Collapse, Kiana's Cross-Dressing Strategy

Scattered around the mechs were many Honkai Beasts, clearly indicating a planned "mantis stalks cicada" scenario.

"Judging by the wreckage, they're Titan-class... Cocolia?"

Bai Yan froze.

Wasn't it World Serpent?

However, from a mech's loudspeaker, Jackal's voice emerged.

"I never expected the Herrscher of Thunder to deliver herself right to our doorstep. But I regret to inform you, you aren't our true target.

"Lay down your weapons and surrender obediently, or we can't guarantee the safety of you and your companions.

"On a side note, it seems Schicksal's intelligence is lacking."

Jackal's tone was extremely smug, as if she had outmaneuvered half of Schicksal's Bishop.

Following that, Kiana yelled, "Don't get cocky, I'll beat you to death sooner or later!"

"Heh heh."

Bai Yan, hugging the wall, listened for a moment before turning to Bronya. "Where's the explosives?"

Bronya blinked. "Got 'em."

"Set the gas station to detonate on a timer to draw their attention. I'll sneak attack the command unit."

Bronya nodded.

The two split up. Bai Yan held a Schicksal God's Throne series pistol, with a specially made short sword sheathed at his waist.

Taking advantage of the night's cover, Bai Yan slowly approached, seeking cover as he went.

Reaching the area behind the mechs, he turned and ducked into the roadside greenery, carefully observing the mechs not far away.

"They are Titans, indeed. Definitely Anti-Entropy models, but why Jackal again?"

Cocolia's desire for power was such that she wouldn't easily relinquish control, unless she was no longer capable of wielding it.

Bai Yan's thoughts were quickly interrupted by a deafening explosion.

Flames erupted into the sky from a distant point, sending even the scattered Honkai Beasts flying.

Putting aside his thoughts, he focused on observing the entire scene.

With the loud noise, the attention of many mechs was momentarily diverted.

Kiana, acting on instinct, seized this fleeting opportunity and quietly darted out from a building's back door.

"Hey!"

She went straight for the command unit Titan, directly stealing Bai Yan's kill.

Seeing this, Bai Yan immediately fired a series of shots to cover her.

"We're surrounded?"

"No, there aren't many Schicksal personnel!"

"Could an S-rank Valkyrie have arrived?!"

The mech unit's communication channel descended into chaos, but the next moment, a rocket exploded, instantly cutting off all voice transmissions.

Bronya, with her Heavy Machinery Rabbit, unleashed a barrage of fire from another direction.

Meanwhile, Bai Yan moved stealthily among them, slashing at each mech he passed.

He didn't put too much force into it, instead targeting the wiring and electronic components in the armor gaps, at the rear, and the undercarriage, rendering them unable to operate flexibly and leaving them to thrash about in place.

Without command, the mechs, attacked from three directions, were forced into a free-for-all.

Volume 1: Chapter 40: Dark Duck Guard and the Overturned Raven

The battle was not one-sided. As the World Serpent forces realized the situation, they began to cooperate tacitly, coordinating with nearby units.

Two mechs formed a pair, back-to-back, covering each other's weak points and activating kinetic energy rounds to avoid splash damage to allies.

Seeing this, the few quickly changed formation, executing hit-and-run attacks and dispersing towards the originally planned rendezvous point.

However, halfway through their dash, several arrows with strong Honkai energy erosion whistled through the air.

Bronya, with lightning-fast reflexes, activated her shield, barely blocking them.

The shield vanished the next moment, and the arrows continued forward.

Clang, clang, clang.

Bai Yan drew his sword and moved with flawless defense, deflecting all three feather arrows.

The feather arrows were black, with faint red halos around them.

Bronya deployed her support cannons, locking onto a dark corner with intense focus, as if ready to open fire the moment anyone dared to move within the shadows.

"This path is blocked. I suggest you two ladies accompany me back to my humble abode for a drink."

The newcomer wore a black cloak and form-fitting attire, wielding a rapid-fire bow.

Bai Yan recognized her as Raven, but the invitation for "a drink" was perplexing.

"You can call me Raven. Although strictly speaking, I'm not really one of World Serpent's people, I'm here to receive you two since I'm getting paid.

Raven's gaze flickered between the two, finally settling on Bai Yan.

"You must be Miss Bai Yan, right? What a coincidence, you're my main target."

"I don't know why World Serpent would put such a bounty on me."

Bai Yan was confused, running through many guesses in his mind, but quickly dismissed them all.

"Who knows? Maybe Jackal likes little girls like you."

"Tsk, tsk, is World Serpent full of perverts? Disgusting!" Bai Yan made a gagging motion, his face filled with revulsion.

