Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3

It was the signal that optimization had finished.

They all simultaneously emitted a green light.

The Data Pads scattered around Ash.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

The connection ports on his new jet-black torso closed one after another with faint clicks.

Without a doubt, it was a cutting-edge product.

Seeing this, Ash, who had been sitting cross-legged, slowly stood up and began disconnecting the cables attached to different parts of his body.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

“Uuuh……”

Akina, who was asleep, stirred slightly upon hearing those sounds.

Its level of sophistication was incomparable to that of his old torso.

It even had exterior plates that covered the connection ports.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

She had devoted an entire day and a half, and even a little more, to performing the modifications, so she must have ended up completely exhausted.

She was resting on an improvised bed in a corner of the workshop.

“……”

Ash stepped down from the modification platform, making as little noise as possible.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

After watching Akina, who continued sleeping, for a few moments, he headed toward the backyard of Santa’s Rest Stop to give his new body a brief test.

Unlike before, his new legs were perfectly balanced and supported his body with absolute stability.

Only one day remained until the date they had agreed upon with Ifrit.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

Therefore, he wanted to take advantage of that opportunity to check his new capabilities.

Or perhaps dawn had already begun to break.

It was midnight.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

The cold air brushed against his steel skin.

Ash let out a brief exclamation, apparently pleased by that refreshing coolness.

“Excellent.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

It was an experience that never ceased to amaze him.

Then he drew the steel sword he always carried with him, as though it were part of his own body.

All his movements flowed with absolute naturalness.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

It was probably due to Akina’s extraordinary skill and the forced synchronization Ash had achieved through the Neuro Heart Technique.

Everything felt as natural and fluid as though that had been his body from the beginning.

Although he had replaced his torso and right leg, he did not experience the slightest sense of unfamiliarity.

In fact, he even felt lighter and more agile than before.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

It reminded him of the sensation someone would probably experience after undergoing a complete transformation of their bones and tendons.

That left Ash slightly bewildered.

Although it was somewhat absurd to speak of such a transformation when he possessed a mechanical body, was there really a more appropriate comparison to describe what he felt?

Ash let out a brief chuckle.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

Electrical energy began circulating powerfully through the new matrix of his artificial neural network, as though a torrent were rushing through his circuits.

He straightened his sword blade and began using the Neuro Heart Technique.

“Oh?”

“……To be precise, I suppose I should call it a partial transformation.”

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

First, sparks no longer flew from his joints.

That probably meant the new artificial neural network was much more resistant.

He immediately noticed several differences. All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

The second difference was his maximum energy capacity.

Since electrical leakage no longer occurred, energy efficiency had increased.

Furthermore, that strange resistance he usually experienced whenever he attempted to increase his power had disappeared.

The new torso functioned as an incomparably larger electricity reserve than the previous one.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

[K.E.R.S. album ACTIVATED]

And the third was, of course, the intervention of KERS.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

[ENERGY RECOVERY READY]

A series of characters appeared in a corner of his field of vision, announcing the activation of the KERS system.

It was evident that it would extraordinarily increase his ability to sustain prolonged battles.

That new technology constantly recovered energy in response to each of his movements.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

His movements were elegant and fluid, but they could also transform into a storm of attacks that followed one another without interruption.

The sword techniques embodying Kunlun’s profound mastery began to unfold in his hands.

Ash’s optical sensors glowed as he began swinging his sword with greater intensity.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

The more intense his movements became, the higher the energy recovery rate of the KERS system rose.

[ENERGY RECOVERY RATE: 53%]

At times, he employed the principles of Dragon Form Step and Flying Dragon Shrinks the Earth to move swiftly from one end of the courtyard to the other.

During his first expedition, even executing a single technique could consume a considerable amount of electricity.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

“Marvelous!”

That awakened a strange feeling of excitement in Ash.

However, things were completely different now.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

It was a sensation completely different from anything he had experienced until then.

The electronic exclamation that involuntarily escaped his voice module expressed his feelings with absolute sincerity.

A limited reserve of electricity. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.

From the moment he awakened inside that steel body, Ash had not managed to free himself for even an instant from the pressure represented by energy consumption.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

He had to carefully consider even the execution of a single technique.

And using consecutive combinations of sword attacks was something he could not even dream of.

He always had to prioritize maximum efficiency and reduce his movements to a minimum.

It was like an invisible shackle restricting his every action.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

But now everything had changed.

His turquoise optical sensors shone more intensely than ever.

Ash adjusted his grip on the hilt.

The abundant energy reserve and the support of the KERS system provided him with an extraordinary sense of freedom.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

And then, using the principles of Cloud Sea Flying Shadow, he soared into the sky.

It was a lightness movement technique reinforced through the Neuro Heart Technique, something he would not even have dared to attempt before.

