Cyberpunk: From Dogville to Legend

Chapter 30 Extra - Broken Body (Thanks for the donation)
[This story is told from a first-person perspective, focusing on Johnny Silverhand and the "Soul Killer," a key element in the 2077 storyline. If you're not a gamer who has only read *The Edgewalker*, this might be helpful; it won't affect the plot. I will try to remove any reading obstacles in my book.]

1988 was the year I was born.

From a young age, I was determined to give my life for this country and contribute my strength to the world.

When I came of age, I joined the army, or rather, I always wanted to be a part of it.

……

The year I enlisted, the idiot in charge patted me on the head and told us to risk our lives for the new America.

The silver tag on my chest has my name and date of birth written on it. My body is so badly mutilated from the battlefield that my features are unrecognizable, and this is the only way to identify who I am.

Robert Johnny Lind

My name is on the sign.

They like to call me Johnny. I naturally get along with these rough-and-tumble soldiers because I'm like that too.

"Johnny! We're going to war tomorrow, aren't you going to say something?"

Look, that idiot always likes to mock and ridicule me.

Because I enjoy sharing my observations and thoughts, they call me a "philosopher" who uses foul language.

"Fuck you!" I gave him the middle finger, lying on the bed silently looking at the sign in my hand.

……

Dog tag, that's what we all call this thing.

But we don't think dogs are bad, because dogs are very loyal.

It's 2003 now, and I'm about to head into the Mexican wasteland, full of yellow sand and tumbleweeds, with these idiots...

Cowboy showdown scene, meat grinder—

Battlefield is basically described with these adjectives.

The Central American War—that's the name of this war.

We didn't know if we would win. The soldiers who were drinking and playing cards didn't seem to have any fear, but in reality, they were smoking one cigarette after another.

The night was quiet, without the usual snoring, only the sound of tossing and turning and the creaking of the bed frame.

……

I remember how brutal that battle was.

But I can't remember the details. All I know is that the bullets were so dense that no one could peek out to see what was going on, and no one told us which direction the enemy was coming from.

"Damn, you're going to hang here, Johnny!"

The leader looked me in the eye; his face was dark, and he reeked of sweat and gunpowder.

My left arm felt empty and aching. All I could do was curse and keep cursing.

"It's alright, great philosopher... can you fucking kick your legs a little? I can't drag you anymore!"

The person who saved me won't let go.

There was wind near my ears, the whistling of bullets, the intense sunlight, and the sound of panting.

I got up, picked up a gun, and all I could think about was that I had to fight back. If I didn't, I'd be saying goodbye on the other side, and I didn't want to see that bastard over there.

"Where's the medic? Is he dead?"

My gun was out of bullets, and it was inconvenient to reload. I knew it was already a miracle that I could still fire a gun.

Because it's just one shell.

I never saw that bastard again; he was blocking my way, completely unrecognizable.

……

I closed my memory; the underground passages of Night City were covered with graffiti and slogans.

"It's all because of these defectors!"

An old soldier was being kicked around in the distance.

Someone lied to me and the veteran, and also to the group of people who beat the veteran.

I swear, I will never again serve this crumbling country.

Now, my left arm is no longer empty; it's a new prosthetic I bought in Night City, silver-white, exactly the same color as my dog ​​tag.

This powerful hand can lift an electric guitar. It can also pull the trigger.

Our cause is booming, and millions of people are devoted to us.

But Nancy had an accident (note), and in 08, the Samurai Band came to an end.

But my followers are still here, and I will continue to be a "philosopher".

Those music companies in human skin tried to use all sorts of means to take me down, to shut me up, and to stop me from writing those scandals into my songs.

They even threatened me by saying I was a deserter.

I will only ever reply to them with one sentence in a text message: Get the f*** out of here.

Then, I wrote my story into a song, and everyone knows what happened. We were never deserters; those who fabricated scandals to cover up the truth are the deserters!

……

Later, I met a girl.

Otto (note), this girl often comes to see me backstage at performances, and we have lively conversations.

But she seems to work in the internet industry, which I'm not interested in and never ask about.

2020... oh right, the fourth corporate war.

I've seen through this country and these companies, and I hope they all perish in the process of tearing each other apart.

Just like in my song.

Everything changed when Arasaka took Ultra from me.

This beautiful girl with blue eyes created a terrifying thing: the Soul Killer.

I want to save her; I'm even willing to raze that tower to the ground for her sake!

That concert was held outside Arasaka Tower, and my followers and the crowds dissatisfied with the world began to lose control.

What's inside that tower? Is Ultraman still alive?
We were watching the bomb countdown, and I had no idea.

Aside from the one time I went to the battlefield, I prayed a second time in my heart.

Until the bomb exploded, until I saw Ultraman, I thought it was too late (Note).

Her hand hung limply. Damn it, I didn't hesitate to shoot that guy.

I swear, I will get my revenge!

……

2023 years.

Until the building collapsed.

I know it's all in vain.

You wouldn't want to know what happened—that powerful bomb (he dan) detonated at Arasaka Tower.

There was another formidable figure on this trip: Morgan Blackhand.

Our two teams want to end this damn war (the Fourth Corporate War).

At that time, I thought I could find Ultraman.

Until Adam Hammer stood in front of me and ended my life with a gun.

And yet, I didn't close my eyes. I even watched a spectacular "fireworks" display outside the window from the spaceship on Arasaka, where I was escaping for my life.

Where am I? I don't know.

All I know is that this place is endlessly dark and gloomy.

Am I alive or dead? (Note)
Nobody can tell me.
-
【Nancy】: A member of Johnny Silver Hands Samurai, she killed her boyfriend after enduring domestic violence to the point of imprisonment. The band officially disbanded in 08 due to this incident.

【Otto Cunningham】: Creator of Soul Killer, true god within cyberspace, the most powerful "entity" inside and outside the Black Wall, and Johnny's girlfriend.

【'Until the bomb exploded, until I saw Ultraman, I thought it was too late'】: Arasaka kidnapped Ultraman to develop the Soul Killer, but in reality, Ultraman could transmit his consciousness back to his body. However, due to Johnny Silver Hand's reckless breakthrough, the connection became unstable, and Ultraman's consciousness could no longer return to his body.

【'Am I alive or dead?'】: Johnny Silverhand's consciousness was copied, which is why the Relic chip inserted into V's head in the game 2077 resulted in another personality consciousness.

Note: The years mentioned in this book are all within the 2077 game universe, not the real world. Please do not take them seriously.
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Thank you to "Moyuren Yongbusian" for the 5000 Qidian coins!
Thank you to Long卍 for the 1500 Qidian coins!
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　There's one more chapter to read, everyone!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)