(Readers raised concerns about the illogical nature of the fight; I looked back and realized there were indeed some issues, so I've revised the general content. Thank goodness it hadn't been officially published yet, or modifications would have been impossible—that would have been disastrous. Sigh, I must not rush my writing like this again.)
As a Level 5 esper, the Railgun—Misaka Mikoto—had never used her true strength!
Lin Luo was now absolutely certain of this fact, as his own power currently resided at the same level as Mikoto’s.
Before reaching Level 5, no one could truly fathom the real strength of a Level 5. Misaka Mikoto's actual ability, or rather, her greatest strength, was not the Railgun; that mere fifty-meter range... that skill was just for show. Her true power lay in control!
Control over all electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic waves, and electric particles in this world... anything related to electricity and magnetism could be manipulated with ease!
When fighting Accelerator, although Lin Luo possessed power exceeding Mikoto's original might, due to the nature of their opposing abilities, he couldn't unleash that power. It would have been useless against Accelerator, so he only used it to stimulate his body and block Accelerator's attacks.
But now...
Mugino Shizuri was not Accelerator. Her Level 5 strength could be used to its fullest extent, and it was at this moment that Lin Luo finally understood the magnitude of the power he possessed.
Lin Luo believed that with his Heavenly Thunder Summon, a full-power strike could absolutely obliterate half of Academy City, and moreover... that wasn't even his limit!
While the thought was tempting, Lin Luo couldn't act on it. Setting aside whether it could even take down Mugino Shizuri, another Level 5, if he failed to defeat her and instead pushed her to her absolute limit, causing her to unleash a high-output burst regardless of self-preservation, the result would likely be a mutual destruction. Furthermore, such a wide-area indiscriminate attack would cause massive casualties—Academy City contained more than just enemies!
Zzzt zzzt...
The dazzling electrical arcs swirling around him had not ceased since the beginning. Opposite him, Mugino Shizuri stood on ground that was almost reduced to rubble, glaring at Lin Luo with fierce malice.
Despite the fierce battle they had just endured, neither sustained serious injury, though both appeared somewhat battered. Mugino’s clothes were tattered, barely concealing her form, with much of her skin exposed. Yet, she seemed entirely unconcerned with this "fanservice" moment, standing ramrod straight. Likewise, Lin Luo’s clothes could only be described as rags... the moment for a glorious costume tear had long passed.
Although Atomic Collapse could only be maintained at a low output, her Level 5 strength was undiluted. Even with Lin Luo’s current power, defeating her was no simple task; after all, this woman could distort and deflect true lightning strikes!
Damn it, he needed to devise a plan to defeat her in one decisive blow!
Lin Luo felt a growing anxiety. Five minutes had passed since the fight began, and he could maintain his Level 5 combat capability for a maximum of ten more minutes; he absolutely couldn't spend all of it on Mugino Shizuri.
Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Lin Luo. He thought of a method that was indeed feasible, though risky... With a gesture, five massive bolts of lightning descended from the heavens... Boom! Boom! Boom!
"I told you this was useless! How many times do you need to try before you're satisfied?" Mugino Shizuri sneered, her tone arrogant and self-assured. She raised her hand, preparing to unleash her electron beams to distort the incoming attack, but then, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. She realized the lightning bolts weren't striking her directly; instead, they slammed into the nearby ground, kicking up debris and shards of stone amidst the booming explosions, enveloping everything in dust and smoke.
The smoke obscured Mugino Shizuri's vision, while the scattered stones shot towards her with direction.
Mugino immediately showed a look of disdain. What use were such attacks to her? Even if she couldn't see, she could sense electrical attacks, and if she willed it, anything striking her would be atomized.
"Truly pathetic, Level 5 strength that amounts to this..." Halfway through her sentence, Mugino abruptly froze, because a pair of strong hands had already wrapped around her waist, holding her tightly.
The heavenly thunder was merely a distraction for Mugino. Seizing that moment, Lin Luo pushed his speed to the absolute limit, flashing behind her like lightning and seizing her firmly. While close-range electrical discharges could be interfered with, the logic followed: "If it’s at zero distance, you can't negate all of it, can you!"
