Outrun – Cyberpunk LitRPG

Chapter 217

Two things happened in a very short period. First, I heard my door lock rattle near silently. A flush of Insight hit me as yet another spell was cast. The lock on my door went silent, though it still moved as I watched it.

And secondly, I pulled the pins of my two grenades and boldly threw them out the window. I counted the seconds, hoping my locks could hold up for just a few moments longer. I still had the element of surprise, but it’d be over as soon as the door opened-

Two great fireballs erupted on the street, flashing brightly as they illuminated the entire place. My two grenades had perfectly landed inside of the vans in the optimal spot to cause the most damage, turning their vehicles into giant bombs. Windows all along the street shattered as two shockwaves burst out.

As soon as the flashes of fire erupted, I crawled out the window and onto the faux balcony. Rain splattered against me, pressing down on my body. I fixed my grip so I wouldn't slip on the wet ledge.

With the raging fires acting as distractions and casting shadows for me to hide in, I stealthily edged my way around the ledge, carefully going out and around the corner. Honestly, the rain was nice. It acted as yet another screen to cover my actions from the casual observer.

I turned the corner into the alleyway of the building-

A plume of fire erupted out my window as every single grenade went off. The building shook, nearly knocking me off the ledge. I barely managed to hold on, working my way around the building to the fire escape. I hopped over the metal rail, taking the stairs two at a time as I ran up to the roof of the apartment building.

I hesitated briefly on the last flight, pausing as I peeked over the edge. They were well hidden behind the clothes racks and machinery cluttered up here, but not hidden enough. Yet another squad was set up, rifles raised and ready at the roof’s door. Five squads then. Maybe more. Mother was quite serious about taking me hostage, it seemed. Even a couple borgs.

Seriously though, five squads? For little old me? Quite the honor... I would say if it'd been anyone else getting hunted down like a dog. I'd rather not have such an honor.

I shifted directions, silently leaping from the fire escape onto an air conditioning unit on the building across the short alley. The bolts creaked and groaned quietly as they bore my weight. The scent of rotten water and rusted metal hit me like a hammer.

I lifted myself onto the air conditioning unit. Springing off of it, my hands barely wrapped around the lip of the roof. In a feat of agility that I wouldn’t have even hoped to pull off months ago, I flung myself up and over the roof, casually landing on my feet.

High ground successfully acquired. And this building was a floor higher than the other. I kept low and into the shadows as I looked around the street to better understand the situation.

Five more vans had pulled up at some point, dropping off even more enemies to hunt me down. Even more borgs. If at first they'd stayed light to keep subtle, now they no longer cared. Fighting wasn’t an option. There were simply too many, and a ton of people would also die in the crossfire. My bike… also wasn’t an option. They had the whole street sealed off. Getting it out would be a pipe dream.

How did they even find me in the first place? It wasn’t through the Crusade. They didn’t have my home address. Someone could’ve followed me home, I guess, but I think I would’ve noticed or gotten some warning from Insight.

It wasn't through a