Looking at the radiant and captivating Dorothy, Mo Chen raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "What's so strange about that? Trust and mutual reliance between friends is just human nature. Don't you have any friends?"
No friends?
Dorothy's alluring smile froze on her face.
For a moment, she seemed caught off guard.
But soon, she recovered, regaining her usual poised and graceful demeanor, flashing a gentle smile.
"I didn't expect you to be so sharp-tongued, Commander."
Mo Chen sighed and shook his head.
"Dorothy, don't always be so prejudiced. Not all humans are like that. There are more good people than bad ones, and it's perfectly natural for Nikkes and humans to become friends. Besides, aren't you human too?"
Her hatred towards humans wasn't without reason.
As a member of Goddess, she was once a symbol of humanity's hope—only to be betrayed, abandoned, and discarded at the last moment. The promised recognition and honor never came.
Instead, they were used as pawns, thrown onto the Rapture-infested surface to fend for themselves.
Anyone in her shoes would struggle to accept that reality.
Honestly, Mo Chen was surprised she hadn't turned into another Crow—someone who actively waged war against humanity.
If he were in her position, he might've stormed the Ark and slaughtered every last one of them.
So, he didn't blame Dorothy. If anything, he pitied her.
Dorothy didn't get angry.
Instead, her smile grew even more radiant and dazzling.
She stepped to the side, gracefully brushing past Mo Chen, casting a casual glance at the figure standing behind him—Indivilia.
"So, is that why you're keeping an Heretic around? Are you hoping to be friends with her too?"
Behind them, Indivilia no longer had her usual arrogant demeanor.
She kept her head lowered, looking harmless on the surface—but in reality, she was one of the most dangerous threats out there.
The number of people who had died at her hands was uncountable.
Hearing Dorothy's words, Indivilia lowered her gaze even further.
She could feel it. This woman was dangerous.
Possibly even stronger than herself.
Mo Chen glanced at Indivilia, slightly confused by the sudden change in topic.
"…Her?"
He shook his head.
"No."
Dorothy's gaze lingered on him, her eyes filled with playful amusement.
Pregnancy, huh.
She had heard everything.
So, this Commander's tastes extended beyond just Nikkes.
Then again, if you really think about it, Heretics were originally Nikkes who had been transformed.
Mo Chen, unfazed, simply said—
"She's a slave."
Indivilia nearly exploded with anger.
Even if it was true, saying it out loud like that was just blatant humiliation.
"…Apologies, I misspoke."
Dorothy smiled sweetly, her tone gentle yet irresistibly charming, as if flowers were blooming in spring.
She did something unexpected—she bowed slightly toward Mo Chen, her elegant posture exuding grace and dignity.
"Previously, I was merely testing your attitude toward Nikkes. I meant no offense. If my words were out of line, I hope you'll forgive me."
That dazzling smile, her radiant expression—it was so warm and genuine that it was hard to dislike her.
"It's fine. I would've said the same to anyone else."
Mo Chen waved it off casually.
It was just a war of words.
Dorothy's bright eyes locked onto Mo Chen as she let out a soft chuckle.
"…I finally understand why so many Nikkes are drawn to you."
And then—
The ground suddenly trembled violently.
A sharp, piercing buzzing sound suddenly filled the sky.
Raptures!
On the horizon, near the rows of ruined buildings, a massive wave of Raptures appeared—dense, black, and surging forward like a tidal wave.
Skyscrapers, streetlights, and bridges along their path were crushed into rubble under the sheer weight and size of the advancing swarm.
Among them, three massive Raptures stood in the center of the army—the Lord-class Raptures: Bulwark, Scorpion, and Spike.
As the Rapture horde surged forward, Bulwark deployed its translucent barrier, while Spike let out a deafening roar, launching a barrage of missiles that rained down like a storm toward Mo Chen and the others!
At the same time, the Rapture forces split into two wings, moving like the pincers of a giant crab, attempting to encircle Mo Chen's group.
Behind them, with a thunderous explosion, the ground split open, and a massive tentacle burst forth, slamming into the earth with tremendous force.
From the gaping maw of the underground beast, a flood of Raptures poured out, severing their escape route.
The Raptures… were learning tactics.
Dorothy's delicate brows furrowed, a cold glint flashing across her stunning features.
She hated Raptures.
She closed her parasol, gently set it aside, and stepped forward.
With a dazzling flash of light, a rifle materialized in her hands.
"Let me handle this."
Before she could act, Mo Chen stepped forward first.
He raised his hand—and at some point, Ryūjin Jakka had appeared in his grasp.
He ignored the incoming missile barrage and his right foot shifted forward, forming a bow stance, while his left foot braced against the ground, knees slightly bent.
His body weight shifted forward while his left arm held the sheathed blade behind him, his thumb nudging the tsuba to expose just a hint of the blade's edge.
His right palm pressed firmly against the hilt.
He exhaled, and then—
He drew.
"Clang—!"
The sharp, ringing cry of steel echoed like a dragon's roar.
The moment the blade cleared the sheath, it was instantly engulfed in roaring flames.
The temperature skyrocketed, as the searing flames surged outward, growing in the wind like a raging, clawing fire dragon.
In mere moments, the flames expanded to ten meters in length.
He slashed.
A blinding arc of fire swept across the battlefield like a divine calamity—
Fast as lightning. Swift as thunder.
The blazing inferno engulfed half the battlefield in an instant—
And the swarming Raptures were incinerated to ash without even the slightest resistance.
As the flames dissipated, there was no smoke, as even the smoke itself had been consumed.
All that remained was scorched earth… And the charred, unrecognizable remains of what was once an army of Raptures.
With a single strike, most of the low-tier Raptures had been obliterated.
The only survivors were the Lord-class Raptures.
Their thick armor and energy barriers had allowed them to endure the near-apocalyptic flames.
But even they were not unscathed.
Their metallic exoskeletons had partially melted, dripping like liquefied plastic, leaving them charred black and smoldering.
Their movements were sluggish, and they were barely hanging on.
A notification appeared.
"Points gained: 9781."
Mo Chen glanced at his accumulated points: they were nearing one hundred thousand.
A hundred thousand points—enough to exchange for something decent.
Aside from that, he remembered he still had three unused draws.
Dorothy's gaze remained fixed on Mo Chen, her eyes gleaming with an unreadable expression, as if contemplating something.
Meanwhile, three kilometers away, atop the ruins of a collapsed building…