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

One day later.

The research base, once bustling with activity, was now a scene of utter devastation following the brutal battle. Broken walls and collapsed structures lay scattered across the area. Cannons hung askew, their barrels twisted and damaged. Even the final defensive shield system had been destroyed.

The walls bore the scars of relentless combat, riddled with bullet holes and marred by crisscrossing, massive claw marks.

The ground was equally ravaged, covered in uneven craters from explosions. The soil, scorched by the tremendous energy blasts, had turned to barren, blackened earth. The vegetation that once thrived above it was now reduced to ash, leaving only charred roots behind.

The acrid smell of gunpowder still lingered in the air, a reminder of the intense conflict that had taken place.

Three graceful figures suddenly appeared in the air. One of them descended lightly, landing near the battle-scarred research base like a feather. Her vibrant and stunning appearance stood in stark contrast to the post-apocalyptic wasteland surrounding her.

"Oh my, it seems we're a step too late. Someone beat us to it."

The speaker was a striking woman with slightly revealing attire. Her crimson eyes carried an enigmatic allure, and her hair, tinged with a hint of blue, flowed gracefully. 

Her delicately arched eyebrows seemed to hold an unspoken melancholy, giving her an air of frailty, as if she had just recovered from a long illness. 

Despite her soft and coquettish tone, there was an undercurrent of seductive charm.

Her equipment included twin luminous wings, seemingly granting her the ability to fly. The sharp, glinting edges of her gear radiated danger, reflecting the lethality of their owner.

She was Isabel of the Inherit Squad.

The Inherit Squad was composed of Pilgrims equipped with cutting-edge technology.

"Beaten to the punch? For someone to outmatch Harran, they must be formidable indeed. Defeating Chatterbox, overcoming Material H, and eliminating Land Eater… that human Commander has far exceeded our expectations. Truly fascinating."

High in the air, a radiant young woman descended like a divine angel. She exuded an awe-inspiring brilliance, bathed in a warm glow that made everything else seem dull by comparison.

Her unparalleled beauty was akin to cherry blossoms in full bloom. Her violet eyes sparkled like a starry night, deep and clear, as if capable of seeing through the secrets of one's soul. Her gaze was irresistible.

Her thick, long lashes fluttered slightly, her upturned eyes brimming with mischief and vitality. The elegance of her features—her sculpted nose, luscious lips, and cascading pink hair—seemed almost too perfect, as though meticulously crafted by an artist.

She was none other than Dorothy, captain of the Inherit Squad and one of the founders of Eden.

Dorothy's gaze swept across the desolate land. When her eyes fell upon the deep, bottomless crater, her flawless expression subtly shifted.

The soil around the crater had melted under intense heat, crystallizing into glass-like formations.

Even as mere remnants, they radiated the immense destructive power of the explosion.

"Are you certain what you saw was a human?"

Dorothy turned, her mesmerizing eyes falling on Harran.

"Yes." Harran's face darkened, the memory clearly a painful one. "As much as I hate to admit it, that person… was indeed human. But whether he underwent any physical modifications, I can't say."

"Humans have frail, easily damaged bodies. They can barely handle the lowest-tier Raptures. That's precisely why Nikkes exist," Dorothy said, her gaze deepening. "And yet, the power he displayed is far beyond what a human should possess."

The devastation of the battlefield was shocking. Even she herself would have to go all out to achieve such destruction.

Isabel tilted her head in curiosity. "Are you saying that the Ark's technology has already surpassed ours?"

"Impossible," Dorothy replied with a gentle smile, as warm as sunlight. Yet the faint smirk at her lips and the mocking gleam in her eyes betrayed her disdain. "If humans were truly so brave, they wouldn't be cowering inside their tin can, letting the Raptures run rampant."

By 'tin can,' she meant the Ark.

"Perhaps he's another lab rat released for one of their experiments," Dorothy mused, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Timid yet deceitful, spreading fear and lies—doesn't that perfectly align with humanity's usual behavior?"

Isabel propped her chin on her hand, looking bored. "So, are you suggesting we kill this guy?"

"No," Dorothy's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with intrigue. "I want to meet him."

The appearance of this human had disrupted her plans.

She had an ominous feeling that this human might prove to be a significant threat… and threats must be eliminated.

Meanwhile, in the Ark's operations command room.

Doban was in a towering rage, his massive hands slamming down on the table as he roared furiously.

"What?! Burningum withdrew the troops? What the hell is that pig-brained idiot thinking, giving up so easily? Does he even know what he's doing?"

The subordinates in the room were as silent as graveyards, trembling with fear, none daring to speak.

Doban was the Deputy Chief of the Ark's military forces. While Burningum was part of the Navy, Doban was from the Army and a staunchly conservative hardliner within the military.

Moments earlier, he had received word from command that Burningum had ordered the troops, which were already mobilized and en route to attack the Outpost Base, to withdraw.

The news came as a shock.

One month ago, the news of the Outpost Base passing legislation had reached the Ark, causing a massive uproar among the upper echelons, especially the staunch opposition from the conservative faction.

The legislation advocated for equality—equality between humans and Nikkes. This directly challenged the very foundation of the Ark's hierarchy, or more precisely, the cornerstone of its ruling elite.

For the Ark's leadership, Nikkes were never seen as equals to humans but as disposable tools.

And now, Nikkes were demanding equality with humans?

It was absolute anarchy!

If this idea were to spread within the Ark, the Nikkes there would undoubtedly become influenced, resulting in unrest and possibly outright rebellion against humanity. Such a possibility was completely unacceptable to the Ark's leadership.

Thus, the Ark's upper echelons had immediately suppressed all information about the Outpost Base.

Demands to abolish the outpost and calls for the execution of Mo Chen grew increasingly loud and persistent within the ruling circles.

In this tense environment, the military had dispatched a significant force of elite troops armed with heavy weaponry to the outpost, preparing for a devastating assault.

The Ark's leadership had unanimously agreed: the Outpost Base could not be allowed to continue existing.

Furthermore, intelligence indicated that Mo Chen himself was not currently there, making it an ideal opportunity to crush it completely and eliminate the rebellious Nikkes in one fell swoop.

However, man proposes and heaven disposes.

Unexpectedly, midway through the mobilization, Burningum had suddenly reversed course. It was as if he'd lost his mind, issuing an urgent order for the troops to retreat immediately.

While it seemed to be his personal decision, rumors suggested that the Ark's AI had also transmitted directives supporting this retreat.

Upon hearing the news, Doban was so enraged that he felt like his lungs were about to burst.