Bits of Love, Lines of Code
Chapter 79 - 74 — Hunter Descends

Chapter 79: Chapter 74 — Hunter Descends

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 men 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 metal beam, fists clenched. "Ren will come. You’ll regret touching me."

The men only smirked. One raised a hand, snapping his fingers—

FWOOOM.

Wind howled. Something passed through the sky above—fast. The air crackled.

The men 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 meteor, 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 men back.

Aoi’s eyes widened. "...Ren?"

The figure stood. No helmet. 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 deployment. Nanoshield at 45%. Blasters ready on command.

The closest attacker lunged, swinging a baton.

Ren deflected it with his forearm—CLANG!—metal meeting nanosteel. His right gauntlet formed 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 came 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 disarmed him. In four, he slammed him to the ground.

Aoi stood frozen, heart pounding.

Rain poured harder.

Lucia: Multiple hostiles remaining. Suggest full deployment.

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. Helmet 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 screamed, "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 helmet 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. Perimeter secure.

Aoi ran to him and threw her arms around his armored chest. He held her gently.

The storm, finally, began to pass.