"This is ridiculous."

The boy who bribed a small girl to send his graviton bomb stuffed inside a doll to one Judgement member could not believe his eyes.

The explosion was nullified as a black, spiky-haired boy pulled a bident out from nothing.

What the fuck exactly happened?

It did seem as though that spiky-haired boy pulled out that bident from his explosion. Perhaps he somehow converted his explosion into a bident?

But isn't that something only a Level 5 can do? Not only that, I don't know any Level 5... or any ESPer who could do that!

While his attempt in killing a Judgement member failed, he did make it out of the mall alive. There was a crazy blonde child in the mall who crushed a crowd into unrecognisable corpses just by looking at them.

The graviton bomber boy rested his back against a wall in an alley as he sighed in relief.

At least I'm alive. If this attempt in killing a Judgement member fails, I'll just have to try again.

He hated Judgement for being so useless. So useless. If they were more competent enough, his friend would not be lying in the hospital stuck in a coma.

That's why I'll show them the price for being so useless.

He laughed as he thought about how shocking it would be if he managed to kill one Judgement member. It was pathetic enough that despite 20 over bombing cases, Judgement was still unable to figure out that he was the one behind everything.

However, today was the day when justice finally caught up to him.

"This is Judgement."

A girl with an auburn twin pigtails wearing Tokiwadai's school uniform was in front of him, flashing the green armband on her left arm.

"What do you want? I believe that being in an alley isn't a crime."

"Cut the act, graviton bomber."

After days of painstakingly investigating every single ESPer who was capable of accelerating gravitons to create bombs, Kuroko finally found the culprit behind the recent bombing incidents.

"Huh? Graviton bomber? You appeared out of nowhere and claim that I'm the bomber? Is Judgement so desperate to find a scapegoat?"

The boy was more condescending than confused. Online netizens were flaming Judgement like crazy for being so incompetent in dealing with the bombing incidents. Their reputation would hit rock bottom if they didn't capture the person behind it soon.

"Pressure from the higher ups?" The boy said, "I didn't know Judgement has fallen so low to framing innocent people just to salvage their reputation."

"We have evidence proving that you were the one behind it. Just admit it already. Pleading guilty might just reduce your sentence."

Actually, Kuroko didn't have concrete evidence that he was the one behind it. She came to the conclusion that the boy was the culprit through elimination. Thus, Kuroko only had enough evidence to bring him in for questioning.

This was her method in trying to bait him into admitting that he was the culprit.

"So Judgement is pretty competent after all. Haha. It took you long enough. Yes, I was the one behind everything."

Never fails to work. Kuroko thought.

It was rare that she resorted to this, but more people would be hurt with every passing day with the bomber running free. There was no time to spare in gathering more evidence to convict him.

"Just surrender obediently and come with me. There is no point trying to escape."

"I never intended to escape in the first place."

The boy moved closer towards Kuroko, smiling.

"What...?"

It was an inviting smile to Hell.

"I just want you dead."

The boy was about 30cm away from a metallic pipe lining the walls beside Kuroko.

His ability has evolved to a point where he could accelerate gravitons from a distance away.

He moved close enough to cause an explosion by accelerating gravitons acting on the metallic pipe beside Kuroko.

The shockwaves shook the surrounding air violently as parts of the alley caught fire from the blast.

That's strange.

There was no sign of that Judgement girl. Nothing. Not even bits of burnt flesh.

That was my maximum output...

Sensing something strange, the boy turned behind and made his way to another exit. He turned into a few corners when that Judgement girl appeared in front of him again.

There was a slight burn on her left arm, other than that, nothing.

"How did you survive that explosion?!"

She was extremely close to the source of the explosion. The shockwaves should have killed her instantly.

"Teleportation." Kuroko said.

"A teleporter?!"

There was only about 80 people in this city who was a teleporter. Meeting one would be almost impossible according to statistics, but here he was, facing a teleporter.

The boy spat, "Just my luck."

"That's why I said escaping would be futile."

"Did I ever say that I was planning on escaping?"

The boy took out a metal spoon from his pocket, and realized that this was only his spoon.

If this girl really could teleport, this spoon wouldn't be enough to kill her. Shit. I think I really need to escape.

Without thinking, he grabbed a blonde girl who passed by him, jabbing the spoon into her throat.

"I guess I spoke too soon. If you follow me, I'll kill this girl in front of you."

To his surprise, Kuroko was more confused than worried. Even the girl he was holding hostage seemed rather calm, and bored.

