Young Warrior

Staring at Ji Xuanyuan's ethereal figure that suddenly came out of the Xuanyuan Sword, all of them, except Kouro, were shocked.

But before they could even speak, the ground they were standing trembled violently, beyond the tremors inside the previous cave.

Kouro seemed to feel something was pulling his attention in front of him, there is a beautiful blue ocean in his field of view, but if you look close enough, you would notice a large black shadow gradually getting larger on the surface of the water.

"It has begun…" Kouro, with a serious expression, threw Sin Mal towards Kallen without giving any explanation before grabbing the Xuanyuan Sword with both hands and activating [Elements Drive] simultaneously.

The others stopped staring at Ji Xuanyuan's empyrean figure and turned their attention to Kouro, who was staring in front very seriously as if facing against something really powerful.

"What's wrong, Kouro!?"

Kouro ignored, or rather he didn't hear them due to focusing on activating [Elements Drive]. The sword is being shrouded in blazing flames. Every 5 seconds, Kouro would activate the skill again to stack it up, and with every passing second, his body is bearing the burden of the skill.

After all, the Xuanyuan Sword is still a Divine Key and not just anyone could use it.

If it wasn't for the [Unknown] skill, Kouro's body would have been filled with purple streaks as a sign of Honkai corruption from the sword.

*BOOM! *

An enormous head emerged from beneath the ocean surface like a leviathan and let out and ear-swelling roar.

*ROAR!*

Kiana and the others covered their ears at the loud noise of the monster's roar.

Kouro, who saw this, shouted without taking his eyes off the monster.

"Kallen-san! Please take all of them away from this place! Also, contact Theresa-san immediately!"

"Kouro…" Bronya whispered his name while staring at him.

Hearing her whisper his name, Kouro turned to Bronya. They looked at each other for a while and didn't say anything. Finally, Kouro just smiled to Bronya.

Seeing that Kouro wouldn't back down, Bronya released a sigh and carried Ayame and Mei, Kallen controlled the Mecha and carried Kiana and Sin Mal before they moved away from the location.

Kiana looked at Kouro behind her who was still in place with the blazing sword in his hands, "Wait! Kallen-san! What about Kouro-kun! Are we just going to leave him there?"

"… He told me to take you guys away from there when that big monster appeared."

The monster's purple visor-like eyes shone brightly as it stared at the place Kouro was standing with its mouth wide open.

In just a few minutes, the Xuanyuan Sword has now turned into a blade of blazing fire that burned and melted even the ground surrounding Kouro, even his entire body is covered in flames.

Ignoring the burning sensation of the fire surrounding his body, Kouro kept the skill [Elements Drive] active.

Kouro raised the sword with both of his hands before sprinting and leaping valiantly like a knight towards Chiyou's wide-open mouth.

"HAA!!"

Seeing that small creature presented itself to its mouth, the monsters happily accepted and closed it mouth while Kouro is still mid-air.

Witnessing Kouro get eaten by the monster, Kiana and the rest of awake girls shouted.

"Kouro!!"

*ROAR! *

Immediately after, the monster roared loudly while emitting flames from its mouth as if it breathing fire itself.

Bronya and Kallen, with all their might, held back Kiana, Mei and Ayame that were trying to get out of their hold.

"Let go of me! I need to save Kouro!" Kiana retorted loudly.

"No!!" Mei wailed with tears forming around her eyes. "Kouro!!" Ayame shouted, her eyes red.

Seeing them like that, Bronya injected a sedative into them, forcing them to calm down.

Following that, Bronya and Kallen stared at the direction of Chiyou and whispered, "You have to stay alive… Kouro."

After that, they proceeded to call Theresa while moving far away from the monster.

Somehow, they both remembered the conversation they had with Kouro three days ago.

__

3 days ago, before they all left to Guangzhou.

Inside Himeko's house, in Bronya's room. Three people is present who is one other that Kouro, Kallen(ELF) and Bronya themselves, they are currently discussing something.

Kouro spoke first, "Bronya, you got the notification too, right? The one from Himeko-san. We were given a mission to investigate the location of the Xuanyuan Sword and the Honkai Beast Chiyou."

"Un. Bronya has received the mission data. The mission will take place in 3 days. Why is subject Kouro asking?" Bronya replied.

Kouro took a deep breath before revealing something to Bronya with a serious face.

"… Actually, I already know the location of the Xuanyuan Sword and the Honkai Beast."

Kouro then started to explain briefly about the Nine Realms, Ji Xuanyuan, Chiyou and other related topics.

"… Is this information reliable?"

Kouro paused and seemed to be thinking before saying firmly, "Yes."

Bronya didn't ask where Kouro got this information from as she could see that Kouro seemed very reluctant to share it.

