Nagazora City was quiet in the early morning. For some reason, everyone had noticed that the activity of Honkai Zombies and Honkai Beasts was relatively low before noon. So, seizing the opportunity, they decided to go out early to look for supplies and other things.
Li Xuan walked along the morning streets, his ornate, yellow-decorated Xuanyuan Boots stepping on the rubble-strewn and cracked road. A thick fog enveloped Nagazora City in the morning. The road was covered with dark brown bloodstains and black ash—the last traces left by the Honkai Zombies in this ruined world. Every creature infected by the Honkai, whether it became a Honkai Beast or a Honkai Zombie, would have its body consumed by Honkai energy after its life functions ceased, releasing most of its energy back into the world.
"Yawn~" Behind Li Xuan, Kiana yawned, pulling Mei along. "Why so early? I only had half a breakfast today," Kiana complained, her eyes half-closed.
"And yet, Kiana's 'half a breakfast' was enough for two people," Bronya Zaychik quickly interjected. "To even eat Miss Liv's portion is truly rude." Although Bronya Zaychik spoke in her usual emotionless tone, Kiana could feel a deep sense of disdain.
"Uh, um, I'm really sorry, Liv-chan," even Kiana couldn't bring herself to talk nonsense in front of the gentle and lovely (and prone to going dark) Liv.
"It's alright, Kiana. You can just consider it my gift to you," Liv said with a sunny smile. In fact, she should be thanking Kiana. If she hadn't greedily eaten her breakfast, Master wouldn't have personally fed her. As Liv recalled how Li Xuan had forced a piece of his bread into her mouth that morning, she felt like she was about to suffocate from happiness.
"Liv-chan, you're such a good person! I'll have your back next time~" Kiana patted the daydreaming Liv on the shoulders, giving her a big 'good person card', and in her joy, forgot about the time she was nearly scared to death by a certain maid.
Then, according to Kiana's law, the 'cool-for-less-than-ten-seconds' law...
"Kiana! Look out!" Mei suddenly shouted from the side. In the dark alley behind Kiana, two blood-red eyes suddenly lit up without warning. The next moment, a speed-type Honkai Zombie appeared behind Kiana. Its iron-gray hands had sharp black nails that glinted metallically in the sunlight.
As the concentration of Honkai energy continued to rise, the Honkai Zombies and Honkai Beasts of Nagazora City had begun a rapid evolution that humanity had ceased millions of years ago. This Honkai Zombie was clearly an evolving one, its enhancement being speed. It could now easily outrun the fastest sprinters in the world, and this was not even the limit of their evolution. But this was the miracle of Honkai energy; it possessed the power of both creation and destruction, like a god.
"Oh crap, I'm gonna get bitten," Kiana, who had been completely oblivious to what was behind her, turned around in a panic and came face to face with the leaping Honkai Zombie. At a distance of less than a meter, Kiana could even see the Honkai Zombie's blood-red pupils clearly. Although Kiana wasn't afraid of being infected by a Honkai Zombie—after all, as a member of the Kaslana family, she possessed their most precious heritage, the 'Stigmata'—being bitten by one would still be very painful!
Just then, two bright silver Smoothbore Guns extended from behind Kiana's head and pressed against the Honkai Zombie's head.
When they heard Mei's shout, everyone turned and saw Kiana about to be bitten by the Honkai Zombie. Mei anxiously grabbed the long sword at her waist. The silhouette of Project Bunny 19C materialized in the air behind Bronya Zaychik. Li Xuan had just taken out the 5-star weapon 'Super Electromagnetic Hand Cannon Kai' from his ring, but hadn't had time to raise it yet.
Standing next to Kiana, Liv, dressed in her black and white maid uniform, crouched slightly. She brushed her hands past the hem of her maid dress and, like a magician, produced two Smoothbore Guns. The twin guns passed behind Kiana's head and pressed heavily against the leaping Honkai Zombie. Then, the dark muzzles erupted in two brilliant red flowers.
The Honkai Zombie's head was pierced straight through, and the impact sent it flying through the air.
"It's alright, Kiana. I'll protect you!" Liv turned around, a trace of blood on her fair cheek, and smiled gently. For some reason, it felt inexplicably creepy.
'Why are my eyes always filled with tears?!' Kiana, who had just been boasting about protecting Liv, had been protected by her less than three seconds later. It reminded her of the time she was saved by Li Xuan.
Are this master-servant pair professional face-slappers?! Kiana's face burned with embarrassment, her feelings complicated.
"Alright, alright. Let's keep moving. Kiana, be more careful and don't get distracted again," Li Xuan summarized.
"Yes..." Kiana said dejectedly.
Not far from Li Xuan's group, the void suddenly rippled gently. A bottle of blue water appeared out of thin air and fell to the ground.
The bottle cap opened on its own, and the clear water inside slowly condensed into a young girl.
The girl rubbed her head, seeming a little dizzy. Then, she opened her eyes and looked ahead.
"Where is this..." The girl looked up and saw towering buildings that resembled a concrete jungle, a look of bewilderment on her face. In the distance, one or two beast-like roars could be heard. The ground was covered with dark brown bloodstains and thick layers of ash. Compared to the girl's original world, this place was utterly eerie.
"Why did I end up in such a creepy place!" the girl in the bottle wondered, then, thinking of a certain young man's face, her cheeks puffed out in anger. "It's all that idiot's fault for not buying me a ring that this happened," she complained.
Mhm, anyway, it's all Yuu's fault!
Gurgle—a strange sound came from behind the girl in the bottle.
Eh?! What was that?! It's not a Monster, is it?! The girl shivered. Her tiny body couldn't handle a Monster! She stiffly turned her head.
"Waah! What is this weird thing! Don't come any closer!" The moment the girl in the bottle turned around, she saw a creature with a human-like form but iron-gray skin and blood-red eyes staring at her. What kind of Monster is this?! I've never seen one before!
"Grrr, argh!" The creature suddenly opened its foul-smelling mouth and lunged at the girl in the bottle.
"Eeeek~~~~" The girl in the bottle, Melk, hugged her head and executed a 'crouch and cover' maneuver. She closed her eyes and let out a terrified shriek.
(End of chapter)