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

Boom! Boom! Boom!—

Artillery fire filled the air!

Two trains raced across the ruined wasteland, thundering forward like rampaging beasts locked in a brutal chase.

The battlefield erupted with explosions, smoke billowed, and cannons roared as shells and missiles streaked through the sky, colliding midair or slamming into their targets.

The scent of gunpowder and dust thickened the air. With each deafening blast, the AZX train's shells drew streaks across the sky, crashing against Alteisen MK.VI's armor with metallic reverberations.

Flashes of fire illuminated the battlefield, momentarily casting everything in an eerie glow.

The train turrets rotated continuously, unleashing barrages of firepower, each turn bringing an even more intense onslaught. Smoke and flames intertwined, filling the air with the thick stench of war.

But Alteisen MK.VI's firepower was clearly far superior to AZX's.

After all, it was a specialized assault train, modified exclusively for combat—and after being corrupted by the Raptures, it had evolved into an even more terrifying war machine.

AZX, in comparison, had limited weaponry—two triple-barreled cannons, a high-energy particle cannon, and two missile launchers, one of which had already been destroyed in the earlier battle.

To make things worse, AZX's protective shield was steadily deteriorating under the viral corrosion. It was reaching its limit—any further damage would overload it.

"Damn it!"

Soline gritted her teeth, frantically typing commands to operate the train's weapons. She furiously fired at Alteisen, her frustration evident in her relentless attacks.

Even high-energy particle cannons were only managing to strip away its outer armor—the red, pulsating corruption seemed to absorb most of the impact.

At this rate, they wouldn't last.

Sensing the urgency, Mo Chen turned to Diesel.

"Can you get the train closer to Alteisen?"

"Alteisen?"

Diesel blinked in confusion but quickly realized he was referring to the enemy train. Given the dire situation, she didn't have time to ask how he knew its name.

"That's impossible," Diesel replied quickly. "That thing has large-caliber high-energy particle cannons on its sides. If we get too close, it will open fire at point-blank range. With our shields failing, AZX's armor won't survive a direct hit."

Mo Chen realized Diesel misunderstood him.

"You just need to get close enough—I'll handle the rest."

His eyes gleamed with determination.

Alteisen MK.VI… he had been eyeing it for a long time.

What boy could resist the temptation of a machine like this?

He was going to take it for himself.

Diesel's eyes widened in shock.

"No way! The virus concentration outside is too high! If you go out there, you'll be corroded immediately!"

The virus wasn't the usual Rapture infection—it was an unknown contamination that posed a serious threat to humans.

Mo Chen smiled.

"What? You don't trust me?"

Diesel froze.

His smile was like the first rays of dawn—warm, confident, and reassuring.

His sharp features, firm jawline, and the unshakable confidence in his gaze radiated an undeniable charisma.

At that moment—

Boom!

Alteisen rammed into AZX with tremendous force—the train shuddered violently.

Diesel lost her footing, stumbling—

And crashed straight into Mo Chen's arms.

"Direct impact!"

"Shields down!"

"Rudder malfunction detected!"

"Power output decreasing!"

"Auto-repair system offline!"

Brid immediately reported the damage to the AZX train.

"Hydraulic systems have failed, rudder control is down—we only have one chance to turn!"

Diesel had no time to feel embarrassed. She pushed herself out of Mo Chen's arms, clenched her teeth, and her eyes turned sharp with determination.

"Right turn, forty-five degrees! Max speed! Ram Alteisen!"

With a piercing whistle, the AZX train surged forward, its tracks shifting rapidly. The massive train swung like the tail of a dragon, charging toward Alteisen MK.VI at breakneck speed!

Boom!

The collision was earth-shattering!

Even the steel behemoth that was Alteisen was knocked off course. Its missile compartments were destroyed, its frame tilted precariously, nearly tipping over.

But AZX didn't come out unscathed either.

Its armor was wrecked, its defensive shields completely offline, and its propulsion system was failing. The hydraulic system was down, the rudder was broken, and the high-energy particle cannon had been destroyed in the crash, leaving only the triple-barreled cannon operational.

A figure leaped from the AZX train, soaring like an arrow loosed from a bow, heading straight for the Rapture.

Inside the train, Diesel watched Mo Chen's figure disappear into the distance, silently praying for his success.

This was as far as she could take him.

Suddenly, her communicator crackled to life.

"Thanks."

A warmth spread through Diesel's heart, but her eyes sharpened.

Now—it was their turn to fight.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield—

As Mo Chen descended through the air, Alteisen MK.VI locked onto him.

Its triple-barreled cannons swiveled upward, releasing a deafening barrage of fire!

Shells screamed through the sky—more than a dozen rounds were fired at once, accompanied by a swarm of homing missiles from its remaining launchers.

A hailstorm of bullets, artillery shells, and missiles filled the sky, engulfing Mo Chen like a torrential downpour.

But Mo Chen only smirked.

With a flick of his wrist, a blazing crimson blade appeared in his hand.

He stepped forward—vanishing in a blur of speed.

In an instant, he closed the distance—his speed like a raging storm.

His upraised blade—Ryuren Jakka—flared to life.

A moment later—

A sun exploded into existence.

"Shikai—Taimatsu!"

In an instant—the world was consumed in fire.

An inferno erupted.

Blazing flames devoured everything in sight.

The fire roared and howled, surging like a living beast—spreading at terrifying speed, reducing everything in its path to cinders.

The shells, bullets, and missiles in midair?

They were vaporized—not even ash remained.

And the fire wasn't done yet!

The flames surged downward, crashing toward Alteisen MK.VI.

Boom!

A firestorm engulfed the Rapture, the explosion illuminating the night.

But Mo Chen didn't stop.

Like a bullet, he dove downward—

Because he could still sense it: Alteisen MK.VI was still standing.

A boss train that had terrorized countless new players—it wasn't going down that easily.

"Tssszzzz—!"

Suddenly—multiple energy beams burst through the thick smoke, shooting toward Mo Chen.

Mo Chen twisted his wrist, his blade becoming a blur of afterimages—deflecting each shot with ease.

Below, the smoke cleared—

And Alteisen stood, unbroken.

Its massive dual-barreled high-energy particle cannon was now locked onto Mo Chen.

The energy buildup had reached its peak.

It was about to fire!