Relationship

After Uesugi vaguely washed the blood off his body since he didn't have soap. He returned to the cave and heard some shooting sounds coming out from it

Momentarily surprised, he realized that Bronya was playing on her laptop.

Seeing her entranced face that usually remained emotionless was a sight to see.

'She is going through a cutscene I guess'. Sitting at his original spot, he looked at the petite figure who had two cannons floating beside her, training her Honkai Energy Manipulation while gaming

He sometimes heard "HOMU will save the world" and "HOMI, I'll protect you". Bronya shook as a tear nearly fell out of her eyes before she wiped it

When it seemed like the story ended, she closed her laptop before looking at Uesugi and walked up to him

Uesugi remembered the routine and stood up. When Bronya sat down, he placed his hand on her head while ejecting Honkai Energy into her system

The amount emitted surpassed the first run as her adaptation and manipulation gradually improved. Despite not showing a leap in strength, the status screen shows that her Energy stat still increases in decimals as her overall reserves are about 20

Recounting the ordeals he faced in Lupus City, Uesugi felt a little jealous of Bronya's growth, but he remembered that at later stages, she would surpass him and felt the need to try harder

After completing the process, Uesugi yawned as the night stayed in the sky, planning on having a comfortable sleep

However, Bronya tugged his clothes, trying to pull him towards the laptop. With a questioning look, Uesugi followed without saying a word as he soon saw what she wanted to show

Two cloaked figures were revealed and the premonition of dread he sensed before surged back to him, this time it was weaker.

Staring intensely at the figures, he asked, "When was this". 

"Shortly after you collapsed, while I don't know their identities, they are abnormal". A serious face appeared on Bronya's face when she saw Uesugi's expression

Against the hordes of zombies and wraiths, Uesugi suffered a little due to his carelessness and inexperience in dealing with the wraith's movements but he suffered no damage let alone it being a life-threatening crisis

The most dangerous situation he faced was against the two Templar Honkai Beasts. While he improved in the meantime and can deal with two, if it was against the 12 Honkai Beasts then he would still fail

No time wasted, he looked at his status screen to check his new talent

Uesugi Shuu (Human)

Age: 10

LvL: 10

Talent: Focus, [Unawakened], Lightning's Child

STR: 130, DUR: 80, INT: 150

ENERGY: 40

System Notice: Your life is at risk but fear not, you may die but if you save the girl beside you then all ends well

Ignoring the system's notice, he stared at the talent, Lightning's Child. He utilized the same feeling as he did with [Focus] and searched in his soul

The mental space contained his weapons while his battlesuit rested in his soul. 

Circling the Battlesuit, two lingering energies were circumventing faintly. The first one was familiar as it contained his first talent. It was blue and nearly blended with the color of his soul, making it hard to see

The second energy was lightning, a yellow bolt sigil that said 'Lightning' in Chinese. It doesn't possess the oppressiveness of a lightning bolt from the world. 

He was curious about its strength but remained calm as he exited his soul, saying, "I'm going to test my new powers". Saying that he left without a word

Bronya had a questioning look, about the awakening of a new power and his attitude towards her. She wondered if her previous analysis was wrong

Of course, she's not wrong. Uesugi Shuu's previous life was mainly that of a Shut-In. Let alone a friend, a girl was beyond his reach

Besides, if you saw an idol in the flesh talking to you, you would crash out before you knew it

That's why there's a misunderstanding between them until Bronya's beauty grows as she ages

Standing on the top of another mountain peak, no wind blew but the cold temperature was enough to freeze a normal human to death

Since there are pursuers after them, he plans on withholding his strength to avoid attention. Closing his eyes, he made contact with the sigil using a mental strand

*Bizz*

Lightning materialized around his body, Uesugi could feel that his speed drastically increased and the lightning could be condensed just like Honkai Energy

Previously, when Uesugi boosted his speed, it was mainly his power springing him on the spot. He lacked the agility to change direction and worked as a spearhead in battle

With [Lightning's Child], Uesugi is one step to becoming an all-rounder, and when he improves his defense, he'll be impenetrable against foes of the same level

Refraining from further testing, he retracted the lightning into his body when he noticed the difference in the sigil's appearance. It appeared dimmer than its first appearance meaning the consumption was higher than it looks.

