Bronya slowly opened her eyes.
Then her eyes widened at the sight before her.
Bronya: "This is… the Sea of Quanta…"
Before Bronya stretched an infinite and surreal cosmic ocean.
The Sea of Quanta was unlike anything she had ever seen.
Deep blue, purple, and neon cyan hues flowed endlessly through the dimension. It resembled a vast, fluid void, constantly shifting and changing as though reality itself was unstable.
Energy ripples moved across the endless expanse.
Fragments of data drifted silently through the air.
Geometric crystal formations floated in the distance, while glowing pathways stretched between shattered architectural structures suspended among the stars.
Platforms made from glowing data and hard-light grids drifted throughout the cosmic ocean.
It was beautiful.
And deeply unnatural.
Then—
Someone appeared before her.
Bronya immediately turned.
A boy stood on a nearby floating platform.
He had soft, slightly messy ash-brown hair and brown eyes.
Bronya: "Who are… you?"
The boy looked at her.
Joachim: "I'm Joachim… and you're…"
Bronya: "…Bronya."
Joachim nodded.
Joachim: "I saw you falling from that huge wormhole. You're from the outside world, right?"
Bronya remained silent.
Joachim's expression softened.
Joachim: "Don't worry. You're only in the Sea of Quanta for a while. You can still make it back."
Bronya shook her head.
Bronya: "Thank you, but the Bronya is not going back."
She looked deeper into the endless Sea.
Bronya: "The Bronya is looking for something lost in the depths of this Sea."
Joachim's expression immediately changed.
Joachim: "You… you're heading deeper into the Sea of Quanta?"
He looked toward the darkness beyond the floating platforms.
Joachim: "That place is dangerous. You shouldn't get too close."
Bronya remained firm.
Bronya: "The Bronya knows the risks, but she must press forward."
Joachim stared at her for several seconds.
Joachim: "…"
Then he slowly turned.
Joachim: "This is a rift between reality and possibility, a dimension of imaginary theories and actual existence."
The cosmic ocean continued shifting behind him.
Joachim: "I'm standing vigil in this vast labyrinth to stop people from going deeper."
His expression became serious.
Joachim: "Walk away. You can't simply enter the Sea of Quanta."
Bronya narrowed her eyes.
Joachim raised his hand.
Joachim: "You must pass a test."
The Sea of Quanta responded.
Fragments of energy began gathering around Bronya.
Then—
Several Honkai beasts materialised.
Their distorted bodies emerged from the shifting energy.
Bronya immediately reacted.
She summoned Project Bunny.
The massive mechanical companion appeared beside her.
At the same time, Bronya's blue crystal necklace began glowing.
The light intensified.
Her will resonated with the crystal.
Five blue transparent warriors appeared around her.
Kamen Rider Delta.
Dekamaster.
Red Buster Powered Custom.
Kamen Rider Build Genius Form.
Kamen Rider Zero-Two.
The five warriors immediately took their positions.
Bronya raised her hand.
Project Bunny deployed its weapons.
The Honkai beasts charged.
Project Bunny opened fire.
Explosions tore through the first wave.
Kamen Rider Delta moved next.
He raised the SB-333DV Delta Mover and fired at the approaching Honkai beasts.
Several creatures were destroyed.
One Honkai beast suddenly lunged toward him.
Delta didn't move back.
Instead, he stepped forward and struck.
His punch connected with the creature.
The Honkai beast was sent flying before exploding into fragments.
Dekamaster rushed forward with the D-Sword Vega flashed through the air.
The Honkai beasts were cut down before they could react.
Meanwhile, Red Buster Powered Custom moved, Kamen Rider Build Genius Form followed with Kamen Rider Zero-Two.
Their body became a blur.
They tore through the battlefield at incredible speed, striking down Honkai beasts before they could even turn toward Them.
Within moments—
The last Honkai beast fell.
Bronya lowered her weapon.
Then—
Something unexpected happened.
The defeated Honkai beasts began moving again.
Dark energy gathered around their remains.
Bronya's eyes widened.
The destroyed creatures reappeared.
But they were no longer ordinary Honkai beasts.
They had become distorted, dark versions of themselves.
Void Shadows.
Bronya: "The defeated Honkai beasts turned into… void shadows of themselves…"
The Void Shadows were tougher.
Their attacks were stronger.
Their bodies were more difficult to destroy.
But they were still no match for Bronya.
Project Bunny opened fire again.
Kamen Rider Delta used the SB-333DV Delta Mover to blast the Void Shadows apart.
Dekamaster moved through the enemy formation, his D-Sword Vega cutting through their dark bodies.
Red Buster Powered Custom, Kamen Rider Build Genius Form and Kamen Rider Zero-Two moved faster than the shadows could react.
