The Trap

"This is it," Theresa said, holding the communicator in her hand and carefully comparing the red dot's position on the screen.

The group stood in a massive campus. This academy bore many similarities to St. Freya Academy, but due to being neglected for a long time, the gates of Senba Academy were covered in dense climbing vines. Only the two large characters for "Senba" could be vaguely discerned through the sea of green leaves.

"I can't believe I'm back here!" Kiana exclaimed, marveling at the unpredictability of life while surveying her surroundings. The sun had already risen, and the group no longer needed illumination to see everything clearly.

"So, you and Yae Sakura were students here before?" Sheng Jiu asked Kiana enviously, gazing at the vast campus.

"Hmph, of course! This place used to be so much fun. I'll tell you..."

"Alright, alright, stop talking for now. You two wait for me outside. The battle below will be very dangerous, and you can't participate," Theresa said, waving her hand to interrupt their idle chat.

"What do you mean, Auntie? We want to join the fight too! We can help!" Kiana said anxiously, trying to defend herself.

"You can't, Kiana. You promised me you'd obey orders. Sheng Jiu, please keep an eye on her for me and don't let her run off."

Sheng Jiu made an OK gesture. "Don't worry, Headmaster. I'll keep a close watch on her."

"Hey! Stop ruffling my hair!"

Theresa looked at the detector in her hand and cautiously stepped through the gates of Senba Academy. The surroundings were deathly quiet, almost eerily so. Theresa slowly ascended to the second floor with Judas on her back. At that moment, she could faintly hear a soft sobbing sound.

Theresa slowly unfurled Judas and drew out a long spear, then slowly pulled open the corridor door.

The inside of the corridor was filled with strange, thorny vines. Many desiccated corpses, long since drained of their fluids, were wrapped around the vines. Unlike the naturally air-dried corpses Sheng Jiu had seen at the orphanage, these clearly died from having their life force sucked out.

Theresa slowly peeled away the vines, following their extension to find their source.

It was a large, slowly writhing mass of vines, with a young girl trapped within. The girl wore a tattered school uniform and was sobbing quietly.

It seemed she was the one crying. Theresa glanced at the detector; the red dot was flashing rapidly. It appeared this girl, named Yunna, was the target. Theresa looked at the name on the girl's name tag, put away her detector, and walked towards the new Pseudo-Herrscher.

"You're the new Herrscher, aren't you? I've kept you waiting. Let me end your suffering," Theresa said, walking towards the girl within the vines, spear in hand.

"Please... kill me!" Yunna extended a blood-covered hand, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Your body is being eroded by Honkai Energy, but your consciousness is intact... It must be painful, right? I'll end your suffering."

Looking at the girl before her, on the verge of death from torment, Theresa sighed with pity and raised her spear, thrusting it towards the girl's heart.

"Thwack!" The spear pierced the girl's body, stopping just as it was about to pierce her heart.

While puzzled, Theresa felt a powerful force pushing back from the tip of the spear. She struggled to pull the spear back but found she couldn't budge it at all.

At that moment, a vine from behind pierced Theresa's left shoulder. The vine lifted Theresa, suspending her in mid-air.

"Hee hee hee, hahahahaha! Foolish girl, I knew you'd come to destroy me! Why is it always me who makes mistakes? Mom always hated me, and my classmates kept their distance. What did I ever do wrong?"

The previously pitiful girl was now laughing maniacally.

"It's okay, I've already killed those who hated me~ I've also gained power beyond everyone else. I! Am the chosen one!"

More vines pierced Theresa's body. Enduring the intense pain, she raised her hand to the side.

A massive object suddenly flew from nearby, instantly shattering the vines wrapped around Theresa.

"Don't underestimate me!" Theresa brandished Judas, intending to attack Yunna.

At that moment, a strong sense of weakness spread through her body. Theresa stumbled and collapsed to the ground. "...My body... I can't muster any strength... Did I get poisoned?"

"Hahahaha! Stop struggling. You've already been poisoned by the vines. You won't live much longer. Just obediently become my nourishment!" Yunna cackled and lunged at the fallen Theresa