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

Anis and Neon immediately stopped bickering and turned to stare at Indivilia, as if struck by lightning.

"You're pregnant?"

"Yes," Indivilia gently caressed her slightly raised abdomen, her fingers gliding over it with a delicate touch. Each motion carried a sense of tenderness and anticipation. Her eyes shimmered with a deep maternal glow, like a tranquil lake reflecting endless care and hope for the new life inside her.

"We already have a child."

"Bull—!"

Anis' eyes widened as she pointed a trembling finger at Indivilia.

The word "Bullshit" nearly left her lips, but she quickly swallowed it down, remembering that the Commander didn't like Nikkes swearing. Instead, she forced herself to change course and glared, speaking with an intimidating tone, "Don't think you can just spew nonsense and expect us to fall for your lies—uh, I mean, deception!"

"Yeah, at least come up with a more believable lie," Neon chimed in, equally agitated.

 "Nikkes are mechanically constructed! We can't reproduce. Even if something happened between you and the Commander, there's no way you'd get pregnant. At the very least, it wouldn't be possible for you to carry a child."

Indivilia swept her beautiful gaze over the two of them, still stroking her abdomen, before curving her lips into a bewitching smile.

"Nikkes can't give birth, true. But no one ever said that Heretics can't."

"Wait… Heretic?!"

Anis and Neon's faces changed dramatically as they both instinctively took a few steps back, their expressions instantly shifting to high alert.

Though they had seen Indivilia before, back when she was classified as 'Material H,' the information they received had been vague at best. Plus, the distance had been too great for them to get a proper look at her.

Seeing the two react like they were facing a deadly enemy, Indivilia finally felt like she had reclaimed some of her former status. That rush of satisfaction—of once again being someone who held power over others—made her feel inexplicably good, lifting her mood significantly.

Without another word, Anis reached for her gun. In one smooth motion, she chambered a round and raised it, ready to blow Indivilia's head off.

Neon quickly grabbed her arm.

"Hey, what are you doing?!"

Anis gave her an incredulous look and coldly replied, "Getting rid of the problem."

"…What?"

Neon was momentarily stunned.

"You're… not actually thinking of—"

Anis gave her a deadpan look and clicked the safety off.

"I'm going to help her abort the baby."

"Abort—?"

Neon stood frozen in place, her brain failing to process what she just heard.

"That… That doesn't sound right."

"It doesn't?"

Anis turned her sharp gaze toward Neon, looking both frustrated and betrayed.

"You mean to tell me you're okay with some random woman giving birth to the Commander's first child before us?"

Neon blinked, unable to respond.

She had never even considered that possibility before!

Anis pressed on, her voice rising with urgency.

"If that wild woman has a baby, she's going to take all of the Commander's attention! We'll be left in the dust!"

"Left in the dust?"

Neon's mind painted a tragic picture of the future—she eagerly ran up to Mo Chen to spend time with him, only to be unceremoniously shoved aside as he held a crying baby in his arms, too busy playing the role of a doting father to even glance at her.

…That can't happen.

Even if someone was going to have his child, it had to be her first!

Without a word, Neon silently reached for her grenade launcher.

Indivilia watched the entire scene unfold with growing amusement.

How ridiculous. To think these two were so easily manipulated, dancing in the palm of a human's hand without a shred of dignity.

And all it took was a little provocation on her end to set them off.

She sneered inwardly, her fingers silently shifting into razor-sharp claws. At the same time, she subtly pressed down with her feet, her entire body coiling like a predator locking onto its prey—tense, ready to strike.

Although she was bound by restrictions that prevented her from attacking Nikkes, there was nothing stopping her from retaliating if these two struck first. The moment they made a move, she could counterattack and use the opportunity to erode them with her corruption.

Even if she couldn't kill them outright, capturing them would be just as valuable. With them as hostages, she'd have leverage to negotiate with Mo Chen.

Both sides harbored their own thoughts as the tension in the air crackled, moments away from erupting into chaos.

But just then, a clear, authoritative voice rang out from the entrance.

"Stop."

Everyone instinctively turned toward the source of the voice, only to see a strikingly beautiful girl stride into the room, carrying herself with an air of confidence.

It was Rapi.

Her sharp gaze swept over the scene, scanning Indivilia, then Anis and Neon, who still had their weapons drawn. She quickly grasped the situation—Mo Chen had already spoken to her about Indivilia beforehand.

Turning to the two Nikkes, Rapi ordered firmly, "Anis, Neon, step outside."

Anis instantly frowned in protest.

"Why do we have to leave? We should just kill this thing right now! She's a Heretic—we can't let her go!"

Rapi immediately shut her down.

"The Commander has ordered her release."

She wasn't entirely sure why Mo Chen had made this decision, but she trusted that he had his reasons.

"No way!"

Anis refused to back down, her voice filled with conviction. She was absolutely not going to let this "homewrecker" off the hook. Worried that Rapi might not know the full story, she quickly blurted out, "She's trying to have the Commander's baby!"

"…What?"

Even Rapi, who had seen all sorts of bizarre things, was momentarily dumbfounded.

There had been plenty of Nikkes claiming they wanted to be Mo Chen's girlfriend or have his child, but a Heretic saying the same? That was new.

Anis pouted angrily and pointed straight at Indivilia, who was watching the show unfold with amusement.

"If you don't believe me, ask her yourself!"

Following the direction of Anis' outstretched finger, Rapi turned to Indivilia.

The Heretic gently ran her fingers over her slightly rounded belly, a soft, intoxicating smile spreading across her face. It was a smile as warm as a spring breeze, as delicate and captivating as a blooming peach blossom. There was a trace of shyness in her expression, yet it was laced with an undeniable allure.

"I'm not trying to have his child."

Her voice was as smooth as silk.

"I already have."

Already…?

All eyes immediately fixated on Indivilia's abdomen.

The bare skin exposed beneath her clothing did seem to show a faint, undeniable curve—small but present.

None of them had ever been pregnant, but they had seen what pregnancy looked like before.

Indivilia's slightly smug expression, laced with an almost teasing quality, only served to fuel Anis's fury.

"She's doing it on purpose!"

Anis stomped her foot in frustration.

Indivilia chuckled softly and delivered an even more infuriating remark.

"Not just one. The Commander and I are having two children."

Anis nearly lost it.

She wanted to scream, to curse Indivilia out as a shameless, conniving fox, but before she could, she suddenly felt a cold chill beside her.

A shiver ran down her spine.

She turned her head—and froze.

Rapi's expression was eerily calm.

Too calm.

"You two, leave. I need to have a word with her."

Her tone was steady, unshaken, but anyone who knew Rapi well would immediately recognize the warning signs.

She was angry.

Anis, who was all too familiar with Rapi's temper, immediately grabbed the still-confused Neon and started pulling her toward the door.

"What? Why are we leaving?"

Neon, completely lost, protested.

"Can't she just talk to her in front of us? What's with all the secrecy?"

Anis sighed and muttered under her breath as they exited.

"I'd rather not get splattered with blood."

"…Huh?"