Chapter 1599: A Rabbit’s Strength
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The darkness enveloping Maria and the Hive Queen’s Daughter dissipated, revealing Maria’s shiny new Undead. It charged the nearest insects, crushing them with its massive legs and razor-sharp scythes while hurling the sturdier Corrupted Zodiacrons, which Maria’s party overwhelmed with relentless attacks.
Concurrently, the fierce battle between Quick Hare and Oxetron raged on. The young Rabbit Zodiacron fought tirelessly, learning from each of her opponent’s moves. Meanwhile, Nyx, Celes, and Alma supported Quick Hare, their attacks weakening Oxetron while they primarily focused on dismantling the swarms of insectoids.
Nyx’s phantom flames noticeably slowed Oxetron, while Celes and Alma combined their magic to encase his legs in ice, weakening his armor and enabling Quick Hare to shatter it with precise strikes.
"NNNGGAAAHHH!"
Yet Oxetron, a seasoned veteran, adapted swiftly. He struck the floor, shattering it and dragging Quick Hare and several insectoids into the resulting chasm.
CRAAASH!
RUMBLE!
From the massive hole he created, hundreds of additional insectoids surged toward the upper floor, distracting Maria and her allies. This gave Oxetron the opportunity to confront Quick Hare alone in isolation.
"Now they won’t disturb us... Without their assistance, you are nothing against me."
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why did you betray your own kind?"
"Stupid child... You don’t understand? This is all orchestrated. We ’Corrupted’ Zodiacrons chose to fight for the winning side. Your kind is mere fodder to them, but we are their soldiers. We are spared, granted prestigious roles, and even allowed to command our former enemies... The power they bestow upon us is magnificent!"
Oxetron laughed as his Aura surged. Psychic Power enveloped his bulky frame, enabling him to move at lightning speed and reach Quick Hare in an instant.
"Do you see now? This is the power of the Hive! In this world, we have only two choices: join them or become their food!"
Oxetron unleashed a barrage of powerful punches. His monstrous, fleshy arm stretched relentlessly, bouncing off walls, ceiling, and floor, pursuing Quick Hare and striking her chest with explosive force.
CRAAASH!
"Ungh?!"
The young Zodiacron was hurled backward, crashing through walls and shattering them before collapsing to the floor. Her armor broke apart, exposing a gaping wound on her chest.
"Do you see the difference between us now? You may have defeated the others with your cunning attacks... I’ll give you credit for that. But ultimately, you are nothing against me."
"I don’t care what you think..."
"Heh, I admire your resolve. You’re different, more decisive and merciless despite being a Rabbit Zodiacron. I have an offer for you."
"What?!"
Quick Hare watched as Oxetron’s hand extended toward her, fleshy tentacles emerging and slowly reaching out.
"Let them use your body as their vessel. At first, it will hurt and itch terribly. You’ll feel like you’re dying. But once the process is complete, you will gain unparalleled strength."
"You must be joking..."
"Joking? No, I’m offering you the second path. You barely qualify. Rejoice, for unlike that society, I recognize your potential, even as a Rabbit."
"..."
Quick Hare eyed the tentacles, her hand inching toward them.
Oxetron smiled, chuckling and nodding.
"Yes, embrace the Hive within you, young one. You will become a perfect soldier for the Hive. Together, we will achieve greatness."
"Fuck you."
BOOOM!
The ground beneath Quick Hare erupted before she could touch the tentacles. A powerful kick propelled her to the ceiling. She kicked it again, gaining greater momentum and speed.
"What...?"
Oxetron was caught off guard. Quick Hare had been feigning compliance, lulling him into lowering his defenses for a surprise attack.
"You’re right. I’m only good at surprise attacks!"
CRAAASH!
"Gaaaaahhh?!"
Oxetron spewed oil and the blood of the parasitic monsters within him, dozens crushed beneath his metallic body as Quick Hare’s kick slammed him into the floor.
BOOOM!
An explosion of flames and lightning burst from the kick, setting Oxetron’s body ablaze once more. Yet he rose quickly, glaring at Quick Hare as she charged, unleashing another barrage of attacks.
"Foolish child! You will die like all who rejected my offer! You will become nothing but their food!"
"No, I won’t!"
Quick Hare accelerated, channeling her internal energies through her body at a rapid pace. Her senses sharpened acutely, allowing her to dodge attacks with precision. She used Oxetron’s own arms as springboards, kicking them away and blasting them into fragments with each strike.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
She gained even greater momentum. Despite barely keeping up, she continued kicking and bouncing off every surface, reaching her foe and striking with full force.
"GAAAAHHHH!"
Oxetron couldn’t endure the pain. His armor disintegrated, and his body was pummeled from above, below, left, and right. Quick Hare moved so swiftly that he could neither catch nor see her.
All he glimpsed was a faint white and pink blur, appearing and vanishing as his body was torn apart.
"This is impossible! Where...! Ugh! Y-YOUUUU! YOU’RE JUST A DAMN RABBIT!"
Oxetron roared, his Psychic Aura surging as a shockwave struck Quick Hare, cracking her body further.
Yet the girl pressed on, pushing through the psychic energy’s shockwave, even as her body began to crumble.
"Yes, and a rabbit is going to kill you, Oxetron!"
RUMBLE!
Quick Hare’s Aura manifested, her training and level-ups coalescing into a single golden and pink form radiating from her body.
Her fractured body and blazing soul merged, her form glowing briefly as it transformed into a half-rabbit, half-humanoid shape.
"What...?"
She blended the speed of her Zodiac Form with the strength of her humanoid form.
"Hyaaaaaah!"
With a mighty roar, the fearless rabbit pierced Oxetron’s chest, shattering his core into fragments.
CRAAASH!
"Aaaaaggghhhh!"
Oxetron screamed in horror and disbelief as the fearless rabbit he had mocked defeated him against all odds.
"This is...! It can’t be... a rabbit...? A mere... rabbit..."
His body collapsed, disintegrating and then exploding. The aliens using him as a vessel perished alongside him, incinerating completely.
BOOOM!
Quick Hare clung to consciousness, gazing at the explosion with a faint smile.
It felt good.
It felt truly exhilarating.
To fight, to kill.
To deliver justice with her own hands.
"I’m going to die..."
Yet as she tried to stand, her arms crumbled into pieces, and her legs gave way. Her body had sustained immense damage.
Worse still, hundreds of insectoids rushed toward her with furious screeches, intent on avenging their soldier and devouring her piece by piece.
"Drakogon... you won’t get away with this..."
As darkness overtook her consciousness, Quick Hare glimpsed Maria’s figure descending toward her.
"Well done, Quick Hare. You make me proud."
Then a warm light enveloped her entire body, healing her grievous injuries as she drifted into sleep amid the relentless explosions and screeches of the beasts around her.
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