"You bastard!!" Mugino’s face changed drastically, an intense killing intent erupting from her voice. She struggled desperately, but his grip felt like iron now; no matter how she thrashed, she couldn't break free, and then...
Zzzt zzzt zzzt!
"Ahhhhh..."
Accompanied by the violent sound of electrical discharge came Mugino Shizuri's scream.
A multi-hundred-million-volt strike at zero distance surged into her body without resistance. Although due to the fundamental similarity in their powers, a large portion would be canceled out by her own ability, even a tiny fraction of that electricity taking effect was enough. No matter how strong an esper was, their body was still essentially that of an ordinary human.
When the noise subsided, Mugino Shizuri’s tall, slender body finally slumped weakly. It wasn't that Lin Luo released her; it was that Lin Luo’s two arms below his shoulders had... completely vanished!
That was Mugino’s Atomic Collapse. Upon contact with her body, Lin Luo’s electricity could take effect, but Mugino's Atomic Collapse was equally effective. This was, in essence, a suicidal attack.
Thus, almost at the same moment Mugino collapsed, Lin Luo immediately exited the synchronized state with the Misaka Network... Divine Healing, Repair Confirmed!
Several seconds later, having expended some of his life force, Lin Luo had fully regenerated both arms. Without a heaven-defying skill like Divine Healing, he would never have dared to use such a move.
"Hoo, with this, one Level 5 is dealt with... Huh??!!"
Before Lin Luo could sigh in relief, a flood of unfamiliar information violently surged into his mind—it was a memory, and the source was—Mugino Shizuri!
Lin Luo suddenly recalled that in the Railgun anime, Mikoto defeated Kinuhata Saten with a zero-distance electric shock, gaining access to Saten's memories from that encounter. Now, using the same technique against Mugino Shizuri, he had unexpectedly gained her memories too. This, this was truly...
Deciding how to deal with Mugino Shizuri had been simple before, but now, this sudden influx of memories left Lin Luo momentarily bewildered.
At that moment, he noticed the clouds in the distant sky rolling and crimson, staining the entire night red.
"Is that... fire?"
Lin Luo froze. He remembered that direction was where Rin was located. But why was there fire? Although Rin was proficient in all five elements and could cast magic of any attribute, she didn't possess fire magic of this magnitude. This display of power was nearly comparable to a Level 5!
Wait... something was wrong!
Lin Luo suddenly sensed that something was amiss. Logically, after such a fierce battle between him and Mugino in the district, even if the higher-ups permitted it and the Security Guard wouldn't interfere, at least someone should have been watching intently. Yet, right now, absolutely no one had appeared, giving the feeling that not a single living soul existed in all of Academy City...
"It's... a barrier!"
Realizing this, Lin Luo's expression changed instantly. In his memory, only one thing could produce this effect: the—Exclusion Charm Magic!
Coupled with the turbulent flames over there, Lin Luo immediately thought of one person.
Damn it! Why did that guy show up?
Lin Luo had no more time to spare for Mugino Shizuri. He sprinted towards that direction, knowing that with Rin's current strength, she stood absolutely no chance against that individual!
In less than a moment, Lin Luo reached the scene. The oppressive heat radiating from the intense temperature washed over him, so thick it was almost suffocating. Before him, the familiar twin-tailed girl was kneeling on the ground, drenched in sweat, looking utterly exhausted, swaying as if she could collapse at any second.
And opposite the girl, a colossal Flame Giant held a flaming cross, bringing it down with a resounding smash!
"Fuck your mother!"
Lin Luo roared through clenched teeth. As his shout echoed, a black tide rose from beneath the ground, slicing towards the Flame Giant like a scythe—Swish! In an instant, the Flame Giant was cleaved in two.
Seizing the opportunity, Lin Luo flashed forward, grabbed Tohsaka Rin, and rapidly retreated.
"Rin, how are you?" Lin Luo asked anxiously, supporting her body.
"Lin Luo?" Tohsaka Rin lifted her head and gave a wry smile. "Sorry, I dragged you down. This guy is incredibly strong. My magic power is completely depleted, even the gems are..."
