The Serpent's Shadow in the Storm / Student and Friend, Theresa's Tram Dilemma

Wind and thunder have always been inseparable.

When Wendy used the power of the Herrscher of Wind to create a tornado, the surrounding clouds were also gathered together.

This is the power of science.

"Do you want to die?!"

Upon seeing the boy's actions, Wendy's expression changed slightly.

Without the power to control the rules like Herrscher, there is only one outcome if the other party rashly summons lightning—to be reduced to ashes in the thunder.

"My life or death should be of no concern to Miss Wendy, right?"

Or perhaps, Miss Wendy doesn't actually want me to die?

He spoke softly, Shi Hen tone laced with a carefree smile.

"You... you liar!" Wendy frowned, Wendy face filled with anger. "Since you're so eager to die, then I'll grant your wish right now!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Wendy opened her palm slightly, and a blue vortex instantly took shape and grew larger, resembling a blue spear capable of tearing everything apart.

Ignoring the girl's threat, Shi Hen raised his katana high in his right hand and said, "Disappear along with Lei Ming!"

As he shouted, Shi Hen slashed down heavily with his lightning-streaked katana, and lightning from the sky fell at the same time, mostly heading towards the red mecha.

Even though the katana in the boy's hand contained a portion of the Herrscher of Thunder's power, he was not Herrscher of Thunder and could not truly control the direction of the lightning.

"Mark!"

Upon witnessing this scene from the ground, Mei couldn't help but shout out, her eyes instantly igniting with intense lightning, causing the lightning strikes in the sky to dim and pause for a moment.

On the other side, Kiana's eyes widened, and a golden light shone deep within her pupils.

At the critical moment, a cyan vortex passed straight through the mecha, instantly shattering the lightning that was about to fall from the sky.

How can a little bit of natural thunder compare to the god who manipulates fluids?

A gust of wind swept by, bringing only a slight chill, and the corners of Shi Hen' lips curled up slightly beneath the mecha.

The flames on its back and legs suddenly became incredibly intense, and the Apollo instantly transformed into a red afterimage, flashing towards Wendy, its purple katana gleaming brightly.

Sure enough, that guy lied to me after all...

Watching the red light arrive in an instant, and the wind barrier in front of her was easily cut open by the opponent, Wendy sighed deeply in her heart, and closed her eyes, preparing to face her final fate.

Having expended most of her power to shield the boy from the lightning bolt, she no longer had time to dodge.

She ultimately failed to truly understand humanity.

However, having destroyed the Oceania Branch and committed countless unforgivable crimes, her end can be considered well-deserved.

Unfortunately, she would never be able to see Teacher Theresa again...

The thought flashed through her mind, and she remembered the paper windmill that she had torn apart when she unleashed her power. Wendy could only sigh in her heart.

But a few seconds later, the girl couldn't help but open her eyes again.

Because what came upon her was not excruciating pain, but... a slightly passionate embrace?

"Why?"

Looking at the red mecha that was holding her tightly and feeling the intense heat emanating from it, Wendy subconsciously asked a question, her voice weak and feeble, as if she had become that disabled girl who could only sit in a wheelchair again.

"Principal Theresa said that we should take good care of you along the way." The light on the mecha dimmed a little, Shi Hen's voice was also a little weak, but his tone was still firm. "So, I promise you."

I promise I will never let anyone hurt you again, Miss Wendy!

Hearing the boy's weak yet firm words and feeling his incredibly warm embrace, Wendy felt a cold spot in her heart quietly melting.

In an instant, the howling wind softened.

P. S.: This is a combined chapter. Those who complained about the short page count should adjust the font size... (○`ε′○) っ

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Snake Shadow in the Storm

"Mark!"

As soon as Shi Hen landed with Wendy, a white-haired girl immediately pounced on them, ignoring Wendy's surprised and astonished gaze, and hugged the red mecha tightly, with such force that it even knocked over the hundreds of kilograms of the Apollo instantly.

Shi Hen: "..."

If it weren't for the fact that Dr. Tesla's mech was incredibly sturdy, he felt he would have broken several bones.

"You..." Sitting almost like a duck on the waist of the Apollo, Kiana frowned slightly as if she wanted to complain, but at the last moment her eyes softened. "I'm so glad you're alright..."

Speaking in a heartbreakingly weary voice, Kiana revealed a joyful smile of relief on her face.

Having experienced the pain of losing Siegfried, she no longer wanted anyone else to leave her side.

Looking into the girl's soft, spring-like eyes, Shi Hen stunned. He raised his hand and gently placed it on the girl's white hair, whispering, "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

I believe in Miss Wendy, and I believe that the part of her heart that yearns for happiness and beauty will surely overcome the hatred bred by the Honkai.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Kiana glanced at Wendy beside her and winked.

That makes sense, but why does she still feel so unhappy?

Kiana glared angrily at the boy and silently wrote the incident down in her little notebook.

Still on the battlefield of the Fourth Honkai Outbreak, the boy is still seriously injured, but she knows how to behave appropriately.

Once we get back... Hmph!

Looking down at the red mecha beneath her, Kiana automatically conjured up hundreds of ways to punish her opponent, determined to teach this reckless guy a lesson and make him cherish his life.

Noticing the terrifying aura emanating from the white-haired girl in front of her, Wendy couldn't help but take a half step back.

She felt she shouldn't be there at that moment.

"Mark..."

Mei arrived late, saw the white-haired girl sitting on the mecha as if no one else was there, and her heart sank.

That position clearly belongs to...

Noticing the lingering gloom between Kiana's brows, Mei, relying on her strong self-control, interrupted her thoughts. She merely gave the boy a subtle glare before turning her gaze to Wendy, revealing a gentle smile as she said, "Congratulations, Miss Wendy, on defeating the Will of Honkai. Now we can become comrades."

