Jokes aside, the situation was far from good.
The Ark's elevator shaft had been breached, and Raptures were pouring in endlessly. At this rate, the Ark would be completely overrun in no time.
And now, Storm Bringer, a Tyrant-class Rapture, had joined the fray.
"Commander!"
Suddenly, from the other side of a collapsed skyscraper, a figure rushed toward them, dodging bullets and explosions as she ran.
It was Noise.
"Didn't I tell you to focus on the evacuation?"
Mo Chen frowned.
Noise was a Tetra Line singer, part of the Prima Donna unit. Each member was a star in their own right, wielding massive influence over public culture—so much so that even the central government had to give them some level of respect.
However, they weren't combat Nikkes.
Their combat abilities were limited, barely stronger than mass-produced Nikkes, and against Raptures, they couldn't make much of a difference.
Noise didn't have time to explain. She grabbed Mo Chen's wrist, her expression filled with urgency.
"Be careful of its sonic mind attacks! After it devoured Aria, it stole her abilities!"
Mo Chen's gaze snapped back to Storm Bringer.
Sure enough, there was something off about its head.
He focused his eyes, and a cold glint flashed through them.
Embedded in the head of Storm Bringer, just below its armored plating, was something resembling a crystalline glass chamber.
Inside it—a faint shadow stirred.
Though the view was distorted, Mo Chen could clearly tell— It was a person.
No… a Nikke.
The one Noise had mentioned, the Nikke that Storm Bringer had devoured.
Aria.
Aria was an opera singer also belonging to the Prima Donna unit.
Every performance she starred in was met with standing ovations from the audience, making her a legendary figure in the world of opera.
Because of this, Aria, as a specialized Nikke, possessed an unparalleled, extraordinary voice and immense mental power. She could easily influence other Nikkes, and even humans were unable to resist her charm.
Mo Chen had not only used her in the game but had also heard of her reputation within the Ark.
It was unclear when Aria had been corrupted.
The sonic attack Storm Bringer had unleashed earlier was likely her original ability.
However, after being consumed by Storm Bringer, her tone and voice had undergone a drastic transformation. From once being beautiful and resonant, it had become deep and eerie, a clear indication of the unimaginable pain and despair she had suffered.
Mo Chen was a bit surprised. He didn't recall Storm Bringer having any history of devouring or corrupting Nikkes.
He noticed that inside the crystal, Aria's expression showed a hint of struggle, as if she was resisting Storm Bringer's mental control.
It turned out that her resistance was the reason Storm Bringer had momentarily stopped its attacks.
However, if this continued, it would only be a matter of time before Aria was completely devoured. By then, no one would be able to stop the Rapture.
Anis, standing nearby, glanced at Noise gripping Mo Chen's hand and felt a twinge of jealousy.
Who was she? Coming in like this all of a sudden…
Neon also leaned over and whispered to Anis, "Who is she?"
Anis replied irritably, "How would I know?"
Meanwhile, Rapi stepped forward, casually passing between them and cutting off their contact as if unintentionally.
"Commander, the situation is critical. I recommend taking immediate action."
However, something strange was happening. Storm Bringer wasn't attacking them. Instead, it was simply staring—directly at their group.
Or more precisely, at Mo Chen.
Even Anis was starting to feel creeped out by its gaze. Forgetting her jealousy, she nudged Mo Chen with her elbow.
"Commander, maybe you should… sacrifice your looks a little?"
Mo Chen: "..."
Just then, with almost no warning, Aria, trapped inside the crystal, suddenly lifted her head.
Her pitch-black eyes snapped open as she let out a high-pitched cry.
The sound was like the emptiness of deep space, like the abyss of hell, like the wailing of ten thousand ghosts, or the horrifying lament of tortured souls. For a moment, it felt as though they had been cast into a pit of despair, shackled and awaiting execution under the cold edge of death's scythe.
An overwhelming agony surged through them once again.
It was like being pierced by countless needles.
The Nikkes clutched their heads, shaking in pain, letting out gut-wrenching screams as their faces turned deathly pale.
Some Nikkes were writhing in pain on the ground, while others simply rolled their eyes back and lost consciousness.
Anis and Neon were no exception, suffering immensely, clinging tightly to Mo Chen just to alleviate the pain slightly.
Rapi was in slightly better condition, barely able to stay on her feet.
Only Marian remained completely unaffected. Seeing the entire Counter Squad in agony, she was startled, anxiously pacing around, wanting to help but unsure of what to do.
Mo Chen was taken aback.
He quickly realized the reason.
Both he and Marian had the Punishing Virus, rendering mental attacks ineffective against them.
Just then, a melodious and captivating voice suddenly rang out.
The singing was as clear as a flowing stream, like a single drop of water rippling across a tranquil lake. It soared like a bird, light and agile, yet carried the vastness of the ocean, deep and boundless, exuding an inexplicable sense of power.
Mo Chen turned around sharply, only to find that it was Noise.
She was the one singing.
Like a phoenix reborn in flames, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.
That otherworldly presence, standing amidst the devastated battlefield, seemed completely out of place—like a lotus rising unstained from the mud.
Her soothing, beautiful song clashed against the eerie and terrifying wail, gradually dissipating the corrupting aura. The soul-crushing mental pressure cracked like fractured glass.
Finally, that ghastly voice shattered under the pristine melody, slowly fading away, melting into filthy sludge like snow under the blazing sun.
Storm Bringer's massive body trembled violently, as rigid as stone. With a sharp cracking sound, fractures spread across the crystal that had engulfed the Nikke.
The dreadful wailing was abruptly cut off, like a duck having its throat strangled.
"Cough… cough, cough, cough…"
Noise staggered backward, clutching her chest, coughing violently. Her delicate face had turned deathly pale, drained of all color, as if she had stayed up for days without rest.
She had actually managed to withstand Storm Bringer's mental assault.
Mo Chen immediately stepped forward, concerned about her condition, while also feeling surprised—Noise had endured Storm Bringer's most powerful ability.
"I'm fine," Noise shook her head, wiping away the blood trickling from the corner of her lips. She had suffered internal injuries from the soundwave earlier. "Commander, I'll handle her sonic attacks."
Mo Chen quickly held her shoulders, steadying her trembling body.
"Don't push yourself. You're hurt. Let me take care of this."
Noise, however, let herself fall into his embrace, weakly shaking her head.
"No… I'm the only one who can counter her here. But… her singing is stronger than mine. Her mental power surpasses mine. I'm afraid… I won't last long."