"Chariot"-Class Honkai Beast

The next morning, just as Shu was finally drifting off to sleep before dawn, he suddenly felt like he was being watched.

He opened his eyes and was met with three faces staring intently at him. Shu subconsciously wondered if his surgery had been a success.

Quickly confirming he hadn't turned into a Valkyrie, Shu yawned and got out of bed, starting to fix his messy hair.

"Shu, what were you doing last night?" Kiana asked, noticing the dark circles under Shu's eyes, curiosity piqued.

"Couldn't sleep, just took a stroll with someone in the courtyard," Shu casually quipped.

Kiana: "Huh?"

Since Mei and the others were already awake, Shu felt too embarrassed to go back to sleep. Besides, he'd promised yesterday they'd set off early this morning to fight the monster, but if he slept until noon, who knew if the [Expectation] would be withdrawn.

After a few scratches, Shu smoothed down his bedhead. "Mei, let's quickly get ready and head out to find that Honkai beast."

Mei blinked, nodded, took out some food and water, and began checking their weapons and ammunition.

"Shu, what's the plan?" Bronya took a bag of biscuits, eating as she asked.

"The plan is..."

"What plan do we need! We're just going to blast that Honkai beast away head-on!" Kiana shouted, her overflowing confidence startling Shu for a moment.

A moment later, Shu suddenly realized that he was the main force for "blasting the Honkai beast away head-on."

"Alright then, Kiana will be responsible for attracting the aggro head-on, or you can just go take down the Honkai beast directly." Shu said darkly, assigning this troublemaker who was making things harder for him a tough task.

"Huh? Me?" Kiana was shocked, instantly feeling heartbroken.

It's a lie, all a lie! What 'entrusting me with a heavy responsibility,' what 'high expectations,' you're already plotting how to get rid of me after just one day! You're just jealous of me!

Do you think I'm dumb and can't see it? Actually, I'm super smart!

"Shu, this..." Mei looked hesitantly at Kiana, who looked like she'd seen a ghost, and Shu, who was frowning. She wasn't sure if Shu was serious or not.

"Just kidding," Shu waved his hand, his expression turning serious. "The first step of the plan is to lure the Honkai beast to a place far away from this shelter, to prevent the Honkai beast's ground tremors from collapsing the ceiling here."

Kiana sat up straight, listening intently while munching on biscuits.

She'd never been this attentive even during Mei's tutoring sessions!

"Step two requires some preparation beforehand." As Shu spoke, he paused, then suddenly looked at Mei, "Mei, give me a [Prayer] that can project."

"Huh?" Mei blinked, "Then... I hope Shu, you can have the ability to project?"

Nothing happened.

"...Maybe you could rephrase it? No need to be so polite..."

"Teacher! I want to understand!" Kiana raised her hand.

[From Kiana: Easily understand the plan]

As expected of you... in every sense of "as expected of you."

Drawing a negligible amount of [Expectation], a holographic projection appeared in Shu's hand.

"Is this... Future City technology?" Mei asked, looking at the projection in Shu's hand, suddenly curious.

Future City? What's that place? Sounds awesome!

Shu shook his head. "Let's get back to the plan. Do you guys remember this place?"

The projected image was a multi-story parking garage, packed with cars.

"We'll drive the cars on the fifth and sixth floors to the edge, positioning them so they're ready to burst through the railings. When the Honkai beast passes by, you guys will crash these cars down from above. This is the first wave of attack."

Shu manipulated the holographic projection, showing them a visual representation.

"Report!" Student Kiana raised her hand again!

"Speak."

"I can't push them!" Student Kiana declared righteously that she couldn't do this problem.

Shu almost rolled his eyes. "Can't you drive another car to ram them!"

"Oh!" Kiana suddenly understood.

"Step three." Shu rolled his eyes, then dragged out a model of a large truck. "After the Honkai beast is hit by the falling cars, use a large vehicle to restrict the Honkai beast's movement, creating an opportunity for me and step four."

"This is the most dangerous step. The large vehicle might be flipped over by the Honkai beast's brute strength. The best-case scenario is still enduring a violent impact, and there's also the possibility of close-quarters combat with the Honkai beast. So, the person executing this step needs to be a skilled driver and have the ability to retreat quickly."

As he spoke, Shu turned his gaze to Bronya, "Bronya, can you do it?"

Bronya nodded seriously. Drifting in a big rig? That was practically one of her special skills.

She wasn't a stranger to driving large trucks to haul cargo.

"Step four will be executed by me." Shu hesitated for a moment, then projected an image he would never forget in his life.

It was a "Chariot"-class Honkai beast, but its head was damaged, revealing a cube-like, crystalline, translucent pinkish-purple core inside.

"This is..." Kiana was a bit confused.

"Honkai beasts have a core, which is both their heart and brain. Destroying or removing it will immobilize the Honkai beast. And the only one capable of breaking through this shell is me..."

Speaking to this point, Shu glanced subtly at Kiana, then repeated firmly, "And it can only be me."

"Question!" Kiana raised her hand again. Shu's eyelid twitched involuntarily, but he braced himself and looked at Kiana.

"Speak..."

"What if the Honkai beast is completely unfazed by the cars, or if Bronya can't flip it?"

"That's why we also need someone ready to drive us away at any time," Shu looked at Mei, "Mei, I'll leave this to you."

"Okay," Mei agreed readily.

"Alright! I understand everything!" Kiana pumped her fist and stood up with a smile.

Shu nodded in satisfaction, and the projection in his hand dissipated.

"Just smash it, right!?"

Smash my ass! I don't think you understand at all!

Shu sighed, too lazy to explain again. Anyway, there was still time. He'd just have Mei tutor Kiana a few more times.

"We'll set off after breakfast. We expect to finish the preparations by noon and start the operation in the afternoon. Understood?"

"Understood."

"Bronya will do her best."

"Ooh-rah! I can feel my blood boiling! I'm ready to go now!"

"..."

"Shu, what's wrong? This is our Fire Moth's first mission! Come on, cheer up!"

"Kiana..."

"What is it?"

"Where's my biscuit?"