Today, transformed into the black 'Desire for Death,' it appears far more ferocious than this warrior. At this moment, it has its mouth wide open, and each bite fiercely devours a large chunk of blue data.
Meanwhile, its figure continues to swell.
The gigantic blue warrior, initially towering at a height of forty or fifty meters, was quickly reduced to only twice the size of a normal human after a few bites.
And the 'Desire for Death' in cat form has now turned into a terrifying giant beast over ten meters tall.
Once it takes its final bite and devours all the ICE set by the Guardian AI, it even yawns with satisfaction.
Then, with another flicker of its figure, the black beast transforms back into a small cat composed of blue data.
It stretches lazily on the ground, then hops onto Lucy's lap.
As for Lucy... she was already dumbfounded.
"Did you really think the ICE arranged by Arasaka for you was merely a simple ICE? There's a subroutine of the Guardian AI inside, essentially a low-intelligence AI."
After finishing, Mercer pauses and reassures her, "But you can't be blamed; with your skills, it's indeed hard to discern, given you've never dealt with AI-related tech before."
"I'm sorry, I, I thought..." Lucy feels that, if in the real world, she'd be blushing from shame – she was truly stupid this time.
Just...
"I just, um... feel that, being by your side, there's less to worry about." Lucy decides to tell the truth.
Mercer curls his lips, unapologetically expressing his mood, "Hmm, a plausible explanation... Alright, continue with the previous question."
"I've decided to bring my talents to Night City."
Mercer gives his answer.
"Night City? I've heard about it; it's said to be quite chaotic there because, being a neutral city for now, Arasaka and Military Science are locked in fierce conflict.
Additionally, Biotechnology, Ye Corporation, Kangtao... outside the city, there are Wanderers and the Chaotic Blade Association."
Lucy is somewhat surprised; she thought Mercer would go somewhere safer. Night City? It hardly seems like a comforting haven.
"Indeed, the corporations are at each other's throats, and the gangs underneath have even more complex affiliations.
The Valentino Gang composed of Haywood People.
The Yankee-formed Sixth Street Gang.
The cyber psychotics formed Vortex Gang, the foolish traitors formed the Voodoo Gang.
See a Cleaner Fish, kill a Cleaner Fish.
The Chaotic Blade Association of the wilderness, the vicious dogs Tiger Claw Gang raised by Arasaka, the Animal Gang whose heads have become pointy due to drug abuse..."
Mercer summarizes these forces simply with straightforward words, and then, laughing heartily, adds, "Therefore, that's precisely where we belong."
"Only there, do we have the chance to rise to prominence, even deliver a heavy blow to such a foolish company as Arasaka — do you remember the Arasaka nuclear incident fifty years ago? Such actions can only be done in Night City.
Morgan Black Hand, Spider Murphy, Bartmos...
Countless legends penned their stories there, despite the not-so-pleasant outcomes of those stories, but, believe me, some things can only be done in Night City."
After finishing, Mercer pauses and smiles at her:
"Even if you just want to hide...
It's the best hideout for you; although nowadays Arasaka is dominating Night City, there are plenty of people opposing him there.
You, a mere miner, moving there, no one would bother spending time to find you.
Hmm...
But if you're with me, that's another story, because I don't plan on slinking away quietly like that."
Lucy gazes into his eyes; even in Cyberspace, with his face covered by a smiling mask, the flickering data light in his eye sockets vaguely reveals his confident, rebellious eyes.
"Aren't you afraid..." she hesitates.
"Afraid of Arasaka? Or afraid of dying?"
The smile on Mercer's mask grows even brighter:
"Since I'm alive in this world now, I don't intend to die pathetically.
Fortunately, I seem to have the potential, or rather the ability, to change things now. So, before I die, I might as well stir things up."
Lucy cannot understand.
Right now... she just wants to survive, anything else like the meaning of life is too distant, except...
"Understood... then, I will head to Night City too... can you take me with you?"
She turns her face, looking at the cat in her lap. The cat seems to be digesting after its feast and is now dozing off on her knee.
"Alright."
Mercer responds with a cheerful grin, "Then I'll take you with me, even Arasaka couldn't stop us, I promise that."
"... You better not be bluffing." Lucy suddenly feels a bit of warmth in her face, oddly wondering why Cyberspace would have any temperature?
"So, after reaching Night City, what's your plan?" she changes the topic.
"First, find a place to settle down, then switch to being a mercenary, earn money while building reputation, network, and gather like-minded companions."
Mercer describes the future casually:
"When I earn enough money, I'll buy a mansion with a swimming pool; I've never tasted such luxurious enjoyment in this lifetime!
Once I make it big in Night City, I'll indulge first, that's for sure.
Oh, and continue improving my hacking skills, explore and develop technology like implants.
Hmm... In short, my short-term goal is to become a legendary boss in Night City!"
After Mercer finishes, he turns to Lucy:
"You should think about what you truly desire too...
I know, you fear Arasaka, fear death, and even more so, fear dying without meaning.
There's nothing wrong with that, but...
I believe worrying daily about how to die, or avoiding death, the meaning of life should focus more on determining what you truly wish to do.
Only by finding the purpose of living, the attitude in life, does fear of death have meaning."
"Hmm..." Lucy nods gently, doesn't speak, just lowers her head.
Mercer reaches out, gently pats her head:
"You're still young, don't overburden yourself with thoughts...
At least, following me, you can go with the flow."
"... You're only a year older than me," Lucy mutters with some dissatisfaction, not fond of him treating her like a child.
"Uh... solely on mental age, I feel I'm at least ten years older than you."
Mercer speaks honestly, Lucy glances at him skeptically, but ultimately, she just nods.
"You're the boss; you decide."
After she speaks, she exhales deeply, then laughs: "Then, these bothersome matters, they're yours to handle, mature mind and spirit Mercer."
"... Bite her."
As Mercer finishes his sentence, the 'Desire for Death' on her knee actually bites her, bringing a genuine sense of pain without any data damage.
"Alright, gather the others; in future deep dives, we'll meet at the same IP, don't separate.
Around me, there's hardly any chance of encountering wandering AI, even if we do, the ICE arranged by Arasaka's Guardian AI, combined with my cat, should stall long enough for our safe retreat."
Mercer instructs.
"Okay." Happily, Lucy pets the 'Desire for Death's' cat head and promptly stands to trace the IP and summon others.
Once she leaves, Mercer ponders for a while, then secretly spits at Bartmos – the old guy surely arranged her IP next to his on purpose.
Dude, she's only thirteen or fourteen!
Is your Cyber World really so daring? Not afraid of the righteous iron fist!
Shaking his head, Mercer comfortably lies on the ground.
Continue to milk it; as long as the Arasaka Server is available, exploit its computing power to write programs for himself!
What to write first?
Hmm...
Got it!
Let's start by writing out those attack Sorcery Puppets like implant malfunctions, synaptic fusion commonly seen in games, and compress them into quick hacks!
Once he's crafted a dozen super viruses, then open his eyes wide, and whoever he glares at dies, ensuring Night City receives a small cyber shock!