The situation was dire.

Kiana and Mei stood alone against the blonde woman, who had somehow triggered an unknown phenomenon in Bronya, turning their petite friend against them.

With their communications cut and their lone male friend missing, they had no choice but to fight for their lives.

Fight to escape.

But for a certain teenager. Well...

Lyon surveyed the field of grass, which would have looked beautiful if he weren't lying on his back with blood dripping from the side of his mouth, staring up at the sky.

"Ugh... That's really painful."

Then the wind intensified, and Lyon groaned as Wendy landed gracefully on her feet, her toes swirling the grass as she touched down with the crunch of leaves.

She hummed, almost admiring his bloodied form, "You seem to be in quite some pain there, Lyon. I wonder what could have happened to you~?"

Her voice carried a tone of sadistic pleasure, and Lyon lifted his head to look at her, his eyes showing playful mirth rather than any seriousness.

He mustered the strength to speak despite the pain overwhelming him and coughed out, "Dunno... Maybe because I was dropped from the bloody sky by yours truly?"

Wendy's enjoyment seemed to peak as she watched him struggle with pain. She skipped over to him and leaned down to face him closely, "Ara~ I'm sure you had fun, right? I did! It was quite satisfying to inflict pain, similar to how Schicksal used me. They must have been thrilled to see me as their sacrificial lamb... Oh! Perhaps they saw me as a threat and thus granted me this power. Hmm, yes, that must be it."

She then circled him, inspecting the grass flattened by his landing, and playfully clicked her tongue, "You should have landed more gracefully, Lyon. What happened to that spatial power of yours?"

Lyon could feel the cool, damp grass beneath him, dampened further by his own blood. He exhaled heavily, eyes fixed on the mix of natural blue and artificial pink that painted the sky above.

"Just taking in the scenery," he said lightly, a hint of irony in his voice. "Yeah, just enjoying the view."

Wendy's expression shifted as she followed his gaze upward. "It is a beautiful sky," she conceded, "though humanity has marred it with its pollution."

Lyon's irritation flickered visibly. "I was just making an observation about the sky, not inviting a lecture on the sins of humanity. Besides, without humanity, you wouldn't even have the power you're wielding now."

Wendy's features tightened, her voice cooling as her Herrscher persona seemed to mingle uncomfortably with her remaining humanity. "You really don't understand what I've endured, do you?"

Shifting slightly, Lyon used one hand against the ground, attempting to leverage himself up. "Honestly? No, I don't. I'm just spouting what comes to mind while I try to get up."

Wendy giggled and floated a few meters above Lyon, looking towards the sun, her demeanor shifting. "Imagine being the best of the best in your branch. You would receive all sorts of praise from everyone. New Valkyries would always approach me, expressing their hopes of becoming like me one day. And then..."

Her voice trailed off as the gentle breeze grew into a gust akin to the onset of a hurricane, reflecting her darkening mood. "Suddenly, I was summoned for an experiment, purportedly for the betterment of humanity. Initially hesitant and even nauseous, I was persuaded by the scientists and that infuriating old man. He argued it was for my own strength, to protect more people. As one of the top Valkyries, my resistance faded into temptation, seduced by his promises."

Lyon remained silent, now fully upright, clutching his arm as he channeled Honkai energy to fortify his muscles and bones, alleviating his pain.

Wendy manifested a small green tornado in her palm, which she casually extinguished, continuing her tale. "I agreed to the experiment. Initially, it went well, and then came the agony. I screamed as though a thousand flaming swords were severing my leg, begging them to halt the procedure as it felt profoundly wrong. Yet, that man persisted, and I endured their torment."

Lyon inhaled deeply, keeping his thoughts private. Wendy appeared to maintain a tight grip over her Herrscher persona, unlike her usual deranged self. This realization presented him with an opportunity to intervene if the moment arose.

Wendy's tone became solemn as she concluded her story, "After the experiment, I was left powerless and crippled. People who once admired me turned hostile, and I experienced what it feels like to be seen as weak by many. This cursed gem inside me, though, has given me a chance to discover my self-worth—not as an S-rank Valkyrie, but as a human who has faced crippling challenges. I've learned what it is to be vulnerable, like so many others."

Lyon straightened his body and stretched his arms, "I understand what you're saying... but that doesn't justify you trying to hurt me like this."

She then turned to him with a sincere smile, floating just above the ground, "I know. I was simply reveling in the surge of power. It feels wonderful, Lyon. It felt incredibly good. You must know how it feels, right? To suddenly gain unimaginable power. You've only been exposed to Honkai energy for a few months, yet you're handling it remarkably well."

