"I don't understand what's happening, but those new-model nanobots seem to be repairing the dam. Oh—right, hello everyone. I'm Julian Jordan, broadcasting live above the Badlands Dam."
"Do you see that blue liquid? It's composed of countless next-generation nanobots. Every time a new crack forms in the dam, they immediately fill it. I don't know what this means—on paper, they were only designed to purify water pollution. But right now, they seem to be using themselves as an adhesive to repair the dam."
"Our beautiful dam is almost completely painted over by these blue lines. Maybe to an artist they look ugly as hell, but if you ask me—this is the most beautiful artwork in history! Maybe the dam won't collapse. Maybe the flood won't come. Go, nanobots! Even if your name is a nightmare to pronounce—if you really save Night City, I'll vote for you as the next mayor!"
The star anchor of News 54 arrived on-site in an AV, screaming hysterically through wind and rain.
All of Night City was watching the broadcast, cheering for the nanobots along with her.
"Go, little guys!"
"Come on, nanobots!"
People didn't understand the complex science behind it.
They only knew that tiny nanobots were saving Night City.
This city had suffered too much. It had finally begun to recover—it didn't deserve to be destroyed now.
God, please open your eyes.
We just want to live.
Just live ordinary, normal lives.
But God was blind.
Night City's summers were usually dry and rainless—yet today, dark clouds gathered and torrential rain poured down.
Without sufficient sunlight, the nanobots' replication rate slowed. Viewers quickly noticed something was wrong and flooded the Net with questions.
The official account of Good Car Fixer responded:
"It's the sunlight. The new nanobots convert ultraviolet light into electrical energy, then combine it with decomposition byproducts to self-replicate. There's no shortage of material in Laguna Bend—but if replication suddenly slows, the only explanation is lack of sunlight."
The explanation made sense. People recalled the original press conference.
Yes—the nanobots needed sunlight as an energy source.
But now…
Everyone looked up at the sky, feeling despair sink in.
Night City was buried under thick clouds, like a black bowl inverted over it—no sunlight at all.
Was it over?
Just like that?
A city that survived the Arasaka invasion, protected by countless lives.
A city rebuilt by our own sweat and blood.
Was it really going to exit the stage in such an absurd way?
Unacceptable.
Completely unacceptable.
But what could resentment change?
Humans cannot defy nature.
Nor can they defy fate.
Everyone fell silent, watching the broadcast, waiting for the end.
Then—
a thunderous boom tore through Night City, snapping everyone out of despair.
"What was that? The sound came from… Watson Industrial Zone?"
The News 54 anchor froze for a split second, then erupted into frantic excitement, screaming at the top of her lungs, voice cracking without care for professionalism.
"It's the Exostructure! The Exostructure has taken off! It's flying at high speed—V is charging straight into the sky!!!"
The camera swung around.
The Exostructure was wrapped in white vapor, like a gauze skirt circling its waist. It shot upward at incredible speed, punching into the clouds. Even the rain was dragged upward by the shockwave, reversing direction—like a divine blade stabbing straight into the heavens.
They hadn't given up.
Night City hadn't given up.
V hadn't given up!!!
Hot blood surged through everyone's veins. Ignoring the storm, people rushed onto rooftops.
Skyscraper tops. Cargo aircraft. Aircraft carrier decks.
Countless eyes looked up, shouting.
The Exostructure accelerated—again and again.
V circled Night City repeatedly, speed climbing to a staggering Mach 6—the design limit of the suit. But it wasn't enough. Faster.
Safety locks disengaged. System warnings ignored.
Engines overloaded.
Energy cells overloaded.
Body overloaded.
Mind overloaded.
Even if the Exostructure burned out.
Even if I could never fight again.
I will protect Night City.
I will shatter this sky!
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
V roared, forcing her will beyond flesh.
The armor shell glowed red-hot from atmospheric friction, flames licking across the surface.
Mach 7… Mach 8… Mach 9…
Mach 10… Mach 11…
Finally—Mach 12.
Fire and rain entwined.
Will and steel stood together.
The Exostructure slammed into the clouds like a blazing meteor—
one second later, the storm clouds exploded outward, torn open from the impact point.
Sunlight poured down onto Laguna Bend.
The nanobots began replicating again. Blue patterns spread across the dam like countless hands wiping away despair, gripping a shattered future.
Cheers erupted—then abruptly stopped.
Because the Exostructure was falling.
Its engines had completely shut down. It plunged in freefall, crashing into Laguna Bend with a massive splash.
A hundred-meter-high column of water erupted. The news camera captured everything.
Mach 12 was far beyond human limits.
Did that mean—
No "did."
Before panic could spread, the Exostructure burst back out of the water.
It hovered in midair, overlooking all of Night City. Steam rose from its superheated armor like wings. Sunlight reflected off its high-tech coating, radiating something almost sacred.
An unbelievable sight.
Cheers erupted again—some people even dropped to their knees in worship.
Night City had won.
Led by V, we reclaimed the future once more.
One Week Later
Repairs on the Badlands Dam proceeded steadily. The blue markings became known among the public as the "Blue Miracle."
Because the nanobots hardened their protein shells to act as adhesive—a process equivalent to suicide—people lit candles in one corner of the dam to honor their sacrifice.
