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

"Commander!"

The Nikkes immediately stopped what they were doing and saluted.

Mo Chen scanned the group of Nikkes before him.

Their faces were blackened with soot, their bodies battered and bruised. Some were missing limbs, barely holding themselves upright. Their wounds told the harrowing story of the brutal battle they had endured.

If they were human, they would have died countless times over.

The Nikkes curiously observed the commander standing before them. It was the first time they had seen him step onto the frontline.

"All of you, come here for a moment. I have something to say."

Mo Chen beckoned them over.

The Nikkes exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what this was about, but they followed his orders and gathered around him obediently.

As they stood in confusion, he began to speak.

"You all did an incredible job this time!"

His first sentence left the Nikkes stunned.

"With limited strength, scarce firepower, and outdated weapons, you stood firm, fearless in the face of danger. You held the line against an enemy far more numerous and ruthless."

The Nikkes exchanged uncertain looks.

"You fulfilled your mission. You upheld your promise to protect humanity. You lived out the ideals of safeguarding our home!"

Their eyes were filled with bewilderment. No one had ever spoken to them like this before!

Neither humans nor themselves. They had always seen themselves as mere tools.

Disposable.

"Every one of you here is a hero of this battle."

"It was your unwavering bravery and self-sacrifice that saved the outpost base from certain destruction at the hands of the Raptures."

The Nikkes were dumbfounded, exchanging glances as if trying to confirm if he was really talking about them.

They had never been valued before.

To the public, they were seen as tax burdens, entities funded by their resources. It was taken for granted that Nikkes would fight and die for their sake—no gratitude, no rewards.

"You are not just warriors for reclaiming the surface. You are humanity's future and hope!"

Mo Chen swept his gaze across the identical faces of the Nikkes and raised his voice.

"Maybe someone has told you that you are nothing but products. Numbers. Disposable consumables."

"That your personalities, preferences, and thoughts are insignificant. All you need to do is obey orders."

He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing.

"But I'm here to tell you that every one of you is unique."

His voice carried weight and conviction.

To many, mass-produced Nikkes were seen as failures. Flawed creations inferior to regular Nikkes. Many lacked functioning brains, relying instead on backup data and pre-set programs, akin to robots.

The crossover storyline with NieR: Automata even alluded to this.

They were created purely as tools to combat the Raptures. Once broken, they were replaced. Once their purpose was served, they would be discarded.

Some even suggested that after humanity reclaimed the surface, Nikkes should be dismantled and recycled.

To Mo Chen, such thinking was utterly wrong.

Yes, from a societal perspective, mass-produced Nikkes held lower status compared to regular Nikkes. Their lack of "original" minds and reliance on uniform programming made them seem expendable.

But what most failed to realize was that the moment they were created, these Nikkes began forming their own thoughts.

Any being capable of independent thought was an individual.

Just like the androids in NieR: Automata.

Could artificial beings not feel joy, anger, or sorrow?

Of course, they could.

The Nikkes were gradually drawn in by Mo Chen's words, some becoming entirely engrossed.

No one had ever spoken to them like this before.

There had been commanders at the forward base before him.

But they treated the Nikkes as punching bags, routinely abusing them physically and verbally. Some would even deliberately send them on suicidal missions for their amusement.

Others had gone so far as to fake Nikke death reports, secretly selling them to underground markets where they were dismantled for parts.

While some of these were proven to be rumors, they weren't entirely baseless.

Now, hearing Mo Chen's heartfelt speech, some Nikkes felt a spark ignite within their desolate hearts.

For the first time, their efforts felt acknowledged!

For the first time, their lives felt meaningful!

Someone finally saw their worth!

Some Nikkes couldn't help but tear up, their eyes growing red.

Mo Chen noticed a Nikke wiping away her tears and suddenly understood why, in the original story, Maiden developed feelings for the commander simply because he acknowledged her value.

What seemed abrupt on the surface was, in reality, the culmination of prolonged oppression.

Similarly, not all Nikkes were convinced.

Mo Chen caught sight of disdainful, deeply skeptical gazes among the crowd.

"I know," Mo Chen began in a somber tone. "Many of you probably don't believe me. You might think these are just empty words designed to manipulate you into risking your lives for nothing."

His voice grew firm.

"But as the highest commander of the outpost base, I hereby declare the enactment of a new law: the Universal Human Law."

Universal Human Law?

The Nikkes exchanged puzzled glances, question marks practically visible above their heads.

What was this?

Mo Chen looked around, raised his arm, and spoke with a commanding voice. "From this day forth, every being with thought, whether a Nikke, a mass-produced unit, or an intelligent mechanical organism, will be recognized as an independent individual."

"They will enjoy the same rights as human citizens."

"From now on, any act of harm against a Nikke will be considered equivalent to a crime against a human being and will be punished under the law!"

His tone was resolute, leaving no room for doubt.

Enacting this law wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision for Mo Chen. The forward base needed not just physical reconstruction but a deep transformation of its spirit and culture.

In fact, this idea had taken root in his mind shortly after arriving in this world. It was one of the reasons he had insisted on obtaining supreme authority, including legislative power, when negotiating with Andersen.

The announcement left the gathered Nikkes stunned.

What did he just say?

They struggled to comprehend.

And human citizens? Surely, that had to be a joke.

Some Nikkes were overjoyed, but many others grew even more skeptical. Their expressions were filled with doubt and suspicion.

Was this guy serious?

Could he even be a legitimate commander? Or was he some sort of con artist?

He noticed the skeptical looks and knew that this was not something that could be achieved overnight. It would take time and persistence.

"Action is the only true test of words," he declared confidently. "Watch closely and see what I do."

His speech wasn't meant to change everything in an instant. At best, it planted a seed in the hearts of these mass-produced Nikkes.

For the first time, the hopeless, indifferent expressions in their eyes began to soften. A faint glimmer of hope started to take root.

Mo Chen never expected his words to instantly win their trust or allegiance. He wasn't trying to be a messianic figure or a cult leader.

This was simply the path he had chosen to take.

And he believed that, in time, the seeds he planted today would take root and grow into something far greater.