As the group trekked toward the rendezvous point with Wendy, there was a mix of alertness and casual banter among them. This downtime allowed them some rare moments of lighter conversation, a break from the intense focus on their studies.

Kiana skipped ahead, her voice light and curious. "I've been wondering how Fu Hua is doing. She really helped me out a lot before our last exam, you know? Not to say Himeko didn't help..."

Both Mei and Bronya perked up at the mention of Fu Hua. It was well known to them that Himeko had been instrumental in their training, but Fu Hua's involvement, especially given Kiana's aversion to strict regimes, was a surprise to them as well.

Lyon, trailing with his hands clasped behind his head, overheard Kiana and interjected with a puzzled tone, "Fu Hua? Should I know her?"

Kiana stopped short, staring at Lyon incredulously. "You don't know Fu Hua? She's our class monitor, Lyon!"

Lyon's response was nonchalant, his gaze drifting off. "Must've slipped my mind, or maybe she just didn't make much of an impression on me."

Kiana, slightly annoyed, tried to jog his memory. "Seriously, Lyon? She's the tall one, always wearing glasses and blue."

Bronya corrected gently, "Fu Hua's attire is blue, to be precise."

Mei chimed in, hoping to clarify further, given Lyon's frequent distraction during training. "Remember, Lyon? You've sparred with her numerous times after class. She's also the one who refined your hand-to-hand combat skills."

Lyon's face lit up behind his sunglasses as recognition dawned. "Ah, that Fu Hua! Yeah, she's cool, though I'm not a fan of how she always insists on those thrusting exercises."

Mei looked puzzled for a moment, her brow furrowing as she queried, "Thrusting exercises...?"

As Lyon strolled alongside the group, his face lit up with enthusiasm. "Yeah, exactly! You know, like how martial artists use palm strikes. Fu Hua was using them on me to test my reflexes and awareness. I ended up incorporating some of that technique into my own moves. Pretty neat, huh?"

Mei released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her tone tinged with exasperation. "You could have explained it more clearly from the start..."

Lyon flashed a cheeky grin, sticking his tongue out slightly. "Well, you cut me off before I could get there. Not my fault you jumped to conclusions."

A slight twitch in Mei's hand betrayed her annoyance as she muttered under her breath, "Right, of course, my impatience..."

Wendy, feeling somewhat detached from the lively group dynamic, turned to Bronya with a curious look. "Bronya, is it always this animated with them?"

Bronya considered Wendy's question briefly before responding. "Affirmative. They maintain this dynamic consistently, irrespective of whether it's a school day, a holiday, or during missions."

Observing Lyon being playfully tormented by Mei, while Kiana chuckled at the scene, Wendy remarked with a hint of admiration, "It seems like such a joyful assembly. It must be nice, being able to find moments of laughter amidst the chaos wrought by the Honkai."

Bronya watched the scene, her gaze lingering on Lyon who was now trying humorously to free himself from Mei's grip. She replied softly, "It is reassuring to see them vibrant and unburdened. However..."

Her voice trailed off as she glanced down at her own hand, her thoughts drifting to past actions and the darker memories associated with them. Clenching her fist slightly, she took a deep breath, trying to push away those haunting images.

Noticing the shift in mood, Wendy quickly steered the conversation towards a lighter topic. "It's important, isn't it? To hold onto those connections, whether they last a brief moment or a lifetime."

She then gazed admiringly at Bronya's advanced prosthetic exoskeleton and voiced a hopeful request, "Speaking of which... Bronya, do you think it might be possible to design something similar for me? I'd love to be able to leave this wheelchair behind and perhaps even experience flight like you do."

Bronya regarded Wendy with a compassionate gaze and softly offered, "Once we're aboard the Hyperion and return to St Freya, Bronya could attempt to design an exoskeleton for you. However, it wouldn't necessarily restore your status as an active Valkyrie."

Wendy nodded in understanding, "While I regret not being able to fight as before, I believe there are other ways I can contribute without being on the front lines. Perhaps I could assist with operations or logistics."

Lyon, finally free from Mei's grip, added enthusiastically as he joined Wendy's side, "Or, you could consider joining St Freya's faculty. Your experience could greatly benefit us, especially in teaching the practical aspects of field operations."

Wendy considered this with a mix of emotions, "I'm not sure... It's hard to envision myself as a teacher, especially unable to demonstrate the capabilities expected of an S-rank Valkyrie to hopeful students."

Lyon raised an eyebrow and brushed back his hair, "But that's exactly the point. It might be beneficial to show them the realities of being a Valkyrie, including the potential sacrifices and consequences."

Kiana interjected with a scowl, "Lyon, that sounds a bit harsh. Shouldn't we inspire hope as Valkyries and Knights, rather than discouraging them?"

