Cyberpunk: The Magnet fruit

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The members of the Beast Gang froze momentarily, their expressions shifting from amusement to disbelief.

All eyes turned to Greli, who was pointing at David on the dance floor. A moment ago, they were mocking the Scavengers for being humiliated. Now, their own brother had claimed to be beaten by the same "boy from the Dragon Kingdom."

This development was both unexpected and humiliating for the gang.

"Greli, are you sure you're not mistaken?" Delais, the Beast Gang's second-in-command, frowned, glaring at his subordinate. He pointed at David, visibly skeptical. "You're telling me that kid did this to you? Did you fall over drunk in the bathroom and decide to blame him?"

Greli, clutching his stomach in obvious pain, winced. "Boss, I'm telling the truth! I don't know how he did it, but... one moment I was confronting him, and the next, I was flying backward!" He coughed and grimaced before adding, "Oh, and boss... he's the same guy who stopped us from taking that car earlier today!"

Delais's face darkened. He slammed his fist onto the table, making the glasses on it rattle. "So not only did this brat mess with us earlier, but now he's gone and attacked you as well? Damn it!"

The surrounding gang members exchanged awkward glances, unsure of how to respond.

The Crowd Reacts

Meanwhile, murmurs spread like wildfire among the bar patrons, most of whom were watching the drama unfold with undisguised excitement.

"Wait, did I hear that right? That kid took down Greli from the Beast Gang?"

"Isn't Greli the one who claims he's not even afraid of the NCPD or the MaxTac unit?"

"Yeah, the guy's got a reputation for being brutal! If someone from the Dragon Kingdom managed to take him down, then that kid must be something else!"

Laughter erupted.

"Ironic, isn't it? The Scavengers were humiliated, and now the Beast Gang is too! This is better than live entertainment!"

"Looks like the tough guys aren't so tough after all!"

The spectators couldn't get enough. Night City was a place where the strong thrived, and seeing the mighty stumble was always a treat for the downtrodden masses.

Delais Confronts David

Delais couldn't stand the mockery. Standing up abruptly, he shouted across the room at David, "Hey, brat! Did you really beat up my guy?!"

David turned to face him without a hint of fear. His calm expression stood in stark contrast to the furious gang leader. "Yes. He came looking for trouble, and I defended myself."

For a moment, Delais was taken aback by the boy's composed demeanor. But his shock quickly turned to rage.

"You think this is some kind of joke?" Delais snarled. "Nobody messes with the Beast Gang and walks away unscathed!"

With a loud snarl, Delais raised his prosthetic-enhanced fist and swung it straight toward David's face.

Jack Intervenes

Before the punch could connect, a large figure stepped in front of David. Jack—David's friend and self-proclaimed protector—reacted with lightning speed.

Jack drew his Arasaka JKE-X2 Kenshin, a high-tech pistol designed for speed and power. He pressed the barrel directly against Delais's forehead.

"Let's see what's faster," Jack growled, his voice low and menacing. "Your punch or my bullet?"

Delais froze, his raised fist stopping mid-swing. His sharp eyes darted to the pistol pressed against his head.

Jack smirked, his grip steady. "What's the matter, big guy? Afraid now?"

Delais narrowed his eyes. "An Arasaka Kenshin, huh? That's a nice piece of hardware. But do you really think you can scare me with that?"

Jack's smirk turned into a snarl. "Try me. If you lay a finger on my brother, I'll blow your brains out right here and now!"

David, watching the interaction, felt a pang of gratitude toward Jack.

"Thanks, Jack," David said quietly, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.

Jack didn't look away from Delais, keeping the gun firmly trained on the gang leader's head. "Don't mention it. You helped me earlier, so now I'm returning the favor. That's how we do things in Night City."

Claire's Plea

At that moment, Claire, another of David's companions, rushed to his side. Grabbing his arm, she whispered urgently, "David, let's go! This isn't worth it. These guys are dangerous!"

David didn't budge. He shook his head, his expression resolute.

"Claire, this started because of me," he said firmly. "If I run now, how can I stand tall in Night City after this?"

"Are you serious?" Claire hissed, her tone incredulous. "This isn't about pride! This is about survival!"

David glanced upward toward the second floor of the bar. Among the well-dressed crowd of onlookers, his eyes landed on a woman in a pale yellow jacket with the word SURVIVE printed on it.

She held a cigarette in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, watching the chaos unfold with mild amusement.

David smirked to himself. So, even the big shots are here to enjoy the show? Typical Night City…

The Standoff

Back on the dance floor, Delais was growing impatient.

"Do you really think this ends here, you little punk?" Delais growled, his voice low and threatening.

Jack pressed the gun harder against Delais's forehead. "Want to find out the hard way?"

The Beast Gang members shifted uneasily, their hands hovering near their weapons. The tension in the air was palpable, and it felt like a single wrong move could set off a bloodbath.

The scavengers, who had initially been vying for revenge against David, had wisely stepped back. Oris, their leader, watched the scene with narrowed eyes, already calculating how to settle the score later.

David Stands His Ground

Despite the escalating danger, David remained calm. He stepped forward slightly, placing a hand on Jack's shoulder.

"Jack," David said, his tone steady but commanding. "You've done enough. Lower the gun."

Jack hesitated, his brow furrowing. "David, are you out of your damn mind? These guys won't back off just because you ask them nicely!"

"I know," David replied. "But this is my fight."

Jack reluctantly lowered the pistol, muttering curses under his breath.

David turned to face Delais directly, meeting the gang leader's gaze without flinching.

"If you want to fight, let's do it," David said, his voice carrying across the bar. "But don't expect me to go down without a fight."

The crowd erupted into cheers and whistles.

"Now this is what I came here for!" someone shouted.

"That kid's got guts!"

Delais grinned, baring his teeth. "You've got some nerve, kid. I'll give you that. Let's see if you can back it up."

A Test of Strength

Delais raised his fists, cracking his knuckles as he stepped into the center of the dance floor. The patrons formed a loose circle, eager to watch the showdown.

David, meanwhile, rolled his shoulders and took a deep breath. He knew he was outmatched in terms of raw strength, but he wasn't about to back down.

Jack and Claire exchanged worried glances.

"This is insane," Claire muttered.

Jack nodded grimly. "Yeah. But that's David for you. He's not one to back down."

As the two combatants squared off, the atmosphere in the bar grew electric. The crowd chanted, cheered, and placed bets, their excitement reaching a fever pitch.

David clenched his fists, his eyes never leaving Delais.

If I'm going to survive in Night City, I need to show them what I'm made of.

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