Chapter 6

Name:Ghost in the City Author:
Chapter 6

I started running again the next day, and almost instantly got a level up.

*Athletics skill level up!*

*1 Perk Point Gained.*

I slowed for a moment but decided to keep jogging as I pulled up the stat screen to check through the perks.

Most of them were what I expected. Runners high. To let me zone out and keep running to push myself pretty hard for long distance running. Parkour. Which was obvious. High jump. Interesting. Increase the height of my hops.

Unlike my other skills athletics didnt have any direct combat stuff I noticed. It was all calm things that would just be useful or to enhance my ability to move.

I picked Parkour. Always pick Parkour. In a city like Night City? Easy pick.

The moment I did I started noticing things. Paths through the city opened up to me as if I had run them all. If I jumped onto that cart, I could hit that overhang and climb onto those window bars. Which would put me on the roof of that building.The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñòv€l-B1n.

That sort of thing.

It was fun to imagine even if I didnt do any of it for now. Just finished up my jog, yet since I wasnt that tired, I decided to do a second lap which by the time I was done had worn me out quite a bit.

I would do a quick shower since I had already eaten some lunch at the vendors around the block. But then? More crunches! Yay!

I think I was starting to become one of those weirdos who go to the gym.

Wait, I actually did need to go to a gym and I had money Oh right I had a map in my head!

--

After cleanup I decided I was going to find a gym nearby. So I did a search using my cyberware map system.

A few options came up, although I noticed most of them were tiny places with obvious Tyger Claw symbols on their front.

I didn't want that. I wanted a big impersonal gym so people wouldnt notice me or talk to me.

I wasnt a loner. I was just worried about improving too fast!

So I found a corporate gym a big glass and metal thing with shiny equipment, and in the pictures everyone is fake smiling. Obviously a place completely devoid of any soul.

Perfect.

Only thing is that It was a bit too far to walk. I would actually need to take a train. Pysching myself up, to wash away the slight nervous feeling I had. I hated the feeling of getting on the wrong train or something, but with my map guide I was easily able to figure out the right train and get on. It was a peaceful trip, but I remained on guard, making sure to keep a close eye on those around me so no one could steal my eddie shard.

Lucy might or might not be in the city at the moment, but I wasnt about to risk it.

In the end I made it to my destination without issue.

A big honking building. Chrome Ring Gym. Huh. I muttered the name as I walked under it. Entering inside I looked around, and just as I hoped there were tons of high end machines that would increase weight and as such would let me push myself further than just some push ups would.

Inside a receptionist with a fake smile greeted me, and after I ignored most of her sales pitch I paid for a monthly subscription that wasnt overly expensive before getting an access shard and I entered into the gym.

Unfortunately before I could take more than two steps in I was greeted by a massive guy in a suit.

Weapons must go in the locker. He ordered pointing towards a set of armored lockers next to him.

Oh right I was packing.

I nodded and headed over placing my Unity and my knife into the locker and taking the shard.

With that he stepped aside and I walked in.

So many activities! Considering I would have to walk home after I decided to focus on my arms. I really didnt want to have to stumble home with dead legs.

With that decision made, I settled in to pump some iron off a machine, and nearly instantly I could see my alerts come flooding in.

*100 Body XP Gained.*

*100 Body XP Gained.*

*100 Body XP Gained.*

I smiled even as I grunted, pushing further and further.

Sure my arms felt like noodles and hurt like hell on my way home. But I gained nearly another level in body in that one session.

--

With that initial hurdle out of the way I startled exploring a bit more of the city. Taking the train out to places that I wanted to see or visit.

I may have walked past Vs apartment in Megabuilding H10 just to see it. Although it wasnt actually their apartment yet. Wherever they were, they didnt move into this apartment until after the start of the game.

Either way it made me feel like I was actually part of the world and not just hiding away in my apartment.

I just wasnt at a point where I felt I could do anything. Its sorta weird that with the gamer system I sort of expect to be able to make changes to the world, even if I know that is still unlikely. There was so much corruption and evil.

I would have to see if I could actually cut out even a little of that evil.

Mostly Scavs. Fuck Scavs.

--

Hey hey!

I sighed. Hey Hiromi. I grunted, my arms hurt and I was walking down the street heading home from the train. Hiromi pulled up beside me. On the sidewalk of course because what does she care about laws gently driving next to me.

Whats got you so down? She asked leaning over the handlebars of her bike.

I turned to look at her, pouted a bit and flopped my arm at her. Exercise hurts. I hit Body 4. But not without absolutely shredding myself to get there. Now all I wanted to do was go home and sleep.

Huh Still doing that exercise thing huh? She asked, looking over at me as she gently walked her bike along with me.

Yes. Its important. I informed her but she just made a noise of fake agreement.

Well anyways. I was just driving by and noticed you. There is a party at the club if you want to come.

Pass. I want to go to sleep, arms hurt.

