Collapse Iron: Today's mount is the female protagonist.

Page 44

Looking into his eyes, at that gentle yet earnest assurance, Wendy's annoyed expression gradually calmed down.

Deep down, she was afraid that one day her condition would suddenly worsen and she would die. She was also afraid that even if she finally met someone who was good to her, they would not be able to live together in the end. After all, it was normal for test subjects to die in experiments, and she might also die mysteriously at some point.

However, looking at the other person, she seemed to gain a great sense of security from Qi Shi, and her panicked heart was soothed.

Wendy pursed her lips and whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

"You mustn't lie to me."

Chapter 69 Leg Recovery

A few days later.

"Well--!"

After taking the medication prepared by Qi Shi today, and during the usual waiting and observation period, Wendy suddenly widened her eyes.

"My legs! I can feel my legs again!"

She exclaimed in a mixture of excitement and bewilderment, a slight sensation coming from her thigh, followed by increasingly sharp pain and numbness, like a little girl seeing the light for the first time. She hurriedly asked Qi Shi about her condition.

"I still feel some pain and a feeling of fullness. Is this normal?"

"Don't worry, these are all normal phenomena. You will gradually feel your legs again, but the stinging discomfort will last for a while." Qi Shi quickly replied gently, soothing her emotions just right.

As Wendy was comforted, her overwhelmed emotions gradually subsided, but they did not disappear. Instead, after receiving confirmation, they turned into a more restrained joy, and she couldn't help but clench her hands tightly.

She looked at the throbbing sensation coming from between her legs. Compared to the despair she had experienced for so long, a feeling of lifelessness in her body, this time, though painful, she finally felt a profound sense of proof that she was alive again.

Then Wendy's gaze fell on Qi Shi beside her. Seeing the smile on Qi Shi's face, as if he was also happy for her positive changes, a genuine smile unconsciously appeared on Wendy's face as well.

An unprecedented sense of anticipation arose in my heart, along with a very special and intense emotion.

In the time that followed, Wendy felt the changes in her legs, and Qi Shi stayed by her side the whole time.

The pain became clearer; it was no longer like a burning flame, but a real, tangible pain. She could feel that her legs were alive.

One day later, her toes could move, and four days later, she regained feeling in her legs. On the seventh day, Wendy, accompanied by Qi Shi, tried to walk. When she stood up with some difficulty and touched the ground with her feet, Wendy wanted to give Qi Shi a big hug.

In the time that followed, she began to walk occasionally and do appropriate training. Although it was painful and somewhat difficult, she was full of energy and vitality every day.

"Relax, everything will be alright."

Inside the main laboratory of the Oceania branch of Destiny.

This place contains the most cutting-edge technology in the entire Oceania. The cool-toned metal walls and the dim interior lighting house various sophisticated and complex instruments, huge and conspicuous petri dishes, and wires and pipes that gleam.

Qi Shi looked at the girl beside him and comforted her with the same expression as always.

"Mmm." Wendy, sitting in her wheelchair, unconsciously clenched her fists, her palms sweaty, and answered softly.

Although she can walk, her legs have not fully recovered. She can only move around in moderation, otherwise it will put a strain on her body. She still needs to use a wheelchair most of the time, since her legs are still in pain. To fully recover, she still needs to complete the final experimental adjustments.

Despite her response, Wendy still seemed quite nervous.

She was naturally nervous. Even though she kept reassuring herself, she couldn't calm herself down. This experiment was the key to whether she could truly recover. If she could pass it, she could completely get rid of the effects of the gem and live a life like a normal Valkyrie.

But what if it fails...?

Will I be abandoned?

This was the case when she first came to the Oceania branch. At the beginning of the experiment, everyone had high hopes for her, and she was surrounded by smiles, encouragement, and praise. But after her experiment failed, everything changed, leaving only indifference and disgust. She became a piece of trash despised by everyone.

She thought of Qi Shi again.

The other person has always been so good to her, accompanying her, comforting her, and constantly helping her.

If I fail in the end, will the other person be completely disappointed in me and then abandon me... and never talk to me again?

If she were to pray, would she be able to get a second chance?

Her heart had become extremely sensitive amidst countless instances of indifference. The more she paid attention, the more she couldn't help but overthink. Whenever she thought of such a scene, Wendy couldn't help but feel panicked and become even more nervous.

"Can I prepare some more?"

Wendy's breathing became rapid and erratic. She flinched, looking at the experiment right in front of her, a clear sense of panic and resistance emanating from her.

Qi Shi saw the other person's appearance but was not angry. Instead, he bent down and gently straightened her collar, speaking softly while looking at her at eye level.

"Don't be afraid, Wendy. It's been so long, don't you still believe me? I told you, I will protect you."

Looking into those eyes, it felt as if a force had quietly settled in her heart, and the panic in Wendy's eyes was gradually soothed.

She pursed her lips, gazing absently at the other person. He always seemed so reliable. Receiving a response brought her immense comfort, and she rallied herself.

"I'm not scared," Wendy replied weakly, stubbornly defending herself.

She simply looked at Qi Shi and spoke in a voice only she could hear.

Don't lie to me.

You're all I have left.

If the other party dares to lie to her, she will... she will... put aside her dignity and keep begging the other party, hoping that she can get a second chance.

