"Seriously… what kind of interesting game is this? Looks like I can join in too. Hehehe."
Accelerator stood with one hand in her pocket, a cruel smile curling on her lips. Her crimson eyes swept over the unharmed Misaka Sisters, and she let out a small sigh of relief before shifting her gaze toward the two opposing groups confronting each other. The urge to interfere was obvious.
Her expression was almost delighted, filled with anticipation, like someone about to take the first bite of something sweet after enduring unbearable thirst.
She didn't know who these people were, nor did she care who was right or wrong. Anyone who dared to target the Sisters was already her enemy.
"Tch. I thought it was just some nobody showing up at this hour. Looks like things got more interesting. Three sides now, huh? Let me guess, you're here to interfere because you're scared your Level 6 Shift experiment will get sabotaged?" Therestina sneered at the newcomer. She casually kicked a DA member aside with her powered suit, then waved her hand toward her subordinates.
"Start it up. Looks like we caught a big one today. Let's use the strongest esper as a test subject."
"Yes!" The armed personnel near the transport vehicle immediately began operating the device.
"What a shame I never reached Level 6. Honestly, I'm already sick of this whole system. I don't know what you want those clones for, but I'll let you experience what it feels like to be a test subject. Don't worry, I'm not that cruel."
Accelerator let out a low laugh as she stared at Therestina. "Bastard. Killing you would be too easy. I'll go easy on you and just break your limbs. Be grateful."
"Oh? That sounds like quite the offer. I'm almost flattered." Therestina replied mockingly, completely unfazed.
Tch. Looks like it's time to replace a batch of these slow-moving idiots. The old man's side has been short on manpower lately anyway. Might as well send them over.
"Maintain formation!"
The DA members immediately tensed. Sweat formed on their foreheads as they raised their weapons in unison, carefully aiming at Accelerator while keeping their distance.
Some of them had been involved in past experiments. They had seen what this monster could do. Even tanks had failed to injure her.
Compared to Therestina's forces, this was something far more dangerous.
Therestina lifted her large riot weapon and advanced toward Accelerator. At the same time, she kicked up several small stones and fired a shot.
A precisely aimed projectile shot toward Accelerator. With a loud impact, it exploded upon contact. Accelerator remained completely unharmed, grinning as she stomped forward and launched herself toward Therestina.
"I'm going to ruin your life. You should thank me for it."
"Heh. Idiot." Therestina raised her weapon and swung it down toward Accelerator's head.
At that instant, a piercing, high-frequency noise erupted.
The moment the weapon struck, Accelerator's expression twisted. She was sent flying before she could properly react.
"Ugh!" Her body flew over ten meters before crashing down. Half-lying on the ground, she clutched her head as dizziness and nausea overwhelmed her. A thin line of blood trickled down her forehead. The shrill sound caused intense pain, severely disrupting her calculations.
"Hahahaha! So this is the so-called Number One? The strongest esper? Just a tool grown in a lab. I was hoping for something better than that multi-skill brat, but this? What a disappointment. You're nothing but trash."
Seeing her down, Therestina rushed forward, gripping her weapon and swinging it like a club.
Accelerator's expression darkened. Her crimson eyes filled with killing intent as she raised her arms and forcibly deflected the attack, sending Therestina backward.
Even with her calculations disrupted, her ability could not be completely nullified. Pain did not equal defeat.
"Despicable..."
This sound is interfering with my calculations. It's even affecting my brain directly.
"Haha! This is your Number One? What a joke. I've never taken you so-called espers seriously. You're just experimental subjects with a bit more power. Don't get cocky. In the end, your abilities are something we gave you."
Therestina laughed arrogantly and flipped her weapon, smashing it down again like a bat.
"A lab rat should behave like one. Stay down."
Accelerator was thrown back once more. She clutched her shoulder, her face grim. The malice radiating from her felt almost tangible.
"You bastard… looking down on me… you piece of trash."
Her power surged slightly. She stepped down hard, cracking the ground beneath her feet. Chunks of debris shot toward Therestina at near-bullet speed. Several impacts landed, knocking her off balance.
"Cough… you damn brat… increase the output to maximum!" Therestina roared, her face twisted with fury.
"Yes!" The operator's hands trembled as the device's output spiked. The shrill noise grew even more chaotic and intense.
Accelerator immediately grabbed her head. Damn it. Even maintaining basic calculations was becoming difficult.
"Tch. Still incomplete. Needs further adjustment. The higher the ability level, the stronger the effect. A mere test subject daring to rebel against its creator? Heh. Killing you would be troublesome to explain. I'll just cripple your limbs and make you behave."
Therestina's laughter turned manic, her expression grotesque.
Nearby, Nunotaba Shinobu, disguised among the researchers, clutched her head in pain. Cold sweat streamed down her face.
"Damn it… what is this thing… there's no way to resist it."
As a Level 4 telekinetic, she was completely suppressed by the sound. The plan she had prepared was now useless.
She hadn't expected Accelerator to show up, yet even Accelerator was being restrained.
"We have to destroy that device…"
But with so many armed personnel surrounding it, there was no clear way through.
From a concealed position nearby, Tsuchimikado Motoharu frowned.
This is a real problem. Even Accelerator is being suppressed. The only way to stop this large-scale conflict is intervention from the Board.
DA… according to the intel, they're secretly backed by Shundou Toshizou. So this is a hidden clash between different factions within the Board of Directors?
Or is there something deeper at play?
And what role does Arata have in all of this? Is he just a pawn in someone's plan, or an independent player?
Power struggles among the Board are nothing new in Academy City. Every faction has its own hidden agenda.
And right now, all of them were colliding.
...
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.