Cyberpunk: Ultimate Cyborg System

A faint clang drowned the chatter, but only for a second. The two glasses that had caused it parted, one going down while the other was heading to someone's mouth.

Bright light cascaded from the glittering chandeliers above, illuminating the vast hall. A small orchestra played from a corner. The symphony of their classical piece was nothing short of breathtaking, but it was relegated to the background as the guests busied themselves with each other.

It was the biggest event since the Stahlwölfe wedding, and such events were the prime opportunity for socializing, and that's what they all focused on. Business leaders, politicians, and prominent characters. They all took the chance to gather, talk, and form connections. Still, the event wasn't without a main purpose, and thus had a focus point—the guest of honor. One person had to withstand the influx of high-class personalities, each one coming to greet and congratulate him. It had been rather stressful from the start, but as time passed, it only got worse.

"Haa~"

Hours had passed, and the reception was set on its course. No longer needed in the spotlight, Wolf retreated from the bustle, choosing a corner to catch his breath.

"This is way too much…"

He was starting to regret humoring his parents' wish to hold this reception. As a Hohenberg, he understood that elevating his family's standing was on of his duties. Still, using his status as a hero in such a way left a bad taste in his mouth, even though it was the main reason he was allowed to undergo the Genome procedure.

"Why the long face?"

Raising his head, Wolf was met with a mischievous grin, one he hadn't seen in quite some time. Tall and smartly dressed, with bright ginger hair and emerald green eyes. Derick McCarthy always seemed to brighten the world around him, and seeing him for the first time in a while, Wolf felt glad that he hadn't changed.

"Don't tell me you aren't happy with your new status, Mr. Level 5."

"No, of course not." Wolf smiled, holding up a fist for his childhood friend to bump.

The reason behind today's reception was the official announcement of his level-up. After the mess he had caused during Operation Wolf Slayer, he had spent an entire week in the BEO training facilities, undergoing one test after the other until the news was confirmed. His powers have grown once more, pushing him an entire level.

He couldn't believe it at first, even though he could feel the changes himself. His height had increased by a few centimeters, and his muscles grew large enough that his clothes no longer fit him. His strength increased, and so did his stamina and agility. In a way, it felt like he was stuck at the second stage of his transformation, but he had no fur except for his canine ears and tail, meaning this was his base form.

"Level 5 Advanced Genome, huh?" Sitting down, Derick leaned back in his chair, his gaze turning to the ceiling. "Who knew you would come this far?"

"Only when fully transformed." Wolf smiled wryly.

"Still, that's a lot of power. You're basically as strong as Aegis, right?"

"Not even close."

Not all Level 5s are equal, and the same goes for the other Levels. Aegis had been at the pinnacle of his Level, only a step away from becoming Level 6. He, on the other hand, had just met the qualifications.

His powers were still growing so maybe one day he would reach the same heights as some of the strongest heroes in the world, but right now, he wasn't holding his breath, all because of one reason.

"So… are you going to change teams?"

At his friend's question, Wolf could only raise an eyebrow.

"No, he won't." Someone said, stealing the words from his mouth.

A young girl in a pretty green dress appeared on the seat beside Wolf at some point. She held a small plate with one hand and moved her fork with the other, bringing bites of cake to her mouth.

"H-hey, Beatrice," Derick stuttered. "Didn't notice you there."

Noticing the very poor choice of words, Wolf froze. Fortunately, the petite woman, who definitely didn't look like a fourteen-year-old, didn't seem to notice, her attention divided between her dessert and white haired teammate.

"If you try and leave us, I won't."

"I won't, I won't." Wolf rushed to reassure her. "Where would I even go?"

"That's right. You have nowhere else to go," She fixed him with a glare that lost all its potency when she shoved more cake into her mouth. Turning away, she added in a wistful tone. "If you leave, I will never forgive you."

As a Level 4, Werewolf had been the pillar around which team Silver Wind was built, but now that his abilities have reached a new realm, there was a real danger of him being allocated to a different team, one that handles bigger threats.

For a brief time, they were worried about him being moved to Flame Guard, but the idea was dropped now that Paragon has joined them. That meant he might be moved to a different city, one that needed his help. Unfortunately, things weren't that simple.

"You know I can't really leave," Wolf said.

His Level 5 designation came from his full transformation, something he could no longer rely on as he did in the past. The tests have confirmed that he was prone to losing control whenever he tries pushing himself past the Level 5 threshold, turning him into a monster that can't differentiate between ally and foe. If he can't use his powers to their full potential, there is no point in putting him in one of the bigger superhero teams.

"Let's forget about me for now." Feeling the need to move away from the topic, Wolf turned to his orange-haired friend. "What have you been up to? You never called after graduation."

"Look who's talking." Derick chuckled. "Been a little busy. Managing the family estate isn't that easy."