NOVEL NEXT Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Huh? That Doesn't Sound Right?
How could he bring Little Red out into the field? Mo Chen mulled over the question.
This wasn't the first time he'd thought about it.
Little Red, one of the most powerful and human-rights-defining characters in NIKKE, had unrivaled combat prowess. In the Goddess Squad, she was one of the strongest, having defeated countless Tyrant-class Raptures, eliminated some Heretics and even taken down Cinderella.
Realistically, she alone could probably take on the entire current Ark.
The best approach was to find a spare body for Little Red, then transfer her core into it. But obtaining a suitable spare body was no simple task. Even the system's store hadn't stocked one yet. Still, considering Little Red was an artificial construct, the technology to create such a body must exist—perhaps held by the Ark's leadership or one of its corporations.
Why hadn't they made another one? Likely due to decades of war, which had drained humanity's resources dry.
The surface, overrun by Raptures, had stripped humanity of almost all mineral resources. Factories for metallurgy, refinement, and manufacturing were now ruins, leaving humanity incapable of production. As a result, Fairy Tale ype NIKKEs could no longer be built.
That was the state of things.
Mo Chen surveyed the battlefield, his eyes glinting blood-red as he watched Rapi fight tirelessly. In the next moment, the tides of battle shifted dramatically.
A mass of Raptures surged out from the distant factory buildings, enveloped in a crimson mist. They swarmed forward like a tide, crushing even the Raptures at the front.
Even Rapi, as skilled as she was, couldn't hold them back. Her bullets disappeared into the Rapture horde like raindrops vanishing into the ocean. The Rapture onslaught was relentless.
Knowing she couldn't hold the line any longer, Rapi ignored the danger and sprinted through the hail of bullets, rushing back toward Mo Chen's position.
"Commander! A massive number of Raptures are advancing from the southwest!" she reported, diving into cover as dust and debris rained down.
Mo Chen spat out the dirt that had fallen into his mouth. "Break through."
But Rapi, shielding him from falling debris, shook her head solemnly. "It's too late."
The sheer number of Raptures was beyond her imagination. She had never expected this many to be stationed near the power station. The density was terrifying, almost as if these Raptures had been deliberately positioned here.
There was no time for hesitation. Rapi tightened her grip on her weapon and made a firm decision. She lifted her head abruptly.
"Commander, I'll draw their attention northwest. Once the Raptures thin out, you head southeast to regroup with Anis and Neon."
"What about you…?"
Before Mo Chen could finish, Rapi placed a hand over his mouth.
"Commander, I know what you want to say. But this is the only way for you to survive."
Rapi handed her handgun to Mo Chen, her crimson eyes meeting his. "Forgive me for my selfish request."
"Selfish request?"
"Until my death is confirmed, please don't take on any new NIKKEs."
"...Huh?"
Mo Chen was stunned. That doesn't sound right…
Before he could respond, Rapi had already rushed out of the bunker, her rifle blazing.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!" The roar of gunfire echoed across the battlefield.
As the firefight intensified, Rapi expertly maneuvered through the abandoned factory, engaging in hit-and-run tactics against the Raptures. Her movements were calculated as she slowly drew the Rapture army northwest.
The relentless horde chased her without pause, and soon, her figure disappeared beyond the horizon.
Several minutes later, the battlefield grew eerily quiet.
All that remained were the shattered bodies of Raptures and severed limbs scattered across the ground. Bullet holes riddled the walls of the crumbling factory, while collapsed buildings littered the landscape.
The acrid smell of gunpowder still hung in the air, a stark reminder of the fierce battle that had just taken place.
"Finally, I can stretch a little."
A handsome man stepped out of a bullet-riddled bunker, lazily stretching his arms. After hiding for so long, he felt like he was starting to rust.
It was Mo Chen.
There wasn't a hint of panic on his face.
His relaxed demeanor made it seem as if he were strolling through his living room rather than standing in the heart of a Rapture nest, completely unbothered by the looming danger of any sudden attacks.
Looking in the direction where Rapi had disappeared, Mo Chen frowned slightly.
What did her last words mean?
But now wasn't the time to dwell on it, he had more pressing matters to attend to.
From the shadows, a Rapture emerged, stepping silently behind Mo Chen.
Yet, instead of attacking, it did something unimaginable—it lowered its forelimbs, sank its body, and prostrated itself as if worshiping a god.
Anyone witnessing this scene would have been utterly flabbergasted.
Mo Chen casually patted the Rapture's head and praised it, "Good dog."
That's right.
Everything, from the route to the power station to the decision to split into two teams, was all part of Mo Chen's plan.
Even the Raptures here were his.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Rapi, but the NIKKEs had NIMPH implanted in their brains, ensuring complete obedience to humans. The Ark also had the means to access their memories.
Until he grew stronger, Mo Chen's secrets had to remain hidden.
He had even considered using the Punishing Virus to eradicate NIMPH, but there was no precedent for such a move, and it was unclear what dangers might arise. Worse, he feared Rapi might end up like Marian—her entire personality changed.
Mo Chen stood up and gazed toward the distant horizon.
Massive factory buildings loomed ahead, interwoven with high-voltage power lines and dotted with transformers. Smokestacks towered into the sky, some still belching smoke.
He pointed toward the power plant, his eyes shifting to a blood-red hue.
In an instant, the earth roared beneath him.
Countless Raptures burst forth from the ground, howling as they swarmed toward the distant power plant.
They surged like a tidal wave, overwhelming the factory.
The harvest had officially begun!
On the desolate ruins surrounding the power plant, an unprecedented battle raged.
Explosions, flames, and deafening blasts erupted in rapid succession, sending plumes of smoke spiraling into the sky.
Strangely, both sides in this battle were Raptures.
They tore into each other with unrelenting ferocity, their mechanical bodies clashing in a chaotic frenzy.
Raptures that were destroyed shakily rose again, their eyes glowing a crimson red. Once reanimated, they turned on their former allies, continuing the slaughter.
Meanwhile, atop a tall building, a human figure sat cross-legged atop the head of a dog-shaped Rapture.
The Rapture, serving as a makeshift chair, wagged its tail obediently like a domesticated pet.