The group fell silent, pondering Lyon's words. He sighed, "What I mean is, it's important not to sugarcoat the reality. Understanding the full spectrum of what it means to be a Valkyrie might help them make more informed decisions about their futures."

He gazed out towards the sun, feeling its warmth but lost in thought, "It's about authenticity. They need to decide if they want to be Valkyries out of a true desire to protect, or if there are other motives driving them, whether it'd be good or bad."

The group fell silent, each member wrestling with the unsettling questions Lyon had raised. Their certainty wavered as they confronted their own motivations for becoming Valkyries.

Kiana had enrolled mainly to locate her father. Once she achieved that goal, what then? What purpose would drive her forward?

Bronya had joined for camaraderie, her loyalty to her friends a guiding force. Yet, what meaning would her commitment hold if those very friends were lost?

Amid the turmoil of thoughts, Mei's expression clouded over, her mind inevitably drifting to Lyon. What if something happened to him?

She quickly dismissed the troubling thought, taking a deep breath to stabilize her racing heart. As her heartbeat slowed, a semblance of calm returned, but the questions lingered, unanswered and heavy in the air.

Wendy's expression softened as Lyon spoke, and she offered a gentle smile, "You've clearly been through a lot to have such a perspective..."

Lyon paused in his tracks, a contemplative look crossing his features. "I was orphaned young, an idiot, left to figure things out on my own. It's taught me the balance between recklessness and caution."

Seeing something deeper in him, Wendy responded thoughtfully, "An idiot? Hardly. You're someone with untapped potential. It's your journey to discover how that potential will manifest."

The group halted as Bronya noted their arrival at the designated location. Lyon considered Wendy's words, then spoke with a blend of resignation and acceptance, "How I'll discover that potential is entirely up to fate. Life has a way of presenting paths, and I've learned to follow where it leads."

Wendy tilted her head, intrigued, as Project Bunny adjusted to keep her comfortable. "Then let me ask, why did you choose to become a Knight?"

Lyon's gaze hardened behind his sunglasses, his posture taking on a sharper edge. Wendy sensed the shift in mood and quickly softened her tone, "You don't have to answer if it troubles you. We each choose our paths for reasons known only to us."

Lyon relaxed slightly, the initial irritation fading as he adjusted his sunglasses. "Sorry about that," he apologized, his voice returning to a calmer tone.

Wendy waved off the apology with an understanding nod, "No need to apologize. I should have considered my question more carefully. It's easy to forget that not every question has an easy answer."

Kiana swallowed hard, visibly unnerved by the palpable tension between Lyon and Wendy. She glanced anxiously at Mei and Bronya, suggesting, "Hey... Um, Mei, Bronya, why don't we step aside and update Himeko on our situation?"

Bronya agreed with a nod, levitating towards Kiana, ready to move away. Mei, however, hesitated, her gaze fixed on Lyon. She voiced her concern, "Lyon, are you going to be okay here looking after Wendy?"

Lyon offered a slow nod, his expression steady. "Sure thing," he assured her. "Just try to be quick, alright?"

Mei cast a soft nod towards Lyon and then reluctantly joined Kiana and Bronya, who were already heading towards a helipad adorned with communication devices. As they engaged in contacting Himeko to confirm their arrival at the rendezvous point, Lyon was left with Wendy, grappling with the aftermath of their tense conversation.

Lyon exhaled sharply, breaking the silence, "Man, things really turned sour here, huh?"

Pointing a playful finger at Wendy, he half-joked, "This is all your fault, you know."

Wendy's laughter broke through the tension. "Hehe, I think we share the blame. Let's shift the conversation, shall we? Perhaps something a bit more upbeat?"

Lyon shrugged, his mood lightening. "Sure, why not? I'm usually better off not planning what to say anyway. I just hope my brain can keep up with my mouth."

Wendy arched an eyebrow, amused. "That's a risky way to live. From that, I'd guess you're more of a fighter than a talker."

Grinning, Lyon responded, "Actually, it's the other way around. I prefer to rile up my enemies before I knock them down."

Wendy playfully chided, "God help us if you ever decide to drive. I can only imagine you barreling through traffic with the same disregard."

Lyon flopped down onto the ground dramatically. "I do travel quite a bit."

Intrigued, Wendy leaned forward. "Really? I dream of traveling once I'm able to walk again. Where have you been?"

Lyon's smile waned into a smirk. "Oh, I've traveled far and wide—mostly running away from my problems. Trouble is, they always seem to find me."

Wendy chuckled at his quip, but their light-hearted exchange was interrupted as Bronya returned with an update. "Bronya has informed Himeko of our status. We must now wait for the Hyperion to arrive for extraction."

Lyon offered Bronya a thumbs up, appreciating the update, and Wendy nodded in acknowledgment, "That's reassuring."

