-2: 82
It was a frantic mess of robotic limbs, exploding Raptures, and making sure nothing was escaping from beneath the hole in the sky.
'Dammit. These crazy robots and that Rapture Queen...'
Was she trying to farm data off me? Or was this an actual initial attack against the Ark?
Although I had definitely cut down hundreds of Raptures by now... probably more considering Ark Ranger Black was helping with the stragglers, they seemed to keep pouring down from the hole.
It was like endless mode in a Dynasty Warriors game or something, or like Vampire Survivors. Just waves upon waves of enemies that kept dropping components and parts, but ALSO kept coming.
Ark Ranger Black moved to my side after kicking through the core of a bipedal Husk-Class Rapture, panting heavy. "C-Commander. Can you... keep going?"
"I'm fine." I tilted my head to look at her, seeing the sweat pouring down her face.
And considering that meant had deactivated her helmet to be able to see better, she must be tired.
"...But can you?"
Ark Ranger Black wiped the sweat off her brow and said, "The Ark Rangers never tire! ...Is what I want to say. But..." She let out a weary laugh. "I didn't think fighting real Raptures is this exhausting..." She paused and said, "...How are you still fine?"
"I ask myself that question every day. Jury is out on whether I'm a genetically engineered super soldier, part Nikke, or literally not human."
"...What?"
I nodded and turned back to face the next wave of Raptures. "Yep, that's about the reaction I expected. But if you're tired... The citizens are cleared out now, right? Go grab reinforcements. I can hold off the stragglers, but we need to properly contain this area."
Maxwell's genius, Neon's additions, Sophia's meticulous verification, and my own ideas had resulted in this hyperefficient power suit and weaponry.
Because of that, and the fact that I was absolutely superhuman... somehow.
I could hold them off.
But I was pinned here.
Thankfully, so were the Raptures since none of them were equipped with ranged weaponry. But that meant it was a stalemate until one side got proper reinforcements.
Ark Ranger Black hesitated. "...Are you sure you're going to be fine, Commander?"
"Commander?" I laughed and then flicked my wrists, making a twin set of chain daggers. "Right now I'm the Valiant. And the Valiant NEVER FALLS! HAVE AT YOU!" I rushed forward, swinging the daggers around to pull in and disable more Raptures and buy time.
But...
'What the hell is taking so long?'
...I couldn't help but wonder why there hadn't even been a detachment of mass-produced Nikkes sent my way yet-
At that time, a sudden explosion of gunfire erupted, clearing through the Raptures in front of me.
"Finally! What took so-"
"What am I doing?! Ugh!" Shifty jogged over, lugging a minigun behind her. "I swear to god, Commander! You owe me overtime for this!"
"SHIFTY?! What the heck are-"
*BANG*
Shifty lowered a smoking pistol, having just shot through the core of a Rapture approaching me. "I don't know what the hell I'm doing, Commander! I just know that everyone's gone, Triangle is missing, and that I am NOT dying alone in the empty Central Government offices in case some stupid Raptures explode on it! Now keep me alive! You owe me that much for putting up with your bull- WHOA?!"
A Rapture lunged at Shifty, swinging a pair of spiked maces.
I flung my chain knife out to pierce it and yank it back, smashing it into more Raptures and bowling them over. "That's gonna be hard, Shifty! Ark Ranger Black, you still there somewhere?"
"Y-Yes!"
Her voice echoed from somewhere behind me. "I was just about to leave, but should I stay?"
"If you've got friends nearby or see anyone that can help, grab them! Otherwise, stay with Shifty and give me cover fire as I move!"
I sprinted forward, shifting my daggers into a spear instead to ram through a series of crab-like Raptures.
Ark Ranger Black's voice called out. "Blue and Red are nearby! I'll be right back! Miss Shifty, stay safe!"
*BANG BANG BANG*
Three gunshots echoed and three Raptures exploded.
Shifty reloaded her pistol and said, "I'll be fine! Probably!" She looked over at me and said, "If I die somehow, you'd better make me a Nikke and retire me forever, Commander!"
"If you die somehow, I'll paint the Central Government red and THEN make you a Nikke and retire you. Deal?"
"Deal!" Shifty lugged her minigun again, revving it up. As she did, she said, "I am sooooo fired though since I stole some experimental weaponry... Argh, life and death excuse! Force Majeure or whatever! Just die, Raptures!"
===
Back at the Outer Rim, Rapi finished tying up the commanders and Deputy Chief Doban.
Neon chuckled and struck a pose. "Ultimate firepower achieved! Master would be proud!"
E.H. adjusted her cap and looked at the incapacitated commanders and the deputy chief. Then she looked at the mass-produced Nikkes who had surrendered to Rapi and Neon. "You... really did it? You protected us?"
Rapi tightened the knot extra tight on Doban's neck, making it so that if he moved too much it would slowly choke him. Then she stood up and brushed her hands, looking at E.H. "It's what our commander would have done."
"Nuh-uh, Rapi!" Neon shook her head and said, "Master would have totally broken their arms and legs! We just knocked them out!"