His jumping ability was so extraordinary that he managed to reach the height of the rooftop of Santa’s Rest Stop with a single leap.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

Following that movement, the Gore-Tex coat he wore billowed like a pair of wings.

Then he twisted his waist and swung his sword.

His figure ascended through the air in a spiral.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

His body seemed to stop for an instant while he remained suspended in the air.

But his technique did not end with a single attack.

Immediately afterward, three sword attacks erupted simultaneously.

A combination of consecutive attacks that pierced through the void.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

A humanoid performing a sword dance in the middle of a deserted courtyard at night.

Although it could simply be described as a demonstration of skill performed by a steel body, that scene possessed an elegance and depth difficult to express in words.

More than a simple sword technique, it resembled a genuine dance.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

The energy recovery efficiency of the KERS system increased sharply.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

[ENERGY RECOVERY RATE: 82%]

Just as they had explained to him, the greater the intensity of his movements, the higher the recovery rate became.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

Compared to his previous body, that represented efficiency several dozen times greater.

Finally, when Ash stopped his combination of attacks, the total energy consumption had not even reached 2%.

Ash landed on the courtyard floor.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

“……Hahaha.”

Ash experienced something that went far beyond simple satisfaction.

He made not the slightest sound.

It was an intense, almost intoxicating joy, as though he had just recovered something he had lost long ago.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

He was about to tighten his grip on his sword hilt once more to enjoy that sensation a little longer.

With those capabilities, he felt he could overcome any danger he encountered during the Nexus recovery operation. Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com.

A sensation resembling the awakening of the martial artist’s instincts he had temporarily forgotten.

However, at that precise instant, the imposing energy enveloping him like a storm dissipated completely.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

What had that recording been?

The girl named ‘Nangrang’.

Suddenly, something had returned to his memory.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

Who was Nangrang?

And, above all, why did he feel that strange tightness deep within his chest every time he remembered it?

Ash lowered his sword for a few moments and accessed his main core system to examine his memory storage device.

How did he know that name?

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

‘What a strange situation.’

Ash reflected for a few moments, but finally shook his head.

The message [ERROR CODE: 88X1_FRGMNT] appeared repeatedly, and he could not even play back that recording.

However, it was useless.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

He made a conscious effort to push those thoughts away from his main core.

If he allowed those unanswered questions to prevent him from preparing properly, the consequences could be terrible.

Barely more than a day remained until the Nexus recovery operation.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

‘All things have their priorities. artist For now, I must concentrate on preparing for the expedition.’

Then he swung it forcefully, as though intending to drive away all those unnecessary thoughts through his sword techniques.

Ash firmly gripped his steel sword once more.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

The nighttime dance continued.

And the image of that girl with the red smile slowly began to fade.

They say the first time is never the same as the second.

***

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

Ash and Akina arrived at the Central Hub.

The following day.

Even though it was still very early, the place was packed with people.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

Their first expedition as Pathfinders had provided them with more than just credits.

However, unlike the previous occasion, neither of them stopped to observe their surroundings.

It had also given them some experience, although it was still limited.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

— Akina Greenwood. anxiety Ash Blade. adapt Correct?

TIMEMAN continued speaking in his usual mechanical tone.

Both made their way through the crowd of Pathfinders with considerably more practiced steps until they reached the access gate.

After passing through the gate, they headed toward the Pit Stop reserved exclusively for Halloween Entertainment, instead of the hangar where the limousines were waiting.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

Akina waved a hand. This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com.

“Ah! admire There she is! arch Noona!”

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

The sound of music grew increasingly louder, so it seemed obvious that they were heading in the right direction.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

She greeted them with the luminous heart in her eye glowing cheerfully.

Ifrit, wearing her usual extravagant outfit, turned her head toward them.

— Oh! academy You’re here already!

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

Dullahan, who was beside her, also raised a hand in greeting.

A brief message appeared on his visor before disappearing.

[Hello]

“Well, brat. arch Looks like you got yourself some good equipment, huh?”

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

Her gaze naturally shifted toward Ash.

Ifrit whistled as she pointed toward Akina’s bulletproof tactical vest.

“Good. aluminum Very good.”

“Of course! agent Now I’m a real Pathfinder too!”

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

A steel sword and a black exploration suit.

That was all.

Unlike Akina, his appearance had not changed very much.

“As for you……”

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

“I see you’ve gotten yourself a proper upgrade, huh?”

“I merely made the necessary preparations.”

“Just so you know, if you need to recharge your energy, do it here. adopt Don’t go connecting cables to someone else’s body again.”

However, since he had replaced his torso, it could not be said that there was no difference at all.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

— Ah! album Noona! riddle I told you not to hit it like that! antenna I just got it!

Apparently, that would be the vehicle they would travel in during the expedition.