Hehe alright alright. Hey listen tomorrow Ichi is hinting we might have another gig. Whoa dont give me that look. Way more low key okay? Apparently the boss wants some eyes on somebody so we will be those eyes. Ichi asked if you could come.

Ill Okay. Ill come. Whats the pay like?

Terrible! Especially split so much, but it will keep us from being bored with more people. So- She offered waving both of her hands which made me reflexively try to reach out to grab her bikes handlebars only for my arm to flop around.

She didnt have any trouble though before she took control of her bike again. Want a ride home?

I sighed it was only another block Okay. I grumbled weakly climbing onto her stupid swoop backed bike, she cackled and floored it a bit once I was on making me grab her only to moan in pain at moving my arms.

Bitch! I grunted quietly at the feeling of my burning muscles.

Sorry choom! She giggled. She didnt sound sorry.

She dropped me off at the front of the apartment and was about to head out when she called out. Hey you should think about getting your hair done. Its getting messy! She said before driving off. Making me blink. I mean, it was getting a little long, but messy?

Was my hair messy?

I weakly reached up to mess with my bangs. They were a little rough. I hadnt exactly gotten a haircut after spending time in a coma I guess I would have to check the map again.

-

Ichinose

Another job, another chance to prove he had what it takes. To move out of being just another kid on the street into being someone important.

He may lead a small group, but it wasnt like a gang, more like herding cats. Sometimes he would take a job only to have none of the group able, or willing to help.

He had learned his lesson with that. If it didnt involve something preem, Malcolm and Omaeda would just bail, and Hiromi was only around half the time.

He often had to incentivise them to show up especially if it was a boring job like this one. So he had to stake out a guy. Keep an eye on him for Shobo-Sama, so he of course invited his team.

Most refused, until he offered to bring some beers from the club and make it a small party. That got the attention of his herd of irritable cats.

He sighed even if the pay was gonna be shit, and his portion was mostly already gone thanks to the beers. With his group there would be less risk. No one liked to be staked out after all, and he would have extra eyes to keep an eye out.

But it was great, because I only needed a little more!

Another thunk as I aimed and tossed the knife spinning and hitting wood.

*Reflex Leveled up!*

I covered my mouth so I wouldnt shout and cheer but I did a little dance as I celebrated. Reflex 3! That meant I had so many skills to grind out again! Plus I could feel how different I felt. Reflex just like body, was making changes. Where Body changed my physical fitness Reflex changed so much else. My balance, sense of distance and how deft my hands were.

It was awesome! Especially since Reflex 3 was the bare minimum in my opinion.

I stretched, feeling my body shift. Hitting Body four had made changes as well. I had actual muscles! I wasnt quite at super athletic level, but going from wheelchair bound to this in such a short time would have been impossible.

I brushed my hair back a bit and grinned. It had been a sudden urge to dye it purple, but I think it worked. Now I just needed to update my wardrobe, but I had promised Hiromi I would go with her to buy new clothes so I was just waiting for her to show up so we could do that. She hadnt responded to my message, but that wasnt anything new. She was quiet for long periods and then would send me ten texts about how her days had gone.

I wasnt going to the gym today since I was hoping to run into Hiromi so I had instead done some light jogging when I woke up and ran across the board.

I was honestly almost tempted to flip the TV on and spend a half hour watching the absolutely zany stuff they broadcast, but it was so full of ads on every show I couldnt do it. Instead since I had nothing else to do. I decided to go back to something I hadnt touched in a while.

Netrunning.

I had Breach Protocol unlocked, but hadnt done any further testing on it once I learned I could exercise my way out of the wheelchair.

But it was quiet right now. So I went into my room and pulled out the box. The teaching shard was slotted and I pulled out the Cyberdeck to start messing with following the instructions that my mother gave me.

A few hours of work and I had something to show for myself.

*100 Breach Protocol XP Gained.*

*100 Intelligence XP Gained*

I nodded. I guess I was getting somewhere.

-

I was eating a stick of mystery meat as I walked around the block when I finally got a call back from Hiromi.

Yes! Lets finally get you some preem threads. I know a place that has-

I already know the shop I want to go to Sorry.

Ugh. You arent going to let me put any Tyger Claw stuff on you are you? You arent liketrying to get out of the gang entirely are you?

I still love my brother and support him, but I dont really like gangs, Hiromi.

Pfft. Well, welcome to the club no one does, but I like the gangs that will kill me a lot less than the one that will accept me. She tells me bluntly. But whatever, fine. Ill come pick you up.

Cool. Thanks Hiromi I really appreciate it. Ive been kinda waffling on buying anything new.

Good! I have to be there to okay your stuff otherwise you will pick something wrong!

Thanks. I said dryly, rolling my eyes a bit. But well. Its fine. She was trying to help.

We ended up driving up the road a ways into the shopping district of Japantown. To start, but it was a bust. There wasnt anything I ended up liking. At least nothing that I wanted for what I was really shopping for.