"What the hell are you doing here, Shokuhou-san?"

"You're the second person who asked." Misaki yawned, "But its natural that you're asking this question because I always do a good job in hiding my movements."

To Misaki, surprise is everything. Her Mental Out is most lethal when her opponent is caught completely off guard. They'll all fall apart without even knowing why.

Things becomes very complicated if her opponent were expecting her in advance.

Indeed, things would get very complicated if everyone knows about her intention to mass control a large number of people for tonight's plan.

"I still don't understand why the hell are you in an alleyway. Or are you trying to say that I'm not supposed to understand because you do a good job in 'hiding your movement'?"

"That's correct. You can be very clever, Shirai-san." Misaki looked at the boy with a playful smile, "Anyway... Takai Fuji. Nice to meet you."

"How did you know my name...?" Fuji said.

This blonde was scary.

Her reddish eyes had twinkling gold stars for irises. Her playful smile hints at something dangerous. And she knew his name without him telling her anything.

A freaky starry-eyed mind reader? What's with my fucking luck. Oh wait...

Misaki glared at him, "Did you just call me a freak?" but that lasted for a moment before her playful smile returned, "It's okay, let's change that impression, shall we?"

Fuji felt a warm sensation altering his thought process. His memories were being locked away by a black box as he began to realize that his sole purpose in life is to serve his Queen, which was the blonde girl that he was holding hostage.

"Yes... Queen. I'm sorry. I deserve punishment for being so rude."

He dropped his spoon and knelt down, hanging his head low in shame, and slapped himself, never stopping like the moving secondhand of a clock.

Misaki's ability took effect on the boy when he grabbed her arm. Her ability can be activated either by using her remote or through contact with any part of her body.

Remote is always preferred because she can affect multiple people at once unlike contact, which can only affect one people at a time, but it's a nasty surprise for those who thinks that her ability only works with a remote.

"So can you hand him over to me now?" Kuroko said, looking unamused. Typical of her.

Misaki took out her remote, "No."

Pressing a button, Fuji stopped slapping and crawled on all fours, following behind Misaki like a dog as he sticked his tongue out, panting.

To Kuroko, it was like Misaki and Fuji teleported away, but this was only an illusion created by Misaki.

Misaki sighed as she continued walking through the alley.

I hope that peace will return once more after this.

"You, and you, this side."

Five people began to moving upon Mikoto's command.

Mikoto was leading an army of 160 people split into teams of five people to raid 32 factories and laboratories before dawn. Because it is difficult for her to coordinate a simultaneous raid on the 32 locations, Mikoto would personally lead one team, coordinate two other independent teams, and leave the rest to Misaki.

She spoke into a slim, communication device, "How's the situation on your side?"

"Nothing special in particular. We will continue exploring the area."

According to Misaki, the plan is to raid the HQ of STUDY, an underground organization, to save Febri from dying, and rescue her other sister trapped somewhere inside. The problem is that there are 64 possible locations, and time is running out.

"I didn't expect helping him would involve this kind of things."

Raiding wasn't foreign to her; Mikoto has done it so many times before, but coordinating a raid was. She was a one man show during her time in the darkness, so there was no need for this.

"Empty. All the 13 locations checked so far are all abandoned."

Mikoto looked around the bare surroundings around her. A few rusty machinery lying about and nothing else.

"Decoys are annoying, especially if all of them are that large."

This factory was large, so it would take some time for her team to completely check out the area. The same situation had occured for all the other 13 locations already, which considerably slowed her progress.

Mikoto spoke into her device, "Oi Shokuhou, how's things on your side?"

"Nothing so far."

"Okay."

I wonder if that idiot is actually mind-controlled by that Shokuhou.

Mikoto thought as she cut the connection on her device. She never understood Touma's power, so there was a possibility that Mental Out might somehow work on him.

But for a guy who could kill me in two moves within one second... is it really possible?

Her small crush on Touma seemed to be fading away into disappointment when Mikoto thought about how Touma was actually another mind-controlled puppet.

How disgusting.

The fact that all of Misaki's friends must be her toys that she plays around with in school disgusted Mikoto. Even Touma, a really cool, but idiotic guy in her opinion was also her toy?

That's why I really hate this bitch. Are you so desperate for a childhood friend that you mind controlled that idiot to be one.

Mikoto checked on her two independent team through the device to clear her mind.

"How's the situation?"

"..."

Silence.

"Any reply? Hello? Anyone there?"