"Against stronger enemies, I'll need to preserve my stamina properly and unlike one against all, my concentration and sensing ability needs to be improved and adjusted accordingly to the situation". Mumbling about his situation, he looked at Bronya whose eyes were raised

Regardless of the universe, attributes are usually limited to one element or affinity leaning to an element. From what Bronya observed, Uesugi's fire and lightning elements have the most destructive powers in the Honkaiverse

While Uesugi thought of himself as an all-rounder, Bronya could see his potential surpassing firepower beyond the world's expectations

"Are you alright, you look a bit tired" Uesugi said worriedly as he saw black eyes appear under her eyes.

He mistook her shock for weariness. Shaking out of her reveries, Bronya looked at Uesugi's eyes which only contained concern as curiosity got to the best of her.

"You... Why do you look at me like that". She finally said what was on her mind. 

Stumped by the question, he didn't understand what she was saying, "How do I look at you?"

"I see admiration, adoration, and hesitation in your eyes yet you try to act indifferently toward me," Bronya said in one go

"I've never seen you before, while the people I know are known by me. Your expression is incomprehensible by logic". 

Uesugi was stunned on the spot. To think that Bronya could analyze that much despite controlling his face. When he first met Bronya, the first thing that popped up in his mind was "I wanna hug her"

Disgusting and all, they are of similar ages. His mind was older but his body was young

Of course, there is another reason. 

Bronya Zaychik will be the last successor to become the Herrscher of Reason and he didn't want to disrupt her development. The fact that Bronya can use Honkai Energy means that Maxim''s life should be safe

The following events would result in her meeting with other characters that would spur on new relations and develop feelings of trust and reliance. However, this is on the assumption she becomes the "Silver Wolf of Urals'

He planned on bringing Bronya and Maxim to Anti-Entropy with him after dealing with Chita and Zasopska, but the uncle seemed to have secrets beyond his knowledge

Thinking for an explanation, he heard her sigh, "Forget it, there's plenty of time in the future when we can trust each other". She then stretched her body and yawned in exhaustion as she planned to retake the sleep she lost

"There will be a time". Leaving behind these words, Uesugi walked into the cave alongside her as he smiled in relief

While their relationship is still considered acquaintances and in the case of Bronya is reliance. They have taken a step towards closing their relation

However, just as they were about to rest. A dreaded feeling arose from Uesugi as he ran to pick up Bronya and leaped from their positions

*Boom* *Boom*

Explosions blew the surrounding mountain tops around them, leaving no platform for them to land

Instinctively, Uesugi used Weapon Creation to create platforms under his feet to flee in the air. 

Jolted from the sudden attack, Bronya fiercely stared in the direction of the bombardment. 

There were two cloaked figures and one of them had their arm pointing at them in the shape of a rifle.

Yes, a hand turned into a rifle shot bullets like grenades that would have decimated them if it weren't for Uesugi's senses and abilities.

"Those children are gifted, no wonder the illustrious Dr. Brain would want them so badly that he would deploy us". The one standing behind said with a raspy voice.

"The shots aimed to take their lives but they're better than I thought". A surprised voice came from the sniper as he knew his skills.

"We better hurry, while those ants from the 'Chernobog' pose no threat to us, we can't have Dr. Brain suffering from their Supreme." They both cackled lightly as if it mattered nothing to them

Meanwhile, Uesugi managed to escape unscathed as he saw the raining bullets stop.

Letting go of Bronya, they both nodded and decided to counterattack the enemies. While there is still another group after them, it seems that all three sides were not allies at least

"For now, assist from far away, change Project Bunny 19C form and snipe them instead of bombarding them". Uesugi Shuu said authoritatively

Nodding at the command, Bronya understood that Uesugi knew that she was tired from guarding him and from playing too many games

While her stamina and fighting spirit was at its lowest, she can still provide support, especially when there's two against one

Uesugi Shuu's Chevalier Battlesuit wrapped around him as he gripped his fist tightly. He activated [Focus] but didn't for [Lightning's Child].

It would be his trump card against these enemies that surpassed him in firepower with unknown combat capabilities.