In a factory in Watson, Jackie led workers repairing the Exostructure. V had pushed it far too hard. The priceless single-soldier combat suit was severely damaged—basic repairs alone cost over 400 million eurodollars.
Cleanup in the eastern Coronado Farms was nearing completion. Wreckage was hauled away, new houses built, heavy machinery leveled the scarred land.
From ruins, new homes rose.
Humanity had always moved forward like this—step by step.
The Aldecaldos nomad clan became the main logistics force transporting materials. Normally, nomads avoided Night City—or exploited it when wounded. But their young leader, Panam Palmer, forcibly stopped that tradition.
Instead, she went alone to Night City to meet V—and secured the contract for her entire clan.
"V, we won't let you down! Aldecaldos have the best drivers there are. Let us handle transport—you can relax your damn ass!" Panam said excitedly, her voice rough but alluring.
V used to thirst for Panam in her past life—shame she didn't swing that way. They'd blown up trains and hijacked Basilisks together, becoming close friends.
If Jackie was V's bro, Panam was her girl-bro.
A friend asking for help? Of course V wouldn't refuse.
She offered the Aldecaldos an extremely generous price—Panam was so happy she nearly bowed on the spot.
V had no doubt that if she tried to sleep with Panam now, Panam would drop her pants without hesitation.
Panam didn't trust corporations. If she was working with one, she must have been desperate.
As V watched her leave, Sasha pinched her waist in annoyance.
"Nice ass, huh?"
"Absolutely. Panam's ass—the soul of Night City."
Sasha burst out laughing.
"Seems you like thick women. Sorry I'm too skinny. Want me to call Panam back? She looks broke—probably wouldn't refuse you."
"Forget it. I don't take advantage of people."
Sasha rolled her eyes.
V glanced at Rogue, smoking nearby.
"This is a hospital."
Rogue nodded, pulling out a cigarette pack.
"Want one?"
"I don't smoke. Pour me a drink."
So one smoked, one drank—in a hospital ward.
Because she'd gone too far, V's body was badly damaged. To list it all would require every department in the hospital.
In short: she shook when walking, needed long-term recovery, relied on a wheelchair.
David was the same—next door, also in a wheelchair, with Lucy caring for him.
"I didn't expect you to bring Panam," V said to Rogue.
"She ran a few jobs for me. Not close," Rogue replied flatly.
"Not close, yet you vouched for her?"
"My kid's father used to be the Aldecaldos' leader. Old ties."
"What the fuck?" V blinked.
"I thought your kid was Johnny's!"
Rogue choked on smoke.
"Me having Johnny's kid? Makes me sick just thinking about it!"
"You still slept with him. In Saburo Arasaka's body."
"That's exactly why I slept with him. That was the former Arasaka boss. Weird at first—but once you get used to it? Kinda hot. Free ride. Why not?"
V laughed helplessly.
"Johnny told me he conquered you."
"Human-shaped fleshlight."
V pitied Johnny—but respected Rogue.
Johnny Silverhand was controversial—egomaniac, revolutionary—but everyone agreed on one thing:
Johnny Silverhand was a pure scumbag.
"Back to business," Rogue said, crushing her cigarette and pulling out a shard.
"Everyone who tampered with the dam is on this."
V didn't look. No need.
"Kill them all."
"All?" Rogue hesitated. "There are high-ranking officials."
"Then legal process. Evidence. Prosecution. Court rulings."
V shrugged. "You think it'll work? The law doesn't apply to people who write it while shitting in courtrooms. Only bullets and chainswords do."
Rogue didn't argue.
"I just worry too many missing officials might affect reconstruction."
"Two-legged toads are rare. Two-legged officials aren't. And honestly, a street foreman does more real work than they ever did."
Rogue nodded.
"Three days."
"Fine."
Justice wasn't pretty—but consequences mattered more.
"Oh—Panam's short on cash?"
"She wasn't. But the Aldecaldos' former leader has liver cancer. Needs a transplant."
Rogue left.
Sasha was busy. V rolled next door to chat with David—
Only to hear:
David: "Hey—help me up!"
Lucy: "No, gross!"
"You didn't say that in bed!"
"That was before you pissed on my hand!"
"I didn't complain!"
"Men and women are different!"
"How?"
"Kids wet the bed—brother scolds. Adults wet the bed—brother praises!"
"I can't hold it—shit, I pissed myself!"
V silently backed out.
Wild couple.
Back in her room, V froze.
Michiko Arasaka had arrived.
She'd visited daily—everyone was used to it.
"Miss Arasaka."
"V, how are you today?"
"Much better. Thank you."
Formalities. Normally ten minutes, then she'd leave.
But today—
"Hey. Help me to the bathroom," V whispered to Sasha.
"Busy," Sasha replied. "Let Michiko help."
"…What?"
"All women. What's the issue?"
That's exactly the issue.
But Michiko had already stepped forward.
Forty minutes later—
V emerged sweating.
Michiko wiped her mouth with a tissue.
Sasha was gone. Instead, Joanne Koch waited with a medical chart.
"Let's go. Full-body scan."
Half an hour later, Joanne's furious shouting echoed through the exam room:
"V, what the fuck! Do you even understand what 'restraint' means?!"