"What the hell~" Li Xuan couldn't help but say, staring at the thing in front of him.
Before him was a giant squid. Li Xuan was certain it was a squid because its head was long, unlike the round, egg-shaped head of an octopus. And unlike a calamari, this squid had a boat-shaped, calcareous internal shell.
Hmph, this is easy for a top student like me to identify, Li Xuan thought. Most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference anyway. In any case, this type of creature could generally be barbecued and eaten.
"...According to system analysis, this squid has been infected by Honkai energy," Bronya Zaychik said with her usual deadpan expression.
"Hmph, you think we need you to tell us that, shorty?! A normal squid couldn't possibly grow this big!" Kiana said dismissively. Bronya Zaychik and Kiana locked eyes again, sparks flying between them.
"From a certain perspective, Honkai energy really is omnipotent," Li Xuan remarked, looking at the squid, which was as tall as a two-story building. It would be incredibly difficult for humans to create a squid this large artificially... even with hormones or nuclear radiation, it would be a challenge.
"Wow! A squid this big would make a lot of barbecue," Kiana said, her eyes gleaming as she stared at the giant squid, drooling buckets. But then, thinking of the purplish-red barbecued squid, covered in chili powder and other seasonings, Li Xuan's own mouth began to water uncontrollably.
"Could this be what attracted all the Honkai Zombies?" Mei wondered, looking at the giant squid.
"No, that's only part of the reason," Bronya Zaychik said flatly. "Bronya Zaychik's system calculates... the gathering of Honkai Zombies is related to a special fragrance in the air."
"Speaking of which, I've been smelling something really fragrant for a while now," Li Xuan said, sniffing the air.
"Really? I just smell something strange," Kiana said, puzzled.
"The smell seems to be coming from over there," Li Xuan said, pointing to the other side of the giant squid. He walked around it, and Kiana and the others followed.
"What the hell!" Li Xuan was startled once again. On the other side of the squid were two food carts. In a ghost town like Nagazora City, where humans were as rare as pandas, the sudden appearance of food carts was as likely as seeing a ghost in broad daylight.
"Those look like an ice cream cart and a curry rice cart," Mei said, glancing at the pictures and logos on them.
"Yo~ someone's here!" the ice cream cart suddenly said. "Pathetic. They're obviously here to taste my curry rice! Hmph~" the curry rice cart retorted.
"Stupid rabbit! Nobody's going to eat your disgusting food!" the ice cream cart fired back.
"Dumb dog, your sickeningly sweet food is what no one would want," the curry rice cart countered.
"Stupid rabbit!"
"Dumb dog!"
"Wait! Can you please come out and talk? We can't even see you," Li Xuan interjected, preventing a brutal catfight—or rather, a dog-and-rabbit-fight.
"Since it's a customer's request, I shall grant it," a voice said from the curry rice cart. "Okay, customer, I'm coming out," the ice cream cart replied.
And with that, a tiny, three-inch-tall rabbit-eared girl with a surprisingly large chest hopped out of the curry rice cart. From the ice cream cart emerged a similarly tiny, flat-chested, dog-eared girl (who insisted she was a wolf).
"What are they!!" Li Xuan exclaimed in shock.
"Oh, they're Familiars. They appeared along with the Honkai energy, for reasons unknown. But they usually don't attack humans; they might even help people," Kiana explained.
"So! Which of our dishes would you like to try, customer? *2" the two Familiars asked in unison, pushing each other. Then they both turned to each other and said, "The customer won't eat yours. *2"
So, what exactly is going on here? Li Xuan thought, covering his face.
(End of Chapter)