"Don't say any more." Even without being a magician, Lin Luo could sense Rin's condition: her internal mana was empty, and her body was utterly weak. If he hadn't arrived in time, she likely would have perished just now.
"Find a safe place to hide. I’ll deal with this one."
"No!" Tohsaka Rin flatly refused. "This is my opponent. How can I let you solve it for me? This is my responsibility; I cannot turn my back on the enemy and flee again!"
"You idiot, I didn't tell you to run," Lin Luo chuckled. "I'm just taking over the task you couldn't finish. Stop shouldering all the responsibility yourself; learn to rely on the people around you sometimes."
"Hey, Rin..." As he turned away, Lin Luo said to her back, "I'm sorry, I lied to you before. I'm actually not from your world."
"Eh?"
"But my desire to protect you is real. Suddenly arriving in an unfamiliar world must be troubling—no family, no friends. So, if you allow it, consider me your family. Where we are is our home. When you get home, facing family, don't be so stubborn."
Having spoken, Lin Luo ignored Rin’s reaction and strode forward quickly. Without sparing a glance at the recovered King of the Hunting Witches, he took a deep breath and shouted loudly, "Stiyl, you goddamn red-haired bastard, get out here! I'll destroy you!"
Behind him, Tohsaka Rin stood completely stunned, lost in thought, as if petrified.
Lin Luo was angry—furious. Damn it, he had never provoked the Magic Side. He even opposed 'The Man Who Held Upside Down,' and while he hadn't helped the Magic Side, they had indirectly benefited from it. Now, look at this—he didn't bother them, yet they came knocking on his door. Did they think he was a pushover?
He had a strong impulse to instantly rush to the Church of England and unleash a full-power Heavenly Thunder Summon... and blast the Magic Side to hell!
Of course, he could only think about that. A Level 5 esper facing a Saint would end in tragedy.
If only for the Sword Saint alone, he’d be in deep trouble.
Stiyl’s figure emerged from behind the King of the Hunting Witches. "I swore an oath: anyone who dares attack her or puts her in danger, no matter who they are, I will kill them!"
Most people wouldn't understand the meaning behind Stiyl’s words, but Lin Luo understood clearly. The 'her' he referred to was Index. But the problem was... when had he ever attacked that gluttonous nun? Because of her, the already miserable life of 'Harem Hand' had increased exponentially. Why would he bother provoking that ultimate harbinger of misfortune?
Lin Luo began to grasp the situation. The Man Who Held Upside Down and Stiyl had cooperated before; this time was likely no different. Given that bastard's deviousness, he must have fed Stiyl some plausible-sounding nonsense to provoke him into attacking.
"Is that so?" Lin Luo's expression darkened. "Then let me tell you too: since you attacked her, even if the King of Heaven himself stood in my way, I will destroy you!" This 'her,' naturally, referred to Tohsaka Rin.
The Spear of Lightning shot out like lightning, striking Stiyl’s body in the blink of an eye, but... the Spear of Lightning passed through his body as if through nothing!
Lin Luo's expression shifted slightly.
"I know your power, Level 5 esper... Did you think I would show my true form when facing a dangerous individual like you?" Stiyl spoke calmly. His figure slowly faded, then slowly reformed in another location.
"You bastard!" Lin Luo ground his teeth. He understood; that was Stiyl's magic—Mirage. Using heat to create an illusionary image at a location different from the real body. Since it was an illusion, any attack would naturally be ineffective.
"King of the Hunting Witches!"
At Stiyl's command, the King of the Hunting Witches roared like a beast and swung the flaming cross at Lin Luo.
The Iron Sand Whip struck again, slicing the Flame Giant in two, but it quickly regenerated, its attack momentum increasing.
Lin Luo instantly felt immense pressure. If it were just Stiyl himself, he wouldn't fear him, but the King of the Hunting Witches was formed from talismans. As long as the talismans weren't destroyed, it was immortal. Even Illusion Killer couldn't eradicate it—he couldn't possibly be its match!
However, since the King of the Hunting Witches' weakness was the talismans, eliminating them should be the key!
The problem was... where were the talismans?
