Arknights, But Terra is Enclosed Chapter 32

And then the story was about staying behind to fight to the death?

But unfortunately, Chen Ran wouldn't be able to see this story unfold—oh, not that it's a pity.

Like the people before them, Amiya and Talulah, standing right in the center of the battlefield, were also frozen in place.

"I don't recall any timelines where time stops, right?"

Chen Ran waited patiently for a while. Seeing that the group was still motionless, as if playing a game of 'Red Light, Green Light', Chen Ran turned his head and looked at Demon King Amiya, who was sitting on his shoulder.

"Little Rabbit," Chen Ran said, "Have you traveled through this timeline before?"

"I don't know," Demon King Amiya shook her head. "The timelines I've traveled through were all dying or already at their end. As for this timeline... I don't know the plot, so I don't know if I've traveled through it."

"Oh, then Little Rabbit, are you interested in going down there to play?"

Demon King Amiya didn't find Chen Ran's question abrupt.

After all, this was what she, as this Demon King Rabbit, used to do: find a timeline, enter it to browse or interfere, and grant that timeline a silent, destructive end.

Therefore, Chen Ran's question, when it reached Demon King Amiya's ears, was equivalent to—

'Little Rabbit, go down there and see what Terra is like in this timeline. Is it worth preserving? If it's still trash, then Little Rabbit, you can help me obliterate this timeline.'

It wasn't that Demon King Amiya was bloodthirsty... Alright, she was indeed bloodthirsty.

So, upon hearing this, Demon King Amiya nodded her little head. "As your Divine Messenger, Lord God, it is my duty to resolve your worries."

"Oh, that's great. I'll get you some small cakes when we get back, okay?"

"Mmm... That, that's not necessary..."

Demon King Amiya instinctively shook her head, wanting to say it wasn't that troublesome, but what came out of her mouth was, "Um, al-although that last small cake was quite delicious..."

"Then I'll order another one for you, Little Rabbit."

"Okay, then... Lord God, I'm going."

Demon King Amiya's small face flushed, seeming a bit embarrassed by her own greediness.

However, as Demon King Amiya gently floated off Chen Ran's shoulder and prepared to dive headfirst into the planet model—

"Ah, wait, wait."

Chen Ran called out to her first.

Then, as Demon King Amiya quickly braked and turned to look at Chen Ran, she saw him reach out and cup her in his palm.

"Lord God...?" Demon King Amiya seemed a bit confused.

"Oh, don't mind it," Chen Ran said, gently holding Demon King Amiya in his palm. "I just want to give the Kal'tsit of this normal timeline a little 'rabbit shock'."

048. Demon King Rabbit: Don't rush, I'll soon pronounce your life and death.

"Doctor..."

"...Hand!"

"Hold...tight!"

"Hold my hand tight!!"

After being pulled out of this Sarcophagus by that little rabbit who called herself Amiya...

What had happened since then?

The Doctor tried hard to recall, but could only come up with the answer of amnesia.

The Doctor knew nothing, understood nothing. After being pushed into commanding several battles like a duck being herded, he inexplicably gained the trust of many people.

Why...

With such confusion, the Doctor, while being dragged around by Amiya, encountered multiple enemies such as Royal Guard, Mephisto, and W.

Although they managed to overcome these difficulties with minor perils,—

"—Quiet."

The enemy named Talulah, with just one encounter, shattered the entire team's defense line.

This was no longer an enemy on the same level.

Could they win?

They were certainly going to die.

The Doctor didn't understand why they had to fight, nor why they had to encounter such things.

But the Doctor only knew that if this continued, that little rabbit Amiya would surely die.

So the Doctor had to find a way, any way possible, to turn the situation around.

But Talulah's flames were already roaring, and a ring on Amiya's hand emitted a glow.

The world was filled with scarlet flames, Amiya's voice echoed in his ears, Was there a more desperate situation than this?

Yes.

Because the world fell silent at that moment.

The instant Amiya and Talulah's Originium Arts collided.

No one knew what happened during that time, until the dark clouds in the sky were torn apart in an instant.

Then, a gale like a natural disaster swept in. Caught unprepared, people were blown off their feet, some even sent hundreds of meters away, never to be seen again.

Under the immense pressure, a high-pitched hum that felt like it would pierce their eardrums rendered everyone incapable of fighting.

When sound finally returned, those who had taken cover and weren't blown away peeked out from behind their shelters, looking left and right, trying to figure out what had just happened.