Together, Bronya, Project Bunny, and the five blue transparent warriors overwhelmed the Void Shadows.
One by one—
The shadows disappeared.
Finally, the last one was destroyed.
The five transparent warriors stood around Bronya for several seconds.
Then their forms began glowing.
Their bodies broke apart into countless blue particles.
One by one, they were reabsorbed into the blue crystal necklace around Bronya's neck.
Bronya took a breath.
Bronya: "Huff… huff…"
She looked toward Joachim.
Bronya: "Did you summon those monsters?"
Joachim shook his head.
Joachim: "They're shadows of the Sea, projections of your cognition… spawns of your memory."
Bronya listened carefully.
Joachim: "This world can manifest your innermost desires and thoughts."
He looked toward the place where the Void Shadows had disappeared.
Joachim: "I had nothing to do with them. Know this: the shadows grow stronger as you approach the Sea."
Joachim glanced toward Project Bunny and the blue necklace.
Joachim: "Real world weapons can only do so much, but you seem to wield powers capable of defeating them."
Bronya followed his gaze.
Bronya: "Are you talking about Project Bunny? and the necklace Bronya is wearing"
Joachim smiled faintly.
Joachim: "Project Bunny? A cute name, indeed."
He examined the mechanical companion.
Joachim: "Its power is drawn from the Sea of Quanta, and you have yet to unlock its true potential. And the necklace, such a small object but contain such a huge power."
Bronya looked down at the glowing crystal.
Joachim turned away.
Joachim: "But that will be a topic for another day."
Bronya looked toward the depths.
Bronya: "The Quantum Shadows failed to defeat the Bronya. Is she now qualified to enter the Sea?"
Joachim remained silent.
Joachim: "…"
Then he looked directly at her.
Joachim: "Your past has tempered your will and resilience far beyond that of a child your age."
His expression became serious.
Joachim: "But strong individuals tend to have a vulnerable hole in their hearts."
Bronya's eyes widened slightly.
Joachim: "Your trials have just begun, Bronya…"
Bronya: "…!"
Before Bronya could react—
Joachim moved.
He pushed her off the platform.
Bronya lost her balance.
Bronya: "What?"
The Sea of Quanta disappeared beneath her.
She began falling.
Joachim's voice echoed through the endless darkness.
Joachim: "You will be sent to another world."
Bronya continued falling.
Joachim: "A different world."
The light around her slowly faded.
Joachim: "Be careful."
Everything began turning black.
Joachim: "Your past losses and pain will be your worst enemy."
Bronya could no longer see Joachim.
Only his voice remained.
Joachim: "Give me your answer in that world."
Then—
Everything became black.
A Familiar Voice
A voice called out from somewhere far away.
A voice Bronya had not heard in a long time.
???: "Bronya? Bronya?"
Bronya slowly regained consciousness.
Bronya: "Hmm… Huh?"
The voice called again.
???: "Bronya?"
Bronya opened her eyes.
Her breath caught.
Standing before her was—
Himeko.
Himeko: "Bronya!"
Bronya: "Ah!"
Bronya immediately sat upright.
Her mind raced.
Bronya: "What just happened?"
She quickly looked around.
Rows of desks.
Students.
A classroom.
Bronya: "What is this place?"
Himeko looked at her with a slightly amused expression.
Himeko: "St. Freya High. Year 1. Class C. Wednesday morning. Session 2. English. Instructor: Himeko."
Himeko crossed her arms.
Himeko: "Bronya, I'm disappointed. I didn't expect a good girl like you to sleep in class."
She looked toward the other students.
Himeko: "I know the finals are coming and everyone's working hard, but do remember to sleep, girls."
A smile appeared on Himeko's face.
Himeko: "Your invigilators will definitely not wake you up during the test."
The class laughed.
It sounded exactly like what they would do whenever Kiana got caught dozing off.
It was a familiar voice.
Bronya hadn't heard it for far too long.
Her eyes widened.
Bronya: "Himeko?!"
She immediately bowed her head.
Bronya covered her mouth and tried not to tremble.
Reason told her that she must rein her emotions in.
Himeko looked surprised by her reaction.
Himeko: "…Bronya? It's alright, sugar. Just try to stay awake in class."
Bronya slowly attempted to calm herself.
Her thoughts raced.
Bronya: 'It's another world… a totally different world…'
Then—
Ding dong ding dong~
The school bell rang.
Himeko smiled.
Himeko: "There goes the bell."
She gathered her belongings.
Himeko: "Time for morning combat training. Gather at the courtyard, girls."
St. Freya High Courtyard
Bronya arrived at the courtyard with the rest of her class.
She looked around.
Everything looked familiar.
Too familiar.
Bronya: 'It looks the same… this place is just like St. Freya High as I remember it…'
Her expression darkened.
Bronya: 'But…'
She looked toward the center of the plaza.