"..."

Silence continued.

Did something happened?

Mikoto decided to check on her team inside this factory.

"Are you guys okay?"

"Yes, we're o-"

There was silence once again, before a male voice sounded from somewhere within this factory.

"Railgun. While we still don't understand your purpose in raiding our decoys, here's a welcome gift for you."

"You're STUDY, aren't you?"

"Be honored that you'll be the first to experience our true power."

Countless Powered Suits surrounded Mikoto. Green and humanoid in shape, with both arms replaced by a cannon, and on its back, a large cannon was attached. All of them were aimed for Mikoto.

Blue electrical tendrils danced around Mikoto as she summoned her iron sand sword.

"Don't look down on a Level 5."

She took a step forward, and her battle with those Powered Suits began.

"I get the feeling that this place is just another decoy." Touma said.

Together with Misaki, they were inside a laboratory facility. It was a rather small facility with only three levels.

"Thanks to Misaka's help, we've eliminated 13 locations ahead of schedule. Everything should be over before midnight." Misaki said.

"Yeah. And I can finally finish my homework in peace."

"Why do you even bother with homework? You still have supplementary lessons even if you finish all of them."

"Because I don't want more supplementary lessons." Touma sighed, "Such misfortune."

The both of them exited the second level, and headed to the lobby in the first level. It was designed tastefully as several ornaments were placed around, and the tiles were monochromatic.

Misaki twirled the remote in her hand, "I can change that, you know?"

"Thanks, but no thanks."

Touma has been studying the unique laws behind magical grimoires for so long that it was difficult for him to adjust back to ordinary high school science and math, which he used to be good at. Also, he wasn't the best in his other subjects. Combined with his daily misfortune, it was difficult to sit down for at least 5 hours per day to finish his homework.

Punishment for not finishing homework was supplementary lessons.

Misaki leaned close, and whispered seductively to Touma, "How about this? If you give me a deep, passionate french kiss, I'll finish all your homework."

"I get the feeling that I'm selling my body for homework."

"Why not? I'll make you feel really good, and you get your homework done as well, isn't that wonderf- Ouch."

Touma lightly smacked Misaki's head, "This must be a side effect of puberty."

"I'm already way past puberty," Misaki pointed to her impressive chest, "This is proof. You could touch it to prove its authenticity. Hehe, do you know that I spotted Misaka looking at my chest with jealousy a couple of times."

"Maybe she'll feel better if you tell her your true age."

Misaki shook her head, "No. I'll look like a old hag if I do so."

"17 isn't that old."

"What are you talking about? I'm 14."

Touma smirked, "Yes yes. If only you were older, then I might consider giving you that deep, passionate french kiss you wanted. Unfortunately, 14 is really too young."

"Okay, I'm 17, now kiss me."

"It doesn't work like that! Nobody turns 17 from 14 within 10 seconds."

"But I'm really 17!"

"Now you admit it. I should have recorded this and blackmail you in exchange for not being so perverted."

"Shouldn't it be the opposite? You should blackmail me for sex. That's how things work! Wait..."

Something was wrong. She sensed the existence of the remaining 145 people connected to her internal Mental Out network was rapidly disappearing like ants being squashed by several fingers at once.

Misaki used Telepathy and realized that all of them were being wiped out by Green Powered Suits which were humanoid in shape, equipped with a cannon on their back, and an arm replaced by another cannon.

"What's wrong?" Touma asked.

"They've finally made their move."

The same Powered Suits crashed into the lobby from all directions. About 30 surrounded the both of them, with all their cannons locked on and ready to fire.

"I guess it can't be helped." Touma said.

"Sorry then." Misaki pressed a button on her remote.

The area flashed bright green, the lobby was reduced to rubble, and the building collapsed soon after as the foundations were destroyed.

However, a swirling air dome protected Touma and Misaki from the assault from the falling concrete and the laser beams.

Blood was trickling from Touma's lips, trying his best to keep standing as he trembled in pain.

Misaki held a sliver spear in one hand.

It was the Gáe Bolg.

Made from the bone of Coinchenn, a sea monster, the spear granted one control over wind and water.

There was also a cursed power within the spear that could reverse the laws of causality. For example, the cause would be "the opponent has been pierced by the spear "and the effect would be to "throw the spear". This guarantees a sure-kill as their fate has already been sealed.

Only an embodiment of a miracle like Misaki, despite being artificial, can theoretically wield this power, because only a miracle can ignore the laws of causality and make anything possible. Or a Magic God at a 50% chance of succeeding.