But the tall buildings had already turned to rubble, the ground vegetation was uprooted, and houses had collapsed, like Lego bricks toppled over.

Yet, strangely, even though their hearing had returned, people still heard no sound.

They wanted to ask, but as soon as they looked up, wherever their gaze landed, they saw a colossal figure, as if holding the entire planet in its palm like a toy. Its eyeballs alone were as large as a moon, and it was quietly observing them.

Clang.

That was the only sound – the sound of weapons falling from people's hands and hitting the ground.

Upon seeing that existence, everyone's mind went blank.

Despite the clear sky, the bright sun shining down, not a single person felt warm.

There was only a bone-chilling cold and a despair that, with just a single silhouette, tore through their psychological defenses.

No one spoke, no one dared to.

They couldn't comprehend, couldn't understand. Simply looking was the greatest act of courage.

Some people's eyes seemed wide open, but they had actually been gone for quite some time.

Even Talulah, known as the Tyrant, stared blankly at the sky, having forgotten the flames she held, which had also been blown away.

"A god..."

That was everyone's first reaction upon seeing that existence.

Not the ethereal God of the Laterano Church, nor those who called themselves gods but were merely some kind of great beasts.

This was a true god.

"Doctor..."

In the normal timeline, Amiya was merely a child of thirteen or fourteen.

Amiya even forgot the pain of unleashing her Demon King power. Instead, she tried to maintain her composure, her hands trembling as she instinctively reached out for the person who brought her a sense of security.

But the Doctor, through the hood of their face covering, was blankly staring at the sky.

"Lumberjack...?"

Despite having lost their memory, the Doctor uttered this word upon seeing that majestic figure.

Though the Doctor soon denied it: "What kind of trash is a Lumberjack? Hah... Hahaha... With an existence like this, what was the point of the Pre-Civilization's efforts over these ten thousand years—"

Was it a joke?

The Doctor wanted to laugh, to burst into laughter.

Their reaction was quite different from the Doctor in the Sea Creature's world-ending timeline.

But soon, the Doctor became confused:

Wait... no?

What is a Lumberjack?

What is the Pre-Civilization?

It was as if the Doctor had fallen back into amnesia. As they clutched their head in pain, Amiya's small, trembling voice brought the Doctor back to their senses.

So the Doctor quickly stepped forward: "I'm here! I'm here, Amiya, don't be scared—"

Wanting to comfort, to console.

But in the next second, they saw that majestic being from beyond the heavens extend its massive hand into the planet.

The speed was so great that in the blink of an eye, with a deafening boom, The hand slammed down in the very center of the battlefield.

Its power was so immense that the ground beneath them trembled.

Some people, whose legs had long gone weak but whose bodies were stiff, all collapsed to the ground.

They wanted to know the meaning behind this palm strike from the descending being.

While many whose minds had already broken were shouting, "The gods are going to destroy humanity!!!"

More people instinctively looked towards the swirling dust in the sky.

Until the wind pressure surged again, instantly dispersing the dust.

People looked closely and saw that the giant palm was spread open on the ground, and on that palm—

"Amiya...?"

The Demon King Rabbit wore a pure white dress and white stockings that closely matched her skin.

Although a black veil obscured her face, making it vaguely discernible, the gust of wind had lifted it and then let it fall.

Though this process might have only lasted a few seconds, many people still recognized her.

As a result, whether they knew her or not, almost everyone instinctively turned their heads to look at Amiya, that little rabbit.

But Amiya was completely stunned. "Huh...? Is, is that me?"

What, what's going on?!

However, the one who felt it most deeply was the Doctor behind her.

The Doctor had rushed over to comfort and calm Amiya upon hearing her small, trembling voice.

But now, the Doctor looked at the Demon King Rabbit, then at Amiya, then back at the Demon King Rabbit.

The Doctor's expression grew increasingly subtle.

This little rabbit of yours looks so well-behaved, so cute, and harmless. Turns out you're the final big boss, huh?!

"N-no! That's not me..."

After coming to her senses, Amiya desperately wanted to say this, but her voice grew smaller and smaller.

Because it wasn't just her; many people had realized it.

Beneath the Demon King Rabbit's black veil were eyes as cold as if devoid of any emotion.

The Demon King Rabbit gently floated up from Chen Ran's palm, ignoring the surrounding crowd as if they were nothing.

Although the Demon King Rabbit glanced at Amiya, it was only a single glance.

Until someone accidentally made a sound, and the Demon King Rabbit lightly lifted a fingertip.