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

Mo Chen had considered this scenario before.

Although his auto-dodge chip and bullet-dodging chip could evade most damage—especially from instant-kill weapons like sniper rifles—they weren't foolproof.

High-explosive bombs, high-energy ion beams, and heavy missiles with large destructive areas and immense power could still pose a threat to him, as they were difficult to avoid within a short time frame.

To ensure absolute safety, Mo Chen needed more life-saving capabilities.

Thankfully, the system offered no shortage of options.

Some abilities could allow him to instantly leave an area of effect. Others would improve his physical resilience, letting him withstand the impact. Some even enabled damage transfer to another target.

But among them all, the Blacklight Virus stood out as the most comprehensive choice.

It not only provided an all-around enhancement of physical abilities but also boasted absurdly high defensive properties.

For the first time, Mo Chen's body felt completely relaxed, as if he had taken a long, hot bath.

After stretching and flexing his newly augmented physique, he returned to the system interface to check his remaining points.

Over 20,000 points still remained: enough for more purchases.

He quickly scanned through the system shop.

With the Blacklight Virus, he needed a combat ability that complemented its strengths.

Otherwise, charging headfirst into battle without any finesse would fail to unleash the virus's full potential.

Mo Chen hadn't even finished browsing when a sharp noise pierced the air.

A sudden, overwhelming sense of danger made his expression shift.

His heightened perception detected something rapidly closing in—from above.

He snapped his head up toward the sky, his eyes narrowing.

It's finally here!

"Keheheheh—how amusing, you little human."

A deep, gravelly, and raspy voice echoed from above.

In the next instant, a massive shadow descended. Mo Chen's chip activated instantly, and his body leapt back, leaving behind nothing but a blur.

Boom!

The enormous figure smashed into the ground, cracking it open and sending rubble flying in all directions.

A thick cloud of dust rose, obscuring the area.

As the dust settled, the Nikke units—who had just begun retreating but hadn't yet moved far from the frontlines—were startled by the noise. They turned around, wide-eyed, and were shocked by what they saw.

Standing before them was a massive humanoid creature, nearly ten meters tall.

Its hideous and grotesque face bore crimson, bloodshot eyes the size of dinner plates. A row of jagged, shark-like teeth lined its grotesque grin, while its skinned, sinewy body bristled with embedded weapons. On its back loomed a menacing turret.

The air around it radiated savagery and malice—its very presence struck fear into anyone who gazed upon it.

A Tyrant-class Rapture.

The Nikkes were horrified.

Mo Chen, however, instantly recognized it.

"Chatterbox."

The creature's jagged mouth twisted into a grin, revealing those shark-like teeth.

"So you figured it out, huh?"

Chatterbox uh? Mo Chen's eyes glimmered faintly red as he readied himself for combat.

In truth, Mo Chen had anticipated this.

Ever since arriving at this location, he had deliberately spread Raptures infected with the Punishing Virus into the area. Among them, one had detected a powerful presence.

Coupling that with the way the Rapture army had been attacking, Mo Chen was convinced—this wasn't just an ordinary invasion.

This time, it had to be led by a Tyrant-class or higher, one with intelligence.

In the original story, intelligent Tyrant-class Raptures were rare—aside from the Heretics, Chatterbox was one of the few.

And now, the towering figure before him was identical to its description in the original lore.

"You know me?"

Chatterbox's blood-red eyes flickered with curiosity as it sized up Mo Chen, as though trying to confirm something.

"Heheheh… There's no mistaking it. This aura… I've waited a long time for this. Come with me, human."

What?

Mo Chen's thoughts raced.

Noise's words implied it was searching for something—or someone. And now, it had found its target: him.

"Sorry, I'm busy right now. Maybe some other time," Mo Chen quipped nonchalantly while surveying the surrounding terrain for an advantage.

This was in the front line.

Near the outpost base, distant Nikkes had already caught wind of the commotion and were rushing to the scene.

This wasn't a suitable battleground—it was too close to the base, and there was a high risk of collateral damage.

"Protect the Commander!"

Several nearby Nikkes charged toward Chatterbox without hesitation.

"Not leaving, huh?" Chatterbox didn't even regard the Nikkes as a threat. It opened its massive maw and let out a deranged laugh. "Then I'll just take you by force."

Before the words were finished, Chatterbox lunged forward with explosive speed. Its massive frame turned into a blur, hurtling toward the Nikkes like a cannonball.

It was too fast. They couldn't react in time.

In the blink of an eye, Chatterbox's grotesque teeth and enormous claws were nearly upon them.

At the critical moment, a figure flashed past.

BOOM!

A thunderous impact shook the battlefield, followed by a violent shockwave that sent the Nikkes tumbling backward.

As the dust settled, they saw someone standing between them and Chatterbox.

A seemingly slender fist had blocked Chatterbox's devastating blow.

When they got a clear look, the Nikkes' eyes widened in shock.

It was their Commander!

Chatterbox was also stunned.

It stared at Mo Chen, whose fist had stopped its massive punch.

A human had blocked it?

"This isn't the right place for a fight," Mo Chen said, flashing a grin at Chatterbox. "Let's take this somewhere else."

With a wave of his hand, his arm transformed into a tendril that coiled around Chatterbox's arm.

Then, with a powerful stomp that cracked the ground, Mo Chen launched himself skyward, dragging Chatterbox with him.

All the Nikkes could do was stare, dumbfounded, as their Commander and the Rapture vanished into the sky.

Mid-air, the battle continued.

Chatterbox roared in fury, tearing the tendril off its arm with a powerful yank. Its other claw lashed out at Mo Chen.

Not behaving, huh?

A cold glint flashed in Mo Chen's eyes. Without hesitation, he slapped Chatterbox across the face.

Slap Attack: Ignores defenses, ignores range, deals immense psychological damage.

SMACK!

A crisp slap echoed through the air.

Chatterbox's vision spun, stars bursting before its eyes.

Ten kilometers away, a deafening crash reverberated across the land.

Chatterbox hit the ground like a meteor, creating a massive crater.

Meanwhile, Mo Chen descended lightly, using the gliding capabilities of the Blacklight Virus.

For the first time, Chatterbox looked unsettled.

This human—what was he?

"I was just flown through the air…" Chatterbox muttered, disbelief in its blood-red eyes.

"What… are you?"

Mo Chen's answer was another punch.

BANG!

The force distorted Chatterbox's face as its massive body was hurled backward, smashing into a distant pile of rubble with a deafening crash.

"Why waste time talking?" Mo Chen quipped, rolling his wrist. "If we're fighting, let's fight."

He felt invigorated, his body brimming with newfound power, eager to be unleashed.

CRASH!

With a furious roar, Chatterbox exploded out of the rubble.

Its massive frame soared into the air, descending upon Mo Chen like a raging missile.

"Human, you are courting death!"

Its massive fist came down like a sledgehammer.

Mo Chen stood his ground.

With a deep breath, he leapt into the air like a rocket, meeting the attack head-on.

His left hand shot out—another slap.

SMACK!

The sharp sound reverberated through the battlefield.

Chatterbox's head snapped to the side, its balance lost as its vision blurred.

Taking advantage of the moment, Mo Chen darted in close.

His right fist pulled back, gathering tremendous momentum before launching forward like a thunderbolt.

The sheer force bore down on Chatterbox with unstoppable momentum.