Chat Group: Starting by Swapping Bodies with Elysia?

"Wind Dance!"

Wendy's Herrscher powers allowed her to manipulate wind, and for a Valkyrie with average academic skills, high-speed attacks and storms were the most effective way to use them. Crude, but effective.

She hadn't used this close-range attack against Rita. Directly confronting the melee-focused Argent Knight wasn't a good idea.

But now, her opponent was different.

After a brief exchange with [Bronya], she decided close combat was the answer.

"Not bad." [Bronya], still in her normal clothes, commented as Project Bunny blocked Wendy's attack with its shield.

Herrschers were generally mages, weak in close combat. The tech-focused Herrscher of Reason was even more so.

However—

"This Bronya is the true Herrscher of Reason." A dramatic sound effect accompanied her words as a blue aura enveloped [Bronya].

Her white dress vanished, replaced by a sleek combat suit. Her long hair transformed into a high ponytail.

"In the name of Truth, I manifest." A high-tech spear materialized in her hand, pointed at the retreating Wendy.

While the difference between the Herrscher of Reason and Truth was mainly cosmetic, Jiang Qiao had imposed a limitation. As Reason, she could only use 80% of her power. As Truth, she had access to her full potential.

"Hmph, just a change of clothes!" While she sensed an increase in power, Wendy wasn't worried. Her Honkai energy level was steadily rising, nearing 1000 HW.

She was getting stronger.

This battle is mine!

[Bronya], ignoring Wendy's inner monologue, calmly observed her, the Herrscher markings in her eyes simplifying, returning to their purest form.

Project Bunny's voice echoed in her mind: Vector analysis complete. Overload engaged. Analyzing target's movement patterns… complete. Deploying drones… 1… 4… 8… 36.

[Bronya] vanished, leaving a blue streak as she lunged at Wendy, her spear aimed at the girl's face.

"It's over. You lose."

Wendy's eyes widened as she snapped out of her daze. She wanted to protest, but she was surrounded by thirty-six miniature energy cannons.

"I don't want this fight to end with your death, Wendy. You deserve a better future." [Bronya]'s monotone voice held a surprising sincerity.

Wendy fell silent, then nodded dejectedly. "Fine, I'll behave."

She didn't truly hate humanity. Her anger stemmed from her lost future.

—And from being betrayed by the person she trusted most.

"...Can I stay with you?" Wendy asked hesitantly.

Despite her brash Herrscher persona, she was insecure and craved companionship. It was this similarity to Seele that had allowed Bronya to reach her, to create their bond.

And her Herrscher personality was simply an exaggeration of her deepest desires. As a Herrscher, she was "perfect," her personality and will amplified.

The Gem of Desire experiment and her bleak future had severed her ties with Schicksal. Otto wouldn't tolerate a Herrscher with free will. She had nowhere to go.

The wind was free, untamed.

If not for Jiang Qiao, Wendy would have likely embraced her desires and died a Herrscher's death.

But [Bronya], another Herrscher, made her feel… safe. His sincere words and handsome face… despite being strangers, despite being enemies moments ago, despite being beaten up, she still asked to stay with him.

"Okay."

Jiang Qiao wouldn't refuse a Herrscher's companionship. She was a powerful ally and a cute girl.

And in a way, Wendy was a continuation of Elysia's ideals, a flower blooming from the seeds she'd sown.

He had to protect this flower that had bloomed because of Elysia.

He looked at the smiling Wendy, a sense of satisfaction washing over him.

The original Wendy had died because of Bronya's betrayal. This Wendy lived because of 'Bronya's' efforts.

He'd done something right, as 'Bronya,' hadn't he?

Then, a message appeared in the chat group—

Elysia: Help! Mr. Jiang Qiao!

He hadn't been paying attention to the chat group lately, mostly seeing Hu Tao and Yunyun's conversations. He'd occasionally chatted with Elysia, giving her instructions.

But things should have been stable in the previous era. Wendy was under control, with Totori and Elysia there… how could things have gone wrong?

Jiang Qiao: What happened?

Elysia: Wendy became a Herrscher!

"?" [Bronya] was confused. How was that possible?

Jiang Qiao: …Did you provoke her?

With his safeguards and Totori and Elysia's presence, Wendy shouldn't have transformed.

Elysia: Of course not! Do I look like someone who'd do that? But Totori is so cute~

Elysia, hiding from the storm, grinned, then remembered the situation.

Elysia: …It wasn't our(my) fault! This isn't the time! Dr. MEI said you'd know what to do. Save us!

Jiang Qiao: I'm on my way.

He sighed. He hadn't expected things to go so wrong in the previous era.

But it was fine…

He looked at Wendy. She held the key.

"Wendy, I need to borrow your core."

"...Huh? Sure!" Wendy agreed without hesitation. While the core was important to her—unlike regular Herrschers, she couldn't regenerate it easily—she trusted him.

"Thanks."

"..." Wendy noticed a subtle change in his expression.

"What's wrong?"

—He couldn't take it.

Perhaps due to the incomplete nature of the Gem, or Schicksal's experiments, the core was irremovable.

Or rather, he could remove it, but Wendy would die. The core was linked to her life force, even more so than Kiana's connection to the Herrscher of the Void's core.