Lin Luo blocked the Flame Giant's attacks while carefully scanning the surrounding environment... The King of the Hunting Witches summoned by Stiyl grew stronger with the number of talisman cards attached. In its current state, it clearly possessed power approaching Level 5. Those talismans were probably plastered all over the street.
If he used lightning to destroy the entire street, he could probably blast away and incinerate all the cards, but... because the King of the Hunting Witches was holding him in check, he couldn't control his power precisely. Tohsaka Rin was still nearby; if he summoned the Heavenly Thunder, she would inevitably be implicated, and in her current state, she couldn't possibly dodge it.
Damn it! If only someone could keep the King of the Hunting Witches occupied... Suddenly, Lin Luo’s eyes lit up.
"Really, how could I forget? Impulsiveness really is the devil," Lin Luo chided himself wryly. Because Rin had almost been killed by Stiyl, anger had almost clouded his judgment, making him focus only on using his esper powers. But he forgot—he wasn't just an esper; his most powerful weapon wasn't his psychic ability, but the Book of Contracts!
"Release Seal Zero!"
"Roar!!!"
A heaven-shaking roar erupted, and a colossal white dog spirit drilled out of its seal. The moment Bai Rui manifested, the boundless malice it exuded enveloped the entire area, and instantly, even the surrounding flames seemed to drop in temperature.
The King of the Hunting Witches was a magical construct, devoid of life or consciousness, so Bai Rui's killing aura naturally had no effect on it. But conversely, Bai Rui was a spirit beast born from the Nine-Tailed Fox; as long as the Killing Stone remained intact, its soul would never dissipate. Furthermore, it possessed a natural resistance to pure elemental attacks.
Two unnatural entities—one red, one white—instantly engaged in a fierce collision. Flames soared, and roars thundered... Such might could certainly be called the highest combat power below Level 5!
Tohsaka Rin watched the scene unfolding before her, dumbfounded.
"Rin!" Suddenly, she heard Lin Luo's voice. "Get out of here quickly. Next, I’m going to summon the Heavenly Thunder to destroy the entire street."
"Ah?" Tohsaka Rin paused slightly, but then she saw Lin Luo enveloped in an incomparably dazzling light. The moment his finger pointed to the sky, a bolt of electric light shot from his hand. Instantly, dark clouds churned, and thunder and lightning raged!
Although Tohsaka Rin had never witnessed Lin Luo unleash his full power, as an excellent magician, she could easily judge the power level from the environmental readings. She knew Lin Luo's next move would certainly be destructive!
"Damn it!" Though unwilling to retreat, she knew staying would only cause trouble for Lin Luo. Without further hesitation, she quickly turned and ran into the distance.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!!
It was like the end of the world; dozens of world-ending bolts of lightning split down from the sky, continuous and incessant... In an instant, lightning crisscrossed, buildings collapsed, debris flew, and the entire street was obliterated in a flash!
This was the true power of a Level 5!
Simultaneously, the figure of the King of the Hunting Witches gradually faded; its talismans destroyed, it could no longer exist.
Lin Luo’s gaze was sharp. Amidst the collapsing street, he swiftly located a red silhouette and flashed towards it: "Stiyl, die!"
"...Suck Blood Hunt Cross!" Stiyl’s face changed, and he hastily unleashed two fire blades, but the Spear of Lightning shooting from above Lin Luo instantly shattered them.
"Ah!" With the King of the Hunting Witches shattered and his magic rendered useless, Stiyl could finally no longer maintain his composure, and a trace of instinctive fear appeared on his face.
"Roar... Awooo!"
Lin Luo raised his lightning-charged hand and brought it down fiercely, about to cleave Stiyl to death on the spot, when suddenly, a piercing shriek echoed in his ears, and his consciousness felt a sharp pain!
Bai Rui was killed!
Lin Luo's face changed drastically. The King of the Hunting Witches was gone; who could have killed Bai Rui? Lin Luo and Bai Rui were soul-bound. But just now, he felt Bai Rui instantly retreat into the depths of his consciousness—it had been... instantly defeated!
"Seven Flashes!"
Before Lin Luo could fully react, a near-inaudible sound rang out.
Then, the sound of air being split seemed faster than lightning; in an instant, a visible slash was already close to his eyes...