Because the true spear has been lost after Touma's defeat in Europe, Misaki could only summon a portion of its power, so its cursed power was not available to her.

She glided across the ground, conjured a large tornado, blasting all the Powered Suits into mid-air, before Misaki leaped up, hurled her spear through one Powered Suit, before taking out her remote. Multiple Gáe Bolgs were summoned with each press, impaling all the suits, and a huge chain explosion occurred mid-air.

Misaki gracefully landed and went over to Touma. His body was tearing apart as if he was about to burst. Blood was flowing from all parts of his body.

"I think this might take a while." Touma said.

Normally, an ESPer cannot cast magic. If they were to cast magic, their body would be damaged because the process of creating mana for magic clashes with the AIM field surrounding them.

The problem is solved through a damage transfer curse. Even the damage suffered from activating this curse would be transferred to the target. In this way, Misaki could cast magic freely with all damages to her body transferred to Touma. However, this curse only works if the target is within a 25m radius.

"I'll check if Misaka is okay."

Misaki took out her communication device. There was only static.

She wiped a fake tear off her face, "Rest in peace, Misaka. We'll always remember you. Where should we go to celebrate this joyous event?"

"It'd take more than that to kill a Level 5."

Touma's external wounds were completely healed, but his internal wounds was still in the process of healing.

"Let's make a small bet, there's three location left unchecked and one of them should be STUDY's HQ. Pick one location, if that location isn't the HQ, you'll give me a french kiss." Misaki grinned, "Or you can give it to me now since you'll lose anyway."

"I won't give up till very end."

Touma picked a location, hoping that he might somehow get lucky. He had a bad habit of tempting fate. Despite his misfortune guaranteeing that he would be wrong, Touma was willing to give it a shot.

After 20 minutes, to his horror, the location was a single level factory with nothing inside.

"No matter how you look at it, this isn't STUDY's HQ. I win!" Misaki activated her cutesy pose with a horizontal v-sign.

"... Such misfortune."

Aritomi Haruki sat in his office, viewing the situation from a laptop as he adjusted his spectacles.

There was an invasion led by two Level 5s. But their small army was effortlessly crushed by his Powered Suits. The only survivors were the Level 5s and a black, spiky haired boy.

Something was odd with Shokuhou Misaki. Since when could Mental Out allow her to propel 30 over Powered Suits mid air through a large tornado, before leaping up and summon multiple spears by pressing her remote?

This is somehow an illusion, right? Or did she achieve a new clearance level to her ability? Could she be somewhere beside me, and what I'm seeing is all just an illusion.

Haruki shook his head and looked intensely around his surroundings. Nothing has changed. Those bookshelves filled with books were still there. His desk was still a desk, and his laptop as well.

I must be getting a little paranoid. But how did that Mental Out manage to do that? This is beyond the scope of her ability.

Haruki decided to leave that question for another time as he observed Mikoto's fight with his upgraded Powered Suits.

Unfortunately, due to a freak accident, all 1000 of his equipped Powered Suits were destroyed. However, his recent huge business deal with a rich client injected fresh capital into STUDY, so Haruki managed to get another 300 Powered Suits equipped with his prototype FIVE_Over Modelcase MELTDOWNER.

Once that FIVE_Over technology is fully functional, STUDY will be one step closer to be recognized as an powerful underground organization in the darkness comparable to the Kiharas.

There was also the Diffusion Ghost network that could control 20,000 unmanned Powered Suits at maximum capacity, and Maycia, the prototype artificial ESPer who possessed the #1's ability, but she died from exceeding her limits when that code was inputted into her.

STUDY was still in the process of reverse engineering this code, but apparently, it was a code that forcefully input values into Maycia's AIM field, allowing her to create imaginary vectors.

If their reverse engineering was successful, they could potentially create the ultimate killing machine which could kill a large amount of people within a fraction of a second.

All of this was possible thanks to their backer, Kumokawa Seria. She saw the potential in them, invested a lot of money, and shared some valuable technology such as the blueprints to the prototype FIVE_Over Modelcase MELTDOWNER, and the code.

But I don't have to be afraid of Kumokawa as soon as STUDY finishes reverse engineering that code. With imaginary vectors as a bargaining chip, I'll get a Board Of Director to back us up as well to cement our position in the darkness. If she agrees, that's great, if not I'll just dispose of her.

