Inside Nagazora, no Honkai Beasts had broken in from the outskirts; Hua Yi had intercepted every single one of them. For the time being, the only threats within the city were the relatively weak Zombies transformed from the elderly, the weak, and the sick.
Even domestic pets had been taken away during the previous evacuation. Everyone understood that, generally speaking,
Honkai Beasts transformed from animals were far more dangerous than the Zombies transformed from humans. Consequently, no one had any complaints when the Nagazora management redirected a significant portion of their forces specifically to transport animals.
However, a few strays always slipped through the cracks. These were not domestic animals, but wild birds in the sky. One or two had failed to escape in time and were eroded by Honkai Energy, transforming into Archangel-class Honkai Beasts that soared through the heavens.
Compared to the giant Honkai Beasts Hua Yi had been dealing with, an Archangel-class Honkai Beast did not exceed ten meters in size and could be killed by most conventional weapons. Nevertheless, for Kiana and Raiden Mei, it remained a formidable opponent.
On the rooftop of a Nagazora skyscraper, Kiana had just managed to finish a phone call to Hua Yi relying on the weak signal at this height when she was targeted by one of these Archangel-class beasts.
Despite possessing the powerful Artemis' Guardian dual pistols, the Archangel-class Honkai Beast moved far too quickly. It circled the sky relentlessly, causing Kiana immense trouble.
Raiden Mei, who relied on a shinai for close combat, could only watch from the side with clenched fists, completely unable to help. Whenever the beast dove from the sky, Mei had no opportunity to strike.
Its impact was too great, already smashing multiple craters into the building's concrete roof. Attempting to block such force with a body of flesh and blood and a mere bamboo sword would have been pure recklessness.
It took Kiana a full twenty minutes to eliminate the Honkai Beast. It was only thanks to the unique nature of Artemis' Guardian, which fired bullets condensed from Honkai Energy, that she succeeded. Otherwise, she would have run out of ammunition long ago, leaving her to close her eyes and wait for death against the beast's assault.
By the time the beast was destroyed, Kiana was exhausted. Her stamina and Honkai Energy were both spent, and her body was covered in light injuries.
Although Mei and Kiana had dodged all the beast's direct diving attacks, they couldn't entirely avoid the stone fragments sent flying by the impacts. Both girls had small, jagged cuts across their arms and legs.
"Mei, you're hurt."
Seeing the blood on Mei's arm, Kiana quickly moved closer.
"Come here, let me see. For a wound of this level, as long as you let me..."
Hua Yi arrived at the top floor just in time to see Kiana seemingly "up to no good" with his Raiden Mei. He stepped directly between the two girls.
"Let you do what? I just gathered some supplies on my way here. Wounds of this degree can be handled with disinfectant and hemostatic medicine. Leave it to me."
"You guy! What took you so long?!"
Kiana showed no guilt at being interrupted; instead, she immediately began to point an accusing finger at Hua Yi.
Hua Yi found it difficult to argue. If he hadn't stopped to collect medicine, he probably could have arrived ten minutes earlier. Perhaps then he could have helped them fight and prevented them from getting hurt at all.
"It's alright, Kiana. Since everyone is out of danger, that is what matters most," Mei said.
Mei studied Hua Yi, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw no obvious injuries on him. However, her expression shifted when she noticed the Nitrogen Crystal Sword strapped to his back.
This wasn't the first time she had seen the pale blue greatsword. Previously, Mei had watched from the perspective of a bystander as Hua Yi used it to annihilate Honkai Beasts. Those enemies were far larger and more powerful than the Archangel-class beast they had just faced, yet Hua Yi had crushed them with ease.
Hua Yi was strong, and that greatsword was strong that was a fact Mei knew well.
But when she had first seen the Nitrogen Crystal Sword, it looked as if it had just been forged: beautiful, dangerous, and without a single flaw. Now, the sword looked like an "old relic." It appeared as though it had been used for many years, carrying a distinct sense of age and wear.
If Zombies and Honkai Beasts didn't dissipate into nothingness upon death, leaving no blood behind, the sword and Hua Yi himself would likely be drenched in gore right now.
During the time he was gone, what kind of battle had he fought? What kind of enemies had he faced?
Mei pursed her lips, standing in stunned silence.
She suddenly felt a flicker of self-loathing. She hated that she was too weak unable to help Kiana against a single flying beast, and even less able to stand beside Hua Yi as he fought his silent battles.
Kiana also noticed the sword on Hua Yi's back.
"Where did you find this big sword? It looks pretty cool, just a bit old."
"Picked it up. Once I give it a wipe later, it should look a lot better," Hua Yi replied. He didn't bother making up an elaborate excuse, and Kiana didn't press the matter.
"Whatever, let's just find a place to hide. I'm exhausted. Since you found medicine, hurry up and treat my wounds. It hurts a lot!"
The girl excitedly took the lead into the building. They had only stayed on the roof to maintain a clear cell signal and avoid losing contact with Hua Yi. Now that he had arrived, they could find a room inside the tower to rest.
Before Hua Yi arrived, Kiana had been eager to help treat Mei's wounds. After his arrival, she was the one complaining about the pain.
Is she acting spoiled with me?
Looking at the girl walking ahead, Hua Yi couldn't help but smile.
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