Although it was nearly autumn in Nagazora City, the weather was still a bit hot, so Kiana and Raiden Mei were still comfortable in short sleeves.
But as they faced the horde of massive, crimson-eyed Honkai Beasts behind them, a sudden chill ran through their bodies…
"Bronya initiating scan. Target confirmed… fourteen Chariot-class Honkai Beasts, others yet to be identified… Recommend immediate retreat…" Beads of sweat formed on Bronya Zaychik's fair forehead.
Fourteen Honkai Beasts were not something they could handle. Even Li Xuan, the strongest among them, couldn't face fourteen Honkai Beasts at once. That was a feat only a formally trained A-Rank Valkyrie could accomplish.
Li Xuan was also sweating profusely, staring at the approaching Honkai Beasts, feeling helpless. Although he had killed a good number of them, it was always in one-on-one fights. The best he had ever managed was taking on four at once, and even then, he had nearly crashed and burned…
Now, he had to face fourteen Honkai Beasts… Heavens, this was going to be the death of him…
"There's no other choice… Mei, you take Kiana and Bronya and leave first. I'll hold the Honkai Beasts back to stop their advance. We'll rendezvous at the base after I escape!" Li Xuan decisively proposed to stay behind and fight the Honkai Beasts. If he didn't, it would be dangerous to let Raiden Mei, Kiana, and the others get surrounded by the Honkai Beast pack.
"B-but…" Raiden Mei said worriedly. "Li Xuan-kun, that's too dangerous. Why don't we all stay and help you…" Raiden Mei suggested. Letting them escape while Li Xuan-kun faced the Honkai Beasts alone was too risky, and they couldn't live with that on their conscience.
"It's fine, it's fine… I can get out," Li Xuan said, removing the white eye patch he wore, revealing the golden eye beneath—the Jao Shingan.
"Ah…" Raiden Mei was startled by Li Xuan's action. Just one look at his right eye sent a feeling of fear through her, making her instinctively uncomfortable…
"Your eye?…" Raiden Mei said, confused.
"This is my new ability. Don't worry…" Li Xuan said with a smile, his gaze fixed on the Honkai Beasts that were getting closer and closer.
"Alright then…" Helpless, Raiden Mei had no choice but to agree to Li Xuan's proposal. She prepared to retreat with Bronya Zaychik and Kiana first. With the protection of Bronya's Project Bunny 19C, they wouldn't encounter much danger.
"Come on… my dear Honkai Crystals…" Li Xuan watched as the figures of Raiden Mei and Kiana disappeared around the street corner. He turned to face the dense pack of Honkai Beasts, a wild grin spreading across his lips.
The golden eye seemed to burn with flames, filled with a strong fighting spirit.
"Hah!" His right foot stomped hard on the ground, and Li Xuan shot into the Honkai Beast pack like an arrow. A湛blue shield materialized over his Xuanyuan Festive Garb. He clenched his empty hands into fists, and the emblems on his collar began to glow.
The Honkai Beasts raised their massive claws, slamming them down on Li Xuan as he charged toward them. Li Xuan's charging body came to an abrupt halt, using his own powerful muscles. His leg muscles trembled slightly as he leaped high into the air.
"Boom!" The spot where Li Xuan had been standing was instantly cratered by the claws of several Honkai Beasts… This was the terrifying power the Honkai bestowed upon its beasts; even machines could hardly withstand their physical might.
"Eat this!" Leaping high, while still in mid-air, Li Xuan materialized a rocket launcher in his hand—the five-star Divine Weapon, Tyr's Wrist. He pressed the fire button, and a gray-silver rocket with golden protrusions at its four corners shot out from the launcher, leaving a trail of white smoke.
"BOOM!!!" A rocket from Tyr's Wrist exploded in the midst of the Honkai Beast pack. The blast wave sent several of the weaker Honkai Beasts flying.
"ROAR!! ROAR!" The few Honkai Beasts untouched by the explosion roared angrily at Li Xuan as he landed. A mere human had dared to harm 'gods'…
"ROAR!" An enormous Chariot-class Honkai Beast roared and, unable to contain its rage, charged forward, raising its forelimbs to smash the Li Xuan in its sight.
"BOOM!!" The same old move created another crater in the ground. Li Xuan shifted his feet slightly, and with the aid of his right eye's Jao Shingan, he dodged the Honkai Beast's attack, almost brushing against the whistling claw. The air pressure and flying debris were all nullified by the Xuanyuan Festive Garb. The湛blue shield merely dimmed slightly.
"Roar this, you sister!" Li Xuan watched as the Honkai Beast before him seemed to open its mouth to let out another noisy roar. He felt a surge of irritation; he had never been afraid of a one-on-one fight with a Honkai Beast.
"Get lost!" He clenched his right fist and threw a punch. The blow, carrying the force of a thousand pounds, slammed heavily into the Honkai Beast's head. The impact pushed the beast back two steps.
"Heh, you're pretty tough…" Li Xuan was somewhat surprised that this Honkai Beast, which was much larger than a normal one, had only stumbled back a few steps from his full-powered punch.
"Again!" Although the last punch didn't knock it down, it had dazed the Honkai Beast. Adhering to the principle of 'There's no problem in the world that can't be solved with one punch. If there is… then two!', Li Xuan charged forward again. Seizing the opportunity while the Honkai Beast was still disoriented and before the others could attack, he clenched both fists and aimed for the beast's wide-open chest, striking with both hands simultaneously.
"BOOM!!" The Honkai Beast, unable to react in time, was truly sent flying. It crashed onto the side of the road and couldn't get up for a long time.
"…" The other Honkai Beasts seemed stunned by this and temporarily halted their advance.
"Huu… huu…" Li Xuan stood with his fists clenched, sweating and panting heavily. Although he had sent the Honkai Beast flying, he had also used up a lot of his stamina.
But Mei and Kiana should have gotten away by now… I can just make a clean getaway later, Li Xuan thought. He wasn't panicking at all…
Just then…
"Li Xuan-kun!…" Raiden Mei's voice came from behind him—she who should have been long gone according to the plan.
Li Xuan panicked…