Arknights: Mobile City

"Looks like it's finally my turn."

Hai muttered softly to himself, gazing at the distant figure of [Nothing There].

In preparation for this battle, both Lobotomy Corporation and K Corp had pushed themselves to their absolute limits.

Lobotomy Corp had long been researching the [Qliphoth Deterrence] device. Even though production remained pitifully slow, they'd finally managed to manufacture their first one. Currently, it rested securely in Hai's possession.

But that alone still wasn't enough.

As for K Corp… their contribution was straightforward.

Embryos. Mature, numerous embryos. Hai had brought a large batch with him—intended both as expendable distractions, and…

As bait to lure [Nothing There] to its designated location.

Since [Nothing There] was obsessed with mimicry, Hai had decided he'd give it plenty to copy.

Before long, [Nothing There] approached, movements still stiff but its expression gradually growing more animated. Hai took a deep breath and signaled to Theresa.

Theresa nodded in understanding, immediately retracting her emotional lure and watching Hai with complete focus.

"What exactly are you planning to do?" Kal'tsit asked cautiously, looking at Hai.

"…I'll make it abandon its current imitation and mimic me instead. Then I'll lead it somewhere far away."

Hai exhaled lightly, then turned his gaze toward Kal'tsit.

"I might need your help soon. When I give the signal, please summon your 'friend.'"

Kal'tsit immediately knew Hai meant [Mon3tr].

Though she had no idea how he knew about [Mon3tr], Kal'tsit eventually nodded.

After speaking, Hai took a deliberate step forward, standing face-to-face with [Nothing There]. The creature's expression twisted into a smile—a strange mix of melancholy and delight. Hai stared intently.

Learning emotions this quickly, huh…

Still, this rapid adaptation likely indicated [Nothing There] was largely a blank slate, craving new experiences to imitate.

Judging by how it moved just now in response to unfamiliar emotions, Hai felt his plan had a decent chance of success.

And since [Nothing There] hadn't mimicked physical movements earlier, it probably only attempted imitation once it learned sufficient emotional context…

Slowly, Hai stepped forward, stiffly—but still a little faster than [Nothing There's] earlier pace. [Nothing There] quickly adjusted, following Hai's lead with apparent curiosity.

Thus, Hai managed three or four more careful steps with [Nothing There] trailing behind. But then, without warning, [Nothing There] halted, seemingly frustrated by this shallow imitation…

In the next instant, [Nothing There's] human façade violently tore apart. Flesh twisted outward grotesquely, rapidly forming into an enormous, monstrous form. Hai's pupils contracted sharply, and he shouted urgently:

"Kal'tsit!"

"[Mon3tr]!"

At Kal'tsit's call, a massive, dark monster materialized before Hai, giving him time to swiftly reposition himself. Simultaneously, [Nothing There] completed its transformation—

Its huge, blood-red humanoid body seemed entirely composed of pulsating, shifting flesh, adorned with numerous unsettling, alien organs. The mere sight was nauseating.

Then, without hesitation, the creature raised its left hand, flesh reshaping itself instantly into a razor-sharp blade.

"Goodbye."

As the mechanical voice echoed, the flesh-blade descended, cleaving into [Mon3tr]. With a horrific shriek, [Mon3tr] instantly reverted into its core, detonating with a powerful shockwave—which, unfortunately, had no effect on [Nothing There] at all.

[Nothing There] turned slowly, lifting its hand toward Kal'tsit.

"Hello?"

A sharp gunshot-like noise erupted. Kal'tsit's eyes widened as she felt a sudden, piercing pain rip through her abdomen.

"Thanks!" Hai shouted without looking back, tossing her a [Healing Ampoule]. Kal'tsit staggered back half a step.

That attack just now… was beyond expectation.

In other words, the real reason she was here was simply to serve as cannon fodder?

Quickly injecting the Ampoule to repair her wounds, Kal'tsit suddenly realized something troubling.

As the smoke from [Mon3tr's] defeat cleared, Hai had already resumed a new, bizarre pose, taking a few deliberate steps forward. Seeing this, [Nothing There] paused briefly, seemingly intrigued again.

Its body contorted grotesquely once more, soon morphing into Hai's appearance. Hai let out a quiet sigh of relief and continued forward.

Every few steps, Hai shifted his stance or introduced new movements, gradually changing his pattern. With every step, [Nothing There] faithfully imitated him.

At this moment, Hai became fully convinced of one thing:

As long as he continuously provided fresh experiences for [Nothing There] to mimic, he could lead it anywhere.

His assumptions had been right.

"No need to follow me further—I'll handle the rest!"

Hai called back, continuing forward with ever-shifting poses. Kal'tsit and Theresa halted reluctantly, watching him disappear into the distance.

For the next hour, the two waited silently. Eventually, Hai returned, clearly exhausted. Theresa quickly stepped forward, concern and curiosity mingling in her voice:

"How did it go?"

"…It's been handled, more or less," Hai replied wearily.

The subsequent process had been almost identical to earlier:

Hai kept guiding [Nothing There] onward. The problem, however, was that [Nothing There] quickly grew bored, reverting to its monstrous state and killing Hai repeatedly…

But if there were enough "people" around, the situation changed dramatically.

That was precisely why Hai had prepared countless embryos along the route.

Each embryo represented something new and intriguing to [Nothing There], thus allowing Hai to painstakingly lead it toward their destination by continuously swapping them out.

When one embryo died, Hai simply shifted his consciousness into the next and continued onward. Though each embryo's novelty wore off quicker than the last, it wasn't much of an issue.

After all, these embryos were of poor quality anyway. Their deaths could just be considered a convenient culling.

It wasn't like the Embryo Factory had any other use for them at the moment.

Thus, using a rather callous strategy, Hai successfully lured [Nothing There] to the final destination:

A containment chamber.

Currently, this was the only chamber in The City equipped with a functioning [Qliphoth Deterrence] device.

Of course, Hai knew this wouldn't contain [Nothing There] forever. But he had transported it far enough. By the time it broke free, it probably wouldn't immediately return to The City.

All things considered, he'd successfully bought precious time.

Exhaling deeply at that thought, Hai turned toward Theresa.

"Let's go… The interview should be concluding soon. It's time we head back to Lobotomy Corporation. The results should be announced shortly."

Hai began walking back, and as he passed Theresa, he quietly added:

"Who knows… perhaps when the results are announced, you might receive news related to the Head—just as you've been hoping for all along."