Chapter 09
Encounter with a Honkai Beast
“Mhm! Little Elysia is the best~”
After finishing the adjustments to her equipment and staying one more night at the hotel, Xiling set off with Elysia, who had been insisting on exploring somewhere new. Together, they continued their journey across the vast land.
They crossed rolling hills and passed through city after city. Little by little, Elysia grew during their travels—until she had even become taller than Xiling.
“Ah Ling, hurry! We’re almost at the city~!”
“Huff… huff… You little troublemaker, Elysia. Bullying me because I can’t run as fast again, aren’t you?”
Panting heavily, Xiling reached out and lightly pinched Elysia’s arm.
“Hehe, don’t be mad~ Look, the city’s right up ahead!”
Following the direction Elysia pointed, Xiling frowned.
“Hm? Wait… those white things don’t look right…”
She pulled a pair of binoculars from her backpack.
The moment she looked through them, several enormous Honkai Beasts came into view.
“…Tch. Just as I feared.”
“What’s wrong, Ah Ling? You don’t look so good.”
“Something’s happened in the city. We need to—Watch out!”
Without hesitation, Xiling shoved Elysia aside.
A gigantic Chariot-class Honkai Beast crashed down exactly where they had been standing a split second earlier.
“How did it find us from so far away?”
Before Xiling could figure out what was happening, an arrow whizzed past her ear, narrowly missing her before piercing the head of an Assault-class Honkai Beast charging up from behind.
“The number of Honkai Beasts is increasing… Elysia, let’s get into the city first!”
Drawing the modified nail gun hanging at her waist, Xiling fired several nails with fireworks attached directly into the Chariot-class Beast’s head. While it was stunned by the impact, she grabbed Elysia’s hand and sprinted toward the city.
“Tch… there are more and more of them.”
Just as the Honkai Beasts were about to surround them, Xiling pulled out two rocket booster units and locked them into the slots on her exoskeleton.
“Elysia, hold on tight!”
The instant the beasts lunged at them, Xiling ignited the boosters.
The tremendous thrust launched them high into the air before they crashed straight through the window of an apartment building.
“…Ugh… that hurts…”
Although she hadn’t struck anything sharp, the violent impact left Xiling pale with pain—especially with Elysia landing right on top of her.
“Mmm… Ah! Ah Ling, are you okay?”
Rubbing her head, Elysia slowly sat up. Realizing she was lying on top of Xiling, she quickly scrambled off her.
“I… I’m fine… hss…”
Staggering unsteadily to the sofa, Xiling collapsed onto it. The intense pain made cold sweat bead across her forehead.
“…Looks like I won’t be able to move for a while.”
Fortunately, the apartment’s owner hadn’t been home when the Honkai outbreak occurred. Otherwise, whether it had been an ordinary survivor or someone who had already turned into a zombie-like Honkai undead, it would have been another troublesome situation for Xiling.
“Ah Ling, unbutton your clothes. Let me check your injuries, okay?”
Seeing the concern in Elysia’s eyes, Xiling hesitated for a moment before nodding.
“I’m in this condition… Surely Elysia won’t be thinking about teasing me at a time like this…”
Just as she had expected, Elysia showed none of her usual flirtatious behavior. Instead, she carefully and earnestly examined Xiling’s injuries.
“Ah Ling, don’t put yourself underneath me next time. Your back’s been cut open…”
Gently, Elysia brushed her fingers over the cuts on Xiling’s back left by shattered glass and the bruises caused by the collision. Her face was filled with worry and heartache.