Bronya fidgeted slightly, then added, "Bronya also discussed the possibility of removing the Gem from your body with Himeko, but she insists that—"

As they congregated around the helipad, Kiana's frustration was palpable. She blurted out, "Himeko insists the gem has to stay inside Wendy to keep it stable. She even warned that trying to remove it could trigger explosions powerful enough to devastate cities!"

Mei, looking visibly fatigued from her efforts to moderate Kiana's impulsive suggestions, added with a heavy heart, "Himeko's caution is understandable, yet it's distressing that we can't find a safe way to extract the gem without risking dire consequences."

Wendy, caught between concern and gratitude, quickly interjected, "Please, don't worry about it too much. I accepted this responsibility as a Valkyrie, knowing the risks involved. My commitment is to ensure a brighter future, even if it means bearing this burden."

Lyon exhaled deeply and stretched his neck, feeling the weight of their predicament. "Looks like we're stuck between a rock and a hard place, literally," he quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

Wendy gave a small, weary smile and glanced down at her lap, contemplating the enormity of the situation.

The group's silent vigil was abruptly disturbed as Lyon noticed a peculiar shift in the environment. The energy particles in the air began multiplying and coalescing into a denser formation. To him, the air shimmered with a distinct green hue, flowing effortlessly like the breeze.

'What's causing this change?' Lyon pondered, his fingers tracing through the air, manipulating the energy which seemed to weave in and out like delicate threads.

His gaze sharpened as he observed a significant concentration of this energy around Wendy, specifically near the implanted Gem of Desire. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense, yet the others appeared unaffected. Concerned, Lyon turned to Wendy, "Hey... are you feeling alright?"

Wendy's response was delayed, her eyes unnaturally wide as if pressured by the swelling energy.

"Wendy?" Lyon pressed, his voice edged with anxiety as he noted the air turning thick with a green haze.

With a serene, unsettling smile, Wendy's eyes sparkled with a viridescent glow. "I am fine, Lyon... I am truly fine," she assured him, her voice eerily calm.

Suddenly, the surrounding trees shuddered violently, leaves detaching and swirling in a wild dance around them, mirroring the chaos brewing in the air. Wendy's eyes drooped slightly, her expression one of relief mixed with a strange vigor, "In fact, I feel good. Better than how I felt previously on that goddamn chair."

Kiana's confusion deepened as the environment around them shifted ominously. She questioned Wendy, who seemed unusually cheerful under the circumstances, "Err... Wendy, are you okay? You're acting a bit odd."

Wendy dismissed her concerns with a playful click of her tongue, "Oh, Kiana, I'm merely being myself."

Suddenly, the urgency in Himeko's voice cut through the static of their transcommunicator. "Everyone, evacuate immediately! The Honkai energy readings are dangerously high!"

As Lyon retreated from Wendy, the realization dawned on him that she was the epicenter of the anomaly. The green aura that swirled around her intensified ominously. He shouted to the others, panic edging his voice, "Run! Now!"

Their communication device crackled, barely transmitting Himeko's warnings, "R-Ru- Wen- Cor-"

Wendy's form was enveloped by a swirling green energy, her body levitating off Project Bunny, which was repelled by the force of her power. With a serene, almost euphoric expression, she proclaimed, "I never imagined I'd possess such power. It seems the experiment was a resounding success after all."

Bronya, wide-eyed and alarmed, stuttered, "Wendy...?"

As Lyon glanced at Mei, their shared glance was one of horror as realization struck too late. Wendy, unlike the pained reminiscences of Mei's own past, seemed to revel in the havoc she could unleash.

Floating effortlessly just above the ground, Wendy's expression twisted into a malevolent grin. "All of you, hypocrites, pretending to aid me? I can offer you a different kind of release—through death."

From the swirling vortex around her, Wendy conjured two sickles of wind, launching them with lethal precision towards the group. The weapons, nearly invisible in their speed and ferocity, cut through the air towards them.

The group, paralyzed by fear, could only watch as their potential ends approached. But Lyon, rallying his courage, spread his arms wide.

They were propelled violently away from the epicenter, Lyon's Limitless ability launching them to safety with an uneven force. His rapid deployment of spatial manipulation, while lifesaving, was imperfect, allowing a sliver of the deadly sickles to breach his defenses and slice through his upper chest and right thigh.

"GAGH!!!"

Lyon cried out in pain as the blades made contact.

Mei, Kiana, and Bronya skidded across the ground, their bodies scraping against the concrete, leaving shards of their armor in their wake, though they themselves remained unharmed.

Kiana winced, adjusting her shoulder back into place with a pained expression, "Ouch! That's going to bruise."

Bronya, regaining her footing, stared in horror at the ongoing confrontation between Lyon and Wendy, her analytical mind racing to calculate their next move.

