Reflection proved entirely useless against Kihara Noukan, and his own powers were being interfered with—a tactic so similar to that damned brat from before, it felt less like an ability and more like pure science.

If it had only been Kihara Noukan alone, with his experience fighting Lin Luo, Accelerator wouldn't have been so cornered. With his strength, he could have easily crushed the interference. But Kihara wasn't alone; there was the second bastard—Haimura Kido!

Haimura Kido’s ability could inflict tangible damage, bypassing Accelerator’s reflection entirely. If they fought separately, one-on-one would be easy enough, but with both united, the strength wasn't just one plus one equaling two; it dragged Accelerator into a fierce, agonizing struggle.

And the most critical factor was that he had to shield Last Order from harm. Yet, his power wasn't suited for perfect protection. In the end, an ability designed only for killing was ill-suited for defense. He had to simultaneously calculate enemy attacks precisely to find counters while meticulously shielding Last Order from his own power’s collateral damage. This demanded absolute precision in his calculations; any slight misstep would have unthinkable consequences!

Faced with every unfavorable combat factor, Accelerator could hardly find a spot on his body that wasn't damaged—either battered by Kihara Noukan or wounded by Haimura Kido’s power.

He’s going to lose this!

That was Accelerator’s conclusion. So, relying on mere hot-blooded impulse to play the hero simply wasn't enough. Being a hero wasn't that simple; not just anyone could be one. Unlike that brat who defeated him—facing enemies several times stronger without hesitation, with no confusion in his eyes, able to smile even while dying—he had positioned himself as a hero from the very beginning.

But...

But this world was merciless; destiny didn't pre-ordain who would become a hero. If a true hero wasn't present, then someone standing nearby had to step up. Even if he was scum, even if he deserved Hell, if he didn't want to lose something precious, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and act the hero!

Just like that brat—he surely wasn't born a hero, either. He became one only because he was protecting something vital!

Accelerator smiled. It was a laugh tinged with helplessness. Why did such a simple truth take him this long to grasp? Possessing such invincible power, yet doing such useless things. He truly didn't deserve to be the strongest.

But the smile was also carefree. So what if it was late? It was precisely because he wandered down so many wrong paths that he found what mattered most. Now, he had to guard it, even if it cost him his life!

"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

A sharp, feminine scream echoed throughout Academy City under the influence of Accelerator's power.

When doubt vanished from his heart, when his conviction burned true, when he was ready to discard his own life, when he transformed her... the true, strongest Accelerator finally descended! This was the LV5 esper who stood at the pinnacle of Academy City's 2.3 million espers—unrivaled, unsurpassed—Accelerator!

Boom!

A violent impact resonated with a muffled roar. Terror flashed in Kihara Noukan’s eyes. Before he could interfere with his powers, a tornado tearing through the air violently surged into his body. Accompanied by screams and the shrill whine of the wind, he was lifted high into the air, flying toward the sky like a meteor. In an instant, he vanished, destination unknown... perhaps forcefully tearing through space and crossing into another world.

Fear spread from the depths of Haimura Kido’s heart. When Accelerator’s blood-red eyes fixed upon him, an irresistible compulsion arose within him. His six not-yet-fully-awakened white wings trembled, fluttering along with the shaking of his own body!

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

Though unwilling and hating to lose, Haimura Kido knew that with his current strength, he couldn't defeat this Accelerator before him. He had to flee, he had to retreat!

Perhaps if his six wings fully awakened, he might stand a chance against Accelerator, but right now... absolutely impossible!

Haimura Kido prepared to withdraw, but Accelerator had no intention of letting him go. He manipulated all the wind and atmosphere of Academy City, compressing and condensing it into a colossal vortex, poised and ready, targeting the boy with the white wings.

No escape! Haimura Kido knew the enemy's ultimate attack was locked onto him. Any movement would invite instant death; even conjuring something nonexistent in this world couldn't withstand this absolute assault.

"Mmm..."

A faint whimper sounded. Last Order’s small body suddenly stirred, and that small sound was enough to distract Accelerator, pulling his gaze away from Haimura Kido toward Last Order.

Without hesitation, seizing the minute opportunity, Haimura Kido flapped his wings and rapidly fled into the distance. His feelings were complex; he had initially come to capture Last Order, yet this little girl had just saved his life. Truly, the turns of fate were unpredictable...

Watching Last Order seeming on the verge of waking, Accelerator hesitated. Haimura Kido had fled fast enough, but he was still within range; taking him down wouldn't be difficult. However, Last Order was now awake, and launching an attack of that magnitude might startle her...

Though he was an executioner—ever since gaining this power, he had killed countless known and unknown individuals, his hands perpetually stained with blood. Anyone who knew Accelerator was aware of this fact, including the girl beside him.

But whether he was deceiving himself or not, subconsciously, Accelerator did not want Last Order to witness it, at least not to see the act of him killing up close.

...And so, the wind ceased, the vortex dissolved, and the second-ranked bastard flew out of sight.

