Honkai Beasts—formed from animals infected and mutated by Honkai energy. The large ones can be as tall as a building, while the smaller ones are at least five meters high. Compared to them, Honkai Zombies are pathetically weak, unless they are high-level ones. But high-level Honkai Zombies aren't a dime a dozen; how could they be so easy to encounter? Low-level Honkai Zombies, on the other hand, really were a dime a dozen.
Of course, Honkai Beasts aren't just big. The Honkai energy within them could put an ordinary low-level Honkai Zombie to shame. If the Honkai energy in a Honkai Zombie was like a small cup of water, then a Honkai Beast was like a full kettle.
As the saying goes, men die for wealth, and birds die for food.
Ever since Li Xuan equipped the Rifled Flintlock, he had gone completely Spartan. One Honkai Zombie, BANG!—down in one shot. Two Honkai Zombies, BANG!—down in one shot. Three Honkai Zombies, BANG!—still down in one shot. So, Li Xuan had a pretty satisfying morning collecting Crystals. With his hormones running a little high, Li Xuan started to get ideas about Honkai Beasts.
'The Honkai energy from one Honkai Beast should be enough for me to summon again, right?'
Full of anticipation for new equipment, Li Xuan decided to go take down a Honkai Beast and see how many Crystals he could get. Best case scenario: "One big score to last for three years." Whether it was the favor or abandonment of Lady Luck, an hour after having the idea, he found what he was looking for: a small, five-meter-tall Honkai Beast.
Li Xuan had always found the appearance of Honkai Beasts a bit bizarre. What happened to the promised ferocious appearance, body covered in bone spikes, and spit that could kill? The reality was that it looked like Baymax, round and chubby, with two protrusions on its shoulders and its hands on the ground. Setting aside its mouth full of sharp teeth, it was almost a little cute. Alright, apart from that, the Honkai Beast was still absurdly strong. Tearing down a building with its bare hands was like child's play. Right now, Li Xuan was watching it with his own eyes as it ate steel rebar and concrete, which was quite brutal and made his teeth ache for some reason.
But as a certain great man said: Every enemy has a weakness!
After observing the Honkai Beast for half a day, Li Xuan decided that the red, eye-like stone in the middle of its head must be its weak spot. The reasoning was simple: the rest of it was either white or black, but that one spot was red. It's just common sense—if I'm not going to shoot you, who am I going to shoot?!
No sooner said than done. Li Xuan picked up his Rifled Flintlock and planned to charge straight in for a frontal assault. There was no other way. The ground was all concrete, so he couldn't dig a pit or set a trap. With no way to set up an ambush, a direct confrontation was his only option.
'If only I had some landmines.'
Li Xuan knelt in the gap between the buildings next to the Honkai Beast. He raised the Rifled Flintlock, aimed the muzzle at the beast's metal-plated back, and pulled the trigger.
BANG!
A spark flashed from the muzzle. The bullets hit the Honkai Beast's back with a metallic clang, dealing -1 damage.
Li Xuan looked closely. Four small black marks had appeared on the Honkai Beast's shell. Holy crap, I can't even break its defense?! As expected of a monster that grew up eating people and rocks.
'Time to make a strategic retreat!' Without another word, Li Xuan silently picked up his gun and prepared for a swift withdrawal.
"ROAR!!!" the Honkai Beast roared in anger. Although Li Xuan hadn't broken its defense, he had still hurt it. Its seemingly clumsy body turned with surprising agility and chased after Li Xuan. As for the buildings in its way, they were no obstacle for the Honkai Beast—just a single swipe away.
What was a casual act for the Honkai Beast was a matter of life and death for Li Xuan. As it chased him, the houses behind him were constantly being smashed down. Rubble and dust filled the air. The Honkai Beast didn't have to worry about being hit by rocks, but Li Xuan was human. A single large rock could kill him in an instant.
'This isn't working. If I don't take it down, it'll catch up to me sooner or later.' Li Xuan thought, panting. Better to save his strength for a fight than to be caught after running out of stamina.
Li Xuan calmed the fear that was just beginning to rise in his heart. He decisively turned and charged towards the Honkai Beast.
"Yaaaaah!" Li Xuan roared, raising his gun as he rushed the beast. The Honkai Beast seemed surprised by his actions and paused for a moment, unsure how to react. Li Xuan seized the opportunity. He jumped up and pressed the muzzle of his gun against the red stone on the Honkai Beast's head. A spark instantly erupted from the barrel.
The bullet struck the red stone on its head and disappeared. The Honkai Beast's body came to a strange halt. Li Xuan took the chance to leap off it.
BOOM!
The Honkai Beast fell to the ground, stiff as a board. Li Xuan finally let out a breath of relief and collapsed into a sitting position with his back to the beast. That was far too close. The fear and excitement had drained most of his energy. Now that he could relax, he didn't want to move a muscle.
Just as he caught his breath, Li Xuan lowered his head and noticed a massive black shadow covering his body.
He swallowed hard and turned his head. The Honkai Beast was staring at him intently. Its face, which consisted of only a mouth and a single red eye, seemed to hold a mocking expression. Its huge claw immediately swiped down at him. The shadow of death instantly enveloped Li Xuan.
'I'm so dead.' He opened his mouth, but his dry throat couldn't make a sound.
SWISH! THWACK!
An impossibly sharp blade cut through the air, its snow-white edge letting out a soft hum. A slender figure appeared before him. Her long pink hair fluttered in the wind, a red talisman on her neck swayed, and the sword at her waist glinted with a bewitching pink light.
She was a woman as delicate as a cherry blossom, yet her long sword had sliced the Honkai Beast in two.
Li Xuan stared, his mouth agape. He seemed to catch a faint scent of cherry blossoms in the air, a scent he remembered from a trip to Japan, one that was hard to forget.
(End of Chapter)