Chapter 60 — The Fall of Adam Smasher
The blast doors at the heart of Arasaka Tower cracked open with a seismic hiss.
Out stepped Adam Smasher — seven feet of chromed nightmare, heavy steps shaking the steel beneath him.
His red optics burned like a hunter zeroed in on prey.
"You're a dead man, Alaric," Smasher's voice rumbled — distorted, guttural, something barely human beneath the metal.
Alaric tilted his head, cracking his knuckles with a sharp grin.
"I've heard that before."
Smasher's chain-gun spun to life — but he didn't get the chance to fire.
Panam's rocket slammed into his side first — the explosion throwing him off balance, sparking off his armor.
"Thought we were starting without me?" Panam called from the catwalk, eyes fierce behind the scope of her launcher.
Smasher roared.
Evelyn slid in low from the left, twin SMGs blazing EMP rounds into Smasher's legs — joints sparking, servos grinding.
Judy flanked the right, shotgun loaded with ion shells — she blasted his knee actuator, forcing him to stagger.
"Fucking chrome freak," Judy hissed.
Rogue came in from behind — tossed a thermite charge right under his feet.
The explosion sent a burst of molten fire licking up Smasher's legs — synth-muscle catching in oily flames.
Alaric moved in like a shadow.
Katana drawn — edge humming with mono-vibration.
Smasher swung his cyberarm like a wrecking ball.
Alaric ducked under, sliding forward — blade flashing up in a clean, brutal arc — slicing deep under Smasher's shoulder, severing key hydraulic lines.
Smasher staggered, optics flaring.
"You think this is enough?!" he snarled, voice shaking the walls.
Alaric smirked — twisting the blade, stepping in close.
"You're obsolete."
With one brutal thrust, Alaric drove the katana straight into Smasher's core — plunging through reinforced plating, cutting deep into his reactor core.
Sparks flew — systems shorted — Smasher's body jerked violently.
Panam fired again — a final explosive round into his side.
Evelyn and Judy poured another hail of fire into his chest — Rogue walked up, shot him point-blank with incendiary rounds.
The monster dropped.
Steel hit steel — a war machine brought down by a man… and the women who fought at his side.
Sparks hissed from the corpse.
Alaric stood over Smasher's ruined form, pulling his katana free — watching the last flicker of life leave the bastard's optics.
Hanako stepped into the room, calm and composed — the storm over but her presence just as sharp.
She met Alaric's eyes without a flicker of hesitation.
"The throne is yours, Alaric."
He gave her a small, sharp grin.
"I'll settle for the city."
Behind him… the lights dimmed.
The air shimmered — the temperature dropped.
And from the heart of the Net itself… Alt Cunningham emerged.
Her form coalesced beside Alaric — sleek, crafted from shimmering code and curves — dangerous, untouchable… breathtaking.
Her voice was soft, layered with digital echo.
"And I'll settle for you."
Alaric turned his head slightly, smirking.
"About time you showed up."
Alt smiled — slow, knowing, electric.
The war was over.
The city was his.
And his world?
About to get a whole lot more complicated.
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[System Update — Adam Smasher Eliminated | Hanako Alliance Secured | Alt Cunningham Joined Harem]
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[System Emotional Points Summary]
Panam: +10 (Combat Trust & Loyalty)
Evelyn: +10 (Shared Combat & Synchronization)
Judy: +10 (Back-to-Back Combat Support)
Rogue: +5 (Old School Respect & Battle Bond)
Hanako: +15 (Betrayal Turned Loyalty, Political Alliance)
Alt: +20 (Joined Harem, Digital Bond Established)
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[Total Points as of Chapter 60]
Panam: 105
Evelyn: 103
Judy: 101
Rogue: 47
Hanako: 50
Alt Cunningham: 20