To remove it safely, he needed the power of life and death, or for Wendy to undergo a full Herrscher transformation.

But it was fine—

He had another way to borrow it!

"Bronya, I need to borrow someone else's body." He contacted Bronya. While he could take it without asking, he preferred to be polite.

"A boy?"

"A girl."

"...Okay." Bronya's initial resistance vanished.

While not overly concerned with such things, kissing a stranger felt… wrong.

But a girl… especially a cute one… that was acceptable.

…Seele will understand!

—Oblivious to Bronya's inner turmoil, he ended the call.

"Um… what's wrong?"

"I need to borrow your body."

"Okay… wait, what?!" Wendy blinked, confused.

Borrow my body? How?

Before she could ask, her eyes widened.

A gentle touch, then, a dizzying sensation.

She opened her eyes to an unfamiliar scene, a warship's interior.

And a strange feeling… she looked down at herself—the distinctly feminine attire made her gasp, especially… down there.

"AAAAAHHHHH! (A sound akin to a screaming groundhog)"

Deep within the Sea of Quanta, a blue-haired Wendy sneezed.

"Achoo!"

"Are you cold?" A cold, yet concerned, voice echoed in her mind. It was the other Seele.

While Seele's unique physique shouldn't be affected by the cold, Dark Seele still cared… No, not care! It's just… this is my body too! Don't mistreat it!

"I'm fine." Seele shook her head, looking at the endless snow.

"How much longer?"

She could have chosen a comfortable world to live in, but she'd never stopped searching for a way out of the Sea of Quanta.

"Soon. I sense a weak point in this bubble." Dark Seele, ever the helpful companion, had been guiding them.

"Okay." Seele nodded, determination and longing in her eyes.

"Wait for me, Bronya! I'm coming!"

…I wonder what Bronya is doing now…

—Back in New Zealand,

"...This is the girl?" The silver-haired girl blushed and stepped back. The vacant look in her eyes indicated the original Bronya had returned.

The lingering sensation of soft lips… even though brief, she'd experienced it.

She looked at the girl before her, a thought crossing her mind.

…She looks like Seele…

She blushed even harder, a tinge of jealousy mixing with her confusion. She'd thought Jiang Qiao only switched with pretty girls, but this one looked like Seele… Damn, I should have been the one to do it!

But… she'd experienced it too, in a way. Kissing a girl who looked like Seele, while Jiang Qiao was inside…

—How a "body swap" between two girls can be experienced by three people… or four, if you consider the two versions of Jiang Qiao…

Bronya's mind short-circuited.

Jiang Qiao, oblivious to her inner turmoil, opened his eyes as [Wendy]. His green eyes sparkled with confidence.

He flexed his hands, savoring the new body. It was different from Elysia, Kiana, and Bronya.

"Her name is Wendy. She's in my body now. Please take care of her, Bronya."

"Okay." Despite her complicated feelings, seeing the Seele look-alike, Bronya nodded firmly.

She looks like Seele, so I have to take care of her!

Jiang Qiao was relieved. He'd left both the Herrscher of Reason and Void cores with Bronya, making her a dual-core Herrscher. And Sirin was still suppressed.

Bronya would be unstoppable in this era.

As for himself…

[Wendy] grinned, feeling the power of the Gem of Desire.

One core was enough!

…

Elysia sighed, looking at the raging storm outside.

Getting her body back was great, but how did things end up like this?

"What happened?"

Elysia turned to see Wendy, who had appeared out of nowhere.

"Whoa!" Elysia jumped back, summoning her bow and arrow.

[Wendy] rolled her eyes. "It's me."

"Huh?" Elysia's surprise turned to anger. "You scared me! You used that girl's form to scare me!"

Her eyes watered. "I'm really angry!"

"Wait… you switched with her?" She remembered Jiang Qiao's ability, frowning at [Wendy].

"Sort of."

"?" Explaining the nuances would take too long.

"I'll tell you later. Explain this first." He gestured towards the apocalyptic scene outside. It was the Herrscher of Wind's power, but the scale…

"Let me explain."

MEI's voice made [Wendy] turn.

"MEI? What are you doing here?"

"Things got out of hand, and you disappeared. So I, the Herrscher of Thunder, had to step in." MEI said, a hint of annoyance in her voice. She'd been surprised to see him in Wendy's body, but quickly regained her composure. "Follow me."

"This is part of the Fourth Research Department, a high-security shelter built by Fire Moth in the Alps. Currently, the Fourth Eruption has begun. But thanks to Mobius's preparations, most people have been evacuated to shelters. With Vill-V's help, they should be safe for now."

She led them deeper into the shelter.

"How did Wendy awaken?" He asked. He'd been confident his safeguards would prevent this.

MEI looked at Elysia and sighed—

—After returning to her body, Elysia, though struggling with the differences between her and Jiang Qiao, had managed to maintain the facade with Totori, who didn't notice anything amiss.

As planned, Wendy had been brought back to the Fourth Research Department.

Everything had been going smoothly.

Until Totori, hearing Elysia's stomach rumble, had offered, "I'll get you some dessert from that shop. It's delicious! Wendy will love it! Right, Elysia?"

Elysia had smiled.

That jerk, Jiang Qiao! Enjoying desserts with Totori in my body! I'll remember this!