Saving Wendy; The Coveted Gem Is Within Reach (Continued)

"..."

Wendy wiped the glistening tears from the corner of her eyes.

I looked around my bedroom, where I was all alone.

I felt a little disappointed.

(Has Ghostly Mister already gone back?)

When Bai Ge first appeared half a month ago, she thought it was because of her Gem of Desire experiment that caused her eyes to hallucinate and she heard the voice of a ghost.

Fortunately, she didn't have the typical fear of ghosts that most girls have. After learning Bai Ge's intentions, although she was tempted, she didn't hesitate to refuse the suggestion to give up the gem.

Even though she understands that because of her Gem of Desire, she has lost her future as S-Rank Valkyrie and has become a cripple and a living vessel for gems.

But Wendy believes her sacrifice is meaningful. If it is for the Valkyrie's mission to protect humanity, she is willing to accept the Artificial Herrscher experiment, risking her own life.

"... Let's go to the cafeteria for food."

Wendy struggled to climb into her wheelchair and moved toward the cafeteria. Even though she was paralyzed, the Oceania Branch hadn't considered assigning her a caregiver.

And when she finally made it to the cafeteria.

Wendy hesitated for a moment, but ultimately gritted her teeth and went inside. The next second, the blinding gazes around her made her involuntarily lower her head.

"A standard breakfast, please."

She ordered breakfast, placed it on her lap, and then fled towards the cafeteria exit.

The Oceania Branch staff and Valkyrie who were also dining nearby all avoided Wendy when they saw her, their eyes filled with rejection as if they were looking at some dangerous Honkai Beast.

The unspeakable chatter reached Wendy's ears, ruining her otherwise pleasant mood.

"Look, here he comes again."

"Despite investing so many resources, there have been no results."

"I heard she used to be an A-Rank Valkyrie."

"Her? I think it won't be long before she becomes Dead Soldier."

Wendy's eyes grew increasingly gloomy; the atmosphere in this Oceania Branch was clearly completely different from that of St. Freya.

A former A-level prodigy like her, now a useless cripple, would be ostracized by Leng Yan wherever she went in this branch.

Wendy was starting to regret her decision.

She initially thought that joining Schicksal would allow her to better fulfill her mission as Valkyrie and fight against the Honkai Beast, but unexpectedly, she was treated as an experimental subject.

Wendy couldn't help but reminisce about her time at St. Freya, the school where everyone cared for each other and was full of human warmth—the warmest time in her memory now.

"Hey, you can go straight to the lab now."

Suddenly a figure appeared in front of Wendy and gave an order.

"Huh? Isn't the experiment in the afternoon?"

"It's because you're too slow. The higher-ups are pushing you hard. From now on, start from this point every day."

"... Yes, I understand."

Wendy thought to herself that it seemed she wouldn't have a chance to eat dinner today.

The girl sighed and hurried toward the laboratory. On the way, she ran into the Valkyrie, who had just returned from a mission, and a look of envy flashed involuntarily in her eyes.

In the past, Wendy also took up arms and rushed to fight against the Honkai Beast. She was faster and higher than anyone else, sweeping away the enemy with a storm of bullets.

However, now they can only become subjects of experiments.

"Hey, test subject, you're lying down again today."

"I remember you used to be pretty good, how come you've gotten so bad after all this time?"

"She was even expected to become S-Rank Valkyrie, but in the end, she's just a lab rat that's about to die in the laboratory."

Wendy quickly moved away from the Valkyrie.

These former teammates, those who envied her, those who followed her, those who were jealous of her—after Wendy fell into her current predicament, all they could offer were mockery.

The girl's eyes were dull and lifeless, and the voice of that unseen figure floated into her mind. Only Bai Ge's voice could bring Wendy a trace of warmth in this cold base.

"... It seems that the only person who would still care about me in this state is Ghostly Mister."

Wendy smiled wryly and muttered to herself.

Although she couldn't see the figure and it was always the voice that was advising Wendy to give up, she could definitely feel the sympathy and pity for her from that voice.

