneath him.
His cyber-enhanced legs exploded with power, launching him in front of V in an instant. His palm—nearly the size of her head—came crashing straight toward her.
V's pupils shrank. She willed her body to move, to do anything, but under that overwhelming killing intent, she froze.
Just as Ando's hand was about to close around her, a figure lunged in from the side and shoved V out of the way.
Boom!
Ando's strike slammed into the wall, blasting dust everywhere. V was still dazed, clearly not yet processing what had just happened.
"Chica, why are you spacing out? Run!"
Snapped back to reality by the shout, V gasped for breath. The scare had been so intense she'd nearly forgotten how to breathe.
She scrambled up and sprinted off in one direction.
"Man, that's so you—always gotta throw yourself into the worst messes."
Jackie muttered with a half-laugh as he stared grimly at Ando, who was slowly pulling himself out of the wall.
"Mother, watch over me. Let me hold out till MaxTac gets here… then I'm booking it."
Finishing his little prayer, Jackie drew the shotgun at his waist.
He braced himself for a head-on clash, but Ando didn't spare him a glance—he just kept chasing after V.
Jackie lost it right there, aiming straight at Ando's head.
"Hey, you big gorilla! Your papa's right here!"
The shot snapped Ando's head sideways, the bullet embedding itself in the bone beneath his skin.
"Damn—your skull's made of iron?! Are you even human, man?"
Bang!
Jackie rolled aside to avoid Ando's punch, then fired another round into his chest, finally forcing Ando back several steps.
That shot got Ando's full attention.
"ROAR! You—YOU! You took Shōko!"
"Hombre, that ain't my kink. Go bother Bernoulli!"
Jackie immediately widened the distance, yanking another rifle off his back and unloading a barrage of fire into Ando.
Ando threw his arms up to shield his vitals, roaring like a charging truck as he barreled toward Jackie.
Without hesitation, Jackie hurled his empty rifle at him, dashed forward, rolled, and drew the pistol strapped to his thigh. He fired several shots straight into Ando's ankles.
Bang!
The giant toppled forward like a felled building, kicking up a wave of dust.
"ROOOAR!"
Writhing on the ground, Ando bellowed in rage from the pain in his ankles.
"Whew…"
Jackie exhaled in relief—only for a massive shadow to suddenly rise in front of him, and then—
Bang!
"Cough—cough!"
Ando's sudden backhand sent Jackie flying into a rolling shutter. It softened the impact somewhat, but his back still burned painfully.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and forced himself upright.
"What the hell is this guy's problem…"
Then he noticed sparks surging around Ando's ankles—proof that the shots had worked.
Just as he was about to press the advantage and finish the brute, a voice echoed from a bright room somewhere else. A middle-aged man in a pristine suit, eyes cold and lifeless, gave a simple order:
"That's enough. Activate the Berserk Module."
"Yes, sir."
"ROOOOAR!!!"
Electric arcs exploded off Ando's body. His frame swelled, muscles bulging beneath cyberware that flared red like overheated metal.
"Joder! What the hell is this?!"
In full Berserk, Ando ignored everyone else. He strode to the embedded katana, ripped it free, and locked his gaze onto Jackie.
"Jodido…"
Whoosh—
A wave of heat blasted out as Ando suddenly appeared above Jackie, his massive blade raised high, gleaming coldly and ready to fall.
Jackie closed his eyes with a bitter smile.
V, watching from the side, grit her teeth and was about to charge in when a buzzing roar cut through the air.
Boom!
A violet streak shot into view—a sleek purple motorcycle slammed its front wheel straight into Ando's face.
The impact sent him flying and crashing into the ground.
The airborne bike spun out into a controlled tail-drift and stopped right in front of Jackie. A woman clad in sleek armor stepped off—every line of her silhouette sharp and graceful.
"You alright?"
"I'm good, chica. And damn—what an entrance!"
Jackie gave Kiwi a thumbs-up, grinning wide.
Kiwi only nodded lightly, then unfolded the arm-mounted crossbow and signaled Jackie to get clear.
Jackie immediately ran toward where V was hiding.
"Damn—who is she? She's so badass! That was insane!"
V blurted out excitedly as Jackie arrived.
"No clue. Only know she just saved my ass."
"Speaking of that—thanks for saving mine."
"No problem, chica. Name's Jackie Welles. Jackie's fine."
"I'm V."
After that quick exchange, they both turned their attention back to the battlefield.
"Aaagh!!!"
Shaken from the motorcycle strike, Ando finally snapped fully into rage. The Berserk Module had already scrambled his mind—getting slammed like that only made him lose it completely.
Roaring, he charged straight at Kiwi.
And then—
Boom!
An orange streak plummeted from above, slamming into his back with such force the ground cratered, spiderweb cracks spreading outward.
Ando coughed up a mouthful of blood. With another roar, he swung a huge hand backward in a desperate grab.
"Haaah!!"
But a far larger orange energy arm caught him by the skull and hurled him like a ragdoll.
Boom!
Kiwi's mouth twitched at the sight, while V and Jackie just stared, completely stunned.