"Sisters... Clones... Dolls... Meaning... Existence... Experiment... Death... Dolls... Existence... Death... Meaning... Everything..."

Nothingness! Monotony! Darkness! Numbness... This is the Misaka Network!

Because he was mentally prepared, and having endured over ten thousand "deaths," he had developed a small degree of immunity. When he re-entered the Misaka Network, although the oppressive feeling was still indescribably heavy, at least he didn't faint embarrassingly as before.

Receiving the torrent of information pouring from the Misaka Network, all the words he had intended to say choked in his throat, leaving Lin Luo's heart icy cold... For the Sisters, their entire value was simply to be killed as experimental animals—so simple, so matter-of-fact.

The meaning of existence is death!

This notion had become deeply rooted in their minds. Lin Luo understood that no language in this world could persuade them otherwise... None, absolutely none!

"So it is... Avoiding the path I already knew and choosing this shortcut was the wrong move." Lin Luo smiled self-deprecatingly. In truth, he knew from the very beginning how to change the Sisters’ flawed perception of themselves as mere experimental subjects... But, ultimately, he was just an ordinary person, and every person fears death!

"Hahaha... This seals off my last hope. Honestly, didn't I already know this wouldn't work! If even Misaka Mikoto couldn't achieve it, why should I, an outsider, succeed!" While language is the foundation of communication, it is not omnipotent.

"You’ve set quite the difficult task for me. Can't you let me indulge in a fantasy for a moment..." His value being that of a disposable resource—to change such a deeply ingrained concept in the Sisters purely through words was not just a fantasy; it was delusion!

"In the end, there is only one way left..." If language cannot accomplish it, then proof must come through action!

"Tell me, don't you agree... Accelerator!"

...

Opening his eyes, Lin Luo removed the various instruments attached to him. These devices were specially created by Yoshikawa Kiriko and Kiyama to prevent him from passing out upon entering the Misaka Network, as he had before. They were sensory devices that would emit a warning if his mental state became abnormal, though they seemed to have failed this time.

"How was it? Any reaction?" As soon as Lin Luo woke up, Kiyama asked with urgency.

Lin Luo forced a wry smile. "Should I say your brainwashing was too successful, or what..."

"Uh!" Kiyama was momentarily stunned, but being as sharp as she was, she immediately grasped Lin Luo's meaning. "It didn't work?"

"That was to be expected. The Sisters' consciousness as dolls is too deep; immediate results are impossible. But we still have time; if we try a few more times..."

"No!" Lin Luo stood up, cutting off Yoshikawa. "I have decided to change methods."

"Hm?" Yoshikawa and Kiyama exchanged a look, then spoke in unison, "What method?"

"The Sisters are not without emotion; they simply lack a true 'heart'..." Lin Luo looked at them and stated firmly, "Therefore, I only have one thing I can do—defeat Accelerator and grant the Sisters a self, a heart of their own!"

Kiyama was utterly shocked, speechless.

"Are you insane! Do you know what you're saying?" Yoshikawa immediately roared. "Defeat Accelerator? Do you know who Accelerator is? He is Academy City's strongest esper, his ability..."

"Vector Manipulation." Before Yoshikawa could finish, Lin Luo picked up her thought. "Momentum, heat, electricity—he can manipulate all forms of vectors just by contact. Really, an ability this close to invincible makes one envious..."

"But you know everything about it..." Yoshikawa found it incomprehensible. "Knowing he possesses such power, yet you intend to fight him? Are you out of your mind? Or do you think your power surpasses his?!"

"I am perfectly sane now, and I never thought I was stronger than Accelerator. However..." Lin Luo smiled dismissively and said calmly, "Close to invincible doesn't mean truly invincible. Even the strongest espers have enemies they cannot defeat. And as far as I know, within Academy City, there are at least four individuals possessing the power to defeat Accelerator."

"Huh?!!!"

Yoshikawa felt this day was utterly insane. Just hearing Lin Luo talk about challenging Accelerator was enough to drive one mad, and now he claims there are four people in the city who can beat him... A fairy tale? When did the strongest esper become so weak!?

After a long moment of shock, Yoshikawa slowly regained her composure, seeing that Lin Luo did not appear to be joking. She sighed and asked, "Then what do you plan to do? Seek help from those people?"

"How is that possible? Even if someone has the power to defeat Accelerator, whether they can actually win remains an unknown. Hmm, that certain homebody cross-dresser could definitely win... Besides, I'm not familiar with them. If that certain pickup artist gets involved, I risk being NTR'd."

Yoshikawa: "..."

"But then again..." Lin Luo chuckled at this point, "While I can't borrow those people, borrowing the power of one of them shouldn't be too difficult..."

Yoshikawa and Kiyama were left speechless, completely bewildered by his intentions.

...

In Academy City's District 7, within the building devoid of windows and doors, a certain cross-dresser named Aleister continued his routine—a life inverted and rooted indoors...

There were no lighting fixtures, yet the spacious room was filled with starlight-like illumination. This was because beneath the massive test tube in the center of the room, tens of thousands of cables and pipes snaked across the floor like blood vessels, connecting to countless screens and buttons on the surrounding walls.

Academy City possessed something called the Floating Network, which allowed this cross-dresser to observe everything happening in the city through the screens, much like a god... spying on all of Academy City.

At this very moment, this individual, possessing extreme professional dedication as the "unprecedented, supreme voyeur," was diligently attending to his primary duty... focusing on one of the tens of thousands of screens.

"Unidentified origin... No records... Not from Academy City... Possesses psychic abilities... A strange mythical beast? Is that ability an ancient summoning technique that has been lost... Yet it doesn't seem to be on the magic side... Furthermore, he seems to be perfectly aware of even my existence..."

Watching the person on the screen, Aleister narrowed his eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

"An unexpected variable that Math Grid couldn't calculate... Although he is an unstable factor, based on the current situation, he seems to be working in my favor... This development isn't too bad..."

"If he truly succeeds, the existence of Imagine Breaker won't need to be revealed prematurely. Let him remain an urban legend... Perhaps I can implement my plan sooner than expected..."

"In that case, I shall look forward to it immensely... Though, calling me a cross-dresser... Hehehehe..."

As he spoke, he let out a meaningless, dry laugh.