"Damn it!" Accelerator muttered lowly, looking down at Last Order... Perhaps due to the virus she mentioned, the girl's face was flushed crimson, not the healthy color of a normal person, but a look of intense pain, her brow tightly furrowed.

Accelerator examined Last Order’s body closely. If it were merely an electronic virus, his power should eliminate it. But to his despair, the virus inside the girl was something beyond his comprehension; he couldn't analyze it at all.

What to do? What on earth should he do? Every thought in his head revolved around this question. Accelerator felt his powerlessness deeply. Even the strongest esper—was there truly something he couldn't save?

Pata, pata, pata!

Just then, Accelerator heard footsteps approaching from the end of the street—not just one person!

Who was it? At a time like this... the enemy?

He looked over. Under the lights at the far end of the street, three figures appeared. When he saw their faces, Accelerator’s eyes snapped wide open. These were faces he could never forget—the boy who had defeated him, and the girl he had killed over ten thousand times!

His heart seemed to stop; Accelerator couldn't speak, a strange emotion burgeoning in his core. He wanted to flee this place immediately, but... his body wouldn't move!

"Yo, isn't that Accelerator?" The boy opposite him suddenly greeted him, as if addressing an old friend whom he hadn't seen in years.

He just stared blankly. Before he realized it, the trio from across the street was standing right in front of him. He managed to blurt out, "Why... are you here?"

"We're here for her, of course." Lin Luo gestured toward Last Order held in Accelerator’s arms... He had thought his path would never cross Accelerator's again, but fate was unpredictable. After all these twists and turns, Accelerator still ended up meeting Last Order. While the scenario had some deviations, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

"She's infected with a virus. I... I can't do anything..." Saying this, Accelerator wasn't sure what emotion fueled the words—was he trying to prove his innocence, or merely stating the girl's condition?

"I know. Just leave her to me."

Saying that, Lin Luo extended both hands. Accelerator remained silent, simply placing Last Order into his hands. He knew that under these circumstances, anyone could be an enemy, anyone could harm the girl, but this person before him absolutely would not!

Taking Last Order, Lin Luo placed his hand on her head... The virus in Last Order’s mind was Angel Power, no simple thing, but something highly advanced. However, the Divine Healing Art from the Book of Covenants was even higher grade. Regardless of injury or ailment, it could restore her neural state to its healthiest condition, not to mention the insights he had previously gained...

While Lin Luo healed Last Order, Accelerator subconsciously looked toward the two girls beside him. Identical faces, yet slightly different from the Sisters he had seen before—they seemed a bit older. Including Last Order, did that mean there were many 'models' of the Sisters?

Thinking this, he also noticed the way the two girls were looking at him. One glared fiercely, her eyes full of venomous hatred, while the other, though not showing such overt disgust, did not look kindly upon him either.

As expected, I’m hated. Accelerator gave a wry, internal smile.

"Done," Lin Luo said shortly after.

"What?" Accelerator was stunned. He had been utterly unable to purge Last Order’s virus, so how was it so simple in this person's hands? He found it hard to believe, but when he looked at Last Order, he saw a face that was indeed healthy.

Accelerator couldn't begin to fathom it.

Handing Last Order over to Mei Ling, Lin Luo turned to Accelerator, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "Speaking of which, Accelerator, you look like you got beaten up pretty badly."

Accelerator's current appearance was indeed unseemly, his face mottled with bruises, making him look quite comical.

"How did you find this place?" Unable to find another topic, Accelerator asked the first thing that came to mind, secretly wishing he could just leave.

"That's a stupid question. You guys were fighting loud enough to shake the city; the whole campus must have heard. How could I not find you? Plus, I saw a Birdman flying over just now—must have been the Eternal Number Two."

Eternal Number Two? Who is that! Accelerator had no desire to engage.

Lin Luo continued, "But seriously, the artistry on your face probably wasn't from him. Did you run into a Kihara God Fist too?"

He really is an irritating guy.

"Oh, right, Loli-con Accelerator, have you seen two girls?"

"Aren't they right behind you!" Accelerator snapped, veins throbbing on his forehead.

"Mmm, not those ones..." Lin Lo’s face showed a slight embarrassment. "A girl with black twin-tails and a girl in golden knight armor. I asked them to look for Last Order, but it's strange, they haven't shown up..."

Mid-sentence, Lin Luo trailed off, because rounding a corner not far from Accelerator, two figures appeared: the black twin-tails and the golden-haired girl—it was Rin and ABER.

Of course, if it were only them, it wouldn't be an issue. The problem was, along with those two, Lin Luo also spotted another figure... tea-colored short hair, a pretty face, and a Tokiwadai uniform—Misaka Mikoto!!!!!

Damn it! Why are those two tsundere hanging out together!?!?

In that instant, Lin Luo’s mouth twitched; he could no longer remain composed.

In that moment, Lin Luo saw it. He saw it clearly: a brilliant, beautiful crimson ship sailing majestically from the distance...

P: This chapter is nearly four thousand characters long, so votes are definitely requested!