Haruki watched in awe as Mikoto lured all the Powered Suits outside, tore down the factory as she attracted all the metal to her, and used them as projectiles for her Railgun.

His Powered Suits were immune to any electron attacks by applying a electron flow disruption barrier built using his research data from the #1 and the #4.

Mikoto was at a loss initially. While she could deflect the laser beams using electromagnetism, her iron sand sword could not lay a single scratch on those Powered Suits.

Mikoto's iron sand sword works by vibrating iron particles at high speed using magnetism to create a sharp blade.

Somehow, the electrons keeping the particles magnetized would no longer be aligned upon contact with its armour, causing her sharp blade to dissipate.

Even after abandoning her iron sand sword, and switched to concentrated lightning strikes, it only left a burn mark on the armour.

Mikoto took out a coin, fired a Railgun, pierced through the amour of one Powered Suits, blasting the Suit, and two other nearby Suits into pieces.

"But I only have 9 coins left...and there's so many."

She lured all the Powered Suits outside, and gather enough metallic projectiles by tearing down the factory.

Mikoto used her Rail Shotgun, shooting 8 Powered Suits at a time. She deflected a few incoming beams, and fired her second and third shotgun, destroying all the Powered Suits. The amour was surprisingly weak according to Academy City's standard if her Rail Shotgun could pierce through it without much resistance.

Haruki blamed himself for not having enough money to strengthen the amour, but at least Mikoto shown that the barrier was on the right track.

He switched to another screen to check on Jun.

She was supposed to be locked up inside a secure room. Escape should have been impossible.

But Jun was gone.

Haruki realized that there was another traitor in STUDY other than Jun. He checked the time when was the door opened.

Good. Only 10 minutes ago. They must still be inside this building.

He activated an alarm inside the building and made an announcement.

"Sakurai has escaped. There is also another traitor. Search the building and recapture them."

Jun and Shinobu was hiding in a corner inside the building. It was a blind spot where the security cameras could not cover. An alarm has been activated, and Powered Suits were patrolling the area.

Jun peeked out and spotted a few Powered Suits armed with something like a hockey stick patrolling the area, "They may not be equipped with any cannons, but one hit from them would instantly kill us."

"Unfortunately, I only have two 9mm guns. We don't have enough firepower to break through."

"But we can't stay here forever." Jun said.

Shinobu was the one who convinced her to help Maycia and Febri to escape in order to save Janie from being the Diffusion Ghost network core.

The result was that Maycia died while Febri was left in a critical state when Haruki and Seria overloaded the network through a code. But this would have probably happened anyway. It was only a matter of how fast Maycia and Febri managed to find someone who would save Janie before they ended up in such a state.

Jun had no way of knowing if they succeeded, so she assumed that they failed.

I can only rely on myself... and Shinobu.

By dawn, Haruki would unleash his Silent Party Plan to show Academy City STUDY's power.

300 Powered Suits equipped with cannons, and the remaining 18,700 Powered Suits would cause widespread destruction throughout Academy City. An entire district would be destroyed within 15 minutes.

Those Powered Suits armed with only hockey sticks, despite their bulky size, is as fast as a moving car. Also, three Powered Suit alone is enough to tear down a building completely in 40 seconds. Their strength is nothing to laugh at.

Janie's personality would be erased to optimize the network core. Even the secret backup memories of Janie, Febri and Maycia stored in the network by Shinobu would be erased as well to free calculation space as part of the optimization process. This was done to better coordinate 19,000 Powered Suits.

Jun needed to reach the mainframe of the network and download their memories into a USB thumbdrive provided by Shinobu before they get erased. Once this was done, she would recreate the three of them with all their memories intact.

Shinobu pointed to a open room, "I think I have an idea. Further inside would be the weapon storeroom. Once I acquire a few Metal FX, we'll have enough firepower to fight against the Suits."

"You mean..."

"Yes, shoot the lockpad with your gun. As soon as I'm inside, shoot. This should buy enough time to get that Metal FX."

The weapon storeroom contained various gun models bought to test it against Maycia's Vector Change. Some of them were powerful enough to take out one Suit with a few shot. In exchange for speed, the Powered Suits had weaker amour.

"But I'm not very good with shooting."

Jun was a scientist, so she didn't have much experience in handling a gun. It wasn't easy to shoot with precision for an amateur.

"Well, your password has been changed, so I'm only the one who can enter the room for now."

"... I'll try."

"Don't try. I might lose my life if you fail."

