strictlysupreme Chapter 26: We Can't Win at All
Chapter 26: We Can't Win at All
Let's go all out! Let's fight the ravens! (This is a minefield mentioned at the beginning of Chapter 1; those who don't like it are advised to skip it...)
From Raven's perspective, not only did Sora not lay down her weapons and surrender, but she even had the courage to fight back.
That takes some courage, the raven remarked.
But courage alone isn't enough to even touch her hair.
Qiong gripped her baseball bat tightly and charged at Raven. Raven easily dodged the attack with a simple sidestep. This wasn't just a matter of speed, but also reaction time. Despite her good physique and agility, Qiong lacked sophisticated combat skills, awareness, and the corresponding reaction speed. To Raven, she was just a slightly stronger, ordinary person.
"That's it? If you don't have any other options, you'd better surrender. I can guarantee your personal safety." Qiong didn't answer. He launched another attack, but Raven easily dodged it with the mindset of a cat playing with a mouse.
"Are you kidding me?!"
After being easily dodged by the raven once again, even the not-so-rational Qiong realized that the raven was simply "playing" with her, just like a hunter deliberately playing hard to get, treating her like prey.
Qiong gritted her teeth and gripped the baseball bat tightly. This Raven has gone too far! Well, then don't blame him for being unsportsmanlike! Taking a deep breath, Qiong shouted out those words with all her might.
"Rules are meant to be broken!"
This time, Raven didn't dodge; she seemed quite interested in the glowing baseball bat. But she wasn't foolish enough to take the hit head-on, and just before the bat struck her, Raven sidestepped, avoiding the powerful blow.
"Ugh?"
At this moment, Qiong could no longer hold back, and her baseball bat slammed hard onto the coffee table behind Raven, smashing it to pieces.
"Well, you've got some skills, buddy."
That kind of destructive power would probably break a bone if it hit her. In short, to avoid medical expenses, she couldn't try to persuade her to surrender anymore, and who knew if the Valkyries would come back to check on things after such a commotion. In Raven's eyes, Sora was full of openings after that blow; if she wanted, she could kill her with a single feather blade, but considering the importance of leaving herself an out, she didn't. She kicked Sora in the stomach, then turned and kicked her face. Sora, sent flying, fell to the ground in pain, clutching her stomach. Raven crouched down, picked up the baseball bat, and examined it closely, glancing at Sora as she looked at it: "Isn't this just a regular baseball bat? You think you can beat me with that? I've told you to put down your weapon, but you won't listen. You're really stubborn..."
"Raven, you..."
We can't beat them, we simply can't beat them!
Before Qiong could even stand up due to stomach pain, blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. Raven's kick had probably left him disfigured!
But no matter what, lying on the ground and letting others slaughter him wouldn't do, so Qiong gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand up. However, without a weapon, he no longer planned to attack, and besides, he couldn't win even with a weapon. He decided to wait for Theresa to save him.
The raven narrowed its eyes slightly, a hint of coldness in them.
She hadn't originally intended to kill anyone, but how did Qiong know her name was Raven? Even though it was just a code name, Qiong shouldn't know it.
Has destiny already discovered the snake's tracks?
There was no time to delay; for the first time, Raven became serious. It was time to show his true abilities.
Before Qiong could react, the ghostly raven appeared in front of him, kicked him in the stomach again, knocking him down. Then it pounced on Qiong, took out its black feather blade, and pressed it against Qiong's neck. Because it happened so fast, Qiong felt that blood should be gushing from his neck.
"I ask, you answer, understand?"
Qiong dared not make a sound, but had he seen this scene somewhere before?
I finally managed to find a reason to beat up the thugs. I hope Raven won't find an excuse to kill me too.
Although it didn't make any sense, the idea still filled her mind. Thinking about it, Qiong felt like she was soaking in ice water.
Miyuki Asakura, Kiana, Alvita, Theresa—these people he had only met a few days ago flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.
Then, the blurry images that kept changing before his eyes were like nightmares he had when he had a high fever.
He went back to the day he received his university acceptance letter, the day he boasted to everyone for ages.
He went back to the day the college entrance exam started, when he was so confused because the Chinese exam was so difficult.
He reminisced about the time when he first played Honkai Impact 3rd and encountered the Chocolate Gate, a time when he was captivated by a game for the first time.
He returned to his hometown, where his parents lived, whom he might never see again.
In short, is he going to die?
"Hey, hey, hey, stop looking like you're about to die!"
Raven snapped Qiong out of her reverie. Seeing Qiong like this, it was hopeless to gather information. Brave as she was, she was also genuinely afraid of death.
Just like the raven itself.
However, Qiong couldn't read minds, so he didn't know what Raven was planning to do. Even after he came to his senses, fear still lingered in his heart.
Whoever it is, save me! But who can save him now?
Beneath the unseen figure of Qiong, the shadows gathered once more and transformed into some unknown weapon.
What kind of expression is that?
Seeing that the other party was a coward who was almost incontinent, Raven stood up, but then she saw that Sora's expression suddenly changed.
Then, she watched as Qiong took out a one-handed sword from under her.
The raven didn't recognize it, but Qiong knew what it was.
Keqing, Bennett's essential weapon, roars from within its box.
No, I'm already so scared, even if it's because of the raven appearing, Master Ke's weapon, can't it just cut out the mist?
"Where did you get these weapons? And you're still resisting?"
Raven had to admit that she sincerely "admired" this fool who was stubbornly fighting but afraid of death when he couldn't win; if it were her, she probably would have surrendered on the first attempt to persuade him to surrender.
But Raven's target was no longer Sora. She had just found the potion in the cabinet, so whether Sora cooperated or not was no longer important.
Knock him unconscious, then run away. That's it.
As for intelligence? Raven has no intention of spending time interrogating them; let Grey Serpent worry about it himself!
Or she could give herself another sum of money, and it wouldn't be a bad idea for her to do it...
Seeing the sword pointed at her, Raven threw down her baseball bat, which was worthless to her, and prepared to launch one last attack.
After we finish this job, let's go choose an island!
"Strange, why is the door locked from the inside? Qiong, open the door!"
As the two confronted each other, the sound of Arvit knocking came from the door, and Qiong seemed to grasp at a straw.
"Help! Help! Murder! Murder!"
"The Valkyrie is back?!"
Raven was startled. Had she really been attracted back by the noise? She quickly looked around and then looked out the window.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Qiong scrambled to the door, but before he could open it, the door collapsed...
Kiana rushed into the room first and saw Sora holding the potion and being hit by the door. She immediately understood what had happened.
"Little Gray Fur!"
Raven didn't want to get entangled with anyone else, so she turned around, picked up the potion, and went to the windowsill.
"Trying to run? Not so easy!" Kiana pulled out her pistol, ready to fire.
But the raven was faster; the windowpane shattered, and a black dodo disappeared into the air.
"Who exactly is that person? Qiong, are you alright?"
"I didn't know if there was anything wrong or not." Qiong pointed to her face, which was covered in raven kicks and door slams.
Something must have happened now.