Chapter 64

The so-called "mourning live" had such a wild rock performance that you’d be forgiven for wanting to question the label entirely—but the crowd was fully into it.

To begin with, the audience was under the mistaken impression that this event had been organized by Rogue, so they viewed it as an opportunity to vent their long-standing resentment toward Arasaka.

“Uuugh… it’s hard getting into the rhythm of rock…”

『That’s because Lady Jugra is innately kind. The rough, dive-bar-style energy must be difficult to resonate with. However, please leave it to me. I have gathered the necessary data. I will support you with perfectly timed cues to help you ride the rhythm.』

“Sigh… Yeah, Delamain, you really are an AI, huh? Stuff like this, you just gotta act like you’re into it. Even if you’re off-beat, just pretend like nothing’s wrong.”

“Heh, so that’s how it works, huh. …Still, I can’t reveal my real form yet. Could you at least switch it to the devil horns sign instead?”

Jugra's murmured complaint was heard by her flawless attendant, who took immediate action.

Just as the song ended and the guitarist’s fingers left the strings, he sent a hacked, forcibly accepted holocall. A ban on middle fingers was delivered straight to Vincent.

『To think you'd perform an act that could interfere with future operations, all in a surprise meant to please Lady Jugra—what exactly were you thinking, you fool? Middle fingers are forbidden. Use a standard devil horns sign instead. If you claim you cannot comply, then cut off your middle fingers. You enjoy performing, don’t you?』

『…Yes ma’am. Johnny and I sincerely apologize.』

That cold, mechanical message laced with intent to kill pierced right through the high tension of the moment, causing Vincent and Johnny to genuinely reflect on their actions.

They had been drunk on the crowd—far beyond the scale of any small venue—and had neglected their original purpose: to entertain Jugra.

The next song was A Like Supreme. Kerry and Vincent’s voices harmonized, exposing the raw emotions behind the lyrics.

It was a rock anthem expressing Kerry’s decision to shatter his shell and throw it in Johnny’s face, symbolized through destructive impulse.

With Vincent—and Johnny—singing it, the song became a challenge: Can you do that? It was a lyrical exchange of wills between them.

…However, the earlier verbal spike had dampened Vincent and Johnny’s mood just a bit.

Noticing this, Jugra glanced sideways with feline-like narrowed eyes and gave a wry smile, sensing Delamain’s inner panic over having spoiled the vibe.

As the first verse ended and the interlude approached, a short message was slipped into Vincent’s vision via optical implant.

Displayed at the corner of his view:

—Do as you like. Be free.

In that moment, Vincent and Johnny thought the exact same thing, their hearts in sync.

Is being oppressed by someone else what we call freedom?

Their surging emotions rode on the guitar, carried by their voices, exploding into rock.

Just as the lyrics said, Vincent shattered his shell. With Johnny as the shortcut and Jugra’s support pushing him forward, he awakened as a true rocker.

"[Here we are now so entertained…]"

It was a quiet awakening, in tune with the song’s tone.

Though this was Kerry’s soul-cry of a song, it reminded Vincent of the time when he’d lost everything—and took the hand of an irreplaceable friend.

Come on, break free. Kill off your old self and show the world your new form…!!

Though a novice, Vincent sang with power, understanding the lyrics with his soul. Thanks to the foundation laid by Johnny, the performance carried weight.

Seeing that he had clearly bounced back, Jugra broke into a satisfied smile.

That’s the V I know.

A bullet of pure will, a devotee of freedom.

…Though she was aware she’d been overprotective—putting a collar on him, in a way—Jugra exhaled, confident that the current Vincent would be fine.

And as his light blazed like a dazzling star, it became a gravitational force.

“…Ahh, now I can relax.”

Jugra’s whisper was warmer and gentler than anyone else’s.

The voltage in the venue hit its peak, and everyone was intoxicated by the moment, dreaming their own dreams.

The song ended. Steam rose from the 《SAMURAI》 members, a visible manifestation of their burning will, as they swiftly rehydrated.

They drank a specially formulated beverage that Kelly used during performances. It was effective, and their energy didn’t wane.

Next up was Black Dog, a rebellious anthem declaring vengeance on the corporations that had trampled over them—like hounds loosed from chains, striking from the shadows.

When the song started, Jugra gave a wry smile at the too-obvious structure of the setlist.

She could already see what the next and even the one after would be.

This live wasn’t like the one from half a century ago. It wasn’t meant to incite rebellion.

As long as they drew Arasaka’s attention, the mission would be considered a success. So the song order was specifically chosen to stir unease.