Jun steadied her aim on the lockpad. The door would be shut as soon it was destroyed. It was a sturdy door, so it would take a few seconds for the Suits to break through. If she fails, Shinobu might not be able to outrun the Suits, and die.

Jun took a deep breath, "Alright. I can do this. Yeah."

"On the count of 3, 2, 1."

Shinobu sprinted, about to enter the open room. Jun's hands were trembling under pressure. One shot. That was all she got.

I can do this!

As Shinobu leaped inside the open room, Jun fired.

She missed.

Perhaps it was the adrenaline, Jun corrected her aim within half a second after missing and fired again.

Because of the half second delay, a Powered Suit was clamped by the closing door. It broke free, and a few other Suits followed behind, pursuing Shinobu at full speed.

She initially outran those Suits because it took some time for them through acceleration to reach maximum velocity. However, the distance was becoming lesser by the second.

Just when Shinobu was in the range of one Powered Suit's hockey stick, she leaped sideways into the weapon storeroom, landing painfully on several guns lying on the ground, grabbed a one directional shockwave bomb that happened to be there, and knocked back those Powered Suits.

It was white, just like the testing room reserved for Maycia. Weapons such as guns and bombs were strewn about like a three year old not cleaning up after his play session.

"What a mess. The Metal FX should be somewhere around here."

Shinobu picked up a Metal FX after digging through one pile. It was an anti-tank rifle powerful enough to pierce through thick amour.

She fired at the Powered Suits, destroying them easily due to their weak amour.

Shinobu received a phone call.

It was Seria.

"I've gotta hand it to Aritomi. Despite already disposing 1000 equipped Powered Suits, he managed to equip another 300 Powered Suits in secret. All of them have been deployed in the 31 decoy sites, ready to attack Academy City any time."

"I understand. I know what to do."

"Excellent."

Shinobu was Seria's spy planted inside STUDY. Convincing Jun to free Maycia and Febri in order to find somebody to save Janie was only an excuse to release them into the 'wild' for Seria's experimental purposes.

But Jun was a good woman who genuinely cared about the three of them, so Shinobu did her a favour by secretly backing up all their memories so that if anything bad happens to them, they can be recreated.

"I guess I have another reason to make a trip to the mainframe."

"I guess we're here." Touma said.

Touma and Misaki was inside a large stadium. There were tunnels at the sides and at the end below a large screen.

"Assuming that one of the three locations unchecked is the HQ. But I have a feeling that its here." Misaki said.

The large screen came alive. A man wearing spectacles was on the screen. It was Aritomi Haruki.

"Your pathetic army has been completely crushed by our Powered Suits. What are you planning by trying to invade STUDY's HQ?"

"Isn't that obvious? To save Janie, Febri and Maycia." Touma said.

Aritomi was confused for a moment, then he laughed as he realized what was going on, "With just the two of you? Let me tell you something. Even though ESPers may be strong, but they can be defeated with enough numbers. Be overwhelmed by sheer numbers, you disgusting ESPers."

Powered Suits began swarming like ants from all the tunnels, and surrounded the both of them. None of them were equipped with cannons, but armed with something like a hockey stick.

Misaki took out her remote, and looked at Touma. He nodded.

Touma felt his insides tearing apart again as multiple jet streams shot from the ground, blasting the Powered Suits apart.

Misaki stood on a towering air column, pointing her Gáe Bolg at Touma.

Another towering air column shot towards him like a moving train. He absorbed it with his right hand, and grey wings emerged from his back.

Touma flew up, extending his wings and destroyed Powered Suits below like playing connecting the dots. However, more and more Powered Suits kept on appearing.

"Let's not waste any more time." Misaki said.

She leaped off and the Gáe Bolg in Misaki's hands disappeared, transforming into sliver wings behind her.

Touma and Misaki each pulled out a spear from their wings, and hurled it towards the ground below, shattering it and a 10 meters deep crater was formed. All the Powered Suits, and subsequent Suits appearing from the tunnel tumbled down the crater.

Misaki took Touma's hand and shot Aritomi a wry smile, who was dumbfounded at what he just saw.

"Numbers mean nothing to us. Quality over quantity."

The large screen was destroyed as Misaki tore a hole through it with her wings.

"What's left now is to find Jun, and it'll be all over."

Aritomi rushed towards the mainframe through a corridor. There was 5 levels more to go.

That bastard Jun! But I don't understand. I don't understand how is it possible for the Mental Out to summon wings, a spear and control wind when Mental Out is purely an ability to affect the human mind!

