Chapter 165: If It Comes to That, She’ll Let Him Play Too

The pilot of the mech displayed exceptional skill, showing no fear as they engaged in a prolonged dogfight with Storm Bringer. Using precise maneuvering and superior mobility, they continuously harassed the massive Rapture, drawing the majority of its attention.

Meanwhile, the Nikke forces on the ground felt a surge of morale. They used long-range weapons to engage, though due to the high altitude, only large-caliber sniper rifles could effectively reach the target.

Perhaps it was the residual impact of the high-explosive rounds from earlier, or maybe it was the relentless attacks from Marian's mech that gradually drained Storm Bringer's energy. But under the barrage of missile salvos from the fighter jets, the enemy's protective barrier finally collapsed.

With its shields down, the following missiles and high-energy ion beams struck directly against Storm Bringer's armor.

Taking advantage of this opening, the Nikke forces on the ground deployed aerial units, circling to flank the Tyrant-class Rapture from the sides and launching their attacks.

Under the relentless assault, explosions erupted across its outer shell. Its massive body swayed unsteadily, as though on the verge of crashing down at any moment.

"Great support, Marian!"

On the ground, Anis beamed with excitement, giving a thumbs-up toward the sky.

She had never fought such an exhilarating battle before—pushing through enemy lines without resistance, forcing Raptures into retreat after retreat.

Those Master-class Raptures she used to avoid whenever she encountered them? Now they couldn't even withstand a few of her shots.

It was something she wouldn't have dared to imagine before.

Still, as she gazed at the Lancelot mech soaring through the sky, she couldn't help but feel a pang of envy in her eyes.

I really want to try it out too…

She had to find a way to convince the Commander to let her take it for a spin.

If it came to that… she'd let him play with hers too.

Of course, she meant the water gun.

Up in the sky, Marian piloted the Lancelot Conquista, engaging her boosters to reposition above Storm Bringer. The mech's massive cannon extended from its back, shifting to the front as its particle cannon rapidly charged up energy.

Just as Storm Bringer's laser beam was about to fire, Marian launched her attack first.

A colossal high-energy ion beam cut through the sky, streaking forward like a radiant arc and tearing through the air with unstoppable force. It struck the Rapture's frontal armor head-on.

"Boom—!"

A violent explosion erupted on Storm Bringer's armor.

Flames burst out, and thick black smoke billowed into the sky.

The sheer force of the blast sent the massive Rapture reeling, causing its laser attack to fizzle out. Its wings, damaged by the explosion, suffered a loss of lift, and the behemoth began to descend.

Moments ago, the Tyrant-class Rapture had been wreaking havoc with impunity. Now, it was battered and forced into retreat—and the Ark's forces erupted in cheers.

The air force immediately took off, loaded with high-explosive aerial bombs, preparing to deliver the final blow to Storm Bringer.

Meanwhile, the Nikke units on the ground rushed forward, pressing their advantage. Previously, their weapons lacked the range to hit the target effectively, but with Storm Bringer dropping in altitude, it had now entered their effective range.

The sniper squads, in particular, finally had their moment.

Victory was within reach.

The Ark's forces pressed the attack, determined to eliminate Storm Bringer once and for all.

But at that moment, Storm Bringer suddenly threw its head back, its massive wings flaring outward as it began to ascend once more.

Then, from deep within its mechanical throat, it let out a piercing, high-pitched screech!

The sound stabbed through eardrums like an ice pick, sending waves of sonic force rippling through the air.

A devastating shockwave blasted outward, infused with an intense psychic attack, sweeping across the entire Ark like a raging storm.

It roared through the underground city with unstoppable force, shaking the very air itself like a thunderous explosion.

The fighter jets charging toward the attack were struck head-on by the sonic wave. Their fuselages twisted and deformed instantly, wings snapping, cockpits bending, before they exploded midair.

The shockwave rippled through the battlefield—Nikkes trembled violently, their pupils dilating as if their strings had been cut. One after another, they clutched their heads, staggering to their knees, crying out in agony.

It wasn't just the Nikkes in the army—humans were affected too, collapsing unconscious on the spot. Within the Ark, countless devices short-circuited, exploding into flames.

Anis knelt on the ground, gripping her head, feeling as if her skull was being split apart. The world spun wildly, nausea churning in her stomach. A tearing pain wracked her body, and even her water gun slipped from her grasp, clattering to the floor.

Neon and Rapi were in the same condition.

Meanwhile, Marian's Lancelot Conquista took the full brunt of the sonic attack. Its electronic systems malfunctioned, warning lights flashing red throughout the cockpit. The mech swayed unsteadily midair, its jet boosters sputtering, barely keeping it aloft.

Inside the command room, Andersen clutched his forehead, gripping the edge of the table just to stay upright. Most of the staff around him had already collapsed, rendered unconscious by the attack. Only a few, those with the strongest willpower, managed to remain awake.

A specialized sonic attack!

Andersen panted heavily, stunned by the sheer scale of the devastation. He turned back to the war screen, his heart sinking.

The air force was completely wiped out.

The Nikke forces were critically incapacitated.

No one had expected that Storm Bringer was capable of a psychic/sonic assault.

With the Nikkes temporarily incapacitated, there was no one left to hold the front. The Rapture army surged forward, an unstoppable flood rushing through a broken dam.

Even with all his experience, even after surviving countless battles, Andersen felt a deep sense of despair as he watched the battlefield fall apart.

The defensive line had collapsed.

Neither the Ark's automated defense weapons nor its troops could function anymore.

In less than an hour, the Raptures would slaughter every last Nikke on the battlefield.

And the Ark… there was no chance it would last until reinforcements arrived.

At the same time, high above the Ark—

Two elegant figures hovered in the sky.

Flawless, breathtaking faces. Eyes clear and expressive, shifting between playfulness and serenity. Skin as smooth as polished ivory, glowing with a soft radiance.

Snow-white wings unfurled behind them, shimmering as they floated effortlessly above the world. Their very presence exuded a noble grace, carrying an ethereal beauty that seemed beyond mortal reach.

No matter how stunning a person was, standing before them, one could only feel unworthy.

It was Dorothy.

The other figure, in contrast to Dorothy's pure and innocent presence, exuded a far more seductive and captivating aura. Her revealing attire accentuated her smooth, bare skin, her ample chest, and her exquisitely curvaceous figure. But what stood out the most were her mesmerizing eyes—so enchanting that it was impossible to look away.

It was Isabel.

Isabel rested her cheek against her hand, her deep wine-red eyes gazing down at the Ark's war-torn battlefield, where black smoke billowed from the gaping hole in the city.

"It looks like the Ark has been invaded. At this rate, it won't take long before it falls. Tsk tsk… how pitiful. Struggling so desperately, they're almost… adorable in their misery."

Dorothy responded with an elegant smile, as graceful as a field of flowers blooming in the wind, captivating all who beheld it.

"It does seem that way."

Isabel turned her gaze toward Dorothy, a hint of curiosity in her expression.

"If you don't step in soon, the Ark will be overrun by those pests. If it gets destroyed, your dream won't be possible anymore, you know?"

Dorothy remained poised, showing not the slightest hint of urgency. She was like an angel above the clouds, watching over the suffering sinners below. Her delicate lips, soft as flower petals, parted slightly, curving into an intoxicatingly serene smile.

"Only through despair will they understand the value of salvation. Only after enduring true suffering will they realize how precious survival truly is."