Zenless Zone Zero: Morax in a New World!

In Lumina Square, watching Arataki Itto and Venti gradually disappear into the distance, Billy felt a swirl of emotions.

"Arataki, if you ever come back to the city, just head straight to the Hare's House and find us!"

Billy called out to Arataki Itto.

Arataki Itto turned his head. "Billy, I'll make sure to catch a few more onikabutos and bring them for you next time I visit."

Billy grinned. "Deal!"

He knew Arataki Itto came from a faraway place called Inazuma—a name Billy had never heard before.

He figured Inazuma must lie in the deepest part of the outer ring, which explained why Arataki didn't know about New Eridu, and Billy didn't know about Inazuma.

He stared in the direction Arataki had gone.

Only when Arataki Itto disappeared from the glow of the streetlamp and stepped into the endless night did Billy sigh and look away.

They had only known each other for a day,

Yet their personalities clicked so well that they'd already become fast friends.

At that moment,

Nekomata walked up beside Billy. "Stop looking, meow. He's already long gone."

Billy: "..."

Nekomata asked, "What was that shiny thing he gave you just now?"

Speaking of Arataki Itto's gift,

Billy slowly opened his palm. Nestled inside were two tiny beetles glowing faintly with purple light.

Seeing this,

Nekomata leaned in curiously. "Wait... are these the fighting bugs you guys were talking about?"

Billy nodded. "Yep. These beetles have likely mutated after being exposed to the Hollow. They're extremely rare—and Arataki just handed them over to me…"

Nekomata wasn't particularly interested in their value.

What surprised her was that the moment her fingertip touched one of the beetles, she felt a strange energy.

It felt like electricity... but not quite the same.

Something about it felt off.

Since Nekomata didn't have an electric attribute herself, she just found it odd but couldn't pinpoint exactly why.

So,

She called out, "Anby! Come over and take a look at these mutant beetles. They've got some kind of electric energy in them."

At her shout,

Anby, Nicole, and Soldier 11 all walked over.

Anby slowly reached out and gently touched one of the beetles in Billy's hand.

Immediately,

She recoiled as if shocked, quickly pulling her hand back.

Frowning, Anby muttered, "Weird... this is really weird…"

Billy looked puzzled. "What is it, Anby? What's going on? They seem pretty normal to me."

Anby fell silent.

Seeing this,

Even Nicole couldn't help but ask, "Anby, what's the deal?"

Anby slowly shook her head. "No... the electric attribute in these mutant beetles is unusual. It's different from the standard—more aggressive, and... purer."

Just like when she touched them earlier—she was shocked, not by an attack, but by the beetles' electric power acting on its own.

It was the first time she'd ever encountered something like that.

Compared to this, the electricity Anby could control was far more stable.

And beyond that,

She sensed that the beetles' electricity was extremely pure—even purer than her own.

It didn't seem like a mutation caused by the Hollow at all.

That was odd.

Creatures mutated by the Hollow usually had chaotic, unstable attributes.

Anby looked seriously at the two mutant beetles in Billy's hand.

"Other than these two, I doubt you'll find electric attributes this pure anywhere else in New Eridu."

Hearing that, Nicole's eyes lit up. "So... they're super valuable?"

Anby nodded. "Yeah. If someone with an electric attribute got their hands on these, it'd greatly boost their power. If we sold them to a research institute, we could get a huge payout."

Nicole immediately asked, "How much are we talking?"

Anby thought for a moment. "At least a few million Dennies. With the right buyer, tens of millions... maybe even more."

Even Anby's gaze burned with interest now.

If she could properly study these two beetles, maybe she could refine her own electricity to that level of purity.

Off to the side,

Nicole didn't hesitate—she reached out to grab the beetles from Billy.

Billy dodged quickly, evading her sneak attack. "Nicole, Anby, these were a gift from Arataki. I'm not selling them, no matter how much you offer!"

He'd known they were rare, but not this valuable.

Beetles worth tens of millions, given away so casually by Arataki... of course he couldn't just sell them off.

Seeing his reaction,

Nicole coughed awkwardly. "Ahem... I didn't say you had to sell them. I just meant... don't let them die, or you'll be out a fortune."

These were worth tens of millions, after all.

Even if they weren't hers, Nicole would be heartbroken if Billy let them die.

She cleared her throat. "That's why I think someone with experience raising small animals should take care of them…"

Nekomata immediately chimed in, "I've got experience! I've raised mackerel before!"

Anby added, deadpan, "Yeah. And they all died."

Nekomata: "..."

Billy said seriously, "It's just like maintaining a gun. Clean it daily and feed the mutant beetles regularly. Easy."

Even though it was his first time raising mutant beetles, Billy was confident it would be simple.

But then Nicole hit him with a hard question.

"Okay then—what do you feed them?"

Billy froze. "Feed...? Oh no. Arataki didn't tell me how to take care of them. By the time he comes back, they might already be dead from starvation…"

He buried his face in his hands, devastated.

The two mutant beetles lay motionless in his palm, like tiny corpses. They weren't dead yet, but they didn't have much time left.

Nekomata stood on tiptoe and patted Billy's shoulder, trying to comfort him.

"Don't be sad, meow. I killed my mackerel too."

Billy: "..."

Just then,

A voice came from behind.

"Feed them electricity."

Billy turned around. "Sam Li? What did you say?"

Sam Li said calmly, "Feed them electricity. Just put a battery near them—they'll absorb the electricity."

In truth, onikabutos don't need feeding at all.

Back in Teyvat, they sustained themselves on Electro energy from the natural world.

But in Zenless Zone Zero, with no Electro in the environment, regular electricity is the next best thing.

...