MOBA Game Apocalypse-Chapter 217: When Does It Ever End?

"No. That's not going to happen."

"What do you mean that's not going to fucking happen?!"

Carmen's wings flared, the heat they were emitting almost scalding the air around her.

"Stop being a fucking busybody!" She pointed at him. "While a king that fights his own battles is cute and all, you dying has actual fucking risks! Stop being so stubborn!"

"I'm not going to die," Adam said, sighing as he glanced at Beatrice and Harvey. "Let's go."

With those words, Adam started running, leaping from building to building without waiting for anyone else.

"Ah! I fucking knew it!" Carmen pointed at Adam before glaring at Beatrice. "Is that guy always a fucking busybody?"

"Fuck yeah." Harvey smirked, nodding several times. "Haven't you heard one of his cool one-liners yet? My favorite is 'because I can afford it'. And then maybe the second is…"

Harvey's eyes turned serious. "Let's get this over with."

Beatrice just shrugged at this. "Yes. He overworks everyone."

She then took flight, chasing after Adam through the air.

Carmen scoffed and was about to fly after them, but Harvey called out to her.

"What the fuck do you want?!" Carmen almost snarled at him again.

Harvey laughed sheepishly. "Can… you carry me there?"

Carmen glared at him, then rolled her eyes and said with a cheeky expression, "Grab my foot."

***

The chaos inside the main IBAA building felt like standing at the center of an earthquake… and perhaps it was from all the feet moving around. Alarms rang from every direction, their red lights painting the walls in violent strokes. Manager Chase stood rigid before a wall of monitors, each screen displaying different catastrophes unfolding across the globe. Director Gordon walked behind him, his weathered hands clenched into fists.

"I... need to be out there," Gordon muttered, his eyes reflecting the urgent warnings flashing on the displays. Warning icons blinked over dozens of cities—Miami, Chicago, Seattle, all under siege. "This isn't the time to be discussing things! I need to be out there!"

The other department heads shifted uncomfortably in their seats, tablets and phones buzzing with constant updates from field teams.

Gordon's teeth ground together, muscles tensing as he took a step toward the exit. But Chase's hand shot out, gripping his shoulder.

"We need you here more, Gordon," Chase lightly pulled him back.

"I need to fight!" Gordon's fist slammed against the nearest desk, sending coffee cups rattling. "People are going to die out there!"

Chase released a very long. "You can't—you've been unable to fight for years now because of your illness. I'm sorry, Gordon, but… you'll be useless out there."

"That…" Gordon's shoulders sagged, and for a moment, the once veteran warrior looked incredibly aged.

"I'm useless here, too," Gordon whispered.

The other higher-ups exchanged glances, their faces drawn with exhaustion and worry. The Deputy Director rubbed her temples. The regional coordinator loosened his tie, sweat beading on his forehead despite the cold air.

Chase, however, shook his head firmly. "We need you here to organize the Heroes. We've never seen anything like this before."

Chase turned back to the monitors, his reflection ghosting across the screens. In reality, there had never been fewer Leaks in recorded history. When that voice, the Administrator's announcement, had echoed across the planet, most of the older Leaks that had been ignored for months simply vanished.

They were replaced, certainly, but the numbers didn't even reach half the previous count. The problem wasn't quantity anymore—no.

The new Leaks materialized specifically in populated areas. Shopping malls. Schools. Hospitals. Wherever people gathered, reality tore itself open.

"What do you think the Heroes of the other planets would look like?" Chase asked, glancing back at Gordon and the assembled staff.

Gordon's jaw tightened. "Does it matter? We've already faced horrors no one should even face in their lifetime."

"Will they be like us? Will they... hesitate?" The tone of Chase's voice lowered. "Or will they be like us? And attack anything on sight?"

Gordon closed his eyes, remembering the early days when none of them really knew what to do. The collateral damage. The civilians caught in crossfire. "Either way... our priority should always be human lives, Chase."

Chase nodded slowly, then asked in a quieter tone, "Do you remember... in the early inception of the Leaks, when Russia sent a bomb inside a Leak to eradicate all the monsters inside it?"

Gordon and the others squinted, trying to recall those chaotic first years.

"What do you think the chances are..." Chase held his breath. "...that some of them might do something like that to us? And what if their technology is better than ours, Gordon? What then?"