The purpose of the invasion is to destroy the Diffusion Ghost network. Somehow, Jun must have found outside help as well. Two Level 5s, one boy, and an army.

Strangely, they don't seem to know about my Silent Party Plan. I believe what they're aiming for is probably to save Janie from being the core, and get the recipe for a lollipop that can prolong Febri's life.

It was a secret plan to show Academy City STUDY's power by launching a devastating terrorist attack. Only the six members of STUDY were aware of this. Even their backer, Kumokawa Seria was unaware of this.

I'll show them that technology can surpass ESPers.

The prototype FIVE_Over Modelcase MELTDOWNER, an imaginary vector artificial ESPer created through their Chemicaloid technology, mobile Powered Suits produced in large quantities.

All of them were proof. While the imaginary vector artificial ESPer needed more time, the rest should be enough to prove to Academy City that he was correct.

A revolution will begin at dawn.

That is in danger of being stopped by the two intruders when they save Janie. Without the Diffusion Ghost network, there was nothing to activate the 19,000 Powered Suits.

If that's the case, I'll start my revolution earlier. Once the network is in full force, they can no longer stop it without killing Janie!

Aritomi reached for his phone, "Kosaku, activate the network now. Don't ask any questions, just do it."

"... Understood."

After travelling through several corridors and three flights of staircases, Aritomi reached the mainframe.

It was a large room filled with computer terminals as large as a telephone booth, and he sat down in one of the terminals beside Kosaku.

"How's the situation?"

"..."

There was no response. Kosako stared at the screen blankly, with stars in his eyes.

He turned his head towards Aritomi like a zombie.

"It's over."

Aritomi felt the cold, gun barrel pressed on his head. It was Shinobu.

Touma, Misaki and Jun surrounded him.

"Your Silent Party has ended before it begun." Misaki said.

Aritomi bit his lips in anger, "Yo-you! I haven't lost yet!"

Ignoring Shinobu's gun, he pressed a few buttons on the keyboard. A red warning sign labelled 'Final Phase' appeared on the screen. The building began to tremble.

Aritomi threw his head back and cackled, "Everything is over now! The Diffusion Ghost network is self destructing! Janie will die, and so will Febri! Academy City will be destroyed! DESTROYED!"

He had fired a missile from a structure in space 35,000 km above the Earth. Academy City will be wiped out once it lands. This was the final phase that nobody could stop when activated.

Everything was truly over.

Misaki shook her head, "Do you really think so?"

His cackling stopped, "Eh?"

"Are those buttons you pressed really buttons? Are the people standing in front of you real? Are you sure that you're really seated in front of a terminal?"

Aritomi blinked, and he realized that he was handcuffed and seated at a corner.

"It was all just an illusion...? Everything that I saw... was just an illusion?"

"Well, not all of it though."

"Since when... since when... did everything become an illusion?"

Was it from the time when he saw Misaki summoning a spear in his office? Or was it from the time when he rushed towards the mainframe?

Shinobu and Jun was at a terminal, downloading the backup memories of Maycia, the recipe to save Febri, and disconnecting Janie from the Diffusion Ghost network.

Touma was standing beside Misaki as they faced Aritomi.

"Life is unfair, isn't it? Especially in Academy City where despite how much effort one puts into their studies, how many papers one publishes, only ESPers are ever recognized by the city." Touma said.

"How did you..."

"I read your mind, and I told him that. I know why you're doing this" Misaki said.

"Then you should know how unfair this ESPer system in Academy City is! This revolution will show this ESPer obsessed city that technology can surpass ESPers, and can create even better ESPers than the curriculum. That's why they should start recognizing people like us!"

"But that doesn't give you the rights to hurt people."

"Your motivations are immature. Yes, it is unfair that you don't get recognized for your work, but is fame all you care about? Launching a 19,000 Powered Suits terrorist attack on the city just for fame?" Misaki said.

Aritomi might not have realized it, but Misaki saw that deep inside, he wanted fame. He wanted to be recognized by everyone. Wanting to prove that technology can surpass ESPers is just him subconsciously covering up his true intention.

"I..."

Misaki pointed her remote at him, "Why don't we change that, shall we?"

"While you're at it, change his thieving habits as well."

Seria entered the room, and glared at Touma.

It has been years since they met.

"Yeah, the base program for this Chemcialoid technology..." Touma said.

"Is a program that we created together."

The awkward atmosphere was growing stronger as silence continued.

Touma decided to say something to end it.

"...How's life?"

