Frenda looked around and confirmed that Arata had completely disappeared. Sweat soaked her back as she let out a long breath, feeling like she had just survived a catastrophe.
"He's gone?" Kinuhata Saiai wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. Spatial movement… that had to be a Level 5 level ability. No wonder Mugino had been defeated so easily.
Her heart sank.
So the Number Eight is a multi-skill esper. And he left spatial markers on both me and Frenda. This isn't safety at all.
"Quick, hurry up and move! Let's get out of here! If that guy changes his mind, we're dead!" Frenda shouted as she scrambled to her feet in a panic.
"Since he already let us go, he probably won't kill us. And even if we tried, we have no way to escape." Kinuhata Saiai checked her body again, trying to locate the spatial marker. A power she could not understand at all left her feeling completely helpless.
"Let's just leave first," Frenda said weakly.
Kinuhata felt awful. The price of being spared was far too heavy. With abilities like his, finding them again would be effortless. There was nowhere to run.
Because of the explosion, Anti-Skill personnel arrived quickly and sealed off the area. The driver's body, along with the traces of battle, was treated as part of a terrorist incident.
Meanwhile, Arata left a message at the front desk of the bathhouse before heading out of the underground district.
At the same time, all 43 research facilities across Academy City were placed under lockdown. Anti-Skill units armed with riot guns and shields established perimeters, maintaining order while driving civilians away with whistles and shouted warnings.
Students instinctively kept their distance. Their fear and respect for Anti-Skill ensured that no one lingered within the restricted zones.
Although 43 facilities were sealed, the effect was diluted across different districts. Viewed individually, it did not immediately draw widespread attention.
"Move it! I don't want to see anyone slacking off!"
A woman with long, wavy tea hair stood at the center of the scene. She wore a red exoskeleton suit, casually holding a large-caliber rifle while chewing gum, barking orders at her subordinates.
In front of her, more than thirty individuals disguised as rescue personnel stood armed, their weapons ready with safeties off. They guarded over twenty researchers in white coats, while more personnel escorted additional researchers out of the facility.
"Hey, what's going on? What did we even do? Why are you treating us like this... ah!" A female researcher shouted in anger, but before she could finish, she was struck down by a rifle butt from one of the armed personnel.
"Haha, you want a reason? My surname is Kihara. That's all you need to know." The woman in the exoskeleton laughed wildly, then fired several shots around the researcher's feet, forcing her into terrified silence.
The name Kihara represented the darkest side of Academy City, along with absolute authority within the scientific community. As long as science existed, that name would never disappear.
Every individual bearing that name was a mad scientist, willing to abandon ethics and morality in pursuit of their goals. More than ninety percent of the Dark Side's experimental projects could be traced back to them.
Anything connected to the Kihara name carried unquestionable credibility.
At the same time, more than eighty percent of Academy City's technological advancements since its founding originated from them.
The researchers burned with anger but did not dare to speak.
"Tch. All this whining is annoying. I even brought something special to deal with those lab rats. It's brand new and hasn't even been tested yet." The woman spat out her gum and waved her hand. "Get ready for those lab rats to show up. The moment they arrive, activate the system."
To deal with rampaging experimental subjects, she had brought equipment designed for ability suppression. Even Level 5s were nothing more than test subjects in her eyes. No matter how strong they were, science always had a way to counter them.
"Captain Kihara, what about those clones?" one of the armed personnel asked loudly.
The so-called Advanced Situation Rescue Team, disguised as emergency responders, was actually a unit created to handle incidents the Kihara group could not publicly acknowledge.
"Are you stupid? Do I need to spell it out for you? Ignore the ones still inside the tanks. Someone higher up will deal with them. Round up all the ones that have already been released. If they resist, knock them out," Therestina Kihara Lifeline snapped impatiently.
Seven Misaka Sisters who had already exited their incubation tanks were forced outside at gunpoint.
They remained silent, quietly standing close together.
At that moment, the sharp screech of tires echoed as three armored vehicles came to a stop in front of the facility. The doors swung open, and more than thirty uniformed personnel carrying riot guns and shields rushed out, quickly surrounding the area.
"Drop your weapons. We are DA. Comply immediately or we will enforce justice!" the leading officer shouted.
The disguised rescue team reacted instantly, raising their weapons toward the newcomers.
"Ha! Who do you think you are? Do you even know what operation you're interfering with?" Therestina walked up to the leader, her tone full of contempt.
"Hmph. I don't care who you are. This facility is now under DA jurisdiction. Leave now, or we will enforce justice," the leader replied arrogantly.
Smack!
Therestina struck him across the face, sending him crashing to the ground. She raised her rifle and pointed it directly at his head, her expression filled with disdain. "What did you just say? Say it again."
All DA personnel immediately aimed their weapons at her.
"You..."
"My name is Therestina Kihara Lifeline. Think carefully before you open your mouth again." Her voice was cold as the muzzle of her gun pressed against his forehead.
The leader's expression turned grim. The moment he heard the name Kihara, his confidence wavered.
"I was sent here by the Board of Directors," he said through clenched teeth.
"I was also sent by the Board. Keep talking nonsense and I'll wipe you all out. Go on, aim at them," Therestina ordered casually, waving her hand.
At that moment, screams erupted.
The armed personnel who had been guarding the Misaka Sisters were suddenly struck by flying debris and sent crashing to the ground.
A white figure approached slowly, a cruel smile spreading across her face.
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.