The rising energy of the concert was beginning to carry a chilling edge, tightening its grip on the nerves of the Arasaka security personnel watching.

“Probably next is Archangel.”

Jugra couldn’t care less about the others’ churning stomachs—she was simply enjoying the live show.

The only memory she had of a concert was the scene of SAMURAI’s A Like Supreme reuniting in a tiny venue, so this was effectively her first real live performance.

Moreover, according to Vincent, this was a special live show planned as a way to return the favor for everything she’d done.

The sensation was like warmth soaking into a vessel long since cracked and broken through the bottom, and Jugra quietly let tears of emotion spill down her cheeks.

…She knew. She’d already gone past her time limit.

She had a hunch that if she fell into a deep sleep, her consciousness would vanish, as if sinking to the bottom of the sea.

But it no longer mattered.

This concert was nothing more than a stalling tactic, a distraction meant to facilitate the theft of the excavation machine and drill down underground.

Therefore, there was no longer any reason to keep enduring.

With those first tears of emotion, the floodgates opened, and tears began to pour freely.

“Just a little more... just... a bit more... finally, I can end it...”

As Jugra whispered the words that barely counted as speech, her lips trembling, the next song, Archangel, began to play.

The song, written from Johnny’s perspective the day he returned from the war—about the destructive hatred he felt toward Night City—only further inflamed the hostility aimed at Arasaka Tower.

The venue was teetering on the edge of becoming a full-on anti-corp mob, their brains scorched by excitement. Those who held grudges against Arasaka recalled their fury and started flipping off the tower.

The tension between the crowd and the security guards was taut like a drawn wire, ready to explode with even the smallest spark.

"This is our last song. To the sorrow born of Arasaka’s tragedy, we dedicate this... Never Fade Away."

Depending on how one interpreted it, the wording could be taken as a direct condemnation of the various tragedies caused by Arasaka. But the crowd had no way of knowing it was also laced with Vincent’s own feelings toward the corporation.

Then the song began—a ballad-like requiem that seemed intended to cool down the frenzy thus far. It stunned everyone.

Except for one.

There was someone who already knew Never Fade Away, even though it was supposedly a first-time performance.

She had heard it many times, played it over and over, discovered new things in it, seen hidden facets. And the moment she realized that familiar melody was now flowing through the air—she broke.

“…So, it’s over. It’s really over. I can finally... be free. Then... I guess it’s fine now. —Let’s end it. All of it.”

With a distant, hollow voice, Jugra muttered to no one. Then, she took the remote transmitter—modified from a detonator—offered by the invisible weapons rack cloaked in optical camouflage, and pressed the button with her thumb.

As the true Never Fade Away, mourning the farewell with Alt, was being sung, a strange noise was heard from afar.

In this era where aerial vehicles dominated the skies, the sound of an old-generation chopper should have been impossible—but people were thrown into confusion.

After all, someone had heard that exact sound not long ago.

“It’s Machine Dragon! That’s the sound of a gunship!”

The executioner who had long dreamed more than anyone of Arasaka’s downfall had come to defile this moment of mourning—bringing chaos, gunpowder, and a rain of blood.

It wasn’t just one gunship. Four of them began circling, surrounding the tower from all directions.

Never Fade Away was interrupted by the windstorm stirred up by the gunships. The hovering noise ruined the entire venue.

Before Rogue—who had been watching Jugra’s every move—could open her mouth, Jugra had already taken action.

She shot a glance at Delamain and had him remotely pilot the transport AV, locking Vincent and the others inside a container and heading straight for the construction site as planned.

Then she took a megaphone from one of the escorts, stepped up on a folding chair, and brought it to her mouth.

『To all gathered here: Due to an emergency, the concert is over. Go home before you die for nothing. That’s all. Disperse!』

Jugra’s words, firm and forceful, brooked no argument. Everyone immediately paled and began moving to leave the park.

There was no pushing, no shouting. The audience exited in eerie silence, as if they had been trained for this.

But they understood. Everyone had numbers engraved somewhere on their bodies—so they knew that screwing up here would bring even worse consequences.

Luckily, since the live had taken place in the center of the park, there were multiple exits, and the crowd cleared out quickly.

“Was this your plan from the beginning?”

Rogue asked, her expression tinged with suspicion. But when Jugra gave no reply at all, her look darkened.

Frowning, convinced she was being ignored on purpose, Rogue leaned in—and was pierced by a cold, expressionless stare.

“…Ah, so you’re still here. From here on out, it’s a one-way trip. I don’t mind if you come, but look after yourself.”

