Nikke, something’s seriously wrong with this evacuation point! Chapter 9 9: Liliweiss’s Power Test

An unnad top-secret research facility. Underground Level 13. The "Cerberus" sealed testing ground.

Cerberus, an oddly fitting na. This place was originally used to test the firepower of anti-Rapture tank cannons. The walls were layered with half a ter of alloy and soundproofing materials. Under normal circumstances, the personnel would only observe data from instrunts, not… this.

The ground trembled violently again.

Even the surface of the coffee on the desk rippled in steady waves.

By the main console, the researchers couldn't hide their tension.

"Isn't this way too much? Is this really sothing human technology can achieve?"

Below the massive one-way observation glass, there was barely anything left intact in the testing field.

Materials designed to simulate Rapture armor, even top-tier composites that armor-piercing rounds could barely scratch, had been torn apart like scrap paper.

Literally torn.

At the center of the field stood a slender figure.

Liliweiss.

If one ignored everything around her, she looked more like a celebrity who had just changed clothes and was about to go to a yoga session. She hadn't even broken a sweat.

At that mont, she was looking down at her own palm, a trace of confusion in her eyes, as if the one who had just torn apart dozens of tons of tal with bare hands wasn't her.

"Quick, replay it! Slow it down!"

The supervisor's voice trembled.

All eyes were locked onto the main screen. In slow motion, Liliweiss moved with elegance. There was even a faint smile on her face as she casually raised her hand and placed it against a composite armor plate modeled after a "Tyrant"-class Rapture.

No wind-up. No buildup.

Just a flick of her wrist.

Crack.

That single sound nearly stopped everyone's breathing.

On screen, the supposedly indestructible armor twisted like paper. A shockwave erupted from the center of her palm. The once-impenetrable alloy shattered into scattered fragnts, yet that sa shockwave only lifted her hair slightly.

Was the NIKKE Project really… this terrifying?

Before, when they had only seen the data, the supervisor hadn't thought much of it. Just war machines, how strong could they really be?

Now, their perspective had changed.

"What… have we created?"

One researcher muttered under his breath. The room fell silent as everyone watched the idol-like woman slowly turn her head.

Her voice ca through the comms, calm and gentle.

"Um, Supervisor, I've been waiting for a while. The next batch of test materials hasn't arrived yet."

"Ah, well, Ms. Liliweiss, your internal testing phase is complete."

The supervisor forced himself to stay composed.

"Next is live combat testing. The official operation will begin in a week. As for–"

"Ah, that's fine. But about the thing I ntioned before… you rembered it properly, right?"

"Of course, of course."

The supervisor nodded vigorously.

"The companion you designated has already accepted the assignnt. You may return and rest."

"Mm. Thank you."

Whether they liked it or not, Liliweiss was already complete.

That was the result.

With trembling hands, the supervisor cut the communication. At the sa ti, the testing chamber doors slowly opened. Liliweiss stretched lazily and walked out as if nothing had happened.

"…She's gone?"

Soone finally spoke after a long silence.

"Yes."

Only then did the suffocating tension begin to ease.

"Is she… still human?"

"…That's a NIKKE. Rember it well. From now on, she is only a NIKKE. And… monsters on this level will never appear again."

The supervisor sounded exhausted.

"What do you an by that?"

"If you keep asking, you'll need to sign a few more agreents. Still want to know?"

"…No."

The answer ca with frantic head-shaking.

Liliweiss walked quietly down the corridor.

She recalled the first ti she passed through here, unable to move, sealed inside a life-support pod like livestock awaiting slaughter, slowly being transported to the so-called surgical room.

But now, everything was different.

After enduring pain worse than death, she had finally obtained that "bicycle."

Of course, she knew how the researchers saw her. She had once been human too. If she put herself in their place, she could understand the instinctive fear they felt.

But that didn't matter.

Next, she had sothing she needed to fulfill.

A promise between her and Charon.

Even if it was one she had made silently, all on her own.

Like soone eager to show a new toy to soone important, she wanted to show him her new self.

They had only spent less than thirty minutes together, but to her, those thirty minutes were worth more than the entire past year.

Pilot Liliweiss was dead.

What remained was "NIKKE" Liliweiss.

'I made it out… from that empty little town.'

Now, all she wanted was to tell him that.

But–

Her steps stopped.

What if… he feared her power too?

Just the thought made her chest tighten, to the point where she could barely breathe.

In just a few seconds, sweat soaked through her clothes.

She couldn't keep thinking like this. If she did, she might not even be able to stand.

And then–

Her brain responded.

A cool sensation spread rapidly through her mind. Her fear and tension were instantly suppressed. When she straightened up again, her expression had eased.

"So this is… the power of NIMPH…"

She gently touched her head.

As a NIKKE, her brain was now filled with nanomachines known as NIMPH. Their origin was unknown, and most of their functions remained unclear, but one of them was crucial for combat: suppressing psychological stress responses.

It could instantly calm a NIKKE, preventing emotions from interfering.

And it activated automatically.

Liliweiss clenched her teeth.

"…Even so."

She wasn't satisfied with it, but for now, she had no choice but to accept it.

As long as her feelings remained, this wouldn't beco an obstacle. Instead, it would help her stand beside him.

Just as he had said–

Liliweiss planned to go out and have a proper "talk" with those Raptures.