A man stood at the edge of a rooftop, gazing at the raging battlefield in the distance. His sharp emerald-green pupils contracted, his chiseled face filled with shock. His tall, muscular frame tensed involuntarily, even trembling slightly.
Both fists clenched tightly, veins bulging, and even his breathing had become noticeably heavier.
It was him, the one hailed as humanity's last hope!
The first human to possess the overwhelming power to defeat a Heretic.
Even though he had thoroughly investigated this man's background beforehand, he had never fully believed it. After all, the human body was made of flesh and blood—fragile, with clear physical limits. It was impossible to stand against Raptures, these behemoths of steel.
Not only was it biologically infeasible, but it also defied all principles of physics.
For years, from the former World Government before the Ark, to the Ark and even Eden itself, extensive research and experiments had been conducted to enhance the human body—yet, every attempt had ended in failure. No matter how much they pushed the limits, flesh and blood could never withstand excessive force.
The result was always the same—complete bodily collapse.
Yet now, this man had shattered that reality.
This could change everything—not just for humanity, but for the entire world.
The thought sent a surge of excitement through him, a rare emotion for someone as composed and indifferent as he was. His heart pounded with anticipation—if this power could be harnessed, humanity's future could be saved.
This cold, sharp-featured man was Johan, the legendary rising star of the Ark from over a decade ago.
However, due to political sabotage and betrayal from the Ark's upper echelons, Johan had defected. He had abandoned the Ark and ventured to the surface, finding refuge in a place called Eden.
As he pondered, a playful voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Commander, do we still need to continue the trial?"
The speaker was a petite girl, or perhaps more accurately… a loli.
She had soft pink hair and cat-like ears, clad in a sleek futuristic black and silver exosuit, accentuated with golden embellishments that added an air of nobility and elegance. The suit's intricate design exuded cutting-edge technology, with layered components emphasizing both functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Her shoulder plates unfolded like metallic wings, providing both defensive coverage and an impression of readiness to soar into battle. The tapered chest armor, shaped into a stylized inverted triangle, highlighted a balance of femininity and raw strength.
Meanwhile, her fully enclosed leg armor boasted smooth, dynamic contours, ensuring optimal mobility and protection.
Noah, a member of the Inherit Squad, just like Johan—both hailing from Eden.
Her words pulled Johan from his deep contemplation. Without hesitation, he turned on his heel, striding forward with unwavering determination, his voice firm and resolute.
"No need."
With just a single strike, that man had annihilated a Rapture army that even elite Nikke squads struggled against.
Continuing the trial was meaningless—it would only be a waste of time.
His strength was even greater than the reports had described.
Besides, he had already learned what he wanted to know: humanity possesses the potential to fight against Raptures, and even Heretics.
"Clang—!"
A razor-sharp tail blade spun through the air, slashing across the massive body of a Lord-class Rapture. A fine, thin line appeared along its form. The next moment—boom! A violent explosion erupted, flames surging as shattered mechanical parts flew in all directions.
Indivilia had eliminated the lingering Raptures.
She retracted her tail blade and silently followed behind Mo Chen, her lips pressed tightly together. Her delicate face was filled with conflicted emotions, and as she gazed at his back, a whirlwind of emotions swirled within her.
After witnessing his power firsthand, she knew—there was no escape.
That human was a monster.
She abandoned any thought of running away.
For now, she could only endure and bide her time. But that didn't mean she would accept being under someone else's thumb forever. On the contrary, she was already plotting her revenge—waiting for Mo Chen to slip up so she could strike back and make him regret ever crossing her.
Beside them, Dorothy's sharp, intelligent gaze flickered toward Indivilia.
With her perceptiveness, how could she not see through Indivilia's scheming?
Yet, Dorothy didn't expose her.
Meanwhile, Mo Chen sheathed his blade and shifted his gaze toward a ruined building two or three kilometers away.
From the very beginning, he'd sensed someone watching.
This Rapture army had arrived under suspicious circumstances—suddenly appearing in overwhelming numbers, including multiple Lord-class units. Unless someone had made a significant disturbance, it was unlikely that so many would have converged here so quickly.
Moreover, the direction from which the Rapture horde had arrived was almost identical to the location of those prying eyes.
Too much of a coincidence.
Eden was three hundred kilometers from here. Without a transport vehicle, traveling there would take at least half a day.
But Dorothy could fly.
And, as it happened—Mo Chen could fly too.
Indivilia, however… couldn't.
And so, an absurd scene unfolded—two figures soared effortlessly through the sky, while another was left scrambling on the ground, running after them.
The one chasing?
Of course, Indivilia.
Her teeth gnashed audibly, grinding with frustration.
She was furious. Her eyes burned with rage, her cold, regal face flushed red—not with shyness, but pure, seething anger.
This was a complete humiliation!
In reality, this was the perfect chance for her to escape.
But she had no idea what Mo Chen had planted inside her body—that insidious, virus-like thing. And since her freedom wasn't strictly restricted, she felt that Mo Chen had something up his sleeve, making him so confident.
Above, Dorothy was astonished as she observed Mo Chen effortlessly moving through the air beside her.
His footsteps lightly tapped the air itself, as if he were running across solid ground.
It was the first time she had ever seen a human capable of aerial movement.
After all, her ability to fly came from her wings.
At that moment, Mo Chen suddenly turned to her and asked,
"I'm planning to form a new squad. Interested in joining?"
Dorothy was momentarily stunned.
His question was so out of the blue that she couldn't help but look at him in surprise before asking in amusement,
"Commander, are you trying to woo me?"
Inviting a Pilgrim to join his forces? That could only mean one thing.
Mo Chen, however, calmly replied,
"Not at all."
"In that case, forgive me—I must decline."
"System notification: Affection level insufficient (below 100%). Invitation failed."
Seeing the notification pop up, Mo Chen sighed.
Just as he suspected—it wouldn't be that easy.
Back when the "Assemble the Goddess Squad" mission first appeared, he had already felt that there had to be a catch.
And sure enough—
Not only was recruiting squad members a hassle, but the affection level requirement was also ridiculous.
At this rate, the only one who could successfully reach that affection level was probably Pinne.