Two familiar individuals were speaking to one another.
Fu Hua stood beside Himeko.
Fu Hua: "All the students have assembled, Miss Himeko."
Himeko nodded.
Himeko: "Get into groups of three, warm up, and go for some free sparring. Try not to get injured, girls."
Bronya stared at them.
Bronya: "…"
Her mind rejected what she was seeing.
Bronya: 'Nyet… this isn't real… the Bronya must figure out what happened…'
Fu Hua suddenly turned toward her.
Fu Hua: "Bronya."
Bronya looked up.
Bronya: "Fu Hua?"
Fu Hua calmly approached.
Fu Hua: "Would you like to join my group?"
Bronya looked around.
The other girls had already formed their own groups.
Bronya: "Da. The Bronya shall join."
Before they could begin—
Himeko stepped toward them.
Himeko: "I'll tag along as well."
Bronya looked toward her.
Bronya: "Miss Himeko?"
Himeko smiled.
Himeko: "Try to take me down, girls."
Fu Hua's expression remained calm.
Fu Hua: "Indeed… teamwork becomes more important against an unbeatable opponent."
She took a fighting stance.
Fu Hua: "I accept your challenge. Are you with me, Bronya?"
Bronya remained silent for a moment.
Then she nodded.
Bronya: "…The Bronya does not mind."
Bronya summoned Project Bunny.
The mechanical companion materialised beside her.
Fu Hua put on her gauntlets and entered a fighting stance.
Across from them—
Himeko drew her claymore.
The battle began.
Project Bunny fired first.
Himeko immediately moved aside, the shots striking the ground behind her.
Fu Hua rushed forward.
Her gauntlets collided with Himeko's claymore.
The impact echoed across the courtyard.
Bronya studied Himeko's movements.
Bronya knew them.
Project Bunny fired again.
Himeko dodged.
Fu Hua immediately attacked from another direction.
Bronya directed Project Bunny to cut off Himeko's retreat.
For several minutes, the three continued their sparring match.
Finally—
Himeko lowered her claymore.
She exhaled.
Himeko: "Phew. An exciting battle. Good job, girls."
She looked directly toward Bronya.
Himeko: "You surprised me, Bronya."
Bronya remained silent.
Himeko: "I don't think we've ever sparred before, but you seem to know my every move."
Bronya's expression changed slightly.
Himeko smiled.
Himeko: "You showed some great moves. I hope to see you in a real mission."
Himeko stretched her arms.
Himeko: "Time for a break. Thirsty? It's on me, girls."
Fu Hua immediately noticed what Himeko was holding.
Fu Hua: "Miss Himeko, you're holding…"
Himeko froze.
Himeko: "Oh, well…"
Fu Hua's expression became stern.
Fu Hua: "Please refrain from drinking in class. It might affect the students."
Himeko looked at the drink in her hand.
Himeko: "This won't get me drunk."
Fu Hua immediately responded.
Fu Hua: "It's against the rules."
Himeko frowned.
Himeko: "We're only several minutes away from break time."
Fu Hua did not change her expression.
Fu Hua: "It's against the rules."
Himeko slowly lowered her shoulders.
Himeko: "Hnnghh…"
Fu Hua continued.
Fu Hua: "You're teaching an afternoon class, so you can't drink during lunch. I'll be watching you."
Himeko collapsed dramatically onto a nearby bench.
Fu Hua gave a faint smile.
Bronya watched them.
The scene felt familiar.
Yet alien at the same time.
Bronya: "…"
Fu Hua noticed her expression.
Fu Hua: "What is it, Bronya? You look a little pale."
Bronya immediately composed herself.
Bronya: "The Bronya is alright."
Himeko looked toward her.
Himeko: "You seem pretty tired. You did fall asleep in class."
Her voice softened.
Himeko: "It's perfectly fine to opt out. Here at St. Freya, no one will force you to do anything."
Bronya froze.
Himeko continued.
Himeko: "Relax and treat this place as your home, and us your family."
For a moment—
Bronya said nothing.
She lowered her head.
Then clenched her hands.
Bronya: "The Bronya is not tired… she still has strength…"
She looked toward Himeko.
Bronya: "The Bronya wishes to continue training."
Her voice became quieter.
Bronya: "The Bronya treasures every moment sparring with Miss Himeko…"
Himeko's expression changed.
Himeko: "Bronya…"
Fu Hua stepped forward.
Fu Hua: "And it would be a shame if Bronya was the only one sparring."
Himeko sighed.
Himeko: "I don't suppose I can back out now."
Bronya stood ready.
Project Bunny moved beside her.
Fu Hua tightened her gauntlets.
Himeko raised her claymore.
Bronya looked toward both of them.
Bronya: "Miss Himeko, Class Monitor, the Bronya is ready…"