Vortex Gaming

※ This article contains spoilers for the story of Goddess of Victory: NIKKE.

Rapi's starting point isn't the battlefield, but a hospital. Rapi was a young child suffering from an incurable disease, with no family or friends. Empty and without hope, she was simply living on.

The situation worsened. Even the nurse she relied on passed away, and support was cut off. She succeeded in recovering to some extent through clinical trials, but that didn't fill her empty heart. Eventually, she lost her will to live and died after being hit by a stray bullet at a protest.

After that, Rapi is resurrected as a 'mass-produced NIKKE'. NIKKEs inherit personality and knowledge by implanting 'NIMPH', but Rapi, who spent her life in the hospital, had almost no emotions. However, her combat power was outstanding, and she became active in various battlefields.

However, Rapi's path as a mass-produced NIKKE was not good. She was always the one who survived due to her excellent combat power, but the problem was that only Rapi survived. Most of her squad members died, including the NIKKEs who had given their hearts to Rapi. Thus, Rapi became known as the 'Grim Reaper' among other NIKKEs.

Having drifted through several squads 'empty', Rapi encounters a legend in one battlefield who becomes the turning point and goal of her life. From that meeting, Rapi's fate begins to move greatly.

‘Red Hood’ is a member of the first and strongest squad, 'Goddess'. However, due to an incident, she became corrupted and was waiting for her end. Red Hood, who always filled her heart and passionately burned her life, decided to use her last remaining time for the empty Rapi.

Rapi learns a lot while traveling with Red Hood. Red Hood constantly asks Rapi, “Who are you, what do you want?” and Rapi gradually becomes aware of herself in these questions. And finally, Rapi wants to become 'Red Hood' herself, who protects her comrades and moves forward. It becomes the driving force of her life and a heavy shackle at the same time.

Later, the two learn the secrets of the Ark during their journey. There, Rapi and Red Hood are connected in some way, and Rapi brings up the words she had been holding in her heart. She says, 'Red Hood, I want to be you.' Red Hood replies, 'You can't be me,' but Rapi didn't yet understand the true meaning of those words. Rapi realizes the true meaning of this phrase later.

Eventually, Red Hood meets her end by giving everything to Rapi. At that moment, Rapi is no longer an 'empty doll'. She becomes the successor who will continue the path of a hero with the goal of becoming 'Red Hood'.

Rapi, who inherited Red Hood, joins Elysion's strongest squad, 'Absolute'. Rapi's performance was dazzling, as she had inherited combat skills from Red Hood in addition to her already excellent specs. Even the picky elite NIKKE 'Eunhwa' did not spare her praise.

However, a civilian death occurred due to a stray bullet fired by Rapi in an operation. It wasn't intentional, so Rapi wasn't directly responsible, but the thought that flashed through Rapi's mind at that moment wasn't mourning for the deceased, but 'I have to write an accident report, how annoying'. Moreover, Rapi eventually chooses to leave Absolute as she realizes that she has been using her comrades for the purpose of 'becoming Red Hood'.

That's how Rapi ends up traveling with Anis. And here, the main story of NIKKE begins. She meets 'Marian' with the new commander, the protagonist. And she begins to feel 'something' as she sees the commander's attitude towards Marian and NIKKE. Later, Rapi forms the Counters squad with the commander, Anis, and Neon.

Rapi experiences many things in the Counters squad. And in moments of crisis, she activated 'Code: Red Hood', which turns her hair red and dramatically increases her combat power. In fact, this power was not simply a release of the limiter, but an awakening of the Red Hood's consciousness sleeping within Rapi. It was a manifestation of Rapi's will to inherit Red Hood and become Red Hood herself.

However, this power had a major side effect. If she maintains the 'Code: Red Hood' state for too long, the body's control is transferred to Red Hood. Rapi deploys Code: Red Hood to its maximum output to respond to the attack by Nihilister, Indivilia, and Talkative, who attacked the Ark. As a result, Rapi's consciousness disappears, and the body's control is transferred to Red Hood.

Rapi handed over control to Red Hood. At this time, Rapi had given up everything. Red Hood tried to return control of the body to Rapi, but Rapi refused. In the end, she thought that she could not become the same existence as Red Hood, and that it would be better for Red Hood to survive.

But what changed that thought was the bond with Counters. The commander and the members of Counters gave Rapi another meaning to life. Red Hood also noticed this change in Rapi, and this time, she quietly chooses to say goodbye, handing everything over to Rapi.

That's how Rapi broke away from being an empty girl and realized what it means to be 'herself'. She inherited Red Hood's power and will in the true sense, and her combat power and spirit grew to the next level. However, there is still one task left. That is, 'impatience'.

Rapi has grown a lot. But the enemy has become even stronger than that. Powerful enemies like Behemoth appeared, and Rapi was greatly pushed back in battle and disappointed in herself. When even the power inherited from Red Hood didn't work, she eventually fell into despair that there was nothing left for her.

From then on, Rapi becomes obsessed with impatience. The more she tried to make up for her mistakes and prove her qualifications as a successor, the more her composure faded, and the results were not good. Moreover, seeing Grave, a transcendent NIKKE who has continued her mission without being broken by any despair since ancient times, she realizes her limitations even more clearly.

But this time it was different. Rapi didn't collapse by holding it all in alone. She tells the commander and Counters about her problems. Surprisingly, the solution was close by. Rapi begins to come up with answers to 'What did I really want to inherit? What is the real me that I want to be?'

The final battle with Behemoth, which she faced again. At the moment when Counters was cornered and in danger of being corrupted, the last Red Hood's consciousness sleeping inside Rapi protects her. Rapi and Red Hood quietly said goodbye, and Rapi finally realizes the meaning of inheritance.

I will inherit you. Carrying what I inherited from you.
I will go my way. With my precious colleagues.
With the commander. I will become the Goddess of Victory.

Awakened Rapi, this is the 'Rapi: Red Hood' that we know, who is always present in every Solo Raid, and is an ace in any content.

Rapi: Red Hood is walking her own path, inheriting Red Hood, and becoming the ideal that Rapi envisions. At this time, the weapon Rapi uses is a machine gun with a drill, 'Sevens Dwarf Zero'. It was originally a weapon that Red Hood, who was not corrupted, should have held. That's how Rapi inherited Red Hood's will, heart, and even her armament. That's how Rapi truly inherited Red Hood.

Rapi is no longer the empty girl she used to be. She has become a girl who has realized what it means to be herself. From this point on, Rapi's character also changes greatly. Her taciturn personality remains the same, but she doesn't hide her feelings for the commander. The way she checks the NIKKEs who approach the commander is literally 'official pushing of the main wife action' itself.

Those who have just started the game or are less interested in the story may find the somewhat bold directing and lines seen in Rapi's special costume strange. This is the result of Rapi's internal growth. This aspect is also well revealed in the summer event 「BOOM! THE GHOST!」, so if you are interested, we recommend playing it in the archive. If you see the swimsuit costume after understanding Rapi's narrative, you will feel very different.

And the version where this honesty reaches its extreme is the 'Cherish Red' Rapi costume that was distributed this time. There is also a short episode included, and as you watch it, you might think, 'Is it okay to go this far...?' But that must be the path Rapi has chosen...? It's an interesting episode with a length that you can enjoy without any burden, so try playing it once.

Webzine InvenReporter Yang Ye-chan
2025-10-23