Her eyes, hollow as if burning with fever, briefly glanced at Rogue before turning toward Arasaka Tower once more.

Her steps were unsteady—like a hard drive running at 100% on a CPU that had long since hit its limit.

Using the handrail to go down the stairs, she looked more like a patient than anything else.

More than shock or anger, Rogue found herself filled with confusion and worry. She reached out instinctively—but a shadow fell over her, and she looked up.

There, landing behind Jugra with one knee and one hand to the ground, was a boy who had jumped down from a custom Delamain car hovering in midair.

On the back of his distinctive yellow jacket—standard issue from the NCPD-affiliated medical facility—was the neon-green lightning bolt of the Edgerunners.

The custom Delamain car stopped hovering, began free-falling, and midair transformed into a bipedal powered suit, landing with a heavy thud.

Delamain, in the form of a butler maid, handed over the powered suit’s link to Jugra and gently placed the device-head with eight eyes over her.

"To make a superhero landing... that's just like you. My Guardian through and through."

"Heh, damn right. I’m gonna protect you, Jugra. I will be your hero."

『Unfortunately, your services won’t be needed. The true Guardian here is me.』

As always, David and Delamain glared at each other in their usual lighthearted bickering. Jugra took a step back, and the tension dissolved.

『We, the Machine Dragon, hereby declare: to bring justice for Arasaka’s countless inhumane acts, we shall execute enforcement through armed intervention! We will expose every crime they’ve committed! I, Yorino Arasaka, will stop Saburo Arasaka’s ambitions right here and now! All units—fix bayonets! Let divine retribution begin!』

From above, Yorino’s declaration thundered across the entire City Center. The mounted machine guns of the assault helicopters ripped through rooftop turrets and security personnel. Soldiers wearing cyber-suits modeled after the armored beasts of the Suzaku, Byakko, and Genbu squadrons descended to the ground.

Watching this, Rogue was reminded of what they had done half a century ago. History, she thought, was repeating itself.

Unlike that day, Jugra had no hesitation in killing every Arasaka employee now.

In fact, she had intentionally let some go earlier—for this very purpose.

To purge the human-shaped monsters living in the tower of greed and corruption, she acknowledged the Machine Dragon's hatred, accepted their murderous intent, and created this hell on earth.

Not a single employee attempted to flee through the main entrance.

Every one of them rushed to the underground parking, seeking the slimmest chance of escape. But the Seiryuu squad lay in wait, cutting them down one by one in loading bays and evacuation corridors.

With both top and bottom sealed off, the employees had nowhere to run. Screaming “Why me!?” in desperate rage, they were crushed without mercy.

Eventually, the tower’s front entrance opened. Three figures appeared, flanked by elite security, and stopped before Jugra and the others.

"Yo. How’s it going, Hanako Arasaka? …Or should I call you by your real name—Saburo Arasaka, parasite of your own daughter’s brain?"

【You... you drove that foolish son of mine to his death, didn’t you? …Jugra Kagura. Masahiro’s daughter…!】

Saburo, who had hijacked the body of his own daughter Hanako through the Relic, spoke with Oda and Takemura at his side as guards.

Jugra sneered at the voice tinged with fury, brushing it off with cold disdain.

"Arasaka-sama, please allow us to handle this. Let’s go, Oda."

"Of course, Takemura."

Oda, captain of the special unit, and Takemura, chief of security, stepped forward and readied their weapons.

Oda, equipped with Arasaka-manufactured Mantis Blades, was met by David, who drew Byakko from its scabbard.

Takemura, gripping a custom Arasaka Masamune assault rifle, faced off against Delamain, who extended mono-wires from the tips of all ten fingers.

"This is it, Del. Let’s do this."

『...Very well. I’ll allow you to call me that, just this once. Let’s go, Divvy.』

Killing intent clashed in a silent stare-down, causing the supposedly elite guards to hold their breath.

The first to strike—was Jugra.

With the eight glowing crimson eyes of her device-head, she unleashed a cracking wave that shredded the guards' ICE defenses in an instant. Their synapses fried before they could even fire a shot. Only Oda and Takemura, who had prepared countermeasures, were able to move.

As David and Delamain began their battles on either flank, Rogue, watching through Emmerich’s meat-shielded position, could only observe Jugra and Saburo standing face to face.

Saburo Arasaka—head of Night City’s most powerful megacorp.

Jugra Kagura—top fixer with her grip on Night City’s underworld.

Their intertwined fates now demanded resolution, as the final battle ignited.