Lyon merely shrugged, though her words piqued his curiosity, "It does feel good, but that doesn't fully explain your resentment towards humanity as a whole."

Wendy puffed out her cheeks slightly in a pout, unsettling him with her unpredictable mood swings, "Hmph! Has anyone ever told you how mean you can be? I'm dealing with voices in my head, and here you are, implying you don't understand."

Lyon gave her a flat look as the pain in his body subsided, "You're not helping your case."

Wendy sighed, floating closer with a mischievous smile, "You're right... how about we settle this now?"

Lyon groaned playfully, "Settle what—"

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain as Wendy pointed at his arm, specifically where a fresh gash appeared.

Wendy hummed a playful tune, "Like that. Want to play, Lyon? I'd like to test my powers too."

Then another slash appeared on his shoulder, blood spurting out as he staggered back, his clothing shredded as if dusted with pristine debris.

Lyon chuckled and flashed her a grin, "Heh, you really are a woman after my own heart, aren't you?"

Wendy's laughter mingled with the rustling as leaves were torn from the earth, swirling around Lyon in dizzying whirls. The sky above him became obscured, enveloped by a swirling vortex of foliage, leaving him able to see nothing but the vague silhouette of Wendy amid the chaos.

The Herrscher of Wind delicately manipulated her fingers, orchestrating the leaves as if conducting a symphony, her voice lilting yet ominous, "You once asked if you could test your powers in my presence, and without waiting for my permission, you did just that. Now, it's my turn to do the same to you."

Lyon, realizing the levity of his earlier jests had perhaps been misplaced, gave a rueful chuckle, "Well... seems I'm in a bit of a bind now, aren't I?"

Wendy's expression brightened mischievously as she watched the leaves around them morph into razor-sharp blades, each leaf edged with a deadly wind. "Indeed, I've learned from the very best," she proclaimed cheerily.

At her command, a deluge of leaves surged towards him, each slice and slash spilling blood that stained the verdant ground beneath him a vivid, glistening crimson. The serene landscape transformed into a brutal canvas of red as Lyon braced for the onslaught.

But...

'Holy crap, that really hurts.'

Lyon thought to himself. Initially, he saw green leaves swirling into cyclones, but after Wendy made her move, his entire vision became a blur of swirling green and then, intense pain.

Pain...

Pain.

PAIN.

PAIN. PAIN. PAIN.

IT WAS EXCRUCIATING.

The pain was overwhelming. He could feel cuts slicing through the reinforced layers of his body, energized by Honkai, yet they sliced through his skin like numerous paper cuts all at once. The damage was so instantaneous and severe that he found himself unable to speak, cut everywhere simultaneously.

The leaves hadn't penetrated deeply, affecting only the surface, but he could feel his face contorting in agony as his cheeks and lips were lightly sliced.

The more cuts appeared on him, the more his vision stained red with pain. The natural capabilities of his unique eyes couldn't begin to track the energy as the wind and Honkai energy manipulated by Wendy merged, creating an overwhelming chaos.

It was utter hell. He could neither hear nor see; he could only feel pain.

Wendy smiled at her handiwork as she watched Lyon bleed profusely, like a faucet struggling to contain its flow before a pipe burst.

She hummed as she watched him stand, immobilized by shock, his eyes closing even though his eyelids too were sliced.

Floating in a reclined position as if she were Cleopatra lounging on her throne, she critiqued his abilities, "I observe your bravery in attempting to stifle your screams... However, I must admit disappointment, Lyon. You've shown such prowess in separating space between yourself and your foes, and even your allies."

Though she knew Lyon couldn't hear her, she continued as the ground beneath them stained deeper red, "But... I can't help but admire your will to survive. Look at you, standing there, enduring my assault. I'm surprised the wind hasn't pierced through you like a blade through flesh... Hm?"

She noticed something within Lyon. As a Herrscher, she possessed the ability to perceive environmental flows that others could not—unique to her element of wind, she could detect the movement of matter, and she sensed something shifting within Lyon.

Despite the relentless cuts, something in Lyon's mind was changing. The more he reinforced his body with Honkai energy, the more intense the pressure in his brain became, feeling as if his head were being compressed and then explosively decompressed like a balloon repeatedly inflated and deflated.

As the pain intensified, his perception began to expand. He started to discern the rhythmic convergence and divergence of matter, a sight beyond ordinary comprehension.

Amidst the excruciating assault of leaves and wind blades, he found a smirk creeping onto his face, 'Well... let's see then if this works.'