The Book of Contracts materialized... Waaaah!
There wasn't even time for the Book of Contracts to fully materialize; that overwhelmingly powerful slash had already struck him. Blood jetted out from his body like a spring...
As he fell, Lin Luo saw the figure standing atop the ruins... tall, with long black hair, wearing a T-shirt and jeans, exposing half of her thigh—a beautiful woman.
Amidst his shock, Lin Luo wore a helpless, wry smile: Truly, I should have realized it sooner. Since she came for the Index, that damn fire mage is here, she couldn't possibly not be present. And her attack was truly merciless... A Saint...
Kanzaki Kaori!
Pfft!
A mouthful of blood sprayed out, and Lin Luo instantly lost consciousness.
"Lin Luo!!!"
Tohsaka Rin, who had already run some distance away, instinctively turned back upon hearing Bai Rui's scream... Because Bai Rui had vanished too quickly, she hadn't seen it. What she saw was the blood spurting from Lin Luo's body like a fountain, and his motionless figure lying on the ground!
Clack, the gem clutched in her hand dropped to the ground. Instantly, Tohsaka Rin stopped in her tracks, her expression instantaneously turning to despair.
Lies! That can't be real! How could this happen? How could this happen?
She absolutely refused to believe that in such a short span of time, Lin Luo could have been defeated... How was that possible??!! No, no! Absolutely not!!!
Rin was an inherently strong individual. As a person, as a magus, as the heir to the Tohsaka family and er, as a girl, as Sakura's older sister, as the top student and idol of the school, and as Tokosaka Rin herself... she wasn't just strong; she possessed a fiercely competitive nature. Consequently, these roles were not mere titles to her but inescapable responsibilities. She channeled all these identities into the last one, ceaselessly striving to fulfill every duty, always bearing immense pressure silently and alone—this was the true essence of Tokosaka Rin.
Yet, beneath the surface, this strength was nothing more than a façade of fortitude. Once that firm exterior was stripped away, what remained was a fragile and delicate girl.
In this moment of despair, Tokosaka Rin's resilient shell was brutally torn asunder. She felt her own powerlessness profoundly... What was the head of the Tohsaka house? What was a genius magus? She couldn't even save the person before her. This was utterly...
Save him! Save him! Save him!
At that instant, Rin’s heart held only this single, desperate wish; whether she had deceived herself about anything else no longer mattered!
Curses? Sorcery? Jewels...
None of it could be applied here. Despair enveloped her completely... Why was she so incompetent?! Ever since meeting him, she had only ever been protected by him—why couldn't she protect him?
As if all strength had drained from her body, Rin abruptly sank to her knees with a soft thud. She lowered her head, and silent tears traced paths down her cheeks. It was then that she noticed the faint Command Seal imprinted on the back of her right hand!
Command Seal?!
Her eyes instantly brightened. Right—there was the Command Seal!
Although she had used the Command Seals countless times since arriving in this world without summoning a Heroic Spirit, she had no other recourse now... Holy Grail, since you have chosen me, I implore you, please hear my desire: grant me the strongest Heroic Spirit!
"I declare! By your command, I summon thee forth, my fate tied to your long sword!"
The instant the incantation began, a faint radiance shimmered across Rin's form...
"Heed the call of the Holy Grail, and answer me, you who would abide by this intent and reason!"
Boundless magical energy surged from a core deep within her. If Lin Luo could see it, he would realize that within Rin’s body, encircling her World Heart, a massive ley line was taking shape...
"I swear, I am the one who achieves all good in this world, and I am the one who disseminates all evil in this world."
A circular magic circle materialized before her...
"Thou, wrapped in the seven days of the three great Words of Power, arrive here from the Circle of Restraint, Guardian of the Scales!"
The light within the magic circle blazed as brightly as the sun...
"Obey me! Your fate shall be decided by your sword!"
The chant ended, and the light receded. A peerlessly beautiful young woman clad in white knight's armor appeared out of thin air, holding a golden longsword in her hand.
"In the name of ABER, I accept this covenant! I acknowledge you as my Master!"
The young woman spoke, raising her longsword high!