"If you two insist on resisting, then we'll have to settle this with our fists."

"Haha, you broke down after just a few words? You slimy, rotten cloak!"

Raven's expression stiffened, and she fell silent, drawing her bow into a full moon.

Boom boom boom!

Bronya opened fire directly, forcing Raven to dodge quickly, but the feather arrows in her hand still flew out as usual.

Bai Yan, with a sword in his left and a gun in his right, moved and fired, secretly closing in on Raven.

Seeing this, Raven used her speed advantage to shoot and run, creating distance and maintaining a crossfire.

The three formed a pincer formation, with Bai Yan and Bronya attacking Raven, but Bai Yan couldn't find an opportunity to get close.

The battle continued, with no end in sight, as if it would last until dawn without a clear winner.

"If we keep this up, our people will come to reinforce us sooner or later. What about you? Will your reinforcements be intercepted?"

Raven dodged the beam shot by Bronya and shot an arrow back.

"You don't need to worry about that, you bitch hound!"

"You..."

Raven's expression froze, and anger surged.

Twice now, does this person like to trash talk so much during a fight? She looks like such a quiet girl!

Bang!

Bai Yan suddenly threw his gun casually, surprising Raven.

Such shots were completely inaccurate; hitting anywhere was pure luck.

She was just fast.

Raven chuckled inwardly, thinking this little girl must be incredibly anxious.

Just putting on a brave face.

However, Bai Yan then proceeded to fire his pistol multiple times at random.

At first, Raven didn't care, but when Bai Yan started adding one or two aimed shots among the random ones, she felt something was off.

Not only that, but Bai Yan also began to fire from any position, giving off a vibe of "I'll strike a pose however I want, and if I miss, it's my fault."

Thus, Raven was faced with a choice: 1. Expend energy distinguishing Bai Yan's shooting style and then decide whether to dodge; 2. Ignore it.

Raven chose the former, her stamina and energy consumption increasing.

"Heh, you think this can wear me down? How naive."

While pursuing, Bronya was also adjusting her strategy.

She repeatedly tried to corner Raven into a dead end, creating opportunities for Bai Yan to get close.

But the experienced mercenary always managed to escape.

As time went on, Raven seemed to genuinely start running out of stamina.

"Instead of regrouping with your companions, you're relentlessly pursuing me, which plays right into our hands!"

Raven said with a smile, fatigue showing on her face, with beads of sweat the size of peas appearing on her forehead.

Bai Yan and Bronya were also quite exhausted, panting slightly as they pressed forward.

They were by the sea, and Raven had no retreat, with the ocean at her back.

"Little girl, you're still too naive, this is your first mission, isn't it?"

Despite her panting, Raven's face showed a smile, as if she held the ultimate trump card.

Bai Yan surveyed his surroundings, took out an earring, and put it on while pretending to adjust his hair.

Luoshen Transformation, activate.

He then slowly retreated, standing on the same starting line as Bronya.

Under the night sky, a faint light flickered in a certain location.

The next moment.

The heavy assault bunny switched to its cannon and began to charge.

However, the target was Bai Yan.

At this very moment, Bronya's eyes were vacant, completely unconscious, with red patterns appearing on her fair face.

Bai Yan's gaze had been fixed on Raven, and the instant the cannon charged, Raven slightly shifted her attention.

In that instant, Bai Yan fired three shots in quick succession!

Raven, startled, quickly dodged, but it was already too late.

The first shot was dodged by Raven, but she hadn't expected the second shot to target her legs. By the time she narrowly avoided the third, she had already lost the ability to move nimbly.

"Tsk, I was careless!"

However, Raven's internal reaction wasn't significant; World Serpent could easily heal such minor injuries. But the two young girls wouldn't escape this time.

According to the instructions from above, this young girl had to be captured alive, regardless of how badly she was injured, as long as she could be brought back.

However, the scene that followed was difficult for Raven to comprehend.

Boom!

Bronya's cannon suddenly fired, but Bai Yan seemed to predict it, beginning to dodge the trajectory as soon as he fired his shots.

Failing with one shot, he prepared to fire another kinetic energy projectile immediately.

But Bai Yan wouldn't give her the chance. Empowered by the Luoshen Transformation, he lunged at Bronya with One Sword Startling Swan.

Bronya, controlled by the chip, froze. The Heavy Knight, under her control, immediately sputtered and died. She looked around unconsciously, as if searching for a target.

Visual Deprivation!

Her vision turned completely dark, as if the sun and moon had suddenly been swallowed in one gulp.

Bai Yan, however, didn't continue his attack. Instead, he charged towards Raven.

Seeing this, the latter's expression soured.