The Vixen's Gambit: Tonight We Hunt

The sky hung low and heavy with dark clouds, a storm brewing.

Sitting in the classroom, Kevin gazed out the window at the crows perched on the telephone poles. A sense of unease settled in his heart, as if something major was about to happen.

"The weather isn't very good," Kevin sighed, turning to Su beside him. "It feels… oppressive, don't you think?"

"My heart is feeling oppressed, but not because of the weather…" Su sighed dramatically, gazing at the ceiling at a 45-degree angle. "Lee hasn't come to school yet…"

She hadn't been late or absent a single day in the past six months, yet it was already lunchtime, and she still hadn't shown up…

"Do you think something happened to her?"

"Don't jinx it, nothing could happen to Lee." Kevin rolled his eyes at Su, a subtle sense of superiority welling up inside him.

Even though his best friend was now a potential rival in love, he and Su were different. He knew more about Lee—her strength, her true identity. These were all proof of their closer relationship.

So, while Su was worried about Lee's safety, Kevin didn't have such concerns. This was the difference in their levels of understanding.

"You really shouldn't call Lee by her first name all the time," Su said, pained by Kevin's inexplicable pride. "Lee is someone you should respect, yet you're always thinking about… other things…"

"Can't help it, she already accepted my confession~" Kevin preened, running a hand through his hair. "Su, what do you think we should name our kids?"

"We usually refer to 'consider it in twenty years' as a polite rejection!"

Ever since Lee had given him that noncommittal answer, Kevin had been acting like a lovesick fool…

Su felt a pang of sorrow. I should have been the brave one and confessed first… I met Lee before he did!

The battlefield of love was truly ruthless. Hesitation meant defeat, and even brothers could backstab each other… But he hadn't lost yet. Lee hadn't actually agreed to Kevin. She probably only said that because Kevin was so persistent, clinging to her like glue. She probably just wanted him to calm down.

As long as they weren't officially dating, anything was possible!

Despite liking the same girl, Kevin and Su's relationship hadn't suffered. They remained as close as ever.

"Speaking of which, want to grab something to eat after school? Lee recommended a restaurant to me; it's supposed to be pretty good."

"Definitely…"

They continued their idle chatter about food, as peaceful and relaxed as always.

But sudden change always arrives amidst such tranquil daily life.

BOOM!!

A massive bolt of purple lightning suddenly erupted in the peaceful city, streaking towards the sky like a roaring dragon!

The thunderous roar exploded, and purple lightning, almost tangible, surged outwards from its point of origin, instantly engulfing Nagazora City in a violent gale!

"…What is that?!"

Kevin stared dumbfounded at the scene unfolding in the city center, something clearly beyond human capability. He was speechless. Beside him, Su's eyes were wide with disbelief.

Not just them, but other students also crowded around the windows, gawking at the scene that seemed straight out of a sci-fi movie.

"Whoa, is that some kind of natural phenomenon? So cool!"

"Quick, record this! I'm posting it on my Moments!"

…

"Junko, Junko, take a picture of me!" A girl, excited by the unprecedented sight, patted her friend's shoulder. "Then I'll take one of you!"

"…"

"What's wrong? Hurry… Uh, Junko, are you okay…?" Not hearing a response, the girl looked at her friend quizzically, only to find her acting strangely.

Her head hung low, hair obscuring her face. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and she occasionally made strange noises.

"Junko, don't scare me—" The girl reached out to shake her friend, but unexpectedly, Junko suddenly grabbed her outstretched arm. When she raised her head, her eyes were rolled back, her face contorted, and her skin an ashen grey.

The next moment, she opened her mouth and bit down hard on her friend's arm!

This wasn't playful roughhousing. With a disturbingly ferocious expression, the girl tore a chunk of flesh from her friend's arm!

"Ahhh!!!"

"Stop! What are you doing?!"

Without hesitation, Kevin charged forward, kicking the strange girl away and shielding the injured girl behind him. Turning around, he saw similar scenes unfolding around him.

Some people screamed in agony as strange patterns spread across their bodies before collapsing to the ground, motionless. Others transformed into the same pale-skinned monsters, attacking those around them.

"Kevin, something's not right." Su, supporting the trembling, injured girl, spoke with a serious expression. "There are similar sounds from upstairs and downstairs. This is happening all over the school… I don't know what's going on, but we need to get out of here."

"…Yeah."

Kevin ripped a leg off a nearby desk and gripped it tightly.

These pale-skinned, zombie-like creatures… he'd heard of something similar somewhere before…

Right, Lee had told him about monsters called Honkai Zombies. Her organization fought against these things!

What's going on? Did something really happen to Lee? Should he try to find her…? Even if he wanted to, he had no idea where to start.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Kevin decided to escort Su and the other survivors to safety first.

Lee was strong enough to protect herself, even in danger, but his classmates weren't.

Smashing the broken desk against the attacking monsters, Kevin calmly began leading the uninfected students towards the exit.

He was glad he had started training. Three months ago, he would have been running for his life. Could he have remained calm enough to save others then?

"Su, which way should we go?" Kevin asked, not turning around. He trusted his best friend to make the right call.

"This is probably related to that purple lightning. Let's go in the opposite direction," Su said, frowning at the lingering electrical discharge in the distance. "There's a police station south of the school, near the outskirts. It should be relatively safe."

"Got it." Kevin tightened his grip on the table leg. "Stay close."