"An extra exam?" Himeko downed her drink in one gulp and pointed at Kiana with her chopsticks, exasperated. "There's a limit to how stupid you can be! Honestly, all boobs and no brains!"
"What are we going to do about next week's makeup exam? Class Monitor said that if she can't pass it, she can't become a Valkyrie..." Yae Sakura refilled Himeko's glass. Kiana was carefully pulling open her nightdress and peeking inside.
"There's only one option: intensive training before the exam!" Himeko drained her glass again and waved her beer bottle like a pointer. "We have to come up with a way to get a failing student up to an average level in just one week!"
Meanwhile, in Bronya's room, Metal Gear Bronya reluctantly said goodbye to her teammates and quit the game. Bronya got up and rummaged through the clutter box beside her. "Found it! Let's use this!"
"Teacher Himeko, what do you want with me this late at night?" Sheng Jiu yawned and lazily asked Himeko as she opened the door.
Himeko shrugged. "I'm not sure either, but Bronya insisted that you come, so I called you. Go on in and see for yourself." She stepped aside from the dormitory entrance.
Sheng Jiu walked into the dorm room and soon spotted Bronya waving to him from a doorway. "Dummy Sheng Jiu, over here." Confused, he went inside.
Inside, Kiana lay petrified among a mountain of textbooks, while Bronya fiddled with three brightly colored helmets.
"What are these? Hoom-branded gaming helmets? These are so cool—I've wanted one forever." Sheng Jiu sat down and picked one up to examine it closely.
"These are Hoom MK-series virtual reality link helmets. You'll see what they do in a moment. All right, Dummy Sheng Jiu, give me a hand." Bronya nodded toward Kiana.
Sheng Jiu immediately understood. He walked over and pinned Kiana to the table. "Let me go! What are you two doing? Let me go—" Kiana struggled wildly as Bronya approached with a helmet, but she couldn't escape having it put on.
"Hold still, Dummy Kiana. It'll be over in a second."
"What—" Before Kiana could finish, she soon lay unconscious on the table.
Staring at the unconscious Kiana, Sheng Jiu asked Bronya, completely bewildered, "What happened? I didn't even use much force!"
"It's fine. Her consciousness was just transferred to the virtual database. We're going over there too."
Bronya handed Sheng Jiu a blue helmet and picked up another one herself. The phantom image of Heavy Trooper Bunny appeared behind her. "Are you going to put it on yourself, or should I help you?"
"No need. I'll do it myself..."
The moment he put on the helmet, Sheng Jiu felt a powerful wave of dizziness. Then he collapsed and lost consciousness.
With a smack, Sheng Jiu sat up, clutching his cheek. He glared at Kiana, who looked thoroughly displeased. "Ow, my face! Why did you hit me?!"
Kiana shouted back just as indignantly, "Explain yourselves! Why did you two ambush me?"
"We were afraid you'd resist. Once we put the helmet on you, you'd understand what was going on."
"Then you should've just told me! I could've put it on myself. There was no need to make it so scary. Well, whatever. Since you two were trying to help me study, I'll let it slide!" Kiana pulled Sheng Jiu to his feet. "Look, where are we? Why are there so many books? Even St. Freya Academy's library doesn't have this many, does it?"
Only then did Sheng Jiu stop caring about the burning pain on his face and look around carefully. Countless corridors and walkways crisscrossed, connecting an endless array of enormous bookshelves piled high with all kinds of books.
"Huh? When did you change clothes?" Sheng Jiu stared in surprise at the Ranger Armor Kiana had somehow put on.
"Heh heh. Since you're being so sincere, I'll be magnanimous and tell you. In this space, you can make anything you want appear. Clothes are no exception. Just close your eyes and picture what you want clearly in your mind!" Kiana was delighted to finally get the upper hand over Sheng Jiu for once.
"Picture it, huh? I'll give it a try." Sheng Jiu closed his eyes and focused on everything he wanted. Then he opened them, and a white light enveloped him. The next moment, his school uniform had transformed into a fully armed suit of red armor.
"How do I look? Handsome, right?" The visor of Sheng Jiu's helmet slowly slid down as he struck a pose for Kiana.
"Yeah, right. I'm still—"
"O lost maiden, I shall guide you along the path to truth." A familiar voice cut into their conversation again.
They turned around, only to see Bronya wearing a pink princess dress. Their expressions instantly became quite something.
"Ha ha ha ha ha! What are you wearing, Bronya? Ha ha ha ha ha!" Kiana laughed so hard she could barely stand, leaning on Sheng Jiu, who was also throwing his head back in laughter.
"Heavy Mech 38cc, prepare to eliminate—"
"We think this outfit is really cool, right, Kiana?"
"Agreed."
Bronya contentedly recalled the Heavy Mech with its four cannons behind her, then continued, "I am Bronya, the witch who will guide you. I shall lead you to the hall of truth."
Kiana leaned toward Sheng Jiu and whispered, or so she thought, "I think she's dressed like a magical girl te—"
"Let's begin by studying the earliest history of the Honkai," Bronya interrupted their whispers. She picked up a thick black book, and a powerful force suddenly sucked the two of them into its pages.
"Wait, you—I haven't—aaahhh!"
As the cover closed, the hall fell quiet once more.
Before you continue