Blood and Steel, Volume 1 of CyberGene, is over.

Six months ago, I published this story not knowing if it would work or not.

With 3.1k followers as of the end of Blood and Steel. I'm beyond glad to see that it has proven a successful endeavor, and I can't wait to show you guys what comes next in Thunder and Webs -- but first, a look back to share why I made this story.

CyberGene was a result of a bad time, made to get me into a good time. The crux of this story revolves around that idea, of overcoming tragedies and growing as a person. I wanted to write a Progression Fantasy, but not just Progression in the way of strength, but in the way of character and your past. This story will be a kickass power fantasy, but at the same time something that explores ideas beyond the general scope of stories in the genre.

I don't mean for CyberGene to be preachy in anyway, honestly. Nor do I intend to make it some grand statement about the world or a philosophical masterpiece. It's simply a story with two characters going through a series of bad times together, and learning to survive, live and love despite it all. Something that would give me hope as I wrote it... and I suppose that's what I want this story to evoke. Hope. Stupid hope. And I don't think any setting is better to do that than in a hopeless, dystopian setting.

I can safely say that CyberGene will not end with: 'Wrong City, Wrong People'. In fact, I have a pretty good general idea of the next Nine Volumes including the eventual ending of the series. It won't all be pretty, bad things will definitely continue to happen to both characters, but that's the point.

In Blood and Steel, we got introduced to this world that will be explored in great detail in the following volumes. We got to see Ripley and Diana, their powers and their backstories and their characters and it was all only ever... an origin story. Ripley built his way to victory with the Arachnodyne and taking it upon himself to break through the secrets of Implants to save his mother, whereas Diana is opening her eyes to reflect the terrible truth her city ignores and is willing to be the monster it needs, but at the same time is being leveraged by her father as a marketing tool. With these two identities: a masked mercenary willing to do what's necessary to save the one person closest to him, and an Investigator now turned into unwilling beacon of hope to the city... I'm going to tell what I think is a really cool story.

Thunder and Webs is going to be big, really big. In fact, the first two Acts together are about as large as Blood and Steel and each Act is more than 50 chapters. The last one in particular is what I'm writing right now and it's a culmination of so many plot points and it's so fucking cool.

In fact, here are the names of the three Acts of Thunder and Webs...

Act I: Sweet Child O' Mine

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Act II: Thunderstruck Act III: Where is My Mind?

Also, yeah I'm hoping you guys have figured out the motif behind my naming of the Acts. o_0

And now, with a few too many mysteries to solve, let me bring the hype train on for Thunder and Webs with what you can expect from it. No matter where we go, there will always be Blood to spill and Steel to scrap. Ripley will always be developing some new gimmick to flaunt and Diana will always be a lightning-striking girlboss out to do what others can't. And so...

What to Expect in Volume 2: Thunder and Webs

A

lot

of Ripley and Diana interactions from the beginning to the end. Their origins into Dreadwire and Silvereye relied on them to grow on their own, but now we get to see them in power, and in co-operation…

sometimes.

The battle between Di's.

Ripley getting therapy.

The Uncaged's dynamics.

More Soul Killer experiments.

More Skeleton hiding in people's closets.

More Dogwhistler… whistling.

Lots of looking into memories… let's say a certain BUG or two might contain its share of secrets.

More insight into the police's hierarchy.

Some secrets about Implants might come out.

Fourteen straight chapters titled 'Extermination'

The Clash of Blood and Steel.

The First Seal is broken.

And here's the blurb:

Ripley has upgraded. Diana has consumed. Now they must evolve, as either masters or monsters.

The chill of changing seasons at the year's end rattles through Westcrook as both Ripley and Diana have grown comfortable with their Implants, embracing their newfound identities.

Ripley's actions as Dreadwire have gathered infamy throughout the city — offers for his services coming in from both above and below. But his mother's life hangs by a thread, his memories have knotted up, and a mysterious digital seed is growing inside him. Ripley will have to unravel the secrets of implants to understand everything, and so he'll set his sights on a field he hasn't yet explored. It all begins with those flowers.

Diana has unwillingly been turned into a poster child of the police; the hope of the city lies within Silvereye. She'd rather spend her time hunting down Soul Killer with Dryder, but the Uncaged's actions have spread far and wide, emboldening into both her public and secret life. When corpses raised into MALs begin popping throughout the city, Diana knew who to expect, at least… she thought so. Until a skeleton began digging its way out of the grave.

Just as Ripley and Diana grow, the Uncaged schemes. The time has come for them to work together, to put aside their differences and unite. But Thunderous omens rattle this city, and Webs of lies have been woven by those they believe to be allies -- until a whisper of sin changes everything. And she who whistles to the dogs will forever alter the course of the future, the present, and the past.

There can only be one. One Uncaged. One Child of The Infinite.

The Clash of Blood and Steel is upon us. The Eclipse is coming.

So, when will Thunder and Webs be releasing?

April 7th. With 7 Chapters coming out.

Patreon currently has a sizable amount of Thunder and Webs out with the first 25 out, but that can get... a lot larger. You'll see how in my next post. And there's one last teaser I have for Thunder and Webs, it's an excerpt from a chapter about a specific event and has some non-contextual spoilers. I'll leave this comment section down below as the only place I want them discussed, so if you don't want spoilers feel free to discuss the ending of Blood and Steel in the Epilogue Chapter.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.