"I... don't know," Gordon whispered.

"We're fucked." Chase glanced at him, then let out a forced laugh. The others looked confused by the sudden shift in his demeanor, but Chase's expression hardened into something grim.

"I do know the chances of us doing the same thing again," Chase said, "The bombs, I mean. I got word from Russia that they've already calibrated their missiles."

Gordon's eyes snapped open, widening in horror. "What?! And what's President Ohana's stance on this?!"

Chase shook his head slowly. "The moron wants to do the same."

"Fuck." Gordon covered his face with both hands, his fingers pressing hard against his temples.

"And... are we?" Gordon asked hesitantly, his words muffled by his palms. "Are we going to do the same?"

"And risk the wrath of the newest S-tier Hero on the planet?" Chase scoffed, turning his attention back to the monitors. One screen showed Adam's last known location, still within that strange dome. "What are the chances of Adam the Endless being chosen as a Champion?"

"It makes sense." Gordon shrugged. "He's the strongest one within the vicinity—Mira was also chosen as a Champion."

"Hm…" Chase sighed.

"This is it, Gordon. This is the test that will once again test our humanity."

***

A few minutes later, they were gathered in front of the transformed Leak. Adam stared at the floating countdown—thirty seconds and ticking downward.

None of them spoke. Even Carmen and Harvey, who had argued nonstop on the way there, remained quiet.

Harvey looked at his companions and finally asked, "Just… us four?"

Beatrice nodded. "Everyone has their hands tied. Mira and Sabrina are dealing with the same thing as us—Survival mode. The rest are on Hunt mode."

Harvey breathed nervously. "This… really is like a game now, huh? So… are we like the plants in Plants vs. Zombies?"

"Heh. You'll be the fucking cactus. So useless," Carmen quickly commented.

Harvey glanced at her in surprise. "You… play Plants vs. Zombies?"

Before Carmen could answer, the countdown reached zero.

"Get ready." Adam breathed. He looked at his empty hand and sighed. He really should be bringing the Shion everywhere. He just found it weird to walk around in public with a sword—it might scare people.

Maybe he should ask Chip to bring it? But then again, he'll be risking his life. And so, the only thing he could do was refocus on the Leak.

"Where's… the enemy?" Carmen asked, peering into the void.

Beatrice relaxed slightly. "I thought this would happen."

"What would?" Harvey squinted.

"That there won't be an enemy immediately. It makes sense. The Leak would have just materialized on their planet—they won't immediately be able to respond to it. Like us, they should still be—"

Before Beatrice could finish, the Leak fluctuated violently, and a figure emerged from it. Well, perhaps not exactly a person.

The alien's eyes were large and bulbous, their forehead almost nonexistent. But other than that, their body seemed human enough. They wore metal armor that gleamed dully in the strange light. Most importantly, they were completely pink and hairless.

Carmen smirked. "Look, baldy. It's your cousin."

"Fuck you. Looks more like my balls."

"Pft. You—"

Her words were cut off as another alien stepped through the portal. And another. And another. After a few more seconds, there were at least thirty of them standing in formation.

"They brought a fucking army or what?" Harvey glared at them. "But… they're not attacking. Are they… friendly?"

"Who fucking cares, let's fuck them up," Carmen said, stepping forward, but Beatrice stopped her.

Beatrice stepped forward cautiously. "Let's not attack carelessly. These aren't monsters anymore."

Beatrice slowly raised her hands, showing her palms. "I know you can't understand us, but maybe you could at least tell we're not aggressive. We—"

Before Beatrice could finish, the pink-skinned humanoids screeched in unison and charged forward.

"Great." Adam sighed and, without holding back, punched the ground with devastating force.

The entire street trembled violently. The asphalt cracked and split, creating a web of fissures that spread outward from the impact.. Even several smaller buildings groaned ominously.

The aliens stopped their charge, clearly startled by the display of raw power.

Adam looked at each of them individually, saying nothing, just glaring with cold intensity.

The aliens stepped back for a moment, seeming to reassess the threat. But after a few seconds… they just screeched again and resumed their rush toward the four defenders.

"Really…?" Adam saw this and sighed deeply.

"When… does it ever end?"