He didn't know what happened next; the pain vanished as space and matter began to divide and multiply, creating a condensed, invisible barrier around him. It was small, but now not all the wind blades could cut him.

He was ecstatic as he felt fewer blades impacting him, thinking to himself, 'So that's how it works... Hmm, let me just... expand it.'

Limitless was an apt name for his ability, suggesting an infinite amount of energy, as if the "space" around him—or perhaps the entire world—was boundless, and he could manipulate it to his will. Elements of nature such as fire, earth, water, lightning, and wind—which sadly he could not manipulate—appeared interconnected in the grand design of nature.

Through his special eyes—eyes he should really name—this manipulation was possible. Without these ocular abilities, Limitless wouldn't exist, and perhaps, he would have no powers at all.

Thus, Limitless expanded its reach, and Lyon was thrilled to discover this through a painfully enlightening experience. The invisible barrier expanded, deflecting and halting more blades within its growing range.

An invisible space formed by Lyon's newfound understanding of energy manipulation, utilizing his own bodily energy.

Now, he felt no more pain, only aware of the bloody mess he was, as he weakly muttered, "Now I finally understand... I was manipulating external energy, but not my own."

He looked at Wendy through the cracks of the halted cyclone, pointing at her with a bloodied finger and grinned forcibly, "Hehe~ Thanks for that, Wendy. I finally know how to use my own body properly... Ergh, this still hurts badly though..."

Wendy looked at Lyon in shock, expressing her dismay, "Y-you! You are not human!"

Lyon looked at himself and then back at her, noting the bloody scene around them, "What the hell do you mean? Unlike you, I had to figure out stuff that took me forever to understand. At least you know how to handle your powers instantly... Look at me!"

Wendy clenched her teeth at him, "You're supposed to be dead, lying in your own pool of blood, covered by the very leaves that speared and slashed you—not delighted by some last-minute discovery!"

In her frustration, she floated angrily, "You! You mock me with your resilience. I was supposed to show the world what power looks like, not you!"

Lyon smirked at her and wiped the blood from his forehead, "Well, would you look at yourself. Throwing a tantrum because a human managed to achieve something? Beat that! I am a human and I just showed something that can beat you. Hahaha!"

Wendy stood still for a moment, Lyon's words triggering painful memories, memories filled with disdain directed at her.

She clicked her tongue in frustration, "Stop it... STOP IT!"

She wrestled with her remaining humanity, yet felt the need to discard it as it hindered her complete surrender to the Will of Honkai. The Gem of Desire revealed her power, and she was intent on absorbing it fully.

Yet, there stood an obstacle—Lyon—and she looked at him with fury, "You, you! Impossible! Such a feat, it's supposed to be—URGH! If it weren't for you, I would've been fully one with the wind!"

Lyon grinned and assumed a fighting stance, his fist ready, "Well, come here then, let's settle this like you wanted."

Blinded by anger and the voices of countless curses, Wendy charged at Lyon with lightning speed. If this had been the Lyon from a few minutes earlier, he wouldn't have been able to block her attack, but now? He could.

As Wendy approached, her form began to slow. She conjured a wind spear shaped like a trident, aiming its tip at him. She thrust it forward, but the spear gradually halted, stopping mere inches from Lyon.

Stunned, Wendy watched as Lyon grasped the spear with a hand coated in blue energy. His Limitless ability, concentrated at that point like armor, prevented direct contact with the spear. He then pulled her closer and, with his other arm, thrust his fist into her stomach, punching her powerfully with his ability.

Wendy coughed up blood from the impact, the force of his punch leaving a purple welt on her stomach, even her Herrscher-enhanced body sustaining damage.

Thrown back, she crashed into a natural rock wall, a cliff that crumbled from her impact.

As she struggled to stand, coughing up more blood, she muttered shakily, "No. No! I shouldn't be..."

In her hubris, she became more contemptuous, yet this unveiled the fragility of her defenses. Her confidence quaked, revealing that her strength could only be asserted when she truly understood herself—which she did not.

Yet, she pressed on, teeth clenched, eyes blazing with a viridescent glow as she summoned a spear anew, "I will not be bested by the likes of you! I was once an S rank Valkyrie, and you are merely a Knight in training. I SHOULD NOT BE DEFEATED!"

She surged forward once more, like a missile hurtling towards Lyon, further ravaging the already battered crater and demolishing the cliff edge in her wake.

Lyon steeled himself, activating his Limitless ability, though fatigue was setting in, blurring his vision as he watched her relentless assault. Time seemed to decelerate, her approach appearing almost sluggish, while his mind throbbed mercilessly with pain.

