NIKKE: The Apocalypse Arrives, But the System is 100 Years Late

After checking the Nikkes, Mo Chen confirmed that aside from some surface injuries—missing arms, broken legs, half-destroyed torsos, gaping holes in their chests, or even just heads remaining—they were generally unharmed.

Mo Chen let out a small sigh of relief. At least he had achieved the no-casualties milestone.

Still, he couldn't help feeling a bit regretful.

All he managed to destroy were the tendrils, which were merely extensions of Material H, and the sprawling network of underground mycelium. He hadn't been able to reach the main body.

Unless the entity emerged on its own, even turning over every inch of land for tens of kilometers wouldn't guarantee its defeat.

It was much harder to deal with than what had been described in the original story.

Fortunately, he had anticipated this. When physical attacks failed, he had a backup plan: biological warfare via the Hetero-Core.

The most terrifying aspect of the Punishing Virus was its extreme transmissibility—not just physically, but mentally as well.

The virus clung like an unshakable parasite. Once infected, even if only tendrils were destroyed, it was only a matter of time before the infection spread completely.

What surprised Mo Chen was how much faster Material H had evolved compared to the original timeline. Its enhanced corruption and the creation of monstrosities like the previous amalgamation were completely unexpected.

In its original state, before it could mimic human forms, Material H had only been a standard Tyrant-class Rapture.

While Mo Chen mulled over these thoughts, Ludmilla hurried toward him, followed by her Nikke unit, Alice, and the reconnaissance team.

"You're okay."

Seeing him unharmed, Ludmilla let out a long sigh of relief and lowered her tightly gripped machine gun.

This battle had been grueling: several times, they had come dangerously close to collapse.

Thankfully, they had made it through unscathed.

As for the bizarre and unbelievable events surrounding Mo Chen, Ludmilla, having experienced so much, was already numb to them.

However, the Nikkes behind her—especially those in the reconnaissance unit—felt differently.

They had never faced such an intense and terrifying battle.

The suffocating terror brought by the monstrous Rapture had nearly driven them to despair. Some were so frightened their legs gave out, almost losing control of their bladders.

Yet, in the end, the Tyrant-class Rapture had been defeated. Even they couldn't believe it.

Beyond their lingering fear, a wave of exhilaration and excitement washed over them.

Many of the Nikkes who had witnessed Mo Chen's performance in battle were deeply shaken. Their gazes toward him now carried a newfound reverence.

"Rabbity!"

A petite figure came bounding toward him joyfully.

Without needing to look, he knew it was Alice. He opened his arms and caught her in an embrace.

"We did it! We defeated the Red Queen's subordinates!"

Alice clung to Mo Chen, bouncing excitedly. Her small hands grasped his arms as her bright, watery eyes overflowed with joy.

"That's right," Mo Chen said warmly. Seeing her innocent happiness lifted his spirits considerably. "We drove away the Red Queen's evil underlings! All thanks to our amazing Alice."

"Hehe, I'm not that amazing."

Blushing from the praise, she fidgeted bashfully, her pretty face turning as red as an apple.

At that moment, Ludmilla approached, crouching down slightly to gently pinch Alice's smooth, fair cheek.

"Don't bother the Commander, Alice. There are still sleeping princesses who need our help."

"Sleeping princesses?" Alice's eyes lit up as she clapped her hands in realization. "Oh, right! The sleeping princesses! My Queen, I'm on it!"

With that, she skipped away, joining the reconnaissance team to assist the unconscious Nikkes.

"Here, put this on first," Ludmilla said, handing Mo Chen a piece of clothing.

He glanced down and realized that his upper body was completely bare.

During the earlier battle, Mo Chen's GANTZ suit couldn't withstand his power and had burst apart.

Not surprising, really. Many of Mo Chen's abilities involved transformation, and it was natural that the suit couldn't handle it. After all, the suit wasn't like the Hulk's indestructible shorts.

He took the clothes Ludmilla handed him, smiled, and said thank you. He didn't care that others were watching and casually put them on.

At least he still had his underwear.

Ludmilla turned her head away, feeling slightly annoyed.

This guy, did he really not see her as an outsider?

Mo Chen's body, enhanced by the virus, had been completely transformed. His muscles were like chiseled marble, with sharply defined contours and explosive strength emanating from every part.

Despite his robust physique, he didn't look overly bulky or like a stereotypical bodybuilder. Instead, his proportions were perfectly balanced.

Even Ludmilla couldn't resist stealing a few glances.

As for the Nikkes in the distance, their wide-eyed stares and reddening faces spoke volumes.

Through the rescue operation, more than 700 Nikkes survived—including those from the monstrous amalgamation, the underground tunnels, and around the research base.

Most of them were unconscious, but fortunately, their vital signs were stable.

Mo Chen gathered everyone together and gave a rousing speech, praising the Nikkes for their bravery, fearlessness, and willingness to sacrifice. His words were full of energy and encouragement. He also distributed small rewards to everyone.

The rewards weren't particularly extravagant—just snacks, firearms, and bulletproof vests for daily use—but the Nikkes clung to their prizes with flushed cheeks, visibly thrilled.

Many of them had never been praised before.

The joy of being acknowledged was overwhelming.

Ludmilla stood quietly to the side, watching as he distributed snacks and was surrounded by the happy Nikkes, their faces lighting up with joy. For some reason, she felt a slight ache in her chest, and her nose tingled.

She was beginning to understand why Mo Chen was so beloved.

With the sudden addition of hundreds of people, the group had clearly exceeded its logistical limits.

Mo Chen approached Signal to request contact with the Ark. Since the outpost didn't have large transport aircraft, this seemed like the best option.

But he quickly changed his mind and asked her to contact the forward base instead.

He didn't trust the Ark to deliver the Nikkes without taking "a cut" of their numbers.

Beep beep—!

"Who is it?"

An impatient voice answered on the other end of the communicator.

It was Eunhwa.

Mo Chen cleared his throat.

"It's me."

There was a brief silence before Eunhwa's voice returned.

"What do you want?"

Mo Chen was almost skeptical whether this was the Eunhwa he remembered.

Her tone was far too gentle—completely unlike his impression of her.

"Well, I need a favor."

"A favor?"

Eunhwa's tone immediately turned cold.

"You contacted me just for that?"

"Yes," Mo Chen said quickly, sensing her displeasure. "Eunhwa, whenever I need help, you're always the first person I think of."

"Hmph. Fine, what is it?"

Her voice softened noticeably.

Mo Chen felt a surge of hope.

"It's not too difficult—just help me transport a few hundred Nik—"

Click! Beep beep beep—!

The line went dead.

A series of busy tones followed.

Mo Chen was stunned.

What's gotten into her? Did she eat gunpowder or something?