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

Meanwhile, in a dark lair located hundreds of kilometers away from the Ark, a strikingly seductive woman sat on a throne, gazing down imperiously at the Raptures below. The Raptures bowed before her as if she were their queen, groveling on the ground.

The woman's skin was a radiant tan, and her crimson eyes gleamed with an otherworldly allure. Long black hair, partially hidden by a crown, cascaded down, with a few strands dyed blue that hung loosely over her forehead, adding an enigmatic charm to her beauty.

Her armor wrapped tightly around her shapely figure, accentuating every curve—long, flawless legs, a full and round chest, and an air of regal dominance that made her seem like a queen descended to the mortal plane.

Her icy beauty was both intoxicating and lethal, a poisonous allure that was impossible to resist but came at a deadly cost.

"Humans are so pitifully weak. Disappointing. Is there really nothing out there that can make things a little more entertaining?"

Leaning lazily against the chair, the woman toyed with an object in her hand. Under the dim light, its true nature was revealed: the severed head of a Nikke. The head hung suspended by a sharp tail spike, its face pale, eyes vacant and lifeless, staring blankly at the ceiling. The clean cut at the neck suggested it hadn't even realized it was dead.

The woman cradled the head as though it were a cherished toy and pressed a kiss to its lifeless forehead.

Below her throne, several Nikkes were bound to crucifixes, some still clinging faintly to their sanity.

"Don't underestimate humans. One mistake, and you could be undone. If that happens and you ruin Her Majesty's plans, don't say I didn't warn you, Material H."

From the shadows, a humanoid figure over seven meters tall loomed. Its grotesque, mechanical body was covered in tubes and wires, with jagged, shark-like teeth gleaming ominously in the dim light.

It was Chatterbox.

And the regal, cold woman on the throne was Material H.

The tentacle-like appendages that Mo Chen had fought in the northern ice fields were merely extensions of Material H.

"You're the weak one," Material H replied with disdain, her wine-red eyes glaring down at Chatterbox as though he were nothing more than an ant. "Defeated by humans. A disgrace. You might as well serve as my nourishment."

Her words barely finished when a scorpion-like tail lashed out from behind her, aiming directly at Chatterbox.

Clang!

The sharp tail was deflected by a massive fist, sparks flying as metal clashed with metal.

Chatterbox stumbled back a few steps but remained unharmed. Its gaping maw split into a sinister grin, revealing rows of jagged teeth.

"Material H, don't forget who saved you, who brought you back to life. And don't forget—I've been graced with Her Majesty's favor."

The aura emanating from Chatterbox was now entirely different from when it had fought Mo Chen. It radiated a palpable, oppressive energy, shrouded in a dark, almost tangible mist.

The same tail that could silently sever a target's head was now repelled by Chatterbox's fist.

Material H's gaze sharpened, her crimson eyes as cold as glacial ice. The Nikke's severed head in her hand was now frosted over.

"Hah. The one who cowered in fear because of a human... was you."

Chatterbox's grotesque face twisted into a sinister grin as it stared at Material H, its tone laced with menace.

"That human… I'll kill him with my own hands. But before that, you'd better stay out of his way. If you don't… keh keh keh…"

Amid the chilling laughter, Chatterbox vanished into the shadows.

Material H narrowed her crimson eyes slightly.

That human…He had interfered with her plans time and time again.

Next time, she would kill him.

"Help… help me…"

One of the Nikkes hanging from the crucifix, not yet fully corrupted, convulsed as her crimson eyes flickered with fear. She kept mumbling a desperate plea for help.

A glint of icy malice flashed in Material H's eyes. Her scorpion-like tail lashed out, slashing through the air with a faint "swish." A soft "puff" followed as the Nikke's head spun into the air, landing with a dull "thud" at her feet.

A twisted smile spread across Material H's face as she picked up the severed head like a prized treasure. Bringing it close to her face, she caressed it against her cheek, her crimson eyes glimmering with a perverse delight.

"You're the best… You'll never betray me…"

She thought of Mo Chen. Her slim fingers, painted with black polish, trailed across her lips as her eyes became dazed.

"I'll make sure you're mine too…"

Outside the cinema, Mo Chen suddenly shivered.

"What's with the weather? It was sunny just a moment ago, and now it's raining."

"Excuse me, sir, would you like to buy some flowers?"

Mo Chen turned to see a young Nikke standing behind him. She carried a small basket filled with tiny, unremarkable flowers, the kind that looked like wild herbs.

The flowers were small and plain—something he wouldn't give a second glance under normal circumstances.

"No, thanks," Mo Chen said, waving his hand dismissively.

He had never been interested in flowers.

"P-please, just one flower. Thank you… thank you so much!"

The Nikke pleaded with him.

Her body was clearly damaged—her arms and legs were scarred and broken, with wires exposed. It was no wonder she wore a cloak-like covering; it must have been to hide the damage.

Noticing Mo Chen's gaze, the Nikke stepped back nervously.

"You're new here, aren't you?"

He hadn't seen a Nikke like her before.

"Yes," the flower-selling Nikke nodded, her expression tinged with sadness. "I… I escaped from one of the Ark's outposts. That place has already fallen. I had nowhere to go, so I followed others here."

A refugee, then.

He thought to himself.

"Please… buy a few flowers. They're very cheap, really cheap," the Nikke said, her voice filled with hope.

"Alright," Mo Chen said, deciding to do a good deed. "How much?"

"One thousand credits," the flower-selling Nikke replied.

"Hey, Commander! Why aren't you coming yet? It's almost time!"

Anis hurried over from the cinema entrance and immediately noticed the Nikke standing next to Mo Chen. Her expression turned wary.

"Who are you?"

"She's selling flowers," Mo Chen explained. Then he turned back to the flower seller and said, "Alright, I'll take three."

"Wait a minute," Anis interjected, stepping between Mo Chen and the flower seller. She asked, "How much are they?"

"One thousand credits," the flower seller repeated.

"One thousand credits?!"

She grabbed Mo Chen by the arm and began pulling him away.

"What's wrong?" Mo Chen asked, confused.

"What's wrong?" Anis huffed, clearly annoyed. "She's treating you like a sucker! What kind of flowers cost that much? Are the petals made of gold? Or are the leaves gold-plated?"