The furious voice in his mind roared, "Can't you stand up for yourself? Don't you feel disgusted by your weak and subservient behavior? If you dare betray me, kill him, lock him in a cage, and torture him until he submits!"

To this, Wendy can only say, you don't know anything, you have no idea how good he is.

"Alright, let's begin then." Qi Shi said with a smile, his completely relaxed demeanor making her feel at ease as well.

As Wendy entered the petri dish, she saw most of the scene in the entire laboratory.

Numerous figures dressed in white coats busied themselves with their tasks without a trace of emotion, operating as methodically as machinery. The usually imperious branch leader was serving tea and water.

A sense of speechlessness suddenly welled up inside her.

The entire Oceania branch of Destiny has been thoroughly infiltrated by others. They are still inside the branch, using its resources for experiments. Even though she had lost all hope and approval for the rotten Oceania branch, she felt no resentment at how easily it had been controlled by others, and she hadn't even managed to resist.

But looking at the current scene, she, as a Valkyrie, still felt speechless.

However, under such emotional circumstances, her tense mind actually relaxed a bit.

Wendy couldn't help but think to herself, "This guy is too amazing. He has easily taken control of the entire Oceania branch without anyone noticing, making everyone here work for him like fools. Moreover, he even has a way to deal with her situation, which the whole of Oceania is helpless against."

Despite complaining like this, I felt inexplicably at ease.

Looking ahead, Wendy met Qi Shi's gaze at the front of the room. Their eyes met, and after a slight nod, Wendy took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

As soon as Qi Shi gave the order to begin the experiment, all the controlled personnel in the laboratory sprang into action.

My consciousness gradually faded, and the faint beeping sounds from the instruments drifted further and further away.

Chapter 70 Come and face me if you dare!

As her consciousness drifted, Wendy felt herself in a warm, gentle ocean.

In a state between sleep and wakefulness, she seemed to transform into a spirit of consciousness, traversing and exploring her body, traveling through every inch of her blood vessels and meridians. She felt her body being nourished, becoming more and more energetic and vibrant.

Until she touched something, as if breaking through a black barrier.

Instantly, an overwhelming sense of oppression swept over her, and all the warm light around her turned into a dark wave. From the depths, countless black claws gripped her body, tearing her apart and pulling her into the abyss.

Wendy was suddenly dragged from heaven into hell. The world before her eyes had changed. The sky was dark and colorless, the world was black and white, with only black energy swirling around and thick clouds making it hard to breathe.

"So it was all for nothing? A worthless piece of trash!"

"You've had that thing implanted in your body, turning you into a monster. How dare you still have the nerve to live on!"

"I heard she used to be a famous Valkyrie, but now she's just a useless piece of trash wasting her life here. It's disgusting."

“You don’t understand anything…”

A series of cold and disgusted figures appeared around her. The oppressive atmosphere and the chilling edge of their words forced Wendy to retreat. She gritted her teeth and weakly retorted, her mental defenses being gradually eroded.

Until, at the very front of those shadowy figures, a young male figure in black appeared. Although she couldn't see his face clearly, Wendy knew for sure that it was him, the one who had been standing beside her all along.

However, the other person was looking down at her without saying a word, exuding an uncomfortable aura.

"No, no, I didn't..."

Wendy seemed to sense something; her pupils trembled, and the panic of escape retreated, completely shattering all her psychological defenses.

"Hey, it's not right to infringe on someone's portrait rights."

A bright, cheerful voice rang out, and the black figure shattered and vanished in an instant.

Qi Shi spoke, appearing in the other person's world.

He had only been observing from the sidelines, watching Wendy's reaction after being triggered by the Herrscher core's negative emotions. Qi Shi was quite pleased; she clearly had a rebellious spirit, much better than Mei's immediate withdrawal. Judging from this, as long as she found her direction, she could break through this world with her own beliefs.

When he saw the shadowy figure representing himself appear in Wendy's mental world, Qi Shi could no longer hold back.

Unexpectedly, his presence, his constant help and guidance in adjusting Wendy's mindset, turned out to be the final blow that completely shattered her psychological defenses.

Oh dear, how could Honkai be so terrible?

They fabricate stories out of thin air that never happened, maliciously smearing someone's image.

Wendy froze, her gaze momentarily blank and dazed, before she seemed to finally remember what had happened.

"I'm... no, why are you..."

I should be undergoing a physical adjustment experiment right now, is this her inner world?

She stared blankly at Qi Shi. His appearance seemed to pierce through the dark clouds and bring sunshine, clearing away all the confusion and gloom, and she finally understood what was going on.

A warm force dispelled the chill, like an embrace, closer than ever before. She felt intimately connected to him, and in this close companionship and warm feeling, she ignored the dark and oppressive aura surging within her.

Wendy, however, did not look at the shadowy figures. Instead, she stared blankly at the guy opposite her, feeling a strange mix of emotions and a deep sense of security.

It turns out he really wasn't lying.

What you say will protect me will truly come true, even in the spiritual realm.

Seriously, I've been saved again...

Qi Shi chuckled and said, "Go do what you should be doing."

Although they didn't say much to each other, the way their eyes met, their minds so closely connected, seemed to clearly convey all their emotions to each other. Wendy responded softly.

When her gaze returned to the black figures, her eyes were no longer filled with emotion.

"What you guys think is completely meaningless to me. I didn't participate in the experiment to hear your opinions."