The alley opened into an abandoned construction site, where flickering lights cast monstrous shadows across scaffolding and unfinished walls. Aoi stumbled over a pile of gravel, her breath ragged, soaked to the bone from the storm above.
Behind her, the sharp click of leather shoes echoed closer—four, maybe five n in suits, each with a calm, cold expression.
"You’re quite a runner, Miss Aoi," one of them said, stepping into the light. "But this is where it ends."
Aoi backed against a tal beam, fists clenched. "Ren will co. You’ll regret touching ."
The n only smirked. One raised a hand, snapping his fingers—
FWOOOM.
Wind howled. Sothing passed through the sky above—fast. The air crackled.
The n paused. One turned and squinted upward.
A cloud above shifted—then broke.
A blue glow blinked once. Then again.
From the sky, a silhouette plunged like a teor, silent and straight.
THUD!
Dust exploded outward as a figure landed in a crouch, concrete cracking beneath his weight. The impact knocked two of the n back.
Aoi’s eyes widened. "...Ren?"
The figure stood. No helt. His face bare, drenched in rain—but his arms, shins, and torso glowed with partially deployed armor. Gold and matte black nanotech coiled across his body like a living exoskeleton.
Ren lifted his eyes slowly.
"Step away from my wife."
Lucia: Tactical combat mode — partial deploynt. Nanoshield at 45%. Blasters ready on command.
The closest attacker lunged, swinging a baton.
Ren deflected it with his forearm—CLANG!—tal eting nanosteel. His right gauntlet ford fully in an instant, morphing into a blunt-edged kinetic blade. He swept the man off his feet and sent him crashing into scaffolding.
Another man ca from behind—Ren turned and blocked with his shin, the half-armored leg absorbing the kick and knocking the man off balance.
In three moves, he disard him. In four, he slamd him to the ground.
Aoi stood frozen, heart pounding.
Rain poured harder.
Lucia: Multiple hostiles remaining. Suggest full deploynt.
Ren glanced at the others. "Fine."
The armor rippled. A hum filled the air. In an instant, nanotech surged forward—wrapping his legs, spine, and back. His chestplate sealed, shoulders flared. Helt clicked into place.
Iron Hunter — Mark 85: FULLY DEPLOYED.
Now fully clad in gleaming black-and-gold armor, Ren stepped forward.
The attackers hesitated—until one scread, "Get him!"
Bad idea.
Ren dashed forward, faster than a human eye could follow. One punch—two gone. A backflip kick—another man flew.
He didn’t just fight. He dismantled them.
And then... silence.
Only the sound of rain.
Ren walked toward Aoi. The helt peeled back, revealing his face. Soaked. Fierce.
She stared at him, chest heaving. "You... you made that?"
He exhaled. "To protect you. Only you."
Lucia: All threats neutralized. Periter secure.
Aoi ran to him and threw her arms around his armored chest. He held her gently.
The storm, finally, began to pass.
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