The Vixen's Gambit: Tonight We Hunt

On the way to the medical bay, traces of the riot were everywhere.

Bodies, blood… Though Elysia tried her best to shield Lee's eyes, she still couldn't avoid seeing the gruesome scenes, worsening her already fragile mental state.

"Lee, the medical bay is just ahead. Mei is there too. You'll be fine."

Elysia comforted Lee, but just then, a surprised voice called out, "Captain Elysia, you're here!"

A slightly disheveled, green-haired young man, clearly having just gone through a tough battle, rushed over.

"Finally found you! Someone released a large number of Honkai beasts in the eastern district. It's complete chaos, and we're short-handed—Ms. Lee?!"

[Energy +2700]

Kosma, who had been incredibly anxious, instantly changed his expression upon seeing the pale Lee in Elysia's arms.

"Ms. Lee, how did you get hurt like this?! What happened?!"

"It's nothing, Kosma, just a small accident."

Lee looked up, forcing a calm smile, then turned to Elysia. "Elysia, go take care of business. We're close to the medical bay. Kosma can take me the rest of the way. Didn't you say it was safe there?"

"…Alright."

Seeing Lee's determined gaze, Elysia knew it was pointless to refuse. She called Kosma over, carefully entrusting Lee to him.

"Kosma, take Lee to Mei. No matter what, don't let her get hurt again… Remember, you must personally deliver her to Mei. Don't listen to anyone who tries to talk to you before you see her, understand?"

"Uh, yes, I understand!"

Kosma nervously accepted the responsibility. As he held Lee, he couldn't help but think—she's so light.

The hero who has protected humanity all this time… is she really this light?

After giving Kosma her instructions, Elysia didn't hesitate, rushing towards the battlefield at top speed. She needed to quell the riot quickly so she could return to Lee's side. She couldn't trust anyone else with her safety right now.

Kevin, Mobius, Mei, Vill-V… They all talked a good game, but none of them had protected Lee. Lee had always given them her all, her sincerity and strength. And what did she get in return?

Elysia knew Lee never expected anything in return, but seeing that always brightly burning flame reduced to such a fragile state filled her with a sense of… disappointment.

"Ms. Lee, are you alright?"

On the way to the medical bay, Kosma looked at the silent Lee in his arms, his heart filled with anxiety.

Though he didn't know what had happened, he saw the unhealed needle marks on Lee's body. He'd never seen Honkai beasts or Herrschers inflict such wounds. They looked more like something he'd see on lab subjects…

But… that couldn't be, right? Ms. Lee is a hero of humanity. The Fire Moths wouldn't do that to her. And she's so strong, unless it was Captain Kevin or Captain Elysia, who could restrain her in a lab?

"I'm fine, Kosma…"

Lee looked at the wounds on Kosma's face, clearly sustained in the recent fighting.

"You've… become a fine warrior."

"Ms. Lee, I've already successfully completed many missions!"

Though Kosma was more mature than his peers, he was still a boy. Hearing his idol's praise, he couldn't help but proudly recount his achievements. "Last time, our squad encountered an unexpected Chariot-class Honkai beast. The others ran, but I stayed and killed it, completing the mission!"

To Kosma's surprise, Lee didn't seem happy to hear his accomplishment. Instead, she looked somewhat saddened.

"Ms. Lee, did… did I do something wrong?" Kosma asked nervously.

"No, you're already an excellent warrior, Kosma. You're outstanding, but…"

"What I've always wanted… is for children like you to not have to become warriors."

Lee's voice trailed off, too softly for even Kosma to hear. She didn't repeat herself, but gave him a complex smile he couldn't quite understand.

"You'll likely face many battles in the future. Take care of yourself."

She's worried about me! Kosma suddenly realized, but his answer remained unchanged. "Ms. Lee, heroes never run from a fight!"

"…Yes, Kosma, you're right."

Lee's smile faltered, and she slowly closed her eyes, a distant look on her face.

"Heroes can never run."

I might not know what it'll achieve, but I'll just plant this flag here!

If I can't become a Meta-Morph this time, I'll charge a Herrscher in my wheelchair in front of Kosma and show him what "heroes never run" truly means!

Just kidding~

The Sixth Honkai Eruption and its related incidents finally came to an end.

The Fire Moths announced the development of a new mass-producible miracle drug against the Honkai. They'd successfully saved over a third of the affected population—three million people—in the disaster-stricken cities, achieving unprecedented acclaim.

The Fire Moths successfully entered the public eye, becoming a super-organization surpassing even the United Nations.

But the Fire Moths had also suffered great internal turmoil. Some Honkai cultists hidden within HQ had taken advantage of the all-hands-on-deck deployment against the Sixth Herrscher to launch a rebellion, resulting in heavy casualties and the loss of many high-ranking members—or so the Fire Moths claimed.

Lee, the hero who once defended humanity, was gravely injured in the riot and forced to retire from the front lines.

But humanity's hope would not be extinguished. The Fire Moths had others who inherited her heroic will and would continue to fight against the Honkai, with strength surpassing even Lee's!

"Helping an old lady cross the street, sponsoring a poor student's education, saving classmates in an earthquake, single-handedly resolving a nation's Honkai disaster… Aside from the first one, I don't even remember doing any of this."

In her hospital room, Lee turned off the TV in disbelief.

"And I was a poor student on scholarship. How could I sponsor anyone…?"

When I was powerful, they wanted to throw me to the South Pole. Now that I'm a cripple, I'm suddenly put on a pedestal. Lee could only marvel at the Fire Moths' mastery of face-changing.

But she never cared much for such things anyway.