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

That feeling between them was like water naturally flowing downhill, a bond that had grown so strong it no longer needed words. A single glance was enough to understand each other.

"Then, let's go watch a movie," Mo Chen said with a slight smile as he took Rapi's hand and began walking down the street.

In the past, holding hands was something they did during battle. Now, as he held her hand in this peaceful moment, he realized how soft and delicate it was—smooth and cool to the touch, her slender fingers like polished jade.

"Whoa! Where are you two going?"

A sudden figure popped out from the side, startling Mo Chen. With a mischievous glint in her eyes and a sly, foxy grin, it could only be Anis.

Rapi quickly pulled her hand away, still shy, especially since it was in front of someone she knew.

Mo Chen, interrupted from holding Rapi's soft hand, was naturally in a bad mood.

"What else would we be doing? We're going to watch a movie."

"Wow, a movie!" Anis's eyes lit up as she dashed over, wedging herself between Mo Chen and Rapi. Using her hip, she pushed Mo Chen aside and clung to Rapi's arm. "I want to go too! Let's all go watch a movie together!"

Mo Chen's face darkened, looking like the bottom of a pot: he'd been planning to take this chance to grow closer to Rapi.

"Don't you have something to do? I mean, something really important you need to get back to." Mo Chen deliberately emphasized the word "something."

But Anis pretended not to notice, feigning confusion.

"Nope, nothing at all."

She turned to Rapi, clasping her arm even tighter. "Rapi, I want to watch a movie too. Let's go together! You can't just leave me all alone, right? That'd make me a pitiful, lonely woman stuck at home. How tragic would that be?"

Seeing Anis's pitiful expression, Rapi's heart softened, and she agreed.

"Great!"

Anis pulled Rapi's hand eagerly. "Let's go! Hurry, or we'll miss the opening!"

"Hey, wait for me!" Mo Chen called out as he trailed behind, exasperated.

Anis turned back with a look of exaggerated surprise, as if seeing him for the first time. "Oh! Commander! Aren't you super busy? Why not go back to work? I'll keep Rapi company—you don't need to trouble yourself."

The corner of Mo Chen's mouth twitched.

This had to be on purpose.

"Anis," Rapi nudged her with an elbow, "don't do that. The commander is coming with us."

Mo Chen sighed inwardly, Rapi is still the best to me.

Anis stuck out her tongue at Mo Chen and dragged Rapi along, leaving him behind.

In addition to the living areas, the outpost had built a cinema to help alleviate fatigue, lift spirits, and prevent Nikkes from suffering mental breakdowns or instability.

The design of the cinema was inspired by the luxurious theaters on Royal Road in the Ark, adorned in dazzling gold and grandeur.

It was unmistakably Centi's handiwork—if the base's Nikkes had built it, it would probably have turned into a safety hazard.

When Mo Chen entered the cinema, it was already bustling with people.

To avoid being recognized, he donned a trench coat and slightly covered his face.

"What's the matter? Afraid someone might eat you?"

Anis couldn't resist making a sarcastic remark from the side.

Mo Chen shot her a glare.

"Yeah, afraid it'll be you."

Unfazed, she puffed out her chest proudly.

"Well then, come and try."

Mo Chen couldn't help but suspect that she was doing all of this intentionally. His newly established relationship with Rapi hadn't even had the chance to blossom; he hadn't even held her hand much yet, and now Anis was acting as the ultimate third wheel.

Anis and Rapi went to buy snacks for the movie, leaving Mo Chen with nothing to do. Feeling bored, he opened the system panel. His points had almost reached 100,000.

"Due to your outstanding performance recently, you are being rewarded with three spins of the lucky draw."

A lucky draw?

Mo Chen raised an eyebrow in surprise.

The system interface had now turned into a roulette wheel, with different colored sections marked with prizes.

The spinning wheel reminded Mo Chen of those dart games he played as a kid.

He clicked Start.

The wheel began to spin with a faint creaking sound before the pointer landed on a yellow section.

"Congratulations! You've won a water gun."

Huh?

Mo Chen doubted his eyes.

A water gun? That's way too underwhelming. At least the instant noodles he won before could be eaten. What was he supposed to do with a water gun? Spray it at Raptures?

Ridiculous.

Mo Chen casually tossed it into the system inventory.

"Fine, I'll give this to Anis." She deserved it for being the ultimate third wheel tonight.

Two chances left.

Mo Chen tapped Start again, and the wheel spun once more.

After a few seconds, the pointer slowed and stopped on a black section.

"Boltgun."

A boltgun?

Mo Chen's spirits lifted.

Finally, something worthwhile.

The boltgun, a weapon from Warhammer 40K, was standard equipment for Space Marines. With its .75 caliber, solid-fuel rocket propulsion, hardened diamond-tipped bullets, and dense metal core, it packed immense power and penetration capabilities.

It could blow through uranium-armored M1N1 main battle tanks like a hot knife through butter.

Satisfied, he stowed it away.

One more chance.

He tapped Start again. The wheel spun rapidly and then gradually slowed.

This time, the pointer landed on a dark red section.

Mo Chen blinked at the reward displayed.

"Congratulations! You've won the Lancelot Conquista."

Wait, a combat mech?

The Lancelot Conquista, from Code Geass, was a seventh-generation Knightmare Frame. Equipped with dual drive wheels, a spherical sensor, energy shields, cutting wires, a MVS sword, a VARIS rifle developed from railgun technology, floating units, and even a Hadron Blaster—it was an impressive piece of engineering.

Although it didn't quite compare to Gundams, in a world with lower power levels, it was undoubtedly top-tier.

I'll give this to Marian, Mo Chen thought.

In the original story, Marian had a mech after becoming Heretic, but since he had intervened, she no longer had one. This would be a good way to make it up to her.

The three rewards—a water gun, a boltgun, and the Lancelot Conquista—turned out to be surprisingly practical. Well, except for the water gun.

That one could be a toy.

"Commander!!!"

Suddenly, an excited voice called out from the entrance, startling him. He found it oddly familiar. Turning around, he saw a figure dart toward him and tackle him.

It was Marian!

Mo Chen was stunned.

"Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?"

Marian usually needed at least sixteen hours of sleep a day. By now, she'd normally be fast asleep.

"Oh, what kind of cruel parents would abandon their child at home while sneaking out to have fun?"

Anis waltzed in with Rapi, smirking as she teased Mo Chen with exaggerated expressions.

Mo Chen: "..."

Great, so this was your doing.

Rapi, hearing Anis's words, suddenly blushed deeply, her cheeks glowing red like the evening sun.