Wendy wasn't the kind of person with such high self-esteem that she would say she didn't need pity; Bai Ge's pity, conveyed only through his voice, did make her feel a little warm.

At least there are still people in this world, and there is still a ghost who is willing to care about me in this way.

(Although I've never seen what Ghostly Mister looks like, he can't just have a voice, right? I really want to see what kind of ghost he is. I hope he's not like the ones in horror movies.)

And at that very moment.

Wow!

"Ouch!"

"Guha!"

World-weary penguins, doves

A pitiful scream came from behind Wendy. She looked over in surprise and found that the Valkyrie who had just mocked her were now lying on the ground with their eyes rolled back, their bodies still convulsing, and some of them were even oozing ominous fluids.

"!!!"

Wendy was startled and quickly sped away, while she seemed to hallucinate hearing a familiar cold snort.

After she arrived at the laboratory.

This Oceania branch is less of Valkyrie military base and more like a Schicksal research institute, only it never seems to produce any significant results.

Therefore, when headquarters discovered that Wendy had a high compatibility with the Gem of Desire, they put in a lot of effort to conduct various experiments on the girl, hoping to get results that would satisfy Dogt.

"Wendy, the former A-Rank Valkyrie Wendy, your performance lately has been terrible. Your fusion rate with the core is less than 30% so far. How are we supposed to explain this to headquarters?" the laboratory director said with dissatisfaction.

"Yes, I'm sorry, I will try my best."

"Forget it, you don't need to tell us. We'll work hard for you. Starting today, double the amount of experiments. We must achieve significant results soon, understand?"

"Double the number of experiments..."

Wendy's face turned pale instantly, and she trembled in her wheelchair, her eyes filled with undisguised fear.

"Don't worry, there's plenty of painkillers."

"...yes"

"Since you understand, then hurry up and get on the testing platform. What a waste! You call yourself an A-Rank Valkyrie? You're so slow even climbing up a testing platform. Someone, come help her get up there quickly!"

Two researchers lifted Wendy directly onto the experimental table. To prevent her from struggling, her limbs were restrained with locks and braces. Then, a purple liquid Honkai Energy reagent was thrust into her.

Wendy closed her eyes tightly in fear.

Her body, which had just been healed by her Ghostly Mister last night, was once again subjected to merciless torment.

"Hmm? Oh, how come her body has suddenly improved so much? Oh well, never mind. It's good to increase the dosage. Today's experimental goal is to break through the 32% fusion rate and increase the concentration of Honkai Energy reagent by 200HW."

"Understood, Director!"

Requesting flowers?

"Hehehe, don't disappoint me. As long as this experiment succeeds, Bishop Otto will definitely appreciate me. At that time, Dr. Magi and Nagamitsu will be the number one scientist in Schicksal."

A group of demons disguised as humans observe the girl's reaction after she is injected with Honkai Energy reagent through a glass window.

Purple lines appeared on Wendy's skin, and that familiar pain spread throughout her body once again.

(It's okay, it's okay, I'm not afraid, it doesn't hurt. This is all for protecting humanity, it's the Valkyrie's mission. I'm not afraid, it doesn't hurt, I'll be alright, I can do it.)

Wendy kept repeating this to herself, while she felt a burning sensation in the spot on her right leg where the Gem of Desire had been implanted.

The poison injected into her body was being absorbed by the Gem of Desire, which was then rapidly eroding her body, and she could do nothing but grit her teeth and endure it.

Wendy quickly lost her senses; she felt as if she were surrounded by darkness, and a voice appeared in her mind.

(Destroy everything, destroy everything.)

(May everyone who has hurt you die.)

(This world has never been a beautiful place, so the Valkyrie's mission is meaningless.)

(Humans are all hypocrites; destroy them, destroy the world.)

Such a tyrannical and extreme will eroded Wendy's spirit, and she sensed that something new was being born.

It was a consciousness emerging from the Gem of Desire, about to replace her.

Wendy was instinctively scared.

The feeling of one's spirit being gradually replaced is more terrifying than physical pain.

"No, don't..."

(Destroy, destroy everyone!)

"I don't want to disappear, don't replace me."