Rapi paused. "...That's true. But it's close enough. I don't think it'd be good for anyone if we got a reputation of being able to inflict bodily injuries on humans."
"I guess that's true..." Neon sighed. "...But huh." She clenched and unclenched her fists. "...I think I get why Liliweiss just punched things. It's kind of fun."
"..."
Rapi decided to ignore Neon and focused on E.H. again. "You said you were the leader of Heavenly Ascension, yes? And that you weren't responsible for the hole in the Dome of Eternity?"
"Y-Yes!" E.H. focused and said, "Some of the more extreme people in Heavenly Ascension were following John Doe and planned to set off some excavation charges in the ceiling and lure in Raptures, but the Underworld Queens stopped them before they did it. This isn't us."
Neon walked over and hummed. "I see! So it's a spy!"
Rapi sighed. "Not everything is a-" She suddenly stopped, remembering the weird interaction Commander Hoopa had with Eternity when they first came down to the Ark.
"...No. That's right. There's a spy."
Neon blinked. "...Wait, really? I was just messing around... I mean, yes! Obviously! There's a spy!"
E.H. looked confused by Neon's reaction, but she decided to ignore it for the moment and focus on Rapi. "A spy? In our group? I mean... it has been splintering, so-"
"No." Rapi tilted her head to look back at Doban. "I mean in the Central Government."
It didn't make sense.
How did Deputy Chief Doban know to move right now of all times? And how did he know to blame it on the Outer Rim?
It wasn't just opportunistic. No, it was opportunistic... but it had logic behind it.
Intel.
Doban glared at Rapi.
Rapi looked at him and said, "Who told you that there was a plan to create a hole in the Dome of Eternity?"
Doban spat on the ground and said, "As if I'd tell a scrapbucket like you!"
Neon tilted her head. "...Scrapbucket? Hey, Rapi! Isn't that what Syuen says all the time?"
Doban froze. It was for just a second.
But it was enough for Rapi to notice.
"...We need to get back to the commander." Rapi looked at E.H. and said, "Do you have anyone who can fight? Or keep themselves safe?"
E.H. hesitated. But after a bit, she steeled herself and said, "We do. But... we won't risk our lives for no reason."
Neon nodded and said, "That's the Outer Rim for you! But hey! Here's a good reason!" She pointed up and said, "Master's already secured some places on the surface! If you help out, we could put in a good word for you!"
Rapi sighed, looking at Doban and the unconscious commanders. "...Neon. You realize you are literally suggesting treason."
"Huh?" Neon looked at Rapi. "Aren't we already warring with the Ark? Master said to fuck everyone up, right?"
"...You know what? You're right." Rapi looked at the denizens of the Outer Rim slowly drifting forward to look at the commotion.
While there were definitely a few rough and tumble characters... Most of them just looked tired. And most of them were young too.
Rapi slowly turned to look back at the Ark. And at the towering walls and huge double doors that separated the citizens of the Ark from people who were just as human as they were...
"...Let's pull a Commander, Neon. We're taking them to the surface."
Neon paused. "Huh?"
"You heard me." Rapi adjusted her cap and said, "It's our job to fight. But its their job to live. So let's make their job easier."
"Oooh, I get it!" Neon laughed, smacking a fist into her open palm. "We're going full maverick! Just like Master said we would!"
Rapi glanced back at E.H. as well as the mass-produced Nikke. Then she looked at the denizens of the Outer Rim waiting behind them all.
It was a pivotal moment.
What Rapi and Neon did here would undoubtedly influence how things played out in the future. Especially if they were actually going to bring people from the Outer Rim along with them.
So...
Rapi looked at the group again and said, "My name is Rapi, the vice-captain of the Brave Squad. We are departing for the surface. If you truly wish to just live, you are welcome. But do not mistake kindness for weakness. If you step out of line, you will be removed. If you agree and understand... Follow." After that, she started marching right back towards the elevator leading back up to the surface.
There was hesitation. Doubt.
But slowly, bit by bit...
"Commander Hoopa... he's like the Legendary Commander, isn't he?"
"I saw his speech. He said, one day, all of us could be together as just humans..."
"Can we really live? More than this...?"
...The doubt faded into growing resolve.
Especially as E.H. stepped forward. She adjusted her cap and turned back to look at the denizens of the Outer Rim. Then she said, "...Everyone. This is our chance. The first anyone's given us. So..." She let out a trembling smile and said, "...Let's not lose it. Okay?" After that, she faced forward again, following after Rapi and Neon.
Speaking of Neon...
She walked close to Rapi's side and whispered. "Pst. Rapi. You realize that this is going to cause a lot of trouble to Master, right?"
Rapi's mouth twitched into a smile and she said, "Good. Commander keeps saying he isn't a hero but he keeps acting like one. He should learn that actions actually have consequences."
Neon giggled. "That's true~"
"Now come on." Rapi scanned the surroundings and said, "If we want to sneak Outer Rim denizens up to the surface, this is the perfect time. Let's work fast."