*Location - Abydos Desert*

In the vast expanse of Abydos Desert, the air was thick with tension. Hoshino, drenched in sweat and fatigue, turned to Sensei, her voice laced with exhaustion.

"Sensei, what now? We've held Binah off, but for how long?"

Sensei's gaze was firm. "We need to regroup at Trinity. It's our best chance."

Nyx's eyes narrowed, her voice sharp. "I'm not going back there."

Before the argument could escalate, a distortion rippled through the air. A portal materialized, warping the very fabric of space. From its depths emerged Seia, her presence radiating an unsettling energy.

"Hello, everyone!" Seia's voice was unnervingly cheerful, a stark contrast to the grim surroundings.

Nyx froze, her breath hitching. "Seia... what happened to you?"

Sensei stepped forward, concern etched on their face. "Seia, are you alright?"

Seia tilted her head, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "Oh, I'm splendid! But Nyx, dear, what are you doing here? No matter, everything will be just fine."

Without warning, Seia drew her weapon, aiming at Nyx.

"Pow! Pow! Pow!"

Nyx barely evaded the bullets, her movements frantic. As she prepared to counterattack, her scythe vanished from her grasp.

"Damn it," Nyx muttered, realization dawning. "She can disable my powers."

Seia's demeanor remained unsettlingly upbeat as she closed the distance, delivering a swift roundhouse kick that sent Nyx airborne. In a blur, Seia appeared above, slamming Nyx back to the ground.

Nyx gritted her teeth, rolling to her feet just in time to dodge another strike. Seia's voice took on a sing-song quality.

"You know, Nyx, actions have consequences. Fighting Mika led to Nagisa's demise. Tsk, tsk. Such a tragic misstep."

Rage flared in Nyx's eyes. "I never meant for that to happen!"

Seia's smile widened, her tone dripping with faux sympathy. "Intentions matter little. The outcome remains."

With a swift motion, Seia's scythe materialized, its blade piercing through Nyx's side. Nyx gasped, teleporting away to create distance, clutching her wound.

Observing the battle, Hina's eyes narrowed. "Her halo... it's different."

Sensei's expression was grim. "This shouldn't be possible. None of this should be."

Shiroko's voice wavered. "Something's terribly wrong."

Above, Seia raised her hand, summoning a radiant beam that cracked the cerulean rings adorning the sky. Sensei's heart raced as Arona's voice echoed from the Shittim Chest.

"We must stop Seia now, or Kivotos is doomed."

Sensei nodded, determination steeling their features. "Everyone, assist Nyx!"

Shiroko lunged first, aiming for Seia's flank, while Hina attempted a rear assault. Seia's reflexes were uncanny; she twisted Shiroko's arm, sending her sprawling, and fired a shot that sent Hina reeling.

Nyx, despite her injury, unleashed a barrage of energy blasts. Seia vanished, reappearing unscathed.

"Too late," Seia chimed, her voice melodic.

She summoned another beam, its luminous tendrils piercing Nyx from multiple angles. Nyx collapsed, memories of past failures flooding her mind.

Hoshino's vision blurred, the scene mirroring Yume's tragic end. Fueled by anguish, she charged, delivering a powerful kick. But exhaustion betrayed her; her strength waned.

Seia aimed her gun at Hoshino, a playful pout on her lips. "Maybe you should've stayed down."

Hina, regaining her footing, pressed her weapon to Seia's temple. "Hurt her, and you die."

Seia giggled, her form flickering before she reappeared beside Hina, delivering a sharp blow that rendered her unconscious. Hoshino swung her Iron Horus, but Seia deftly dodged, countering with a dropkick. Hoshino deflected, but the impact rattled her.

Nyx, bloodied but resolute, pushed through the pain, charging Seia. Seia sidestepped, seizing Nyx by the throat.

"So many issues, dear Nyx. Annihilation doesn't suit you."

Sherika attempted to intervene, only to find her leg pinned by a blade. Nonomi lay unconscious nearby, and Ayane was impaled against a rock.

Hoshino's breathing grew erratic, her psyche fracturing under the weight of her emotions. A dark aura enveloped her as she transformed into Hoshino Terror.

With a primal scream, Hoshino lunged, her enhanced strength shaking the very ground. Seia caught her fist, the sheer force creating shockwaves that cracked the ground beneath them.

Seia, now imbued with an unsettling aura of "Salvation," faced off against Hoshino, who had transformed into her "Terror" form-a manifestation of her inner turmoil and guilt. Hoshino's appearance was a stark contrast to her usual self; her once composed demeanor was now overshadowed by a chaotic and violent energy. This transformation, unlike others induced by external forces, stemmed from Hoshino's own psyche, making it unstable and incomplete.

Hoshino lunged at Seia, her movements erratic yet forceful. Seia sidestepped gracefully, her expression a mix of amusement and condescension.

