Shu and Kiana heard a roar again. They were too familiar with that sound! It was that same Chariot-class Honkai beast that had chased them around earlier.
It's really like a persistent ghost! Even those stalkers don't have that kind of determination!!
Although he was cursing internally, Shu couldn't help but feel a sense of retreat.
Everyone was outside, in a location that could be seen at a glance. As soon as the Honkai beast appeared, their only option was to run. The wide open area would be perfect for that Honkai beast to let loose, and it was a question if the pickup truck, which was fully loaded, could outrun it!
And if that attracted a swarm of Seraph-class Honkai beasts from the sky... then they would truly be in an inescapable situation.
Even if Otto was fast and had already floored the gas pedal, they were at least 800 meters away. What about them? They hadn't even gotten into the truck!
If they retreated now, there would still be time.
"Kiana, why don't we…" But before Shu could finish, Kiana shook her head resolutely.
"Shu, you go." Kiana said in the darkness, her eyes sparkling with a bright light. "I have to go find Mei! She's here..."
Shu hesitated. He frowned and tried to stop Kiana. "Kiana, let's retreat first. Since Mei is here, then we shouldn't attract this danger here. If we go outside now and lead the Honkai beast away, then we can come back…"
That was a lie, or maybe it was true.
Shu's main goal was not to lure the Honkai Beast away to make this place safe. This place was too close to the Nagazora Bridge. Who knows when they'd attract that swarm of Seraph-class Honkai beasts? He wanted to bring Kiana out of here!
As for coming back... that was the best-case scenario. Or rather, that was Shu's temporary explanation, a castle built on nothing.
But Shu couldn't care about that now. His only goal was to get Kiana out of here.
Kiana was silent for a moment in the darkness, before silently turning back. For some reason, Shu suddenly felt a ridiculous sense of loneliness, as if he had once again fallen into a strange world.
"Shu… I'm sorry." Kiana said softly, "But my intuition is telling me… that Mei needs me right now, and I don't want to put so many people in danger for Mei."
"What do you mean?" The sense of absurdity within Shu was getting stronger. He seemed to understand what Kiana's eyes were saying, but he couldn't be sure.
Kiana looked behind Shu. Shu looked at Kiana's face, he felt that her eyes were the true moon tonight.
"You should go with the others... I'll lure away the Honkai Beast." Kiana took a deep breath and said resolutely.
"With just you?!" Shu's voice suddenly rose. He stepped forward angrily and grabbed Kiana's arm. "What nonsense are you spouting?! That Honkai Beast is just approaching now. Where do you plan to lead it away from here?! Are you planning on racing that monster on the road?!"
"I'm very fast! Don't underestimate me!" Kiana's eyes widened, and her voice grew louder. However, the timid look on her face was clear even in the darkness.
"You're fast?! You were screaming when you were running before! Can you run faster than that Honkai Beast? Even if you can run, can you jump up to the seventh or eight stories of a building?!
"You are not Kiana Kaslana, the Valkyrie from Schicksal in my memories! You're just a 16-year-old girl with slightly better physical abilities! Tell me, what are you planning on using to lure that Honkai Beast away, and still come back alive?!" Shu was angry, and the hand that was gripping Kiana's wrist unconsciously tightened, causing her to feel a slight discomfort.
But Kiana didn't pay attention to it. She also didn't notice Shu's slip-up from his outburst. She turned her head away silently. "But… Mei, and everyone… I don't want to choose, I want to save everyone…"
"Mei definitely needs me right now…" Kiana's eyes suddenly lit up. She looked at Shu, but then her eyes dimmed again.
If only Shu could help me find Mei…
Shu felt dizzy. He blinked, but couldn't see anything. It was like a voice was echoing in his heart.
"You want me to find Mei?" Shu subconsciously said it out loud, and Kiana, shocked, blurted out, "How did you know?!"
Shu: "…"
Kiana: "…"
"So what about you?" Shu asked seriously while quickly calculating the possibility of his plan. "Are you still going to lure away the Honkai Beast?"
"I…" Kiana turned her head, not daring to look him in the eyes.
Let Otto leave with the others, and then he would go look for Mei, and the other person would lure the Honkai beast away. Only that one person who lured the Honkai beast would be in danger…
Kiana had the ability to leave with Mei, and find Otto and the others, but if Shu encountered a Honkai Beast on the road, he would be dead. Even if he was just trying to escape, Shu felt that his chances of surviving were abysmal, let alone trying to distract the Honkai Beast… Wait, distract?
A familiar meme suddenly appeared in Shu's mind: xxx has distracted the enemy for 60 seconds.
No, why am I thinking about those random things?
Shu shook his head, but in the next two seconds, the specific image related to that phrase uncontrollably appeared in his mind, like an earworm that wouldn't go away.
His attention had already shifted. It wasn't something he could correct easily.
"Aaaahhh!!" Shu suddenly started scratching his head, pulling his hair. He looked at Kiana, who was now afraid of him.
"Shu… are you okay?"
"I…" Shu bit his lip. He was about to give up and forcefully drag Kiana away when he had a dangerous idea.
What if… Kiana could try to distract it here? How long could she hold it? If they did that, then he, Kiana, and Mei would all be in danger, but there would be a time difference!
If Kiana could distract the Honkai Beast for 60 seconds, then he would have 60 seconds to complete his other goal!
Although it was urgent, it wasn't impossible!
And he didn't have to do it himself! Wasn't Kallen outside?
If I can't complete it in 60 seconds, then Kallen can!
Is there enough time? Damn it, we've already gone so deep!
Forget it! Shu, unleash your potential!!
"Kiana!" Shu couldn't think of a better and more careful plan. The roar was getting closer. He could only try his luck! "With these buildings around, do you have the confidence to escape?"
"Yes! But…" Kiana confidently answered and then looked puzzled.
"Tell me where Mei is, and then buy me some time!" Shu's eyes were frighteningly serious, filled with killing intent.
But, for some reason, Kiana felt a sense of warmth in her heart.