Meanwhile, Mei was frantically trying to summon her powers, her hands sparking ineffectively as she willed her abilities to respond. She clenched her fists in frustration, her mind screaming for her powers to ignite. "Come on, work!" she urged silently, desperation tinged with panic as only feeble sparks danced between her fingers.

Wendy's laughter echoed madly as she clapped her hands together with unnerving cheerfulness. "Oh, what a delightful surprise! I didn't expect you three to come out unscathed. Such a pity that your companion here wasn't as fortunate."

Lyon, kneeling and clutching his chest, blood seeping between his fingers and trickling from the corner of his mouth, managed a wry grin. "I never imagined you'd turn into... what do they call it? A Herrscher?"

Wendy cocked her head to an unnatural angle, amusement coloring her tone. "And how did you arrive at that conclusion, my dear friend?"

Struggling to his feet, his legs trembling—especially the injured one—Lyon straightened up and retorted, "I don't need a lecture to recognize the ominous energy swirling around you. I've faced plenty of Honkai beasts, but none quite as... unique as you."

He was about to draw a parallel to Mei's transformation in Nagazora City, but Wendy interjected, her voice dripping with mockery. "Enough talk. Since you like to flee from your problems, how about we take a little trip? You've already admitted it, haven't you? Let me be your newest nightmare, and we'll see how far you can run."

Lyon let out a weary chuckle, the pain and fatigue setting in, yet his spirit undampened by the looming threat.

"Heh..."

Wendy arched an eyebrow in surprise, reacting to Lyon's sudden outburst of laughter.

"HAHAHAHAHA!!!" Lyon's laugh echoed, his voice tinged with defiance.

The team exchanged uneasy glances, witnessing Lyon's unorthodox response to the threat before him. Unperturbed, Lyon shot a middle finger towards Wendy. "To hell with you, you're not taking me anywhere," he spat out.

Wendy's lips curled into a bemused smile. "You're quite the lovely character," she acknowledged, amused by his brashness.

With a subtle gesture, Wendy harnessed the winds around her, summoning a thick fog as she gathered moisture from the air. In an instant, she materialized right in front of Lyon. "Perhaps we should discuss this... privately," she suggested, her tone silky yet chilling.

As she laid her hands on him, Lyon recoiled, his face contorting in revulsion. "Don't you dare—"

But before he could finish his sentence, both he and Wendy vanished, whisked away by the wind, leaving a stunned silence in their wake.

Mei stood frozen, horror etched on her face as the realization of Lyon's abduction set in.

"LYON!!!" Mei's voice tore through the air, filled with anguish and fury. The sparks from her body now transformed into fierce bolts of lightning, striking nearby trees and setting them ablaze.

Kiana and Bronya instantly recognized the dangerous escalation and moved towards Mei, trying to intervene.

"Mei, please, calm down! We can find Lyon and—" Kiana's attempt to soothe her was cut off sharply.

"SILENCE!" Mei turned on her with a ferocious glare.

Bronya, deploying Project Bunny in an effort to de-escalate the situation, pleaded, "Please, Sister Mei! We will find Lyon toge— Eh?" Her voice faltered as she noticed a sudden, alarming change in her systems.

Kiana's eyes widened as she observed Bronya's demeanor shift; her eyes flickered red, a warning sign they now dread. "Bronya...?" she asked, voice laden with confusion and fear.

For a brief moment, Bronya stood frozen, then her posture shifted ominously as Project Bunny transformed into a formidable cannon, now aimed directly at Mei.

"By the order of Matushka, Bronya will capture the 3rd Herrscher," she declared in a tone that brooked no argument, her programming overridden by a deeper command embedded long ago.

Kiana eyed Bronya warily as she drew her guns, sensing that something was amiss with their friend who seemed uncharacteristically distant. Mei, her initial surge of anger dissipating, watched with narrowed eyes as a blonde woman appeared seemingly out of nowhere, flanked by imposing Mechas.

The blonde woman approached Bronya with a smile, gently patting her on the head. "While my plans didn't unfold perfectly, the outcomes are still quite satisfactory. Good job, Bronya," she praised, her tone unsettlingly calm.

Turning to Mei, Kiana asked urgently, "Can we get in touch with Himeko?"

Mei, frustration evident, shook her head as she brandished her katana, her attempts to activate their communications gear proving futile. "No... I can't get through."

The duo's attention snapped back to the blonde woman and her mechanical entourage. The tall figure spoke authoritatively, her presence imposing. Mei's heart sank, a familiar and disheartening feeling washing over her, reminiscent of the stares she endured after her father's arrest. Now, those same looks seemed to emanate from Bronya's emotionless gaze.

It was a sensation Mei knew all too well—the sting of betrayal.

With a chilling finality, the blonde woman commanded.

"Capture them both and leave no survivors."

End of Chapter

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A/N: :D