As the epicenter of the Third Honkai War, Nagazora City had a density and strength of Honkai Zombies and Honkai Beasts far exceeding that of the surrounding cities. This was why Li Xuan and the others were planning to escape; after all, it wasn't just humans who could grow stronger. In an environment rich with Honkai energy, animals infected by it often grew stronger much faster than humans.
As a city-level municipality, Nagazora had many roads leading to the outskirts. But for Li Xuan's group, the closest was one of Nagazora City's bridges—a large, cable-stayed one.
For them, crossing the cable-stayed bridge was far less difficult than navigating the streets and alleys of Nagazora. This was because the Honkai energy outbreak had infected ordinary people almost instantly, turning them into Honkai Zombies. Many didn't even have time to flee. The number of vehicles and people on the bridge was far lower than within the city proper, making it the easiest way to escape.
"Is everyone ready?" Li Xuan asked the Honkai trio after a final check of his weapons.
"Ha! Of course!" Kiana Kaslana exclaimed, waving her dual pistols with a vibrant smile. Li Xuan looked at the often undisciplined and careless girl, who now stood with her hands on her hips, laughing boisterously. He felt a sense of helplessness. He had always found her abilities mysterious; it seemed she could also create weapons by collecting Honkai energy. In particular, the dual pistols in her hands, named 'Mjolnir,' were no less powerful than a five-star weapon.
"Yes, no problem," Raiden Mei said with a smile, holding her katana. Her smile was gentle and beautiful, a pleasant sight to behold.
"Bronya Zaychik self-check complete. System assessment: No malfunctions." Bronya Zaychik, who never let go of her yellow plush doll, spoke with a deadpan expression. Behind her, her weapon and friend, Project Bunny 19C, floated with impossible science. It was a huge, imposing robot with a lance in its left hand and a massive shield in its right. Its lower body was like a chain, coiling around Bronya Zaychik.
Li Xuan remembered the first time he saw Project Bunny 19C; he was absolutely stunned. Its majestic appearance and immense power had elevated its coolness factor to the extreme in his mind. But when he heard its name was 'Bunny,' his whole worldview shattered. Who came up with that name? If you have no talent for naming things, just don't! Even 'Tyrant King of Annihilation' would have sounded better. What the heck was 'Bunny'?! Just like that, Project Bunny 19C's coolness plummeted in his eyes.
"Ahem, alright then. Our goal is to cross this bridge! Let's do our best, everyone!" Under the sun, four fists were raised high in the air.
Li Xuan charged ahead of the group, a Rifled Flintlock in his left hand and a modified Super Electromagnetic Hand Cannon in his right. He immediately opened fire on the Honkai Zombies wandering around the cars on the bridge. After a few days of Kiana's instruction in Gun Kata, his marksmanship had improved enough to hit Honkai Zombies from a distance. He no longer had to engage in the embarrassing act of brawling with them or risk shooting at close range.
The reason he called it embarrassing was that most Honkai Zombies were female. Every time Li Xuan punched them, he would inevitably hit them in the chest. It was incredibly awkward. The soft feeling of repeatedly striking their chests had taken a psychological and physical toll on him. He felt like he lost a piece of his integrity with every punch he threw, unable to stop it from slipping away.
Amidst a hail of bullets, the surging Honkai Zombies fell one after another under the fire of Li Xuan and Kiana. Any that got too close were sliced in two by Mei. As for Bronya Zaychik, she brought up the rear. With a single sweep of Project Bunny 19C's lance, the Honkai Zombies closing in from behind fell like rows of wheat. Those not hit by the lance were smashed to a bloody pulp by the giant shield. Bronya Zaychik watched the gory scene with an indifferent expression, completely unfazed.
By the time Li Xuan and Kiana were nearly out of ammo, the group had finally made it almost all the way across the cable-stayed bridge. They were about to escape the city ruled by Honkai energy.
"Hurry, everyone, we're almost there!" Li Xuan, drenched in sweat, called out to the panting girls behind him.
They had made it past the territory of abandoned vehicles and Honkai Zombies. The exit was just ahead.
But just then, a flash of light crossed the sky. A meteor-like object, wreathed in flames, suddenly fell from above.
"BOOM!" Before their astonished eyes, it crashed down right in front of them. The bridge seemed to cry out in agony as the object gouged a massive crater in it, surrounded by cracks, cutting off their final path.
"What is that...?" Kiana Kaslana asked foolishly, her mouth agape.
But no one answered.
(End of Chapter)