Unbeknownst to him, a trickle of blood escaped his nose, a testament to the strain as he channeled his Honkai reserves, his fist clenched with renewed vigor.

Her next onslaught tore through the landscape behind him as he narrowly evaded, the earth itself rending apart, sending debris hurtling through the air, devastating blocks of the nearby town with the ferocity of the gale she commanded.

Yet, Wendy was quickening her pace, and Lyon found himself compelled to defend with Limitless, instinctively raising his arm to intercept the spear.

Slash!

The spear struck, reopening a previously sealed wound on his arm, the Honkai energy that had stitched it shut now undone. A grimace crossed his face.

He berated himself as he inspected the fresh injury, 'Did I inadvertently deactivate it while dodging and defending? Tsk...'

Wendy, observing the fresh crimson on his arm, reveled in the efficacy of her attack, continuing her relentless barrages of thrusts and slashes.

Lyon, caught in a flurry of defensive maneuvers, found himself operating Limitless in a near-panic, his inexperience evident as he struggled to prioritize threats amidst the chaos, despite his advanced ocular capabilities.

Wendy's smile widened as she relentlessly pursued Lyon, who defensively crossed his arms in an X-shape. Triumphantly, she declared, "So this is the extent of your combat skills... No matter! I'll have you defeated momentarily."

Lyon clicked his tongue in frustration as he darted around Wendy at a blistering pace, launching a punch her way. However, his attack was thwarted by a swirling shield of wind and leaves. Wendy smirked, taunting him, "I've drawn inspiration from your defensive maneuvers. I daresay my adaptation surpasses your limited creativity."

Breathing heavily, Lyon withdrew his fist from the impervious shield, his vision blurring as the world around him seemed to accelerate, a stark contrast to his earlier ability to perceive actions in slow motion.

In a moment of vulnerability, Wendy's spear found its mark, sending Lyon reeling backward through the air. Miraculously, he regained his footing, though the impact jarred his leg painfully.

He hit the ground hard, his boots carving into the soil as he gasped for air, his mind conceding, 'I'm at my breaking point...'

Wendy observed him with derision. "What's the matter? You boasted about demonstrating human resilience. Why falter now, Lyon?"

Lyon's spirit wasn't kindled by her goading; however, an idea sparked within him—a tactic inspired by Wendy's manipulation of wind and leaves. His eyes widened with renewed determination, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he contemplated his next move.

If close combat was his forte, perhaps he could innovate with ranged attacks. Envisioning a powerful technique, he concentrated on his palm, where space seemed to converge into a singular point, creating a vacuum-like effect and generating a field of gravitational pull. This focal point materialized as a swirling blue orb.

Wendy sensed the escalating threat as the orb intensified, its gravitational pull distorting the environment around them.

Despite her awareness of Lyon's fatigue, she poised herself with her spear, determined to end the confrontation.

Lyon unleashed the condensed Limitless with tremendous force. The projectile, resembling a miniature blue blackhole, tore through the landscape, drawing debris and foliage into its vortex.

Wendy seized the moment to launch her spear toward the menacing blue singularity.

The attack proved potent, decimating the sphere and unleashing an internal shockwave that reverberated through her very core, inflicting visceral damage. The surrounding debris, drawn by a force akin to Earth's gravity, collapsed inward and then erupted outward, obscuring her vision with a cloud of dust.

"Tch!" Wendy snapped irritably, clearing her eyes hastily to regain her line of sight. As her vision cleared, she spotted Lyon charging at her, his fists cloaked in a dense aura of blue energy. This provided her just enough time to prepare her counterattack.

Harnessing the wind, she concentrated the green energy at the tip of her spear like a ticking bomb and thrust it forward just as Lyon launched his punch.

Boom!

Gasping for air after releasing her attack, Wendy surveyed the aftermath. The scenic cliff and the town that once lay beyond it were now obliterated, erased by the ferocity of her powers.

Searching the debris, she found Lyon, grievously injured, lying prone with the right side of his lower abdomen gruesomely torn open.

Approaching slowly, Wendy observed him struggling for breath, blood bubbling from his mouth and a severe wound on his side.

Lyon met her gaze with a weary, defiant look, "Heh... I gave it my all, huh? And yet... I still can't beat you."

Despite her own exhaustion and visible injuries inflicted by Lyon, Wendy responded with a cold determination, "A human like you... shouldn't wield such power. You are too dangerous to live."

Lyon coughed out more blood, too weak to stand, his consciousness fading yet spurred on by a stubborn resolve, "Well... If you say it like that, then I am not a normal human."

