Captain's Dominion (Raiden Mei X Fem Reader)

Chapter 10: Partners

[Mei's PoV]

I walked into the room and was suddenly taken aback by the darkness that the room was shrouded in. I could barely see a few feet in front of me and even with my enhanced vision, I had a hard time making out anything of the sort in the room.

Ah..?

I didn't have time to react, as I was yanked off my feet and thrown down onto the ground. Before I could even make room for a rebuttal, I was taken aback when I saw Y/n's own eyes fuming with rage.

"What are you still doing here? I thought you already have left?" She asked in a firm voice.

"I could ask the same of you, Captain. I'm here because I sensed something that is clearly not right here."

"What? I thought you already knew what was happening here in the 412 room. Or am I mistaken?" She asked almost in confusion.

"Of course I know that there is a honkai beast inside, but this energy... it's different from that, Captain."

"It's a sense of malice and despair, but it's not a Herrscher. Yet at the same time... I could feel another Herrscher's presence here which is why I came here to investigate since Bronya wasn't in her position when I left you after."

She nodded slightly, "Well, it's most likely my speculation as well when Durandal hasn't responded to my call. As for the Herrscher you're sensing... I think I already know that answer."

I couldn't help but be confused by her conclusion to this situation. It took a few seconds to think about it before I finally replied with a simple question.

"And that is..?"

However, Y/n only averted her gaze and stayed silent and I didn't even need to hear it to know. The subtle cues in Y/n's face and her body language were enough to paint the picture and was now filled with a certain sense of trepidation as I put the pieces together.

"Captain... please tell me that my guess right now is wrong..."

"...I'm sorry..." She whispered quietly.

"...."

I immediately froze in place upon realizing that this is indeed the answer I was fearing. However, my fear was only multiplied when Y/n was the presence I was sensing all along... yet I couldn't feel the same energy that I usually sense from the Herrscher of Thunder when I transformed.

"After you left that day, I wasn't even in my right mind to focus on my task as a leader and decided to take a breather outside and accidentally got lost in the forest. That's also when I met the Herrscher of Dominance... She didn't kill me, however she only let my body submit to her by being her vessel."

What?

I couldn't believe what I just heard. This news left me shocked and speechless. Y/n having become the vessel for one of the Herrschers was a terrifying possibility that hadn't even crossed my mind until just now. If I was correct in my assumption just now, then it meant that Y/n's soul was being suppressed by the Herrscher at the moment; not only that, but she became the very same thing that we had set out to destroy in the first place...

"I'm still... resisting its effects after our deal, but I doubt she would've give up on fully taking control of my mind."

Tch, I know it was only a matter of time before the Herrscher completely overwhelmed her mind and took full control of her body.

"A deal..? Captain, what were you thinking..?!"

"Mei, you know that my prime is now over. Even when I was once a Valkyrie, I couldn't handle stopping her that day with all my strengths combined. The only way for it was to have a deal with her. I'm sure you understand." She explained.

I know that there wasn't much that I could say to argue against Y/n's logic. Perhaps she was correct that her strength as a Valkyries was barely enough to halt the Herrscher of Dominance progress now, but...

"That doesn't mean you had to sacrifice yourself in the process, Captain..."

However, Y/n just slowly caresses my cheek.

"If it's to protect you and everyone else then I'll gladly take the risk. Now, enough about that. We should focus on the matter at hand here."

I only stayed silent for a moment before forcing myself to nod.

"You're right, as unfortunate as the situation is at the moment, we should discuss the topic of what to do here inste- watch out!"

My reflexes immediately kicked in as I sensed danger approaching and instantly went to protect Y/n from harm by tackling her body to the ground. We hit the ground with her beneath me as we were suddenly caught off-guard by an explosion going off just a few meters away from us which nearly caused me to let go of her.

[Y/n's PoV]

I was surprised by how quickly Mei tackled me down to the ground and quickly felt her on top of me as she immediately covered my body. I was a bit shocked with her sudden action but I was brought back to reality when an explosion went off nearby.

Mei was the first to notice the honkai beasts approaching us as she quickly rolled off me to the side to get herself back on her feet. She then looked back at me and got herself into a combat ready position as I quickly stood up as well.

"This is room 412 yet I didn't see Durandal or the others earlier after I entered." I said to her.

A small group of honkai beasts began making their way towards us and seemed almost too close for comfort to Mei's liking.

"You're right, something about this room seemed... off. Even the layout of this room was clearly different from the blueprints I looked at before and now I suddenly realized that things just didn't add up anymore." Mei responded.

I only nodded my head before pulling out my gun.

"It's been a while since the two of us had this kind of thrill, shall we make this one count then?"

"...I'd be more concerned if I didn't feel a small hint of excitement from you at this moment, Captain." Mei replied with a soft chuckle as she drew out her own weapon.

"...Cap- ta...in..."

"Hmm?"

I quickly turned on my earpiece and picked up a signal when I heard Durandal's voice. Although it be vaguely heard from the other end and couldn't quite discern what she was saying.

"Durandal..? Where are you? I'm currently here at your assigned location. Are you not here in room 412?"

"Cap- we're... cur...ntly tra-ed in...side a lab-...inth, though- our fi..ne... Br...ya is with... us. Find- place... keep y..ou safe till... arrive."

"I see... got it." I quickly turned off my communication before looking at Mei.

"It seems our back ups are currently trapped in a maze. Let's eliminate these beasts first. Are you ready, Mei?"

"I'm ready when you are, Captain." Mei replied quickly.

Perhaps in her eyes, she couldn't help but see this as a good test of both her and my combat prowess in the field once more.

"Let's go."

Mei nodded as she raised her weapon up, ready to charge into the small hoard of enemies with me by her side.