Chapter 155: The Tormented Maidens

NOTE: Hey everyone! Just as a quick update, there will be only one chapter today and probably tomorrow as well since I'm on holiday. Thanks for understanding, and I'll be back to the usual schedule soon!

The piercing sound of alarms filled the air over the Ark, shattering the decades-long peace and the illusion of safety that people had grown accustomed to.

Raptures had appeared across the Ark, igniting battlefields in various districts. Explosions, gunfire, and the wails of terrified citizens formed a cacophony of chaos. Smoke billowed into the sky, transforming what had been a tranquil haven only minutes ago into a living hell.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

"Sector 37 is under attack by Raptures! Heavy casualties reported! Requesting immediate reinforcements!"

"A Lord-class Rapture has been spotted near Sector 9. Community defenses are insufficient. We need backup now!"

"The train is under assault and immobilized! All systems are down!"

"The high-energy particle cannon has been destroyed! Radar defense systems are taking heavy fire, and energy levels have dropped to 50%! Estimated total failure in ten minutes!"

"Rapture forces have breached the defensive line! Our Nikke squad is entirely wiped out—complete annihilation!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

For decades, the Ark had been spared from direct Rapture attacks. Many of its defensive installations had fallen into disrepair over the years, and some weapons were so rusted or short-circuited that they couldn't even be activated. They had become little more than decorations.

The Nikke units responded swiftly, but the suddenness of the Rapture invasion caught them completely off guard. With no prior preparation, they were forced into a hasty and disorganized defense. The results were catastrophic—seven districts fell within less than thirty minutes.

Near Sector 12, close to a school, a fierce battle was raging.

Behind the school building, a few Nikkes were taking cover, engaged in combat against the Raptures.

Among them were Naga and Tia.

They had just finished school and were heading home when the Rapture invasion began. Like many others, they were trapped on campus by the overwhelming force of the attackers.

Even after their transformations, humans did not immediately become full-fledged Nikkes. They had to undergo further education and training, only officially becoming Nikkes after passing their graduation assessments.

Currently, they were merely temporary trainees.

Compared to official Nikkes, their combat skills and mental fortitude were far from sufficient. They weren't even on par with mass-produced Nikkes—just marginally stronger than ordinary humans. When the Rapture attack began, many trainees panicked, abandoning all the lessons they had learned in school.

Within just ten minutes of engagement, the trainees suffered massive casualties. Corpses littered the area.

The Raptures were like wolves unleashed in a flock of sheep, executing a merciless massacre without distinction.

Only a handful of the more capable trainees managed to organize a semblance of resistance.

Naga's eyes were glazed over, her once-beautiful face streaked with blood and a vile mixture of red and gray.

Just seconds ago, a lively girl she had been chatting with was struck by a Rapture's machine cannon. The immense firepower tore through her body, ripping her apart. Half of her torso was flung into the air and landed right in front of Naga.

The shock was so overwhelming that Naga remained frozen in place, unable to process what had happened.

"R-run... Nag..."

The girl, mustering every ounce of strength, urged Naga to flee. But before she could finish her sentence, her head was obliterated by a direct hit.

It was just like a watermelon at a birthday party, exploding into fragments that scattered everywhere.

She was dead.

Naga froze.

Although she knew that one day she, like other Nikkes, would be sent into battle against the Raptures, she never thought that day would come so soon or that the Raptures would be so terrifying.

She still remembered their conversation.

"Naga, aren't you pushing yourself too hard? You're such a model student; I can't keep up."

"It's nothing. Didn't we agree to pass this exam together?"

"Haha, yeah. Let's keep at it. I'll do my best too."

But now, her body was torn apart, not even leaving behind an intact corpse.

At this moment, Naga felt as though she was in the depths of hell. Voices echoed from all directions.

"Ahhhh—!"

"Help, somebody help…!"

"You monsters, get away, get away!"

"Somebody save me, teacher…!"

"Don't come closer, stay away!"

The piercing screams, terrified cries for help, desperate pleas, and furious curses blended with the constant sound of gunfire into a horrifying symphony.

The Raptures moved through the academy like predators chasing prey, mercilessly hunting down the Nikkes.

On the green sports field within the campus, Nikkes in a desperate run didn't make it far before a few muffled gunshots rang out. Scarlet blooms burst from their backs as they were hurled into the air by the sheer force of the bullets.

A machine gun shredded through one Nikke's body, causing her to stumble and collapse onto the ground.

Scarlet blood pooled beneath her.

She cried out in terror, begging for help.

Her legs had been blasted apart, only partially connected by structural elements. Using her hands, she desperately crawled forward, trying to escape the monstrosities chasing her. But the Rapture caught up and finished her off with a few more shots. Her body convulsed like a ragdoll under the bullets before finally going still.

Naga stood just opposite her, watching helplessly as she was killed.

Her head lolled to one side, her messy hair covering her face, leaving only empty eyes staring lifelessly at Naga from afar.

Blood spilled from the gaping wound in her neck, pooling around her and soaking her hair red as it spread across the ground.

Naga felt her limbs grow cold, her face pale as an irrepressible wave of terror washed over her.

"N-Naga…"

A trembling voice called out near her ear. Naga turned and saw Tia curled up behind her, clutching tightly onto the corner of her shirt. Her entire body was shaking, her teeth chattering uncontrollably.

Naga saw the fear in her eyes.

Gritting her teeth, she picked up the gun from the hands of a fallen Nikke, flicked off the safety, and chambered a round.

"Stay behind me. When I fire, you run with me!"

At this point, the academy's teachers were either dead or had fled, leaving only the students to fend for themselves.

If they wanted to survive, they could only rely on themselves!

The screams within the academy were becoming fewer and fewer, while the heavy mechanical footsteps grew louder and closer.

Naga silently calculated the distance, praying that the incoming Rapture wouldn't be too high-level.

Their guns were training models—low-caliber, low-power. They could only inflict damage on Raptures at certain classes or below, and only if they hit a weak spot.

"Clang, clang—!"

A shadow appeared on the ground in front of the cover, less than ten meters away.

Naga tightened her grip on the gun in her hands.

She needed the Rapture to get close enough for her weapon to have any chance of being effective.

As the heavy mechanical footsteps approached within five meters, a glimmer of determination flashed in her eyes. She burst out from behind the cover, executing a nimble roll to maneuver around to the Rapture's rear. She raised her gun, taking aim.

Now's the moment!

However, the instant she got a clear look at the Rapture before her, Naga's face turned ashen.

It was a Master-class Rapture—Tail Bone.