The skies responded to the will of the Herrscher. Angry lightning turned night to day. The sound that followed was like a god slamming their car door, briefly deafening the inhabitants below. Lightning illuminated the neon hub of Arc City. Even after the Honkai Eruption it continued to grow and thrive. No matter the circumstances humanity would find ways to survive. No matter what nature, Honkai or their fellow human being threw at them.
Mei eased the deadweight off her shoulder. Kiana took most of the burden and slumped to the ground with the other woman.
"How long will it take you to open a portal across the city?" Mei whispered, eyeing their unwanted guest and readying herself.
"One portal moving just horizontally," Kiana replied, "would take a couple of minutes to ready the energy for three people and roughly 100 kilometres."
Mei read between the lines and chuckled.
"I'll buy you plenty. Don't waste it."
The smell of copper was heavy in the air. Mei looked down at the deadweight and tsked.
"Dead yet?"
"Full of sympathy aren't we?" they rasped back.
Their unwanted companion was as perky as ever. Her shirt and jacket, front and back, was soaked in blood. It was a surprise that she were even conscious.
"Just remember, you brought this on yourself, not us," Mei pointed out.
"Starting to regret that."
The deadweight gestured with her head toward the obstacle that blocked their path. They had been polite enough to wait for Mei to put down her burden.
"Sure you want this?" the blood soaked woman asked.
Mei cracked her knuckles. She was in complete control. The next moment lightning crawled across her skin and licked the concrete roof she stood upon. Her face was illuminated in shades of white, azure blue and lilac. Mei rolled her shoulders and took several steps forward. She had placed herself firmly between trouble and her companions. Well, to be more precise, between her friend turned frustration and the deadweight she firmly regretted. And not in the sympathetic sense.
"You know I've been looking forward to this for quite a while now. The last time we met you completely and utterly humiliated me. I wanted to thank you. It was quite the eye-opening experience. So now I'm here to return the favour. I hope you won't bore me."