Although it's not entirely from a first-person perspective, as a former Third Herrscher, she understands just how intense the impact of Honkai on people is when Herrscherization.

It is to expose the darkest and most painful corners of life, and then magnify them infinitely, brewing them into an extreme darkness from which one cannot escape.

To defeat it, one must have the courage and determination to confront one's own darkest corners.

"Companion..." Upon hearing this somewhat distant word, Wendy's expression faltered, but then the girl smiled, bowing slightly as she said, "I'm sorry, I just now..."

Before she could finish speaking, Wendy suddenly felt a hard hand land on her head.

Looking up, what came into the girl's view was a pair of electronic observation eyes that appeared red due to the nature of the material.

But through those cold mecha parts, Wendy could truly feel a heartwarming warmth that went straight to her heart.

"Miss Wendy, the real culprit behind all this is the Honkai."

In the face of such a bizarre and unpredictable disaster, we are all victims.

So... don't say 'sorry' anymore." Stroking the girl's head, which looked particularly small under the mecha's hand, Shi Hen said in a gentle but firm tone, "As a Valkyrie... no, as a human, what you should do is not dwell on the mistakes of the past, but carry them into the future."

I believe Miss Wendy possesses that power.

As he spoke, Shi Hen secretly glanced at Mei.

Learn from Mei, this is how you use your talk-no-jutsu (persuasion technique).

Only words that are frank and directly address the other person's heart can have enough power to move them the most.

"Hen..." she called out instinctively, Wendy eyes flashing, her expression gradually hardening. She nodded solemnly and said, "I will definitely do it."

As a former genius Valkyrie of the Oceania Branch and hailed as the most promising candidate to become the next S-rank Valkyrie, Wendy has that confidence.

More importantly, after three years of decline and the trials of the Fourth Honkai Outbreak, she has come to understand what the most precious treasure in life truly is.

Nodding slightly, Shi Hen was about to offer a few more words of encouragement when a notification sound suddenly rang out:

Bite--

It was Hyperion communication.

While Wendy unleashed her Herrscher power Shi Hen and the others were fighting, the intense energy fluctuations also affected communications.

Now that the battle is over and the effects of the Herrscher of Wind's arrival are gradually fading, communications have naturally been restored.

The communication connection was established, Himeko's voice immediately rang out. "Shi Hen, headquarters has learned about the Fourth Honkai Outbreak..."

"Hmph! Aunt Himeko, it's too late for you to say that now~"

The Fourth Honkai Outbreak has been ended by me and Hen, and Wendy is willing to return to St. Freya with us.

Before Himeko could finish speaking, Kiana had already shouted out, her beautiful face filled with pride.

Mei: "..."

What do you mean by "ended by you and Hen"? Does that mean I didn't exist at all?

It seems she really went too far in being tolerant, to the point that even a little white-haired girl dared to provoke her.

In an instant, a dangerous glint appeared in the eyes of the girl who was usually as gentle as Yamato Nadeshiko.

"Let me finish!" Himeko said somewhat roughly, taking a deep breath before continuing, "Headquarters has ordered us to hand over the Fourth Herrscher... to World Serpent for processing."

"..."

Upon hearing this, the communication channel instantly fell silent.

After a long pause, Shi Hen was the first to react and asked, "Major Himeko, what does this mean!?"

Even though they have announced an alliance, Schicksal and World Serpent are two different organizations after all. How could they easily give up such an invaluable resource as the Herrscher?

Moreover, he had just won the Fourth Honkai Outbreak by risking his life, giving Wendy the possibility of controlling the Herrscher power as a human.

Both logically and emotionally, he could not possibly accept such an order.

"How the hell am I supposed to know what the hell headquarters is doing?!" Hearing the boy's question, Himeko was equally furious, couldn't help but swear. "Headquarters suddenly sent an order, and I don't even know what's going on!"

Moreover, according to headquarters, the people from World Serpent should have arrived by now, you must..."

Without listening to what Himeko would say next, Shi Hen and the others all turned their attention to a figure that had appeared out of nowhere.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Students and Friends, Theresa's Tram Choice

"Miss Sakura? How could it be you!?"

Upon seeing the person who arrived, Mei couldn't help but call out first.

Yes, without a doubt, the person sent by World Serpent this time was none other than Yae Sakura.

Moreover, the other party was wearing the exact same Miko outfit as when they met in Changkong City.

In an instant, Mei felt as if she had returned to the Inari Shrine in Changkong City.

But in just a moment, Mei snapped back to reality, gripping her katana and looking at the Miko with wary eyes.

She understood that the situation was now completely different from what it had been in Changkong City.

They are no longer shrine Chief Priest and visitors, but the most direct enemies in the conflict!

"Miss Miko! What brings you here?" Kiana exclaimed in surprise, but a smile couldn't help but appear on her face. "That's wonderful! I was a little nervous when I heard what Aunt Himeko said earlier, but I didn't expect you to come too, Miss Miko."

As she spoke, Kiana glanced around and asked, "Where's that snake guy? Is the masked imposter here this time too?"

"..."

For a moment, apart from Wendy, who was offline for three years and unaware of the version updates, everyone wore an awkward expression, unsure of what to do.

"Kiana!" Shi Hen said solemnly, pressing his hand on the white-haired girl's shoulder, "Miss Sakura is the person World Serpent sent to seize the Fourth Herrscher!"

"..."

Kiana blinked, completely bewildered.

"No, it's not about taking it." Yae Sakura gently shook her head and corrected softly, "According to your bishop's orders, the Fourth Herrscher belongs to our World Serpent. I'm just here to take what belongs to us."

"Why, Miss Miko!?"