"No, Bronya. Prepare to sever Kiana's consciousness link immediately." Himeko's voice came through the communications channel. "Even if it's a Pseudo-Herrscher within stigmata memories, it was still a terrifying existence that once caused a worldwide plague. It would take an S-rank Valkyrie to handle it. And judging from what just happened, this Herrscher of Erosion still seems capable of wielding unusual power within the stigmata space... Before, I could treat this as a test for you, Kiana. But now, things are different. I have to ensure your safety!"
"But..." Kiana wanted to argue, but all she heard was Bronya's voice.
"Bronya agrees with Instructor Himeko. Idiot Kiana, this is not the time to be stubborn. Consciousness dive device, preparing disconnection. Three, two, one..."
Suddenly, the communications channel seemed to be disrupted by something. After a burst of static, Bronya's voice vanished completely.
"Bronya? Bronya?" Kiana tried to call out to her companion, but received no response.
In the real world.
"Bronya, what's going on?!" Mei began to panic. "Why can't we disconnect again?"
"Cause unknown..." Cold sweat began to form on Bronya's forehead as her fingers flew across the screen. "Project Bunny is analyzing the cause... Wait, this is... Data that does not belong to the Headmistress's stigmata has connected to the consciousness dive device. The source of this data is Idiot Kiana?"
"What does that mean?" Himeko asked.
Bronya thought for a moment before replying uncertainly, "Kiana and the Headmistress both carry Caslana blood. Their stigmata may have resonated when the Herrscher of Erosion disrupted the space. In other words... all we can do now is wait for the outcome."
"Kiana..." Mei looked worriedly at Kiana lying inside the device. "Then if we forcibly cut off the connection, is there any way to bring Kiana back?"
"If we do