Exhausted, Wendy leaned on her spear for support, kneeling beside him and gasping, "Hah... that you are. I must admit, despite your arrogance and your defeat, you have the power and courage to back it up."

Lyon managed a slight, pained smile, "Huh... a compliment from someone as deluded as you. I am honored..."

As he began to drift into unconsciousness, Wendy acknowledged his tenacity with a grudging respect, "That is indeed true. A prodigy you are—a fight that is accomplished through guts and wits."

Lyon exhaled slowly, his breath wheezing through his nostrils as he murmured his final words before succumbing to unconsciousness, "Huh... A prodigy... This battle was all about luck, but... That's something I can take..."

His eyes shut tightly, his body slackening as blood continued to ooze, forming a small crimson pool beneath him.

Wendy's eyes narrowed as she observed his tranquil form. Positioning her spear above him, she whispered softly, yet with a resolute tone, "Do not blame me for this. I truly meant it when I said that someone with your powers is too dangerous to live."

Just as she poised to plunge her spear downward, a forceful blow struck her from behind, toppling her as her Herrscher form dissipated, reverting her to her regular self.

Her body collapsed beside Lyon's, and the mysterious assailant surveyed the pair, focusing intently on Lyon.

The intruder, a woman with honey-blonde hair and piercing reddish-pink eyes, hummed thoughtfully as she knelt on one knee, examining the unconscious teen sprawled on the ground. "Hmm... he does look familiar," she murmured, her voice carrying a tone of detached curiosity.

Rising to her full height with graceful ease, she spoke into the seemingly empty air, her voice soft yet commanding, "You may come out now. I know you've been watching them, but you cannot hide from me."

From the shadows, another figure emerged as her stealth field deactivated. A tall blonde woman stepped forward, her expression begrudging. "Tch. I can't seem to elude the senses of you S-ranks. Such sharp perception... you'd make an excellent addition to Anti-Entropy."

The honey-blonde woman tilted her head ever so slightly, her expression serene but unyielding. "That, I'm afraid, is impossible. You and I are enemies by design, and I am bound by the orders of the Overseer."

The blonde introduced herself with a measured tone, clearly testing the waters. "I am Cocolia—"

Before she could continue, the honey-blonde interrupted with a voice as sweet as it was cutting, "I already know who you are. Your schemes are commendable, but unbearably flawed and cumbersome."

Without another word, she summoned a massive scythe with fluid precision, its edge gleaming menacingly. The sheer presence of the weapon made Cocolia flinch. The honey-blonde woman's eyes glinted coldly as she continued, "Now, if you're finished with your voyeurism, I have every intention of taking the boy."

Cocolia's gaze flickered to Lyon, her frown deepening as she spoke with bitterness tinged with desperation. "The boy... he's someone special. He has the potential to bring down the Honkai."

The honey-blonde smiled faintly at her words, though the expression sent an icy chill down Cocolia's spine. "And yet," the woman began, her voice carrying a mocking sweetness, "I see no sign of you approaching him except now, when he lies helpless. Has Anti-Entropy sunk so low as to resort to mere stalking?"

Cocolia remained silent, her expression tense and guarded. The woman dressed in a maid's uniform tilted her head slightly, humming in thought before offering, "You may take the girl instead. I'll take the boy."

Cocolia's eyes narrowed sharply, suspicion flickering across her face. "What scheme are you plotting now?"

The maid-like woman's serene smile remained unmoving, as though carved in place. It carried an unsettling calmness that belied her power. "Nothing elaborate, merely carrying out the Overseer's orders," she replied, her voice honeyed yet ominous.

Cocolia clenched her fists, the urge to retort brewing within her, but the sharp gleam of the enormous scythe in the woman's hands held her in check. The weapon radiated menace, a silent promise of both skill and mastery. After a moment of tense contemplation, she exhaled heavily, her frustration evident. "Fine. That will work."

The maid dipped into a slight bow, an eerie display of formality that felt both genuine and mocking. "I thank you for your cooperation. It is appreciated," she said, her tone laced with an unsettling politeness.

Cocolia clicked her tongue in irritation, swallowing the bitter taste of restraint. She knew better than to provoke Schicksal's infamous Maid.

With their unsettling agreement in place, the two opposing forces moved to clear the scene. Schicksal took custody of Lyon, while Cocolia claimed Wendy. The battlefield bore the scars of their violent clash—a testament to the raw, untamed power of an incomplete Herrscher and the extraordinary potential of the young prodigy who had faced her.

The land, now a fractured expanse of ruin, stood as a silent witness to the battle.

End of Chapter

---

A/N: Fight battles go brrr. Enjoy the read!