"Fine."

Her words were cold and unfeeling. Seria suppressed the urge to ask him about his blood stained clothes. She didn't want to let Touma know that she still cared about him.

Also, her life was far from fine. Being reduced to working under somebody when she was once ruled over half of Academy City's darkness wasn't fine.

Seria took out a gun, "Hey, why? Why did you do this to me? You never really gave me an answer."

Misaki watched Touma as he struggled to reply, but couldn't.

If she knew the truth, then maybe she wouldn't hate him. But can a person so deeply soaked in science believe the truth?

This must be what Touma is thinking. Even if he gave her an answer, would she believe him?

Seria pointed the gun at Haruki, "Will you tell me now?"

"The Seria I know wouldn't do this kind of th-"

She shot Haruki in the head.

"The Seria that you knew died from the day when you destroyed my corporation just to save Misaka Mikoto."

"It's not her fault. It has nothing to do with her!"

"THEN WHAT IS IT? ANSWER ME."

Those memories of being with Touma flashed past Seria's mind. It was beautiful, but that was why it was especially painful.

Touma trembled, staring wide-eyed at Seria, like he was about to break down anytime. Yet he couldn't squeeze out the answer from his mouth.

"How cruel." Seria dropped her gun, and left the room with a desolate look.

You're still the same.

"So what are your future plans?"

Touma and Misaki was outside the hospital at a bus stop with Jun and the triplets.

"I guess I'll become a teacher for a living." Jun said.

Because Maycia's backup memories were only up till the point where she escaped the facility, she didn't remember meeting Touma and Misaki at all.

To Maycia, it felt like a miracle. It was like closing her eyes, and awaking to see that everything was okay now.

"Well, I don't really remember meeting you two, but thanks for everything."

The Diffusion Ghost network has been dismantled, and the 19,000 Powered Suits has already been disposed of.

It was a fairy-tale like happy ending.

Jun smiled, "We'll be going now. Say goodbye to Kamijou and Shokuhou."

Janie and Febri waved goodbye enthusiastically while Maycia nodded, and the four of them left inside a bus.

"Why don't you tell Kumokawa the truth? It may be difficult for her to believe you, but I'm sure if we explain things properly, it'll be alright." Misaki said.

Touma stared at the road ahead, silent.

"Are you okay...?"

He broke the silence.

"Remember that bet?" Touma said.

"What bet? Oh you mean th-"

Touma pulled Misaki into his arms, and pressed his lips against her.

Misaki opened her mouth, accepting his tongue.

Warm, and moist.

Their tongues began to explore each other's mouth, touching every now and then.

His scent was comforting, and Misaki gazed deep into his eyes.

Is it me that he sees with those eyes, or is it Kumokawa? Am I just a substitute?

Misaki pushed him away, confusing Touma.

"I... thought you liked kissing?"

She averted her eyes before looking back, "Well, we're in public after all. I might lose control you know, hahaha."

It was a lousy excuse to hide her displeasure when she thought about being just a substitute for Seria.

"I see." Touma said, "Then I'll be going this way."

Misaki nodded, "See you."

She hopped on the bus heading towards the School Garden, and looked at Touma walking back to his dorm through the window, clutching a remote in one hand.

If only I could know your true feelings, wouldn't that be good?

Author's Note: And here's the end of the Silent Party Arc. Sorry if it didn't end with a bang just like in canon when Mikoto flew up into space because Misaki read his mind, so she already dealt with this possibility already.

But there's a small kissing scene between Touma and Misaki, which I admit I'm horrible in writing such scenes, but I try.

I felt that it's fitting that Misaki would also have a weapon if she fought alongside with Touma. So I chose Gae Bolg from the Nasuverse because it's kinda cool, and the weapon fits with the concept of creating a miracle because it can tamper with fate by reversing cause and effect. I made up the controlling wind and water part though.

To RandomReview: Well, actually most of the new things are backstories, but I understand that it may be difficult to digest so many things at once, and it seems kinda rushed. If there's any questions, you may ask me :)

Anyway, I hoped that you liked the ending, despite having no final boss to fight or whatever, and may seem a bit anti-climatic, but that's how STUDY is.

If you have any comments, leave them in the review box below.

See you.

EDIT 06/11/2013: Not really an edit, but I changed the summary as you can see. After thinking about what OPorNotOP said; that its not very character driven, I realized that I should change the summary to fit the story better. I don't know if the new summary would change anything, but I think it can only make things better... or worse?