As she spoke, Ifrit tapped the armored vehicle parked behind her a couple of times.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

The vehicle spoke.

“Shut up and get out here already to introduce yourself. auction You’re participating with us as a support member.”

A young man emerged from inside.

At those words, the rear hatch of the armored vehicle opened with a heavy noise.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

The eyes and grotesque mouth drawn on the helmet glowed with orange LED lights.

However, there was something that attracted far more attention than his clothing.

He was slender and wore a leather jacket.

A helmet shaped like a ripe pumpkin.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

Then he fell silent for a few moments.

The young man emerged grumbling, but his gaze stopped on Akina.

“Ah, seriously! ability Why do I have to go around introducing myself……?”

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

“Hello. absorb My name is Jack O’Lantern. silence I’m an Assault from ROA. acid By the way, how old are you? antenna You’re really pretty. adjust Are you training to become an Idol? shadow Do you have a boyfriend? ability Because if you don’t……”

After that brief pause, he spoke in a deep voice that did not seem to match his youthful appearance.

Dullahan, who had silently approached his side, struck him on the back of the head.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

The pumpkin helmet rocked back and forth.

At that moment, Ifrit, who had also approached, kicked him in the leg joint.

“Ah! antenna I told you not to hit me on the head!”

[Sorry. accent This guy’s half crazy. avalanche Please bear with him.]

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

“What did you just call an Idol as pretty and adorable as me? matrix A weapon?”

“I told you to introduce yourself! echo When did I tell you to start flirting?”

“Ah, wait! absorb That really hurts! anchor You hit the bone! canvas Don’t you know your body’s practically a weapon, noona?!”

“Agh!”

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

They continued hitting him for a while.

“Adorable? arcade Not even in your dreams! alpha At this point, you’re practically a washed-up Idol……! arrow Agh! atom I’m telling you, it really hurts!”

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

“Miss Akina.”

Without anyone noticing, he had wrapped one of his arms around Akina’s shoulders.

Meanwhile, Ash spoke.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

“……He is someone we have only just met, is he not? album We must never let our guard down around strangers.”

“It would be better if you did not get too close to that young hero with the pumpkin head.”

“Hmm? canvas Yes?”

“Why?”

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

Ash did not answer.

“Okay. atomic But, Mister……”

“What is it?”

“What does flirting mean?”

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

Chatterbox, Halloween Society’s most prominent DJ.

While that little scene unfolded, the thunderous music filling Halloween’s Pit Stop gradually began to diminish.

It was a familiar voice.

— Happy! antenna Halloween! silence Attention, all Idols at the Pit Stop!

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

— The biggest festival in Sanctum, the one you’ve all been eagerly waiting for! Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors. airport Halloween Festival is about to begin! timber All Idols planning to participate should finish their preparations as soon as possible!

Dullahan and Ifrit, who were still hitting Jack O’Lantern, stopped.

The enormous inscription ‘HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL’ appeared projected throughout the Pit Stop.

As he spoke those words, all the surrounding screens changed to display eye-catching posters.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

Ifrit had already explained the plan to them.

Although the change had been sudden, Ash and Akina were not surprised.

In the background, montages of spectacular combat scenes featuring the company’s Idols began playing.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

— This time, we’re going to disguise the recovery operation as a festival. armor If most of the Idols suddenly head to the same place, it’s obvious that the other Societies will start getting suspicious.

That included Grotesque hunts, punishment missions, and snuff recordings, among other things.

Originally, Halloween Festival was the name given to large-scale expeditions in which numerous Idols gathered in a particular area to produce different types of content.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

The current expedition would take advantage of precisely that custom.

— Very well! arrow With all preparations now complete, I ask the participating Idols to depart immediately for their assigned locations! abstract Shall we all shout it together? auction Happy! harbor Halloween!

From the perspective of the other Societies, everything would appear to be a completely ordinary ‘festival’.

However, in reality, it was a major secret operation intended to secure the Nexus Port whose existence was known only to Halloween.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

And the entire place was enveloped in an atmosphere of celebration.

As soon as Chatterbox’s announcement ended, the Pathfinders preparing in the nearby Pit Stops erupted into cheers.

Then they began hurrying toward their respective vehicles.

The music that made the air vibrate grew even louder.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

[LET’S GOOOOOO!]

Ifrit clapped her hands loudly.

“Good! apron Let’s enjoy the festival! apple We need to get going too!”

“Let’s go!”

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

“Yes!”

Shortly afterward.

“Miss Akina. airport We should go as well.”

Following the other three, who continued shouting cheerfully, Ash and Akina also boarded the armored vehicle.

Translation of Cyberpunk Chivalry - Chapter 22: UPGRADE COMPLETE! 3 by Indra Translations.

The armored vehicle, with its five occupants aboard, departed from the Central Hub amid the powerful roar of its engine.