"Is this the extent of your resolve, Hoshino?" Seia taunted, her voice dripping with mockery.

Hoshino growled, raising her shotgun and firing point-blank. Seia anticipated the move, disappearing and reappearing behind Hoshino in a blink. Hoshino spun around, swinging her weapon, but Seia caught it effortlessly, her grip like iron.

"You're struggling, dear." Seia's smile widened. "Perhaps if you hadn't hesitated, you might have stood a chance."

Hoshino's eyes burned with frustration. She knew her transformation was incomplete, a reflection of her fractured state of mind. The power she wielded was immense but unstable, and Seia was exploiting every weakness.

Before Hoshino could react, Seia delivered a swift kick to her midsection, sending her skidding backward. As Hoshino struggled to regain her footing, Nyx charged in, her gun blazing.

"Why do you persist, Nyx?" Seia sighed, almost bored. "This isn't about you."

Nyx gritted her teeth, ignoring the searing pain from her previous injuries. "I'm not letting you hurt them."

Seia's eyes narrowed. "Always the hero." She deflected Nyx's shots with ease, closing the distance between them. "But heroes are so predictable."

In a fluid motion, Seia disarmed Nyx, twisting her arm and forcing her to her knees. "You can't save everyone."

Before Seia could inflict further harm, a blur of motion caught her attention. Mika appeared, her fist connecting with Seia's jaw and staggering her.

"Mika, darling!" Seia's eyes lit up with a twisted delight. "Come to join the fun?"

Mika's expression was a mix of determination and confusion. "Snap out of it, Seia!"

Seia chuckled, a dark, melodic sound. "Oh, but where's the fun in that?"

Without warning, Seia lunged at Mika, her movements a blur. Mika braced herself, but the impact never came. Instead, Seia stopped inches away, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Pretty cunt, aren't you?" Seia purred.

Mika's face flushed with anger and embarrassment. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Seia laughed, a sound that sent chills down Mika's spine. "Everything and nothing, my dear."

Fueled by a mix of rage and desperation, Mika swung at Seia, who effortlessly dodged, her movements like a dance.

As the battle raged on, the ground trembled, and the air grew thick with tension. Seia's power was overwhelming, her demeanor a disturbing blend of playfulness and malice. The others watched, a mix of fear and determination in their eyes, knowing that this confrontation was far from over.

In the midst of the chaos, Sensei's voice rang out, a beacon of authority. "Enough!"

Seia paused, her head tilting curiously. "Oh?"

Sensei stepped forward, their gaze unwavering. "This isn't you, Seia."

For a moment, something flickered in Seia's eyes-recognition, perhaps. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that unsettling smile.

"Isn't it?" Seia whispered, her voice carrying a weight that sent shivers through the assembled group.

In the heart of the Abydos Desert, the air was thick with tension. Seia, now consumed by a twisted sense of salvation, stood amidst her friends, her once gentle demeanor replaced by a manic fervor. Sensei, despite the searing pain from the wound in his shoulder, took a step forward, his voice steady but filled with urgency.

"Seia," he began, "this isn't you. Remember who you are-a kind-hearted leader, always looking out for others. You don't have to bear these burdens alone."

Seia's eyes flickered, a brief glimmer of recognition overshadowed by madness. "Shut up!" she screamed, clutching her head as if trying to silence the voices within.

Ignoring the throbbing pain, Sensei continued, "As your teacher, it's my duty to protect you, to ensure your happiness. Let me help you carry this weight."

Inside her mind, Seia was a tempest of emotions, battling the chaos that threatened to consume her. The cacophony of desires and regrets clashed, each vying for dominance.

In the physical realm, Seia's turmoil manifested violently. With a guttural scream, she lashed out, her weapon piercing Sensei's shoulder. He cried out, the sharp agony radiating through his body.

"Sensei!" Hoshino's voice broke, her transformation reverting as she rushed to his side, tears streaming down her face.

Gritting his teeth, Sensei managed a strained smile. "I'm... fine. Just a scratch."

Seia's screams filled the air, a raw outpouring of her deepest desires and fears. "I wanted salvation! Friends! Family! A home! Happiness! I didn't want to be sick! I didn't want to carry everyone's burdens!"

Through labored breaths, Sensei reached out, his voice gentle yet firm. "You don't have to. Let me shoulder them with you."

Something within Seia snapped. The malevolent aura dissipated, her eyes clearing as she dropped her weapon. She stumbled forward, collapsing into Sensei's embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the desert, the group gathered around, offering silent support. In that moment, amidst the vast emptiness of Abydos, a fractured soul began its journey toward healing, guided by the unwavering compassion of a teacher who refused to give up.

Nyx watched... her form returns to normal as she sighed with relief...