NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: Chapter 4: First Blood
The dull thuds and the dense gunfire intertwined.
Luo Lin unleashed all her tricks, elbow strikes, kicks incessantly towards Fu Hua, while her wrists rotated, the sparks created by the firing pistols scattered like magic, flickering around her body.
The girl relied on Kaslana gunplay to engage Fu Hua in close combat, which was an extremely risky and helpless choice.
Initially, Luo Lin attempted to incorporate Kaslana gunplay into her previous fighting style—to assist in ending remote suppression, allowing her to sustain a few more moves when Fu Hua swiftly closed in for melee combat. However, she still couldn't escape the ultimate failure.
So Luo Lin changed her approach, attempting to build her tactics around Kaslana gunplay:
Kaslana gunplay was a technique developed around the legacy of the [Seventh Divine Key - Judgement of Shamash] passed down by the Kaslana family. However, the user of this divine key required considerable Honkai resistance as well as intense heat resistance. Only a few qualified to wield it, and even fewer dared to use it.
The Kaslana's extended this technique to other firearms, but compared to the divine key, the firepower of contemporary firearms was somewhat weaker than the intended ideal. They were unable to effectively damage Honkai beasts from a long distance.
They were forced to shorten their combat distance, supplemented by various martial arts and tools, to suppress, defend, or evade enemy attacks, ultimately ending the opponent's life with the firearms in their hands.
Kaslana gunplay was not a simple technique; it demanded high spatial awareness and calculation abilities from the user. It required the user to constantly pay attention to the orientation of their firearm, anticipate the current situation, and be able to deliver bullets to the designated location at the right time.
"It's just like piloting a Gundam..."
As soon as she started, Luo Lin had a sense of déjà vu. This feeling didn't come from the stigmata's memories but from certain moves within the Kaslana basic gunplay she seemed to have encountered before. However, the version she learned was simpler, more rigid, and less cerebral power required...
After a moment of contemplation, Luo Lin finally realized.
As one of the Three famed Families of Schiksal, the Kaslana family must have made contributions to the Valkyries' combat skills library. This somewhat familiar feeling should be the simplified version of Kaslana gunplay techniques.
After being sent flying by Fu Hua's combo several times, Luo Lin finally clarified the key points of using Kaslana gunplay in combat:
Generally, due to their large size, Honkai beasts moved in a wide range, and Valkyries needed to maintain a certain distance to guard against their attacks, which could cover several meters or even dozens of meters in one strike.
Facing Fu Hua, Luo Lin had to further shorten the engagement distance.
On one hand, Kaslana gunplay allowed Luo Lin to control handguns, launching attacks from unexpected angles. However, even with her stealthy approach, Fu Hua could quickly identify Luo Lin's movements and evade shots.
By closing the distance, even if Fu Hua could anticipate the direction of the attack, she wouldn't have much time or space to dodge.
On the other hand, Kaslana gunplay not only allowed flexible handgun manipulation but also included the use of gadgets. If Luo Lin detonated a grenade or flashbang at the right time and place, it would have a decisive impact on the subsequent battle.
Having figured out the general direction, what was needed next was practice.
Luo Lin took a deep breath and asked the petite Bianka floating beside her, "Bianka, how do you feel?"
"...I feel okay."
Bianka's condition didn't seem as good as she claimed; her complexion was slightly pale, sweat dripping from her forehead—not only because of the pain transmitted through empathy but also because of the mental toll of providing support to Luo Lin through the Stigmata.
"Let's try again, Sis Luo Lin."
After waiting for a while and seeing Luo Lin remain motionless, the determined Bianka couldn't help urging her.
Looking at Bianka's stubborn expression, Luo Lin silently encouraged herself in her heart.
"Alright, let's try again!"
[10, 9... 3, 2, 1, 0!]
A red light flashed, and Luo Lin and Fu Hua simultaneously charged forward, engaging in a dual rush.
However, Luo Lin's bullets surged forward first. Seeing this, Fu Hua flashed her figure, evading the bullets while triggering a blue shockwave. The Valkyrie had to slow down her pace, stabilizing her posture while tossing out a grenade to hinder Fu Hua's attack.
Facing a grenade capable of blowing away the sturdy shells of Honkai beasts, Fu Hua naturally wouldn't resist head-on. She paused for a moment, avoiding the blast range of the grenade, and continued charging towards Luo Lin.
"Dadadada!!"
Luo Lin had become quite accustomed to the seemingly omnipresent shockwaves. She steadied herself against the blow without a flinch and immediately adjusted the gun's muzzle, blocking Fu Hua's path with bullets, forcing her to attack from a fixed direction.
Fu Hua didn't seem to care whether it was a trap or not as she darted through the barrage Luo Lin deliberately left behind.
At this moment, the distance between the two was less than a punch's reach. Luo Lin could clearly see Fu Hua's clenched fist, flying ponytail, and the blue eyes behind the red-framed glasses.
The girl didn't retreat but advanced, using her shoulder as a spear, thrusting directly at Fu Hua's chest. From the side, it looked like she wanted to embrace Fu Hua.
While blocking Fu Hua's heart line of attack with her arm, Luo Lin subtly adjusted her wrist, the gun muzzle silently turning towards Fu Hua's vitals.
Almost simultaneously, Fu Hua noticed Luo Lin's subtle movement. Although she could hit Luo Lin with one punch, it seemed impossible to deliver a fatal blow.
As Fu Hua hesitated, Luo Lin clenched her teeth, her eyes narrowing slightly, a sharp arc forming at the corner of her mouth, her momentum rising. Fu Hua felt this scene was very familiar, as if she had encountered many such people before...
—She came here with the intention of dying together!
Fu Hua changed her strategy, switching from fists to palms, striking Luo Lin's arm with skill, deforming the Valkyrie's movement, and causing the gun muzzle to lose its aim.
The fatal crisis was resolved in the exchanges of strikes and pulls. Fu Hua calmly repositioned herself, ready to pursue...
In the next instant, Fu Hua saw two grenades with pulled pins sliding between them, and a cylindrical flashbang pushed towards her face by Luo Lin's hand.
A slight ripple flashed across Fu Hua's calm face. Unfortunately, Luo Lin, who closed her eyes to prevent being dazzled by the flash, couldn't see it.
"Checkmate!"
"Boom boom boom!" "Snap!"
Three loud bangs almost simultaneously exploded, the scorching wind and dazzling light disappearing in an instant, almost overshadowing the subsequent gunfire.
Two ragged bodies fell to the ground, the smoking firearms slipping from their hands with a dull thud.
Several seconds later, the system space returned to calm.
[Congratulations, you have successfully completed the challenge
"Boss Enemy: Fu Hua - Valkyrie Accipiter"]