The Helpless Roar

"Let's see what I got..." Han Jiang muttered as he lay down on the collapsed bedding.

After the system update, Han Jiang had not yet thoroughly examined everything.

To bring out his own abilities, the Domain Gear had evolved into [Scarlet Sakura]. However, the data for [Hundred Refinements] was still stored in the system and could be used if needed.

As for Favorability, Theresa and the other two had increased rather quickly, perhaps because they had fought Hiyori together.

As for the Yae Sakura sisters, judging by their Favorability, they seemed to regard him as their savior.

The skills section had become selectable independently.

At the moment, he could only see Yae Sakura's Blade Return. He would have to slowly figure out how to learn everyone else's skills.

What interested Han Jiang most was the good side formed from Hiyori's energy after her death.

The ball of energy rested quietly in the system inventory. When he tapped it, a line of text appeared.

"Special energy required for incubation. Incubate now?"

If Han Jiang had guessed correctly, this good side should be Hiyori, a talking accessory.

Rin's remnant soul occupied a slot of its own and was absorbing the Honkai Energy within Han Jiang's body.

But it absorbed very little—an amount Han Jiang could replenish with one deep breath.

"Right!"

Han Jiang slapped his forehead. Didn't he still have 300 Crystals? Perfect for one supply pull.

No sooner said than done. Han Jiang eagerly climbed up, ran to the bathroom to wash his hands, prayed to every god and Buddha he could think of for quite a while, then pressed the Supply button.

The system panel emitted a blinding golden glow. Han Jiang could not see what he had gotten, but judging by that spectacle, it should not be too bad.

"Stigmata, Stigmata, please let it be a Stigmata." Han Jiang clasped his hands and prayed without pause.

At this stage, only Stigmata could give Han Jiang a noticeable increase in combat power.

The golden light began to fade. Han Jiang covered his eyes, too afraid to look, and could only judge when the item appeared from the light slipping through his fingers.

When only a trace of light remained, Han Jiang gritted his teeth and prepared to reveal the answer.

"Ding: Congratulations, you have obtained one cup of pretty-girl-flavored instant noodles."

"I..."

Upon hearing the system notification, Han Jiang nearly passed out. What the hell was this?

Instant noodles were glowing gold? Couldn't it have given him something normal? Even an upgraded weapon would have been fine! He would not have complained!

The instant noodles dropped into Han Jiang's arms with a plop, and he immediately lost all interest.

"Ah!"

The sealed room was instantly filled with Han Jiang's helpless roar.

"Consuming the instant noodles restores 5% Honkai Energy. If consumed by Kiana Kaslana, it will increase Favorability by 5 points."

Han Jiang glanced at Kiana's Favorability. Well, only 5 more points until it reached 60.

Those were the only functions added in this update. The most useful one, the Supply pull, had given him instant noodles. He had no idea how he would get Crystals in the future.

The next morning, Kiana opened the door and let Han Jiang out.

Starting today, the four of them would form a team to eliminate groups of Deadwalkers.

"What happened to you yesterday? Did you have another episode?" Kiana asked bluntly.

Himeko held her forehead. "When I heard you scream, I thought something had happened. But then there was no more noise from your room, so I didn't come over."

Han Jiang said listlessly, "Nothing. I just wanted to vent."

The new training map had been updated. Compared with the first phase, its range had expanded severalfold, and it now marked several locations where large groups of Honkai Beasts and Deadwalkers gathered.

Because the area had expanded, every squad was assigned an off-road vehicle suitable for driving through Changkong City.

During Han Jiang's three days in the Stigmata Space, Himeko had temporarily altered the training plan.

According to St. Freya's statistical reports, small-scale Honkai incidents around the world had become more frequent recently.

Once the students' practical combat training ended, they might be dispatched to assist local combat units in eliminating Honkai.

To help them adapt to high-intensity combat as quickly as possible, Himeko greatly increased the difficulty of the training.

She also stipulated that the team with the highest practical training score would have more opportunities to go out and complete missions in the future.

The second stage of training had expanded from two teams to six. Each team consisted of four people, so Han Jiang was naturally assigned to Kiana's group of three.

"Are we leaving now?" Han Jiang asked, looking at the off-road vehicle beside him with a light cannon mounted on it.

"It's about time. Let's go. Today's target is a group of one hundred and twenty Deadwalkers." Kiana opened the passenger-side door and got in.

Mei nodded, opened the rear door, and said to Han Jiang, "Get in."

Han Jiang pointed at himself. "How about... I drive? I used to know a little."

"That is Bronya's job." Bronya was already seated in the driver's seat.

Looking at the off-road vehicle, which stood more than two meters tall, Han Jiang had imagined Mei driving it, and he had imagined Kiana driving it, but he had never imagined Bronya would be the driver.

Bronya's petite frame could just barely reach the steering wheel. From outside the windshield, only a small patch of hair on top of her head was visible.

One could imagine Bronya's view—she probably could not even see the road.

"Bronya's driving?" Han Jiang was full of question marks.

"Stop dawdling! What if the Deadwalker group moves and we can't find it? Get in already!" Kiana stuck her head out of the window and shouted at Han Jiang.

Seeing that Mei and Kiana were already seated, Han Jiang thought that since both of them clearly trusted Bronya's driving skills—

Even without seeing the road, Bronya could probably drive well.

After getting into the back seat, Bronya started the vehicle.

"Sit tight. We're leaving!" Bronya warned them.

"Oka—!" Before Han Jiang could finish the first word, the vehicle shot forward. He was instantly thrown flat against the back seat, staring ahead in utter confusion.

"Han Jiang, sit more firmly. Bronya drives... very fast." Mei chuckled softly from beside him.

Han Jiang had thought he would be fine in the back seat, but after seeing Mei follow suit and fasten her seatbelt, he did the same and stopped moving around.

Bronya was not merely fast; more importantly, she did not take normal routes.

"Bronya, there's a huge rock ahead!"

Before he could finish, the vehicle had already driven over it.

"Bronya, there's a big tree blocking the road ahead!"

They passed it.

"Bronya, there's no road ahead!"

Bronya turned the steering wheel and charged into an alley.

"..."

"Han Jiang, why are you as jumpy as Mei?" Kiana complained from the front seat.

"Look at Mei. She was so nervous yesterday, but today she's completely fine." As she spoke, Kiana turned back toward Mei. "Right, Mei?"

Mei tightly gripped her seatbelt with both hands, forced out a smile, and nodded.

"This drive took 9 minutes and 56 seconds, 3 minutes and 33 seconds slower than scheduled. Bronya will arrive on time next time." Bronya came to a sudden stop.

Mei and Han Jiang in the back seat were both drenched in sweat, while Kiana clamored that it was not exciting enough and that it would have been better if they had gone even faster.

"This car is tough. Otherwise, the four of us would have died from Bronya's driving before any Honkai Beast got us," Han Jiang muttered quietly.

Mei heard Han Jiang's muttering and gave him an approving look.

When Welt fought, he could turn into planes and cannons. Bronya turned into a motorcycle.

Han Jiang understood it now. Motorcycles were far more thrilling to ride than ordinary cars.