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

The information Papillon had received earlier suggested that in Mo Chen's unit, there were Nikkes who had also been infected by the virus but had inexplicably recovered later.

Initially dismissed as a rumor, she began to believe it after witnessing both Alice and Snow White fully recover.

This meant that if anyone could save her now, it was Mo Chen.

Standing by Papillon's window, he reached out and gently hooked her chin with his finger.

Feeling the unfamiliar cold touch, Papillon shivered slightly. The blanket she had been clutching slipped from her hands, revealing her graceful figure.

The sunlight bathed her soft skin, creating a radiant glow. Fine beads of sweat shimmered like crushed pearls scattered across her body, and her nervous breathing caused her chest to rise and fall rhythmically.

Papillon closed her eyes, her cheeks tinged with a rosy blush, as a thought flashed through her mind:

Perhaps this was a fortunate mistake… Had she unwittingly achieved something many Nikke dreamed of?

Flushed with embarrassment, she suddenly heard Mo Chen lean in and whisper in her ear, his voice soft:

"Then… start working."

Papillon froze.

What?

It wasn't until much later that she finally understood. When Mo Chen told her to leave, he didn't mean for her to fend for herself but rather to head to the outpost base.

In hindsight, she had dug her own hole—and then jumped straight in.

A few days passed.

With Snow White and Alice's conditions fluctuating, Mo Chen decided to remain at the villa for the time being. He contacted the outpost base to report their safety and instructed them to strengthen security and prepare for any potential incidents.

During this time, Mo Chen's nights were spent acting as a human air conditioner for Alice and Snow White. Once they were asleep, he would sneak over to Ludmilla's room, enjoying a somewhat carefree and indulgent life. It almost felt like playing house—like a married couple raising twin daughters.

Snow White's health showed noticeable improvement, the most obvious sign being her increased appetite.

If her previous eating habits were ravenous, they had now escalated to something akin to a whale devouring its prey. Any moment, she might just start swallowing things whole.

Her eating habits were so extreme that, without the food he purchased from his system's store, she might have bankrupted him.

To prevent overindulgence, Mo Chen implemented a strict meal quota for Snow White—rationed portions at specific times each day.

But seeing her act so pitiful when sick softened his resolve, leading him to sneak her extra treats to alleviate her "suffering."

Who would've guessed that she was faking it?

It wasn't until Mo Chen accidentally caught her red-handed that he realized he had been completely fooled.

Take this very moment, for instance: Snow White, holding a piece of cake in one hand and happily munching away, suddenly locked eyes with Mo Chen.

The atmosphere froze.

Snow White tilted her head back dramatically, kicked her legs up, and collapsed onto the bed.

"Ah… my head hurts."

But her tone was so monotone that it couldn't have been more obvious she was lying.

A vein bulged on Mo Chen's forehead.

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

"Was I caught?"

Realizing her ruse was exposed, she dropped her act. She sat up straight on the bed, reaching out with her soft, delicate hand.

"More food."

Mo Chen flatly refused.

"No way! That's not how you ask for food!"

Snow White thought seriously for a moment and then said, "Then... may I kindly request some food?"

"That's still a no!"

"Tch."

After a few days of rest, Mo Chen and his group officially began their journey back home.

Compared to the countless Raptures they had encountered on their way there, their return journey was surprisingly smooth. They hardly encountered any Rapture units, not even small groups.

All they saw was endless snow and barren wastelands.

To be cautious, he released infected Raptures to scout the nearby area, but even they reported back with no traces of Raptures—there weren't even many corpses around.

However, Ludmilla, skilled in reconnaissance, discovered something suspicious.

She bent down and brushed aside the snow, revealing a series of sunken footprints.

"These are Rapture footprints. Judging by their depth, they're not very old. Hmm... this is strange."

"What's strange about them?" Mo Chen asked curiously.

Clearing more of the snow, Ludmilla studied the tracks with a puzzled expression.

"All the footprints are headed in the same direction."

Although the tracks appeared chaotic, their direction was unexpectedly consistent, forming a single line that stretched toward the horizon.

"In one direction?" Mo Chen asked, frowning.

Ludmilla nodded, standing up and looking toward the path the footprints followed. The snow was thin there, and further ahead lay the edge of the northern tundra.

"Yes. Normally, Raptures move randomly, searching for Nikkes and humans on the surface. But it's as if something is drawing them all toward the southeast."

The purpose of Raptures was to annihilate all humans and Nikkes on the surface. They typically spread out in a net-like pattern, and it was rare to see them gather like this.

Southeast?

Mo Chen thought for a moment. That direction was closer to the Ark.

Could it be a large-scale Rapture invasion targeting the Ark?

But that didn't seem right.

The primary entrance to the Ark had been destroyed. The remaining elevators connecting the Ark to the surface were scattered far apart, separated by dozens or even hundreds of kilometers. If any elevator was discovered by Raptures, the Ark would immediately destroy it from the inside.

If the Raptures weren't targeting the Ark, then what could be drawing them in such numbers?

No matter the reason, Mo Chen needed to return to the outpost base as quickly as possible. He had a strong feeling that something big was about to happen.

A day later, they arrived at a mountain pass.

Beyond it lay the downhill path to a vast, flat plain.

This was the dividing line between the northern tundra and the plains.

"This is where we part ways."

Ludmilla stopped and turned to face Mo Chen, her pink eyes filled with reluctance.

Mo Chen held her hand and tried to persuade her.

"Come with me to the outpost."

She smiled gently and shook her head.

"I can't. I have a duty to fulfill. The princesses of the tundra are still waiting for me to find them. This is my mission—something I must do."

"Stay," Mo Chen said earnestly. "Once we're back at the outpost, I can send teams to search. They'll be much faster than you going alone."

Looking into Mo Chen's sincere eyes, Ludmilla was tempted to agree. But in the end, she chose to return to the tundra.

"They're just like Alice—abandoned children, still wandering alone out there. If I go back with you, I'm afraid I won't have the will or courage to return."

Seeing how her mind was made up, he sighed. He couldn't force her to stay.

"Then let's make a promise," Mo Chen suggested.

"A promise?" Ludmilla asked, her gaze curious.

"Yes," Mo Chen nodded, holding up three fingers. "Three years. No matter how many princesses are still out there waiting to be saved, once three years are up, you must come back."

Ludmilla stared at Mo Chen, her eyes wide and her expression thoughtful. After a moment, she nodded slightly.

"I understand," she said softly.

Mo Chen smirked playfully. "If you don't come back after three years, I'll just have to tie you up and drag you back myself."

Ludmilla rolled her eyes at him.

"Who ties up whom is still up for debate," she retorted with a sly grin.