She only stared at Kouro with analytical eyes before asking with a straight face.

"Why is subject Kouro telling this information to Bronya?"

"I want you to help me with something."

"What is it?"

Kouro scratched his cheek embarrassedly before saying, "… Can you take Kiana and the others away with you when the monster showed itself?"

"… Why? Wouldn't fighting together increase out chances of winning against Chiyou?" Bronya wondered and asked in a high tone, even though it was still flat.

Listening to Bronya's inquiry, Kouro was silent for a second before answering, "This might sound very stupid, but… I want to fight Chiyou one-on-one."

Actually, Kouro's reason was simple. He wanted to eliminate Chiyou alone to gain more experience. He had a feeling that if he didn't defeat Chiyou alone, the experience he would receive would decrease and there was also the possibility that the Main Quest would fail.

Bronya blinked when she heard Kouro's reason, she felt that the reason was extremely stupid that she even suspected that Kiana has infected Kouro with her stupidity.

Kouro and Bronya stared at each other. (PR: And then they kissed. The end)

"..."

"..."

Seeing the determination inside Kouro's eyes, Bronya just sighed helplessly and spoke, "Huu… Bronya will do it, but on one condition."

"… What is your condition?"

"Bronya hopes that subject Kouro promised to return alive. And if subject Kouro can't defeat Chiyou, just run away."

Hearing this, Kouro stared at Bronya in the eyes and firmly said, "I promise."

Kallen, who was left at the sideline, felt that their conversation was over, so she raised her little hand and asked softly.

"Excuse me... Ehm... Then what about me?"

Kouro turned to Kallen, "Of course I didn't forget you Kallen-san, moreover you will play an important role in this mission later."

Kallen tilted her head, "Muh? An important role~?"

Kouro took out a small device from his shirt pocket and then presented it to the two of them before explaining.

"During the mission, it is highly likely that AE(Anti-Entropy) would involve themselves in the search for the Xuanyuan Sword. So, with this device having the program to allow you remote access to the system, I would like you to infiltrate their Mecha system so that you can control it."

"Alright! But, uhh, what is AE?" Kallen agreed, but then followed with a question looking innocent.

Kouro slapped his forehead, he forgot that Kallen was from 500 years ago.

Following that, he briefly explained the history of AE to Kallen, but what Kouro explained was different from the history books in St. Freya Academy.

Because what Kouro explained was the truth, like how the leader of AE saved the world by putting his life on the line to defeat the Second Herrscher and so on.

(PR: If your talking about Welt Joyce, then you're probably correct, but you mentioned the 2nd Herrscher so you gotta be talking about Welt Yang. Welt Yang is still alive, so the phrase 'sacrifice his own life' is invalid.)

(A/N: AE was originally a branch of Schicksal that existed in America but then rebelled in the 19th century against Schicksal for several reasons. The hallmark of this organization is that they use more mecha, and various technologies compared to Valkyries.)

Bronya who was listening to Kouro's story then asked curiously though in a flat tone.

"Kouro… you don't hate the AE organization?"

Kouro was a little surprised that Bronya asked him about this, so he answered honestly.

"Why would I hate them? After all, AE's goal is to save the world it's just that some of their methods might be extreme and a little uncomfortable."

After all, the reason Schicksal and AE became enemies/rivals, other than some trivial reasons, was because AE prioritized the use of Robotic troops to eradicate Honkai, while Schicksal used Valkyries as troops.

Both organizations have their advantages and disadvantages, but in the end, their goal is the same at the other, to protect the world.

__

"Urk...."

Kouro opened his eyes and stood up slowly, before falling soon after.

"Ouch! That hurts so bad."

His current complexion looked very ruddy as if it had been steamed, there was even smoke coming out of his body.

Even moving slightly cause his body excruciating pain, he took out a health potion from inventory and hurriedly drank it straight away.

"Nuh? Where are my pockets?"

Kouro looked down, what he saw was his 'little brother' hanging freely.

"I'm... naked?" Kouro who had a bad feeling quickly touched his head.

Feeling his lingering thick hair, he quickly heaved a sigh of relief.

Kouro, who felt better, then looked around, what he saw were rocks and some purple crystals.

"This… Am I in Chiyou's stomach?"

The Xuanyuan sword in his hand shone before Ji Xuanyuan's Spirit then emerged from the sword.

Ji Xuanyuan also shone brightly before looking at Kouro and saying softly.

"Young warriors, you are currently inside the body of Chiy- Kyaa! Why are you not wearing clothes!"

Kouro looked at the flushed Ji Xuanyuan while covering her eyes with her hands, even though there were two large gaps in the two hands.

Kouro blinked innocently as he thought, 'Isn't Ji Xuanyuan an elegant and dignified lady, how could she turn out to be like this?'