246. An Unexpected Surprise
"Yuna, try sensing if there are any survivors around," Yun Ling instructed Yuna.
"Okay!" Yuna held her breath and focused her senses on the surrounding vegetation.
Since the area had been ravaged by the Honkai energy, there were hardly any people around, and the overgrown weeds provided Yuna with the perfect place to use her senses on plants.
All the vegetation could become Yuna's eyes; unless someone was intentionally concealing their presence, they could usually be detected.
Yuna carefully sensed everything around her. She could sense Rita quietly observing the two of them not far away, and further away, assassins and Honkai beasts were roaming around.
The situation within a radius of several kilometers was all within her sight. After a long while, Yuna shook her head in frustration.
No survivors were found.
"It's alright, let's move forward a bit and clear out the assassins and Honkai beasts around here," Yun Ling reassured her.
Yuna, of course, didn't object and followed Yun Ling forward.
The two continued deeper into the area, clearing away the surrounding zombies and Honkai Beasts.
Gradually, the surrounding landscape became familiar.
"Have we arrived here already?" Yun Ling looked at the dwelling before them, the place where they had lived before the Honkai outbreak.
Although it didn't appear to have collapsed, the surrounding area was already overgrown with thorns, and the walls had many cracks.
"Yun Ling, there's a strong Honkai energy reaction ahead. Should we go?" Yuna asked.
"This isn't far from the epicenter of the Honkai Impact outbreak, so it's normal for powerful Honkai Beasts to spawn here... Okay, I don't mean to blame you. You were just trying to protect yourself in that situation, weren't you?"
Yun Ling noticed Yuna's low spirits and tried to comfort her.
"Mm..." Yuna nodded.
Yun Ling took her hand, offering her a sense of security.
Even though she was his little follower, he still needed to help her calm down.
But it was clear that this method of calming her down was a bit too extreme; at least Yuna's emotions were currently too high.
"Let's go, let's clean up a bit." Yun Ling pulled Yuna forward.
Even from a distance, they could see an Emperor-class Honkai Beast.
But… this Emperor-class Honkai Beast seemed to be fighting someone?
"Yuna, can you sense what's going on over there?"
"There was… a very fast black shadow, and it disappeared!" Yuna was somewhat surprised; the speed was so fast it was impossible to discern.
Moreover, its aura was extremely well concealed; even in battle, its aura hadn't become disordered.
From a distance, the Emperor-class Honkai Beast's body lay on the ground, dead.
"A black shadow? Regardless, let's go check it out." Yun Ling already had a pretty good idea of who that person might be.
Upon arriving at the scene, they found that the Emperor-class Honkai Beast had just breathed its last. Its body was covered in countless wounds; it was hard to imagine what it had suffered.
Yun Ling keenly noticed a black raven feather left not far away.
Sure enough… it was Raven? Was she here too?
Then had she already established a 'nest' here to shelter those children?
Unfortunately, besides Raven's feather and the marks on the Emperor-class Honkai Beast, there was nothing else.
Suddenly, a raven feather grazed Yun Ling's face, and Yun Ling slightly turned his head to dodge.
"Oh? Not bad, not bad." Raven emerged from the shadows.
"You haven't left yet?" Yun Ling asked, somewhat surprised.
"I sensed someone observing me just now, but I couldn't detect any human presence. It was you, wasn't it?"
Raven's figure was obscured by a black hood, making it impossible to see her true appearance.
Yun Ling actually wanted to ask if she could see people clearly like that, but he didn't have the chance.
Because before Yun Ling could speak, Rita walked gracefully over from a short distance away.
"You must be the legendary mercenary, Miss Raven? Nice to meet you."
Rita gave a slight bow, a hint of danger flashing in her alluring eyes.
Hearing Rita's voice, Raven tensed slightly, but feigned indifference.
"A Schicksal S-rank Valkyrie... what bad luck." Raven eyed Rita warily.
As a mercenary, she naturally possessed her own intelligence network.
She wasn't confident she could confront Rita now, especially with the 'Nest's' hideout nearby...
Disliking Schicksal, she wasn't willing to hand these children over; they might end up on the operating table the next day.
Having made up her mind, Raven immediately decided against further provocation and instead tried to lure Rita away.
"What, trying to capture me for the bounty?" Raven spoke with a hint of provocation.
"After all, you're a Schicksal fugitive, having killed a researcher from our Saint 7308 Research Institute. As a member of Schicksal, it wouldn't be right not to take some action."
Rita's eyes were half-closed, the giant scythe in her hand exuding an unspeakable sense of oppression.
"Tch." Raven scoffed dismissively.
It launched an attack on Yun Ling and Yuna first, but Rita stepped in front of them to block.
Failed to land its first blow, Raven immediately darted away.
"Sorry, Rita needs to leave for a while, but I believe Mr. Yun Ling and Ms. Yuna are both strong enough that they should be fine," Rita said to the two.
"Okay, Ms. Rita, be careful," Yun Ling waved and cautioned.
Rita nodded and immediately chased after Raven.
"Let's go, Yuna," Yun Ling called to Yuna.
"Yes!" Yuna immediately followed.
The two continued searching for survivors nearby, and before they knew it, they arrived at Chiba Academy.
Chiba Academy was in ruins, with only assassins wandering around.
They didn't come here to reminisce; after all, there was nothing worth remembering here for either of them.
Yuna sensed subtle life fluctuations here and worried that there might be survivors.
"In the direction of the gymnasium?"
Now, not only Yuna, but Yun Ling sensed it too.
Moreover, it was less a life fluctuation and more a surge of Honkai energy.
Could it be that some powerful Honkai beast is spawning here?
Yun Ling quickly eliminated the surrounding assassins and then headed towards the gymnasium.
Suddenly, a flash of light appeared, striking the two of them with lightning speed.
"Yun Ling, watch out!" Yuna immediately manipulated her vines to block the person.
However, after the strike, the figure collapsed limply to the ground.
Her body convulsed uncontrollably, her beautiful brows furrowed tightly, and an ominous black aura surrounded her.
"Yuna, don't hurt her."
Just as Yuna was about to tie her up, Yun Ling stopped her.
Because he recognized the person in front of him.
That pink hair, those signature donkey ears...
Yae Sakura!
...