Chapter 8 – The A-Rank Arrival
The sky above the city was clear. Too clear.
I didn't like coincidences. And when coincidences start arranging themselves like chess pieces… that usually meant A-Rank villains were on the move.
Orion, scan for anomalies.
"Three A-Rank operatives detected. Strategy: coordinated attack. Collateral potential: severe. Probability of human panic: extreme. Moral paradox escalation: critical."
I smiled faintly. Critical paradoxes were my favorite.
Mr. Tarlow had called in the big guns.
A-Rank mercenary with near-impervious cybernetic armor.
A-Rank hacker capable of breaching entire city grids in seconds.
A-Rank strategist orchestrating chaos with military precision.
They weren't here to play—they were here to end the so-called "jobless boy" legend".
I adjusted my hood, tapped the small orb embedded in my wrist.
Today, the monster-derived tech would be fully deployed. Tendrils of biotic energy slithered along my suit, fusing with planetary-scale drones, adapting in real-time. Every probability, every human reaction, every villain thought, calculated in microseconds.
Orion, engage full-scale A-Rank neutralization protocol.
"Protocol activated. Estimated victory probability: 99.8%. Moral consequences: escalating exponentially. Suggested philosophical debate: immediate."
The first strike was massive—a barrage of energy weapons, EMP grenades, and coordinated cyber attacks. Citizens fled in panic.
I didn't move. Not yet.
Orion, predictive modeling.
"Target trajectories predicted. Optimal counter-strategy calculated. Probability of hero-perception among citizens: 87%. Recommended execution: simultaneous spectacle and ethical statement."
I smiled faintly. Ethical statement? Nothing thrills me more than humans thinking I'm moral while I orchestrate chaos.
The battle began.
The mercenary's attacks were blocked, deflected, or absorbed by the monster-tech suit. Kinetic energy redirected into harmless light displays.
The hacker attempted city-wide system hacks. I let him, feeding his data back into the public grid, exposing him and his illegal operations to citizens and authorities alike.
The strategist moved like a shadow, predicting my every step—but I had already predicted his prediction. Micro-drones created holographic decoys, leading him into a trap of his own devices.
Orion, assess.
"Humans consistently underestimate infinite calculation. Probability of moral questioning among villains: 92%. Probability of public obsession: near certainty. Amusement index: maximum."
By the end, the A-Rank villains were humiliated, exposed, and neutralized. Citizens stared in awe as the boy they called "jobless" casually walked away, unscathed, smirk faint, hoodie messy, hair falling over his eyes.
Orion, tally results.
"All threats neutralized. Funds redistributed: 520,000 credits. Public legend status: global. Ethical paradox: critical. Monster-tech effectiveness: 100%. Probability of Tarlow escalation: extreme."
The city would never be the same. My legend—the jobless genius, the prankster savior, the invisible hand of chaos and order—was no longer local. News spread to neighboring countries. Urban legends grew. I could feel whispers reaching even distant lands.
Orion, philosophical query.
"Master Rocky… at what point does your intervention become tyranny? Probability of moral corruption: increasing."
I chuckled softly. "Orion… morality is a game. And I am just the player who understands the rules better than anyone else."
Cliffhanger / Foreshadowing for Chapter 9
Tarlow begins assembling S-Rank operatives, pushing Rocky toward planetary and cosmic-scale challenges.
Citizens' fascination grows, some beginning to worship, some to fear, all to whisper.
Orion continues testing Rocky's morality, hinting at eventual autonomy conflict.
Monster-derived and planetary tech foreshadow future cosmic-level inventions and battles.