A job outfit. I already had plenty of casual clothes even if not everything fit me, but I would still need something on the job. The outfit I had worn on our first job was basically rags at this point. The blood had stained it.

And well If I was going to be a Merc, I wanted to look professional. I wasnt exactly a fan of Street Kid Flair.

What did they call it? Neo-Militarism? Yeah I kinda liked that.

Anyway we drove around. I did relent and allow Hiromi to go to her clothing store which was a hidden little Tyger Claw place that sold their paraphernalia. I didnt end up buying anything that Hiromi recommended, but to my pleasure there was a nice pair of fingerless gloves without any Tyger Claw stuff on them that I ended up picking up.

Much to Hiromis annoyance.

After that we drove around the city stopping in City Center at a nice store. I found the perfect jacket. It was a tough material, probably some form of Synth-leather. But it was a half jacket, stopping just below my chest. But it had long sleeves and a nice collar which meant it would be perfect for keeping me warm, but not get in the way of my gun.

I bought a dark colored jacket, and found to my pleasure that the sleeves even rolled up and could be strapped down. Meaning if I was too hot. I didnt have to swelter. I did so immediately, sort of glad I wouldnt have to wear the jacket covered in Tyger Claw symbols anymore.

Although I could tell considering how it was designed it was probably expected to put some symbol on the back of it. I just had no intention to do that. It was a cute jacket already! I didnt need anything to make it look better.

Unfortunately that was a big chunk of money. Even with Gonzales stupid chromed out piece of crap. It was still just a revolver in Night City.

And I was trying not to spend too much of the 5 grand that Hiromis mother had forced on me.

Anyway, Grumbling Hiromi drove us back to our part of the city. Complaining that I only bought two things and neither of them were actual clothing.

I just shrugged happy with my cute jacket.

-

Things slowed down for a bit. I spent a week mostly doing my own thing. Grinding Body in the Gym lets me hit Body 5. And I was definitely starting to notice some real changes. Six pack here I come!

Almost. They were getting close though!

And Athletics had hit 4, as I was doing a ton of running back and forth from the gym and just in general. I couldnt have Hiromi always driving me around.

I was doing a light jog in the gym finishing up my workout when I heard a noise that drew me away. I paused the machine, stepped off wiped my face down with the towels the gym offered and walked out of the main exercise room where I had spent basically all my time into one of the side rooms. Rooms that I hadnt bothered to look into since everything I wanted was in the main room.

The side room to my surprise had Well I wouldnt call them sand bags, they were more tech than that but it was the same thing. The noise I had heard was a man with gorilla arms slamming his fists into the machine.

As I watched I couldnt help but think it was pretty cool. It was basically a stationary block with four limbs reaching out of it, with round pads on the end of each limb. I watched the machine as it kept altering the pads shifting where they were as the man continued to pummel them down.

A rapid staccato as the machine constantly adjusts for the hits.

I was the dumbest.

I hadnt even thought about Hand to hand! I didnt really do the boxing ring missions in the game. I just skipped those missions because I thought they were a little silly. But this was the real world.

Knowing how to throw a punch or better yet, block one?

My arms were still good. Today I had mostly been doing aerobic exercise so I found an open machine. After a few minutes of fiddling with the machine I found its settings and started it on the lightest setting.

The four limbs moved around a bit before I noticed that they actually had little lights.

Oh! I get it. I was supposed to hit the green pads, and not the red ones that were blocking my fists.

Interesting!

How cute! And kinda fun. I threw a few weak punches getting a feel for it. At this setting it wasnt hard.

On the fifth hit, I got an alert.

*Street Brawling Experience Gained.*

*Skill not unlocked, no XP gained.*

*Street Brawling Unlocked.*

Another Body skill? Yes please.

I tucked in, didnt matter if I was already near the end of my exercise regiment. I was gonna spend a few hours hitting this machine until it gave me my levels!

The snapping pop of my fist hitting the pad over and over joining the much louder harder and faster hits with the man. But I didnt care about that. I was enjoying myself. Sweating and learning and as the alerts came in. I felt that need rising up.

Come to mama. Give me that sweet sweet level up.

Finally after who knows how long I had been punching the stupid machine I got the last alert I needed.

*Street Brawler skill level up!*

Level 1. And boy was that a lot of info. I might already be exhausted, but it wasnt that bad. I had been pushing my body pretty hard for weeks. I had already hit level 5 Body. A half hour of punching a bag definitely had worn me out, but I was still there.

And now? Now I knew how to really throw a punch. Or at least I was certainly a lot better.

I adjusted the machine for the first time, increasing the difficulty. Now it would actually try to block me. I threw myself into it for a few minutes. Just getting a feel for my new knowledge. The higher skill ceiling of the machine meant I even got an alert

*100 Street Brawler XP Gained.*

Before I gave it up. Sweating like crazy I wiped my head down and went to hit the shower. The Gorilla arms guy was still going though.

What crazy stamina.